Period 3 Regional and Transregional Interactions c 600

Period 3: Regional and Transregional Interactions c. 600 CE – c. 1450 CE � Source: AP World History Crash Course by J. P. Harmon �

Expansion of Networks of Exchange c. 600 CE – c. 1450 CE

Introduction � AKA: Post Classical Era � Most Important development – Islam � Re-growth of Western Europe � Tang-Song China � Increase in trade across the known world

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � Cities along land sea trade routes increased in number and importance in this era � Important Afro-European trading cities along land routes include � � � Djenne, Timbuktu, Gao in West Africa Byzantium, Novgorod in Europe Baghdad southwest Asia Samarkand, Bukhara in Central Asia Chang’an in East Asia Important seaports include � � � Venice, Byzantium in Europe Tyre, Hormuz in Southwest Asia Zanzibar, Kilwa in East Africa Calicut, Goa in South Asia Melaka in Southeast Asia Hangzhou, Guangzhau in East Asia

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � Through these cities and trade routes many luxury and everyday items were exchanged in even greater quantities � Islam was carried into SE Asia, SE Asia ◦ Silk remained highly prized throughout ◦ New technologies, goods and ideas were added �Including: gunpowder, paper, compass, astrolabe

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � New government policies allowed trade growth � When Han fell in China, trade on Silk Road & Indian Ocean declined due to political unrest and instability � Rise of Tang/Song gov’t stabilized & trade increases � Chinese merchants expand their numbers and range

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � Greatest gov’t decision: laissez-faire � China’s emperors chose to let IO merchants manage on their own � IO trade was basically self-governing ◦ ◦ Merchants made rules Worked deals for port access Dealt with smugglers Set prices � Ming emperors launched the biggest fleet but didn’t take over

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � Coins minted used as early as Persian Empire � Chinese � Much � 14 th produced 1 st paper money prior to 9 th C of “flying money” made of silk C, Mongols brought paper money to C & SW Asia

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � Grand Canal ◦ Begun by Sui, continued by Tang/Song, completed by Yuan � Links China’s major rivers in a north-south direction � Allows goods to be moved more easily � Still key today

Technological Changes and Trading Practices � Other Empires connect into Trade � Byzantine Empire controlled trade through Constantinople ◦ Also political and social leader � Muslim & Mongol Empires protected trade in various ways ◦ Dar-al-Islam ◦ Pax Mongolica

How the Movement of People was Both Caused and Affected by Environment, Language & Religion

Vikings � Raided: England, France, Russia, Italy, Byzantine Empire � AKA: Northmen, Norsemen, Normans � Influenced development of languages in England & France � Assimilated overtime into European Culture by converting to Christianity � Sailed to and colonized France (Normandy), Russia, Iceland, Greenland & N. America

Muslim Arabs & Mongols � Domesticated camels and introduced them to N Africa’s Sahara trade network � Perfected horsemanship

World Religions and Syncretism � Syncretism – “Blending” especially religions � Islam, Christianity, Buddhism – world class religions ◦ Expanded to every inhabited continent ◦ Had to adapt its beliefs and practices to local conditions

Buddhism � Originated in India, didn’t pose questions about God, gods, or eternal life � As moved into East & SE Asia adapted to the spiritual needs of the local traditions � Became a salvationist faith promising eternal life � Known as Mayahana Buddhism

Christianity � Incorporated some Roman polytheistic beliefs ◦ Prayers to patron saints � In Americas, adapted local customs ◦ Dias de los Muertos

Islam � Also modified customs to fit local beliefs ◦ Sufi branch of Islam reflects a mystical blend in India ◦ Tolerance – “People of the Book” �Originally Jews and Christians – respected and allowed to maintain their faith and not forced to convert �Later Hindus and Buddhists included in this

Language Migrations Altered environment and societies with technology

Bantu Migration � Beginning c. 1500 BCE thru c. 1000 CE in Central Africa � Speakers of Bantu-based languages migrated east and south � Carried with them knowledge of agriculture, animal herding and metal-working � Changed their new environments

Bantu-based Languages � Standard in Southern and Eastern Africa � Anthropologists traced language migration back from southern/eastern Africa to their roots in Central Africa � Swahili ◦ Blend of Arabic and Bantu ◦ Trading language

Romance Languages � Based on the Latin of the Roman Empire � Spread throughout Europe after fall of Rome ◦ ◦ ◦ French Spanish Italian Portuguese Romanian

Oceania Migrations Pacific Ocean

Oceania � Includes: Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Hawaii, etal. � Migrations began in prehistoric times from Southeast Asia � Carried with them languages, religious beliefs, foods and animals � Effected environmental changes ◦ Spread coconuts, bananas

Cross-Cultural Interactions Intensify

Settlement of Merchants � Merchants settled far from homelands � Jewish & Christians lived in major trade cities in China, S Asia, C Asia, N Africa, W Europe, Byz. Empire & Persian Gulf � Muslim communities established in trading cities on rim of IO, SE Asia, N Africa, W Africa, Muslim Spain, Byz. Empire, China

Settlement of Merchants � Sogdian (Persian) merchants used the Silk Roads – greatest contribution translation of religious texts � Chinese in SE Asia, and cities thru-out Indian Ocean region � All cultures drawn by the chance to make money � Governments who cooperated with merchants gained from their contacts

Records of Contacts Provide insight to Post-Classical Cultures

Marco Polo � NOT the annoying game!!!! � Began his travels with merchant father and uncle in late 13 th C � From Venice (Italy) to SW Asia via Silk Roads and then into E Asia � Later continued on his own into SE Asia and Indian Ocean

Marco Polo �A Description of the World gave insights into East and Central Asia � Aide to Kublai Khan � Columbus used Polo’s book as inspiration for his expedition

Ibn Battuta � Muslim traveler from N Africa � Early 1300 s began a 30 year journey through Daral Islam across Afro-Eurasia � “everywhere Islam is” � Journaled about people, sights and customs � Traveled about 75, 000 miles ◦ W Africa, Muslim Spain, N Africa, Byz Empire ◦ Islamic Caliphates in SW Asia, E Africa, S Asia, SE Asia & East Asia

Mansa Musa � King of wealthy Mali, in W Africa � Traveled to Mecca on hajj in 13 th C � Passed thru Timbuktu, Gao & Cairo � Handed out so much gold in Cairo, crashed the economy

Era of Exchange Technology, ideas and diseases

Technology � From China ◦ Paper making, Printing, Compass, Gunpowder, Cannons � From India ◦ How to grow cotton and sugar � From Vietnam ◦ New stains of rice

Ideas � From India mathematical concepts ◦ “arabic” numerals, zero, decimal point � Muslims & Byzantines preserved Greek and Roman heritage ◦ Saved libraries of Greek Literature and science ◦ Europeans “rediscovered” their past and sparked Renaissance � Arts moved along Silk Roads ◦ Musical instruments – cymbals, guitar, tambourine ◦ Hindu & Buddhist sculptures

Disease � Bubonic Plague – AKA Black Death ◦ Yersinia pestis ◦ Transmitted by fleas from infected rats ◦ Quickly went from blood-born to pneumonic � Worst epidemic in 1341 -1350 � Probably caused by expansion of trade by Mongols � Spread from C Asia thru Crimea to Italy then through all Europe � Estimated 1/3 -1/2 population killed