PostClassical World History 600 to 1450 CE Common

Post-Classical World History 600 to 1450 CE

Common Themes • • • Post-classical political developments Nomadic empires Impact of interaction Recovery and Renaissance in Asia and Europe American Civilizations

Post-Classical Political Developments • Sui Dynasty (581 -618 CE) • Used Buddhism & Confucian civil service examination to establish legitimacy • Grand Canal • Tang Dynasty (618 -907 CE) – Political Development • Scholars over soldiers • China expanded to Tibet & Korea • Supported Buddhism first; Daoism, and Confucianism were less important • High taxation led to tension and peasant rebellions • Korea, Japan, & Vietnam became tributary states

Post-Classical Political Developments • Tang Dyansty (Cont. ) – Economic Developments • Silk Road security • Equal-field system – Cultural Developments • Heavily influenced by spread of Buddhism • Empress Wu … increased influence • Anti-Buddhist campaign • Rise of Neo-Confucianism • Poetry = Li Bai, Du Fu • Kowtow practiced. . Superiority over foreigners

Post-Classical Political Developments • Song Dynasty (960 -1279 CE) – Political Development • Re-established centralized rule • Civil service exam retained • Checked power of aristocracy while a powerful, moral elite rose alongside • De-emphasized military approach of Tang • Paid tribute to neighboring nomadic powers • Military & economic weakness eventually led to their fall to the Mongols in 1279.

Post-Classical Political Developments • Song (cont. ) – Economic Development • Economic revolution – rice from Vietnam, internal trade flourished from Grand Canal, population growth, cannons, moveable type, water-powered mills, high-quality porcelain, paper money, “flying cash”, magnetic compass – Cultural Developments • Women could keep their dowries and could access new jobs. • Also subject to footbinding

Post-Classical Political Developments • Islamic Caliphates – Islam: The Religion • Muhammad (570 -632 CE) • Kaaba • Allah • Mecca & Medina • Quran • Five Pillars • Universal religion

Post-Classical Political Developments • Islamic Caliphates (cont. ) – Political Developments • Shia-Sunni split • Umayyad Caliphate - Damascus (661 CE) • Abbasid Caliphate – Baghdad – “Golden Age” of Islam – Dar-al-Islam

Post-Classical Political Developments • Islamic Caliphates (cont. ) – Economic Developments • Trade flourished • Improved irrigation • Increase in tax revenues • Artisans flourished: pottery, fabrics, rugs • Paper mills set up (Chinese influence)

Post-Classical Political Developments • Islamic Caliphates (cont. ) – Cultural Developments • Mosques, hospitals, schools, orphanages • Algebra, latitude & longitude, spread of Greek Hellenism • Universities: Cordoba, Toledo, Granada (Al. Andalus, aka Spain) • Art & Architecture: images were forbidden; use of geometric shapes & calligraphy

Post-Classical Political Developments • Byzantine Empire – Political Developments • Eastern Roman Empire • Justinian • Greek language • Strong central government • Great laws, efficient military, land distribution, elaborate bureaucracy, theme system

Post-Classical Political Developments • Byzantine Empire (cont. ) – Economic Developments • Excellent location for controlling trade • Silk worms smuggled out of China > strong silk industry developed • Glassware, linen, jewelry, gold, silversmithing

Post-Classical Political Developments • Byzantine Empire (cont. ) – Cultural Developments • Greek • Theoretically, social mobility was possible but was rare • Constantinople > political, commercial, and intellectual center w/ great libraries • Split w/ western Church in 1054 • Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic

Post-Classical Political Developments • Western Europe (500 -1000 CE) – Political Development • Frankish Kingdom • Charlemagne • Feudal system – lack of strong central gov’t – Economic Developments • Serfdom • Manors • No surplus of food so Europe lagged behind

Post-Classical Political Developments • Western Europe (500 -1000 CE) – Cultural Developments • Birth = status • Noblewomen had a lot more power than peasant women • Nunneries = escape for women to be treated equally • Code of Chivalry • Christianity = religious, moral, and cultural authority of this time w/ strong papacy • Role of monasteries

Post-Classical Political Developments • Japan (600 -1000 CE) – Political Developments • Impact of geography • Yamato Clan > emperors of Japan – Failed to centralize Japanese state • Fujiwara Clan (710 -785 CE) – Modeled Japan after China – Unsuccessful w/ Chinese-style bureaucracy – Strict hierarchy developed instead

Post-Classical Political Developments • Japan (600 -1000 CE) – Political Developments (cont. ) • Kamakura Shogunate – Feudalism – Shogun – Daimyo – Samurai – Bushido – Role of emperor

Post-Classical Political Developments • Japan (600 -1000 CE) – Economic Developments • Predominantly an agrarian society • Artisans > weavers, carpenters, ironworkers • Local trade regulated by clans • Kamakura period > foreign trade w/ Korea and China • Peasants were very similar to serfs in Europe • “Genin”

Post-Classical Political Developments • Japan (600 -1000 CE) – Cultural Developments • Buddhism popular but Shintoism maintained its respected traditions • Adopted Chinese technology, written language, and Buddhism (Zen Buddhism) • Heian Period (794 -1185) – Chinese contact cut off and focus on Japanese cultural values – Tale of Genji – women were highly regarded – By the end of this period women began to lose power

Nomadic Empires • Vikings (800 -1000 CE) • Scandinavia • Seasonal raids to supplement low farm production • Viking boats > terrorized coastal communities in France, Scotland, Ireland, & England • Greenland & Iceland • Normans (aka “Northmen”) > Normandy • 1066 > William the Conqueror

Nomadic Empires • Turks (1000 -1450) • Central Asian steppes • Often hired as mercenaries • Seljuk Turks (1055) > captured Baghdad – 1071 – defeated the Byzantines and took most of modern Turkey • Afghan Turks – Series of raids into India in the 10 th century – Began Delhi Sultanate in India (1206 -1526)

Nomadic Empires • Mongols (1200 -1550) • World’s largest empire > mobility • Genghis Khan – “Submit and live. Resist and die – Every male, 15 -70, had to serve – Unique military strategies – Took Central Asia, Tibet, Northern China, and Persia – Died in 1227

Mongol kingdoms • Mongols (1200 -1550) • China: Yuan Dynasty (1279 -1368) – Kublai Khan – Style of rule? • Middle East: The Ilkhanates – 1258 – Hulegu > defeated Abbasids – Style of rule? … many converted to Islam • Russia: The Golden Horde – Batu – heavy taxes – Moscow collected – Kiev resisted • Pax Mongolica – For nearly 100 years Eurasia was united – Mongol Exchange • Mongol decline … Mamluks (Egypt), Japanese

Impact of Interaction • West African Kingdoms – Ghana (500 -1200 CE) • Trans-Saharan Trade • Gold, ivory, slaves, salt, horses, cloth • Arrival of Islam (10 th century) – Mali (1235 -1400’s) • Islamic conversion encouraged • Mansa Musa • Timbuktu > êntrepot

Impact of Interaction • Christianity in North & East Africa (~1 st century CE) • Egypt & Ethiopia (Coptic Christians) • Unique style of architecture • East African City-States (900 -1500) • Indian Ocean Trade • Mogadishu, Kilwa, Sofala … Swahili city-states • Zimbabwe

Impact of Interaction • Europe during the High Middle Ages (1000 -1450) • ~1100 CE pre-modern economy was evolving • Breakdown of feudalism = growth of towns & commercial cities emerged – Bruges, Hamburg, Florence • Service providers & craftspeople set up in these towns • These cities began to plan their growth, regulate businesses, and collect taxes • Wealthy towns (Italy) invested in beautification

Impact of Interaction • Crusades (1095 -1204) – Series of Christian holy wars conducted against infidels – Pope Urban II – 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th Crusades – Christian Europe gains trade & technology • Long Distance Trade – Silk Road – Trans-Saharan – Indian Ocean – Mediterranean

Impact of Interaction • Missionary Campaigns • Buddhism – Theravada & Mahayana Buddhism – Central Asia – Tibet – Personal salvation – Korea & Japan – Zen Buddhism – syncretism – Buddhism & Shintoism • Christianity – Both east & west spread Christianity – Christian syncretism? – Nestorian Christians

Impact of Interaction • Missionary Campaigns • Islam – Spread: military conquest OR trade & missionary activity – Tolerance – Sufi missionaries (after 900 CE) – Islam in Africa …. Syncretism • Travelers • Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, Rabban Sauma

Impact of Interaction – The Spread of Diseases • Black Plague • Trade routes impact • Population decrease = labor shortage = decrease in serfdom • Anti-Semitism grew

Recovery & Renaissance in Asia and Europe • Chinese Political Development – Ming – “comeback kids” (1368 -1644) – Hongwu – Eliminated all evidence that the Mongols ever ruled – Civil service examination – Mandarins = class of powerful officials – Temporarily supported Chinese exploration (Zheng He) – Rebuilt irrigation systems & agrarian production improved – Porcelain, silk, and cotton actively traded

Recovery & Renaissance in Asia and Europe • European Political Development • By the 1400’s, regional kingdoms replaced by strong, powerful monarchies (France, England, Spain) • Key = professional, standing armies paid with taxes • Competition among these states led to a refinement and improvement in weapons, ships, and technology • These states now positioned to dominate the world

Recovery & Renaissance in Asia and Europe • Chinese Intellectual Developments • Neo-Confucian schools • Self-discipline, filial piety, and obedience to rulers stressed • Yongle Encyclopedia • Printing, novels, poetry • Jesuit missionaries in China (Matteo Ricci) … Chinese interested in European technology, not Christianity

Recovery & Renaissance in Asia and Europe • European Intellectual Developments • Renaissance “rebirth” • Contact w/ Islamic world = Greek & Roman texts • Painters, sculptors, and writers drew inspiration from the Greco-Roman world • Humanists • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? ? • Medici family (Florence)

Recovery & Renaissance in Asia and Europe • Chinese Exploration • 1405 -1433 • Seven massive naval expeditions to re-establish Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean network • Spy mission? • Zheng He • Why did Ming order explorations to stop?

Recovery & Renaissance in Asia and Europe • European Exploration • Impact of Renaissance? • Gold, God, Glory • Eastern spices in high demand … Ottoman Empire’s impact? • Portuguese were FIRST, Spanish SECOND • Henry the Navigator • Vasco da Gama • Christopher Columbus • Naval race? ?

American Civilizations • Maya (300 -900 CE) • Borrowed Olmec traditions – Agricultural economy – Distinctive temple complexes and massive pyramids – Ritualistic polytheism – Urban areas with thousands of people – Independent city-states, linked by trade – Staple diet of maize (corn) and beans

American Civilizations • Aztec (1400 -1521) – Aka. … Mexica – Militant warrior tradition – Rule by severe despots – Priestly class to oversee rituals, including human sacrifice – Large urban capital (Tenochtitlan) ~ 150, 000 people – Agricultural economy with cacao beans sometimes used as currency – Decentralized network of city-states that paid tribute

American Civilizations • Inca (1400 -1540) – Centralized empire with its capital at Cuzco – Extensive, irrigated agricultural economy adapted to the rugged terrain of the Andes – Large urban centers – Polytheistic religion centered on worship of the sun – Patriarchal society with few rights for women – Privileged noble class, headed by a king (Inca) in which royal ancestors revered and worshipped (mummification) – No written language – Impressive achievements in building with cut stone