REVIEW Unit III: The Postclassical Era-600 to 1450

1. REVIEWUnit III: The Postclassical Era-600 to 1450 Dr. Afxendiou Sachem North High School

2. PERIODIZATION • Major events and developments that characterize these years as a distinct time period: • Major religions determine and define areas of the world – Christianity, Hinduism, Confucianism, Buddhism • 2 nomadic groups impact history – Bedouins and Mongols

3. PERIODIZATION • Major events and developments • Islam • Major empires in Mesoamerica and South America • Chinese hegemony • Amount and complexity of trade and contact

4. REVIEW TOPICS • The Islamic World • Interregional networks and contacts • China’s internal and external expansion • European developments • The Amerindian World • Demographic and environmental changes

5. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Islam “submission” • 2nd largest number of supporters in the world today • Started in Arabian Peninsula among the Bedouins • Bedouins – nomads who controlled trade routes across the desert. • Trade towns linked long caravan routes – Mecca and Medina • Mecca also a religious destination due to Ka’aba – contained the black stone

6. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Founding of Islam • In Mecca by Muhammad • Muhammad – trader (married to Khadija – wealthy widow). Began to meditate in mountains outside Mecca. Angel Gabriel revealed himself to him. • Believed himself to be the last of the prophets of the one true god. • Started spreading the new religion • Muslims – his followers – people who have submitted to the will of Allah

7. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Founding of Islam • Muhammad’s preaching of monotheism was a thread to the social and economic order – threatened pilgrimage business to Ka’aba • 622 hijra (hegira) flight to Yathrib which he remaned Medina – marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar • Many converts to Islam – created the community of believers – the Umma • Became a political and military leader – 630 captures Mecca, destroys idols around Ka’aba and declares it a holy structure of Allah and the Black stone claimed to be the foundation placed by Abraham in establishing Judaism.

8. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Islamic Beliefs and Practices • The Five Pillars • Most important source of religious authority the Qur’an – the actual words of Allah • The Sunna – Muhammad’s life, the best model for proper living • Shar’ia – body of law based on Qur’an and Sunna, regulated family life, moral conduct, business and community life. • All people equal before god

9. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • The Spread of Islam • 632 Muhammad dies – Islam spread over most of Arabian Peninsula • Caliphate – government set up to rule Muslims after Muhammad – theocratic empire • Caliph – successor, leader of caliphate and all Muslims – chosen by the leaders of the umma • Abu-Bakr-first caliph. Close friend of Muhammad. Followed by 3 other caliphs who also knew Muhammad. These four were known as the “rightly guided” caliphs.

10. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • The Spread of Islam • Rapid expansion – within 300 years the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia fell to armies of Islam • Spread helped by • weakness of Empires of the time – the Persian and Byzantine Empires • Well-disciplined, well-organized armies • Exclusion of Muslims from taxation – conversion of conquered people in order to avoid taxation

11. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Empire grows as religion splits • Sunni-Shi’a split – who should succeed Muhammad • Shi’a-only family members of Muhammad, descendants of Ali should be caliphs • Sunni-any member of umma • Each of the 4 early caliphs was murdered by rivals. Death of Ali triggered a civil war when Umayyad family rose to power (enemies of Muhammad in Mecca)

12. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • The Golden Age • Institutions of higher learning – Cairo, Baghdad, Cordoba • Muhammad al-Razi-encyclopedia • Preserved learning of ancient Greeks, Romans and Persians – translated writings of Plato and Aristotle into Arabic • Language-Umayyads:Arabic; Abbasids: Persian • Al-Andalus-Islamic Spain-flowering of culture in otherwise backwards Europe • Religion-respect for other religions “dimmis” people of the book; sufis-Islamic mystics

13. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Arts, Sciences and Technologies • Art • calligraphy, designs-arabesque • Architecture-minarets, mosques • Literature-Poetic works, A Thousand and One Nights • Science • Use of logic – from ancient Greeks • Mathematics from India • algebra • Navigation • Astronomy • Medicine • Surgery • hospitals

14. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Women in Islam • Positive elements: • Qur’an changed negative treatment of women in pre-Islamic societies • Treated them with more dignity • Equal before Allah • Dowry returned to wife after divorce • Infanticide forbidden • Gained power within the home • In early stages they had power outside home (Khadijah-Muhammad’s boss)

15. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Women in Islam • Negative Elements • Before Islam • Women viewed as property • Man kept dowry after divorce • Female nfanticide • After Islam • Up to 4 wives if a man could afford to support them • patrilineal inheritance • Testimony of woman in court half the weight of man • Veiled in Persia/Mesopotamia later in entire empire • Overtime empire become even more patriarchal

16. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Political structures • Umayyad caliphate – Sunnis • Capital in Damascus • Theocratic rulers • Abbasid caliphate • Shi’ites rebelled, overthrew Umayyads and installed Abbasid rulers • Initially had Shi’a support but had to bring them under control eventually • Capital moved to Baghdad • Problems with succession • Empire too large to govern • High taxes made them unpopular

17. THE ISLAMIC WORLD – Dar al-Islam • Political Structures • Fall of the Abbasids • Local kingdoms gained power • Sultans – Persian leaders took control of Baghdad in 945 • Seljuk Turks take Baghdad and manipulate caliphs • 1258 Mongols destroy Baghdad

18. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Major trade routes • Mediterranean- western Europe, Byzantine Empire, Islamic Empire • Hanseatic League • Baltic/North Sea Regions • Formed in 1241 – 100 cities joined • Silk Road • Trans-Saharan routes – west Africa, Islamic Empire • Indian Ocean trade – Persians, Arabs

19. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Cultural Diffusion • Spread of languages and religions • Spread of art and literature • Spread of plague – led to end of European feudal society • Global trade network • Made up of interconnected regions • everyone except Americas involved

20. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Trans-Saharan Trade • Ghana – land of gold – 700s • In the savanna region • Gained wealth by taxing goods traders carried through territory • Arab traders spread Islam and expanded knowledge of Africa to world • Gold and salt trade • Mali – replaces and absorbs Ghana – 13th century • Islamic • Mansa Musa – pilgrimage • Timbuktu • Libraries and Islamic schools • Mosques

21. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Indian Ocean Trade • Different zones dominated by regional powers • West-Arabs • Middle zone-Indian kingdoms • East-China • Reached coast of East Africa – Swahili Coast • Stretched over 6,000 miles • Used monsoon winds • Intermixing of cultures due to marriage of sailors with local women

22. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Indian Ocean Trade • Goods • From Africa-ivory, animal hides, gold, slaves • From Middle East-textiles, carpets, glass, Arabian horses • From India-gems, elephants, salt, cotton cloth, cinnamon • From China-silk, porcelain, paper • From Japan-silver

23. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Indian Ocean Trade • China during the Ming dynasty • Made Indian Ocean trade its focus • Expeditions of Zheng He • Chinese junks • Forced to end his expeditions – bureaucrats jealous of his success • New emperor did not want to invest further money – wanted to use money to protect against nomadic invasions – Really?

24. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • Silk Routes • Connected China to Mediterranean since Roman times • Used heavily during Mongol rule – 1200-1600 • Products: • Silk • Porcelain • Paper • Ideas • Military technology • Religions-Buddhism, Islam, Christianity • foods

25. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • The Mongol Empire • Nomads, great horsemen and archers • Genghis Khan-Chinggis Khan • Largest empire ever – from Pacific to Eastern Europe • Success due to: • Military organization – tjumen • Ruthless warriors, highly mobile-could travel 90 miles per day (Romans only 25/day) • Bow range 300 yards • Motivated soldiers – traitors punished, courage rewarded • Used spies • Military innovations – in armor, strategies.

26. INTERREGIONAL NETWORKS AND CONTACS • The Mongol Empire • Hordes or Khanates • Golden horde • Great Khanate - included China • Kubilai Khan – created Yuan Dynasty in China • Dismissed Confucian scholars • Kept Mongol and Chinese cultures separate • Impact • Pax Mongolica – trade • Exchange of goods, ideas and cultures • Silk Road flourished • Influenced Russian empire • No Golden Age

27. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • China was the richest of the empires of the postclassical time period – the Middle Kingdom • Dynasties: • Sui • Tang • Song • Yuan • Ming

28. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Sui Dynasty, 589-618 • Ended civil war era that followed the Han • Construction of the Grand Canal • Buddhism adopted by rulers • Rebellions due to unrest caused by natural disasters that led to famine

29. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang Dynasty, 618-907 • accomplishments • Expanded territory to Tibet and into Korea • strong transportation and communications system – Canals, road systems with inns and stables. Courier service connected empire • Song Dynasty 960 – 1279 • Weaker than Tang • Conflict with northern neighbors

30. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang/Song Dynasties • Stable bureaucratic system based on civil service exam (started during Han dynasty) • Confucian principles • Scholar gentry • Meritocracy not aristocracy • New business practices • Paper money • Flying money-letters of credit

31. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang/Song Dynasties • New technologies • Gunpowder for military use • Junks • Magnetic compass • Block printing • Trade • Involved in regional trade with Southeast Asia and Pacific Coast – sea routes • Silk Road with Asia • Network of road and canals connect North and South regions

32. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang/Song Dynasties • Agriculture • Champa Rice – Vietnam • New agricultural techniques • Increased production leads to increased population from 45 to 115 million leads to urbanization (growth of cities) especially in the South. • More production needed for increased population, drain swamp land, terrace hillsides

33. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang/Song Dynasties • Social Changes • In all areas – art, science, philosophy, porcelain making, silk weaving, transportation systems • Tang – poetry • Song – printing – expanded literacy • Women • Empress Wu – first empress, supported Buddhism • Inferior • Song – footbinding • Power of upper class women through males – sons or as favorites of rulers

34. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang/Song Dynasties • Religion • Buddhism - Greatest influence by outside religion • State sponsored during Sui • Favored in the beginning of Tang (Empress Wu) • Mahayana Buddhism – followed by the masses, mystical, emphasis on quiet and peaceful existence • Chan Buddhism (Zen in Japan) – followed by elite. Focus on meditation. • Confucian Reaction • Bureaucrats threatened by its popularity • Seen as economic drain to national treasury (no taxes) • monasteries destroyed-Buddhism never regained power

35. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Tang/Song Dynasties • Art – stylized and symbolic landscape paintings by scholar-gentry • Philosophy – Neo-Confucianism • Used ancient Confucian texts • Codified traditional Chinese philosophy • Reinforced gender and class distinctions

36. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Chinese Influence on surrounding areas • Tributary states • Japan • Korea • Vietnam • Kow-tow • Intensification of ethnocentrism

37. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Japan • Social • Early religion – Shinto • Kami • Emperor descendant of spirit of emperor sun goddess • Buddhism gained hold but Shintoism remained • Literature – • Poetry written by men • Prose women – Lady Murasaki Tale of Genji

38. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Korea • Peninsula, bridge between China and Japan • Political • Captured by Tang who withdraw in return for tribute payments • Silla kingdom a vassal of China • Economic • Participated in Chinese trading network • Social • Adapted Chinese writing • Scholars trained in Confucian classics • Art- porcelain manufactured improved Chinese methods – Celadon bowls (pale green color)

39. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Vietnam • South of China • Political • Valued their independence, not willing to become tributaries • Made up of small kingdoms – the Khmer the strongest • Periodically absorbed into China but always resisted

40. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Yuan Dynasty • Mongols in China • 1271 Kubilai Khan • Religious tolerance but end of civil service exams • Kubilai Khan keeps Mongols separate from Chinese to maintain culture • Mongol women have more freedoms than Chinese women • Foreigners used in government positions (Marco Polo) • Merchants gained status • Attempted to capture Japan (failed both times – Kamikaze)

41. CHINESE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPANSION • Ming Dynasty • Overthrew Yuan Dynasty • See Indian Ocean trade information

42. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • Fall of Rome - Western Europe and Byzantine Empire • WESTERN EUROPE • 500 – 1000 The Dark Ages • 1000 – 1300 The High Middle Ages • Dark Ages – loss of • Roman civilization • written language • complex government • Need for protection – Vikings, Magyars (8th & 9th centuries) led to rise of feudalism

43. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • Feudalism-social and political system • Lords, vassals, knights – land for service and loyalty • Fiefs • Status defined by birth • Power based on how much land you control • Code of Chivalry • Decentralized government – local rule on the manor • Local power struggles – “feuds” (feudalism)

44. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • Manorialism- economic system • manors - self-sufficient • Serfdom • Crude tools – 9th century the moldboard • Weakened by Crusades and increase of trade and rise of towns • Destroyed by Black Plague

45. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • Western Europe • Women • Traditional roles – home/children • Peasant women work in fields • Code of Chivalry reinforces idea of women as weak, subordinate, in need of protection • Alternative to traditional roles - the convent • Women in towns can participate in trade and be members of guilds • Cannot inherit • Education limited to domestic skills

46. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • Crusades 11th – 13th centuries • Pope Urban II • Free the Holy Land from Muslim control • Initial success but ultimately failed to achieve goal • Brought Europe into the major world trade routes of the time – Mediterranean trade, Silk Road • Europe changed by encounter with Middle East – new products, new technologies, new ideas • Demand for foreign products created in Europe • Venice and Genoa – rich trade cities – geographic location

47. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • Crusades • 4th crusade raided Constantinople – undermining of Byzantine Empire • Power of kings increases – they gain the right to tax for armies • Beginning of Muslim/Christian hostilities • Increased Eurasian trade • Growth of banking • Creation of urban middle class • Renewal of economy, learning, arts • Move towards centralized political authority • Import of new military technology – guns and cannons – castles and knights are obsolete

48. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • Black Plague – the tiny flea topples feudal/manorial system • Comes from Asia through trade routes – Chinese or Mongol origin? • Labor shortage • Labor of serfs valuable in cities – leave the manor

49. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • Economic developments • Rise of towns • Use of money (move away from barter) • Banking system, credit system, insurance • Towns regulate their businesses and collect own taxes • guilds • Social developments • Universities in High Middle Ages • Gothic Architecture

50. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS • WESTERN EUROPE • England • Norman invasion 1066 – William the Conqueror • Alternative feudalism – all vassals owe allegiance to king • Bureaucracy, single system of laws • Parliamentary government – unique to England • Places limitations on king • Magna Carta – • no taxation without consent • No arbitrary arrest • King is not above the law