Name:

Expanding Zones

I) Gupta Empire of India (320 CE to 550 CE) Section Overview – the Gupta dynasty came to power in India in 320

AD/CE. The strong Gupta gov’t, which gave power to the local leaders, united much of the Indian subcontinent and insured peace and prosperity. Hinduism had a very strong impact on the Gupta society and cultural life. Gupta scientists and mathematicians made important discoveries and advances.

A) Geographic setting –

1) The Gupta will arise in the North and spread southward

2) Geography will benefit the empire

(a) Mountains will protect the empire from foreign invaders

(b)The Indus and Ganges Rivers will provide water and fertile soil

B) Gupta Gov’t structure

1) A strong, efficient centralized gov’t allowed farming and trade to

prosper, shared some decision making with local elected leaders,

(a) In each village a headman and council made decisions for the

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Deccan Plateau

village

2) Provided stability which provided peace and prosperity (Golden Age)

3) Role of Women

(a) Early on, were allowed to serve on the councils,

(b)Over time Hindu law placed greater restrictions on women,

excluding them from participation

A) Hinduism and Gupta Society

1) Indian Society and the Caste System

(a)While the Caste System originated in early Aryan times, by the

time of the Gupta, the Caste system had become firmly entrenched

in Indian society.

(i) (Polytheistic, Caste System, Dharma, Karma)

2) Family life

(a) Patriarchal – male heads of families had great authority

(b)Children learned the family trade

(c) Arranged marriages – Hindu law required that people marry within

their caste

(d)Women’s lives restricted

B) Achievements

1) Mathematics

(a) Zero and the decimal system (base 10)

(b)Arabic numerals

2) Medicine

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(a)Set bones and repaired facial injuries

(b)Vaccinated people against small pox 1,000 years before Europeans

3) Architecture

(a) Constructed stupas, large dome shaped shrines.

4) Literature

(a) Use of Sanskrit language allowed for the spread of stories across the

region.

C) End of Gupta Rule

5) After 200 years the Gupta declined due to weak rulers and foreign

invasions which disrupted trade and destroyed villages

II) Tang (618 -907 CE) and Song (960-1279 CE) Dynasties in ChinaA) Tang Founder: General Tang Taizong

1) Tang rulers forced Vietnam, Korea, and Tibet to become tributary

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states

2) Japan sends missions to China to conduct trade and study Chinese

culture

3) Corruption, drought and rebellions led to the collapse of the Tang

(a) (An example of the dynastic cycle)

A) Song Founder: Zhoa Kuangyin

B) Chinese Govt

1) Tang rulers revived the Civil Service Exam

(a) Schools set up to prepare students for the test

(b)A highly educated ruling class emerged (scholar gentry)

2) Strict social order - dominated by Confucian philosophy

(a)Five Relationships

(b)Three main classes

(i) The gentry (Scholar)

Wealthy landowners – they could afford an education for

their sons

(ii) Peasants

The majority of the Chinese fall in this group

Farmers who worked the land

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Live in small villages

(iii) Merchants

Lower status than peasants because their riches come

from work done by other people

(c) Status of Women(i) Under the Tang and Song, Women held some authority.

However, boys were still valued over girls

Within the home, women managed family finances, imposed

discipline and supervise servants

When a girl married she became part of her husband’s

family and could never remarry

C) Economic Achievements

1) Land reform

(a)Tang seized land from large land holders and gave it to the

peasants

(i) Rich have less power

(ii) Poor can now pay taxes, increasing government wealth

D) Trade

1) Chinese merchants trade with India, Persia (modern Iran) and the

Middle East

2) The worlds first paper money is issued

3) The Grand Canal is built which linked the Huang He and the

Yangtze, improving trade within the nation (from the farms of the South

to the North)

E) Literature and the Artso Calligraphy flourished

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o Architects create the pagoda style temple

o The Chinese become experts at making porcelain – “china”

F) Chinese Influence on Japan1) Japan learns of Chinese culture through Korea2) During the Tang Dynasty, a Japanese prince sends nobles to China to study

600-700s 800s 900-1200s Japanese study

Chinese civilization

Japanese nobles adopt Chinese language, food, style of dress, music, dance, and the Chinese Tea Ceremony

Japanese stop traveling to China

Japan keeps some Chinese ways but build their own civilization

Japan changes Chinese System of writing

IV) Islamic Civilization In the years after Muhammad’s death, Islam spread across North Africa,

Asia (India) and Europe (Spain). During the years 700 to 800, Islam experienced

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a Golden Age.

A) Islamic Law and its Impact

1) Based on the Quran (or Koran), it acted as a unifying force for

Muslims

2) The Sharia – Islamic system of law – regulated moral behavior, family

life business, government and other areas of community life.

B) Divisions within Islam

1) After Muhammad’s death, divisions grew as to who should be Caliph -

Muhammad’s successor

(a)Sunni’s – believe that the Caliph should be chosen by Muslims

leaders

(b)Shiites – believe that only the decedents of Muhammad should be

his successor.

C) Social Patterns

1) Social Mobility

(a) Under earlier dynasties, Arabs considered themselves to be superior

to non-Arabs

(b)Over time this ethnocentrism declined and social mobility became

based on religious, scholarly or military achievement

2) Treatment of Conquered Peoples

(a) Islamic leaders imposed a special tax on non Muslims

(b)Other monotheistic followers (Jews and Christians) were allowed to

practice their faith

3) Slavery

(a)As in Greece and Rome, slavery was common in the Muslim world

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(b)Slaves were allowed to buy their freedom

(i) If they converted to Islam, their (unborn) children would be

free

4) Status of Women

(a) Islam teaches the spiritual equality of men and women

(b)Under the protection of the Quran

(i) Women had inheritance rights

(ii) Could be educated

(iii) Had to consent to marriages

(c) As Islam spread, the customs of non-Arabs was adopted and as a

result, restrictions on women increased over time.

Islam’s Golden Age

5) Art

(a) Used beautiful writing (calligraphy) and patterns to decorate

buildings and other works of art

(b)Adapted Byzantine domes and arches in building Mosques

(c) Painted people and animals in non religious art

6) Learning

(a) Translate and preserve writings of Greek Philosophers

(b) Develop algebra

(c) Observed the Earth turning and measured its circumference

7) Medicine

(a) Required doctors to pass difficult tests

(b)Set up hospitals with emergency rooms

(c) Studied diseases and wrote medical books

8) Mathematics and Sciences

(a) Muslims studied Indian and Greek mathematics before making their

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own contributions - Algebra

(b)Astronomy – Muslims astronomers observed the earth’s rotation and

calculated the circumference of the Earth to within a few thousand

feet.

9) Economic Achievements

(a) From 750 to 1350 Muslims had an extensive trade network which in

turn helped spread their beliefs, culture and technology

Christian Europe Enriched by the Islamic Civilization

10) Muslim Spain

(a) Spain became a magnificent Muslim cultural center.

(b)Muslims (Moors) continued the policy of religions toleration by

hiring Jewish official, and encouraging Christian students to study

Greek thought

11) Muslims Sicily

(a) During the Early Middle Ages, Arabs briefly gained controlled

Sicily and other Mediterranean islands

(b)Muslim officials provided effective government, and Arab

merchants and farmers helped the economy grow.

V) The Byzantine Empire

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Geographic Setting: In the late 200’s CE the Roman Empire is divided in half. By 330, Constantine had built the new capital of Constantinople on a strait connecting the Black to the Mediterranean Sea. From this location, Constantinople dominated the trade routes linking Europe and Asia.

A) Preserving and Spreading Culture

4) Constantinople controlled key trade routes that linked Europe and Asia

5) The Byzantine Empire blended Greek, Roman, and Christian influences

and helped spread them to other regions of the world

(a) In Russia, a thriving trade network with the Byzantines helped Kiev

become the center of the first Russian state.

B) Achievements of the Byzantine

1) Justinian’s Code

(a) Justinian (527-565) An autocratic ruler (a single ruler with

complete authority)

(b)Orders a reorganization of Roman laws and legal writings.

(c) By the 1100’s this code had reached Western Europe where it

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became the basis for the Roman Catholic Church and medieval

rulers

C) Engineering and Architecture

1) Use of Greek and Roman styles to rebuild Constantinople under

Justinian

2) Best Example: “Hagia Sophia” or Church of the Holy Wisdom

D) Art1) Icons – holy images of Jesus and other saints that create a sense that the

sacred person is present

2) Mosaics – pictures or designs formed by small pieces of stone showing

biblical scenes

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E) The Greek Orthodox Church (AKA Eastern Orthodox Church)o In 1054 a permanent split (Schism) occurred over differences in

religious philosophy

Issue Greek Orthodox belief Roman Catholic belief

Highest Church official

* Patriarch appointed by the emperor, based in Constantinople

* Pope elected by Cardinals,based in Rome

Language to be used * Greek * Latin

Can priests marry? * Yes * No

Worship of Icons * Yes * No

F) Preservation of Greco Roman Culture for Europe and the West

1) The Byzantine Empire lasted for over 1000 years after the fall of Rome

2) The Empire was as symbol of the power and glory that was Rome

3) Justinian’s Code preserved Roman law

4) The accomplishments of the Roman engineers were preserved and

extended in Byzantine architecture

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G) Impact of the Byzantine on Russia

1) Kiev’s location on the Dneiper River made the city easily accessible to

Byzantine traders

2) The Russian alphabet – Cyrillic – is based on the Greek alphabet

3) Byzantine missionaries spread Orthodox Christianity into Russia,

creating the Russian Orthodox Church.

4) The Byzantine tradition of Autocratic rulers was adopted by the

Russians

(a) CZAR is the Russian word for Caesar

H) Decline of the Byzantine

1) Constant warfare and the capture of Constantinople by western

Christians during the 4th Crusade (in the early 1200’s) weakened the

empire

2) In 1453 Constantinople is taken by the Ottoman (Muslim) Turks

VI) Medieval EuropeThe Middle Ages, or Medieval Period, lasted from about 500 (476 CE) to the

middle of the 1400s. The collapse of the Roman Empire had left Western Europe

without a unifying Government. In response, political and social systems

emerged such a Feudalism and Manorialism that was based on powerful land

holding Lords who exchanged land for loyalty.

D) Geographic Setting:

1) Resources

(a) Dense forest with valuable timber and fertile soil for raising crops

(b) Irregular coast allows for efficient transportation as well as access to

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fertile fishing areas.

(c) Minerals such as coal and iron lay untapped below the Earth’s

surface

E) The Frankish Empire

1) Rise of the Franks – From about 400 to 700 the Germanic people

dominated Europe.

(a) Late 400’s – Clovis converts to Christianity – this benefits both

sides

(b)732 - Charles the Hammer defeats the Muslims at the Battle of

Tours, ending the Muslim advance into Europe.

(c) 800’s - Charlemagne works closely with the Pope to spread

Christianity in his empire

(i) Gives land to nobles with the expectation of loyalty

(ii) Encourages learning, sets up schools

(iii) When Charlemagne dies in 814, his empire quickly falls

apart.

But his strong style of gov’t becomes the model for future

medieval rulers

F) Feudalism and Manorialism - With the fall of the Roman Empire, kings

were too weak to keep out invaders

1) Medieval Society

(a) A rigid social hierarchy. People are born into their social positions

2) Feudalism

(a) Feudal responsibilities: a political system in which powerful lords

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divide their lands into fiefs, which are given to lesser lords called

vassals. Vassals, in return, pledge loyalty and military support

(b)Knighthood: due to constant warfare, a need for a warrior class

emerged. Knights were professional soldiers that followed a strict

code of discipline called Chivalry

(c) Role of Women: Noble women played an important part of feudal

society. She was in charge of her husband’s estate while he was

away. However, they had limited inheritance rights.

3) Manorialism

(a) The economic system of the Middle Ages structured around the

lord’s manor. Due to warfare, little trade occurred and each manor

became self-sufficient.

(b)Mutual responsibilities – The peasants and serfs farmed and

provided other services on the noble’s lands. In return the nobles

provided the peasants and serfs with land to farm, as well as

protecting them during times of war.

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IV) The Catholic Church in Medieval Europe

1) Economic Power

(a) The largest landholder

(b)Gained wealth through a tithe, or a 10% tax on Christians

(c) Often did not have to pay taxes to local gov’ts

2) Political Power

(a) The church had its own set of laws, Canon Laws, and its own courts

of justice

(b)The Pope frequently came into conflict with local lords and kings

(c) The church’s ultimate weapon: EXCOMMUNICATION

(i) To be excluded from the catholic Church

3) Social Powers

(a) In monasteries (monks) and convents (nuns), serve as hospitals

(i) Ancient works were copied and knowledge preserved

Classic Greek and Roman works

(b)Missionaries risked their lives to spread the message of Christianity

V) Cultural Achievements of the Middle Ages

4) Art - Focused on the glory of God (religious based)

5) Architecture

(a) Gothic Style

(i) Pointed arches, flying buttresses,

(ii) Higher, thinner walls

(iii) Stained glass

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VI) The Crusades: a series of religious holy wars lasting between

1095 – 1295

H) Causes

1) During the 1050’s the Seljuk Turks invaded the Byzantine Empire.

2) In 1095 the Byzantine Emperor asks Pope Urban II for help in

recovering the ‘Holy Lands’ and return them to Christian rule

3) Men, women and even children answered the call. Many never

returned.

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I) Individual Motivations

1) The Pope (Urban II) believed that the Crusades will increase his power

in Europe

(a) An end to the schism, with the Pope at the head of an even larger

Christian Church

2) Christians believed that their sins would be forgiven if they participated

in the Crusades

3) Nobles hoped to gain wealth and new lands

4) Serfs were promised freedom if they participated

J) Impact of the Crusades

1) A military failure , they have left a legacy of religious hatred between

Christians and Muslims, as each side committed acts of violence

against each other - as well as the Jews.

2) Increased trade : During and after the Crusades, demand for eastern

goods increased dramatically. The economies of both east and west

profited from this commerce

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3) Encouragement of Learning : Western Europe was reintroduced to

Greek, Roman, Byzantine, as well as Muslim culture. Europeans were

exposed to the advances each culture made in mathematics, science,

literature and art.

4) Changes in the Feudal System

(a) Power of the Monarchs/Kings increases

(b)Feudal bonds weakened. No longer does land = power. Now money

is power.

(c) Powerful and rich merchant (middle) class emerges

5) Changes in the Church

(a) Power and influence of the pope/church decreases

(b)Rift (schism) between the eastern and western church deepens

6) Men, women and even children, answer the call. Many never return.

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