Unit 3 Review

The Post-Classical World:

600 CE - 1450 CE

Themes

• Two Main themes of Post-Classical Period Religious Expansion and Cultural Change Development of Interregional Trade

• Caused: Boundary Conflicts Technological expansion Consumer interest in products More disease

Ghana

Carolingian

Byzantine

Abbasid Caliphate

Axum

Tang China

Srivijaya

Parhae

Silla

Cordoba Caliphate

Heian Japan

States and Empires in 800 CEStates and Empires in 800 CE

Mongol Empire

Russia

Sung China

Koryo

Kamakura Japan

Delhi Sultanate

Scandanavian Kingdoms

Mali

Zimbabwe

BeninOyo

France

Ethiopia

Ayyubid Caliphate

Almohad Caliphate

Poland

Rum

H.R.E.

Hungary

England

Portugal

Spain

States and Empires in 1237 CEStates and Empires in 1237 CE

Angkor

Islamic Caliphates

• Islam developed in 632 CE• Muhammad driven out of Mecca because of

opposition from polytheists (Umayyads); goes to Medina where he gains followers and ultimately regains control of Mecca

• Descendants of Muhammad ruled after - dispute over who should rule Sunni Islam - Whoever is most capable should lead

(majority of Muslims) Shi’a Islam - leaders of Islam should be direct

descendants of Muhammad (minority)

Arab Political Development

• Valued trade, all based on Muslim law (shari’a),• Taxes on non-Muslims (dhimmis) but no forced

conversions, cannot enslave Muslims• Umayyad caliphate (632 - 750 CE): capital at

Damascus; make into hereditary monarchy, expand land, set up bureaucratic gov’t, must be Arab and Muslim for positions; focus on expansion

• Abbasid caliphate (750 - 1258 CE): size made difficult to control, broken into smaller states, allowed non-Arabs as long as Muslim; based in Baghdad; borrowed from Persia; focus on trade

Africa

• Based on gold and salt trade; does not develop manufacturing; empires fall due to waning of resources, smaller provinces gaining independence

• Ghana (500-1200): by 900s Islam major force, increase in trade

• Mali (1235-1400): Sundiata; Mansa Musa (hajj to Mecca displays wealth of Mali)

• Songhay (1340-1591): Niger River; significant in gold trade

• Swahili City States (Eastern Africa) - major trade center on Indian Ocean Trade Route

• Ethiopia - relatively free of invasion; not terribly influenced by Islam; primarily Christian

Byzantine Empire

• Eastern portion of Roman Empire; Constantinople • Theocracy: leader of state is leader of religion

Eastern Orthodox (split from Roman Catholic Church in 1054 CE)

• Emperor Justinian Law Code (updated Roman Laws); tries to re-

conquer Rome but fails; Hagia Sophia• Women had relative freedom (Theodora)• Wealthy b/c Silk Road; Constantinople • Weakened by large empire, disease, the Crusades and

external invasion; lose land to Seljuk Turks, allows Islam to spread; finally conquered by Ottomans (1453)

Medieval Europe

• Feudalism: political and military system based on loyalty; king, lords, knights, vassals, serfs

• Manorial system: social and economic system where people lived in walled self-sufficient manors

• Decentralized power, makes trade difficult which makes Europe develop at a slower pace Early Governments: England (William the Conqueror-

1066); France (Charlemange; 8th/9th c. CE)

• Roman Catholic Church - central power (cathedrals, bishops, abbeys, monasteries only centers of learning)

• Towards end of Medieval period - development of towns and cities; guilds; more centralized government; increased interactions – the Crusades; limited government (England)

China

• After the fall of the Han Dynasty, there are six weak dynasties (220-589 )• Sui (581-618 CE):

Reorganized state control and overcome political unrest; govt is extremely harsh and controlling; shift focus from north to south and south east

redistribute land, peasants overworked/taxed; expensive building projects

Try to take over Korea, fail, increase in revolts, assassinate emperor• Tang (618-906 CE):

Civil Service examination perfected; reduce power of aristocracy Foot binding began Leader in technology and trade Grand Canal - reunifies northern and southern China; helps with food

shortages Expands into Afghanistan, Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea Empress Wu supports Buddhism, but later face persecution and

revival of Confucianism (neo-Confucianism)

China (cont.)

• Song (960-1127 CE): Peasant revolts during Tang dynasty helps topple dynasty Reinforces Tribute Systems Power shift from north to south for trading, sea power Urban growth, neo-Confucianism(personal morality) Decline: not able to unify, military and economic problems, invaded by

Mongols• Yuan (1271-1368 CE) - Mongol rule, Chinese style

Try to keep Chinese and Mongols separate Decline of scholar-gentry Try to continue Mongol nomadic lifestyle Help trade Tolerant of religions- except for Confucianism Do not support foot binding for Mongol women, more equal position for

Mongol women Decline: too big, good conquerers but poor administrators

Japan

• Heavily influenced by Chinese style leadership (Taika Reforms of 646 CE), writing etc, brought Confucianism and Buddhism but Chinese bureaucracy didn’t take off much Emperor loses power to aristocracy and warriors by 9th century CE Little social mobility Local leaders have own military

• Feudalism developed b/c large landowners took much power no one able to unify Similarities between Japanese and W. European feudalism: mutual ties

and obligations, militaristic values Differences: W. Europe (Contracts), Group/Individual bonds (Japan)

• Mongols tried but not able to conquer• Shoguns- military leaders; diamyos- nobles; Samurai - noble warriors • The Talk of Genji

Korea and Vietnam

• Korea Hunters/Gathers from Siberia

and Manchuria Colonized by China during

Han dynasty Sinification - Buddhism,

Chinese writing Not Chinese gov’t style Gov’t jobs based on birth and

family connections; some use of the exam system

Chinese influence mainly touched Aristocratic classes

• Vietnam Raided by Qin dynasty then

conquered by Han in 111 BCE Power in small villages; distinct

language and cultural practices Women had greater freedoms than

Chinese women After conquest: Sinification -

schools, exam system, Confucianism, agricultural techniques, political and military organization

Frequent revolts against Chinese power (Trung sisters - 39 CE)

939 CE - gains independence and maintains it until 19th century

The Mongols

• Tribal nomadic structure; forced to expand for enough resources for growing population

• Ghenggis Khan - founder of unified Mongolian empire; when he dies, split into four major territories

• Tolerant leaders, Calvary based

• Mostly allow local rule in exchange for tax revenue

• Support trade and expansion of religions

• Rule Russia, China, Middle East

• Mongol control of Russia (The Golden Horde): Russian princes paid tribute to Mongols, peasants meet demands of

lords AND Mongols, increase in feudalism for protection from Mongols Decreased trade possibilities, military and political organization

influences Russia; Mongols isolated Russia from western developments

Americas

• Less Developed Lack of trade and technology due to isolation Traded with each other, but not outside Americas

• Agriculture: maize/corn• Polytheistic religion- bloody sacrifices; warfare had religious

significance• Maya (2000 BCE - 900 CE): city-states, decline due to disease,

drought, internal unrest• Aztecs (1325-1521 CE): centralized city states but separate, tribute

system, no bureaucracy, chinampas, Tenochtitlan, conquered by Spain

• Incas (1438-1533 CE) - tribute and welfare system, lack of merchants in comparison to Maya and Aztec, major system of roads, conquered by Spain

Interactions

• Crusades (1095-1272) Byzantine ask for Roman Catholic help to get holy land

(Jerusalem) back 1st crusade Christians gain control but all other Crusades

have Jerusalem under Muslim control, Increases trade shows how much less developed Europe

was compared to the Arab world, brings Arab technology to Europe

• The Black Plague Spread through trade routes, especially bad in China and

southern Europe• Pax Mongolia

Period of relative peace and expansion of trade because of Mongolian control