Time Period 1 (1200 C.E - 1450 C.E)

• Major events which caused CHANGE:

  • Islam/Islamic empire emerge
  • Industrial Revolution in China (Sung dynasty)
  • Spread of Neo-Confucianism (in China): mixture of Confucianism with some Buddhism
  • Camels in Sahara – increased trade
  • The Great Schism - (when the East and the West churches divided into Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity; they divided over the issue of icons); 1054
  • Black Death – decimated Europe’s population, political, and economic systems; 1346-53
• New Empires and Political Systems:

  • Tang Dynasty (618 – 906)
  • A merit-based bureaucracy - System developed during the Han Dynasty, but the Tang made good use of it by recruiting government officials who were well educated, loyal, and efficient. Although powerful families used their resources to place relatives in government positions, most bureaucrats won their posts because of intellectual ability.
  • Mongols
  • Caliphate System – religious leader and the political leader one in the same. Used in Islamic political systems
  • Feudalism in Europe – King; Lords; Knights; Peasants
• Continuities:

  • The Byzantine Empire remained major power; It held many different groups of peoples. Bureaucracy key to success – SIMILAR TO TANG
  • The impact of the Viking raids - challenged Europeans to get better protection. Invaded rural areas rather than large cities
  • The Crusades (1095-1291): Europeans travel to Holy Land – creating a desire to Eastern goods – leads to exploration
  • Mongolian empires: new group of “invaders” from Mongolia. Under the leadership of Genghis Khan
  • Mamluk rule in Egypt (non-Arab slaves in Egypt who overthrew the Egyptians)
• Islam was a unifying force in cultural aspects in Eurasia and Africa. Rise of Islamic empires in which they all had the same belief system (Islam), similar language (Arabic), similar art (geometric designs).
• State - An organized political community under one government.
• Song Dynasty - 960-1279

  • China's golden age
  • Expanded on Grand Canal
  • Found gunpowder
  • Introduction of champa rice: Important as it could be harvested 3 times a year
  • CAUSE AND EFFECT: More food (champa rice) increased Song's population
  • Revival of Confucianism and Civil Service Exam.
  • Merit-based Bureaucracy. Meritocracy!
• Abbasid Caliphate - 750-1258

  • Fractured by invaders
  • Many Muslim states arose from it's 'ashes'
• Delhi Sultanate - rose from Abbasid Caliphate's fall, product of Muslim Turks.
• Mamluk Sultanate - in North Africa.

  Formed by former enslaved people from Egypt.
• COMPARISONS: Song Dynasty flourished during 1200-1450, whilst The Abbasid Caliphate died socially, politically, and economically.
• South Asian States:

  • Vijayanagara Empire
  • Chola Kingdom

  Both established power and extended influence through trade
• Mali - used centralization to control their empire, compared to Ghana, it's predecessor. Mali gained lots of wealth.

  
  

  Major sources of wealth: Salt, Gold, Ivory
• Mansa Musa - 1312-1337

  Ruler of Mali, helped expand trade to increase riches in his empire. Helped to make Mali the wealthiest kingdom in Africa.
• Aztecs: 1421-1521

  Ruled remotely, utilized the tribute system to expand and make a large empire. Enforced tribute system through a strong military.
• Incans: 1532 - 1572

  Utilized the Mit'a system, which compelled their citizens into mandatory public service for certain periods of time.
• CHANGE AND CONTINUITIES: Feudal empires lost power during the 12th and 15th centuries due to the increasing success of centralized powers.
• Feudalism - social hierachy in medieval Europe.

  1. Crown - Monarchs
  2. Nobles - held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service
  3. Vassals - rented land from the noble class
  4. Peasants/Serfs - obliged to live on their lord's land and give him labor and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.
• Religions (UNIT 1)

  • Islam and it's language (Arabic) were used to help unite regions throughout Afro-Eurasia
  • Confucianism was used to justify their rule (Ex. Civil Service Exam)
  • Hinduism/Buddhism was also used to justify/consolidate rule in S. and S.E Asia. Hinduism introduced the Caste System in Dehli Sultanate
  • Roman Catholic was relatively weak. Organized societies apart from states.
• Struggle for power between Catholic church and state due to rising powers in both France and the Holy Roman Empire
• COMPARISONS AND SIMLARITIES: All major world religions spread.
• Convert Religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism.

  Sent out missionaries to create new converts to their own religions. Peaceful
• CAUSE AND EFFECT: The large growth of world religions caused the decline of local indigenous religions.
• Religious conversions through military force:

  • Muslims invaded N. India to create The Dehli Sultanate. The new Muslim rule placed the Jizya Tax, which allowed non-muslims to remain in the empire, but would be taxxed.

  CAUSE AND EFFECT: Many people in the Dehli Sultanate converted to Islam to avoid the Jizya Tax.
• Religious conversions happened through trade
• CAUSE AND EFFECT:

  Literacy rates increased due to the spread of paper-making technologies from China to the Western parts of the world. Places like Europe, N. Africa, and S. & S.E Asia

  This caused learning in fields like mathematics and medicine to increase as well
• House of Wisdom - Baghdad, Iraq - 8th century. During the Abbasid dynasty, the House of Wisdom was a Muslim center of learning and culture.
• Nomadic people - Pastoral people through Afro-Eurasia regions. Helped increase trade (ex. Silk Roads) and cross-cultural interactions.

  During this time period, their influence began to wane over the spread of cultures as merchants in trade routes increased.