Post-Classical World History

1. Post-Classical World History 600 to 1450 CE

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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”

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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 10th century • Began Delhi Sultanate in India (1206-1526)

22. 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

23. 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 Kamikaze, overspending led to inflation

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

25. Impact of Interaction • Christianity in North & East Africa (~1st 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

26. 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

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

28. 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

29. 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

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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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)

35. 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?

36. 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??

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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