The Post-Classical The Post-Classical WorldWorld

600-1450

Remember where we left off…• Classical Empires were no longer existed

due to internal problems and external invaders (often related to the Huns)

• Old trade routes (Silk Road) are less safe than previously

• Belief Systems are still very important, and in fact spreading in this time of chaos– Buddhism in China– Christianity in the remnants of the Roman

Empire

Key Points to Remember for the Post-Classical Era

• A “leading” civilization—the Muslim Empire• Expansion of new (Islam) and existing belief

systems• An Afro-Eurasian trade network (not Global

yet!!!)• Expansion of “civilizations” to new areas

– Sub-Saharan Africa– Northern Europe– Japan– Americas– Polynesia

Islam

• Begins in Saudi Arabia--622

• Strong appeal to many – Monotheism– Highly developed legal codes– Egalitarianism– Strong sense of community

The Muslim Empire• Crisis of leadership

– Who is going to be caliph– Eventually leads to Sunni-Shiite split

• Umayyads 661-750– Damascus, Syria– Dominated Arabs– Conquerors

• Aided by weakening empires around it• Strong fighters in the desert• Religious zeal

• Abbassids 750-1258– Baghdad, Iraq– End Arab dominance– Islam becomes a universal religion– Controlled trade routes, highly urban society

• Weakened by– Seljuk Turks in 900s (assume political

leadership)– Crusades– Mongols – Capture Baghdad 1258

Golden Age of Muslim World

• Muhammad as a merchant– Pioneer new business practices – Guilds dominate city life– Islam and ideas continue to spread via trade

networks

• Especially knowledgeable in math, science, medicine

• Works of art based on calligraphy and geometric patterns

Western Europe• Early Middle Ages 500-1000

– Invasions of Vikings, Magyars, Muslims– Feudalism

• Weak central government• Strict social hierarchy

– manorialism• Self-sufficient; no trade; few cities

– Rule of Catholic church• Conflict between secular rulers and Popes

Unity for A Moment…

• Charlemagne

• Crowned Christmas Day 800– Model for later monarchs– Spread Christianity to Northern Europe– Blending of Christian, Roman, and Germanic

traditions

• High Middle Ages 1000-1300– Agricultural revolution– Population growth – Revival of cities--Commercial Revolution– Weakening of feudal (nobility) system– Universities, scholasticism (reason and faith)– The Crusades

• Not successful in original goal• Introduction to new ideas, demand for goods, “pull”

Europe out of dark ages

Beginnings Of Nation-States• England

– William the Conqueror– King John 1215

• Magna Carta

– Limited Monarchy

• France– Capetian Kings– Absolute Monarchy

• Holy Roman Empire– Battle Of Lay Investiture– No unity

• Late Middle Ages 1300-1500– Plague– Hundred Years’ War– Social Chaos– Questioning of Church

• Results:– Golden Age of Peasantry– Increasing Power of Monarchs

Byzantine Empire

• Justinian (and Theodora)– Recaptured lands– Wealth of Constantinople (center of trade)– Hagia Sophia– The Code

• Eastern Orthodox Christianity– Schism– Icons

• Fall to Ottoman Turks 1453

Byzantine Commonwealth

• Kiev Russia 900s– Eastern Orthodox Christianity– Cyrillic alphabet– Arts and architecture– Autocratic rule

• Eastern Europe– Diversity!!!

• Language, religion, influences

East Asia

• Tang 618-907– Tang-Abbassid Silk Road– Military size– Tributary states;– Model for Korea, Japan

• Song 960-1279– Inward looking; fear of nomadic people– Neo-Confucianism; Golden Age– Power of scholar-gentry– footbinding

The Mongols

• Last nomadic surge

• Great conquerors, not rulers

• Yuan China– Tried to stay separate from Chinese– Middle East– Russia

• Cut off Russia from West

The Ming 1368-1644

• Revival of Confucianism

• Zheng He (1433)– Inward looking

• Korea– Cultural bridge– Own heritage; hangul

• Japan

• Unified by Yamato Clan (1 dynasty)

• Shintoism

• Nara

• Heian– Selective borrowing; Confucianism, Buddhism– Dwellers among the clouds; literature

• Feudalism• Similar to European

– Daimyo vs. Nobility– Little power to king, noble– Bushido vs. chivalry

• Differences– Declining power of Japanese women– European model included negotiated bonds;

pattern for increasing political representation in West

Sub-Saharan Africa• Camel encouraged trade across Sahara

• West African Kingdoms– Ghana, Mali, Songhai– Gold for salt– Wealth and power of kings– Increasing conversion to Islam (elite)– Continue traditional patterns (women; Ibn

Battuta)

• Famous emperor– Mansa Musa– Hajj– Outside knowledge of wealth

East African city-states

• Kilwa, Sofala, Mogadishu– Indian Ocean trade– Introduction of Islam– New language—Swahili (cultural blending)

mix of Bantu and Arabic

The Americas

• Maya (Classical)– City-states– Trade– Priestly power– Importance of some women

Empires in the Americas

• Aztecs– Feared by many– Human sacrifice– Large empire– Agriculture, chinampas– Trade– Religion– Writing– Fall to Spanish

• Incas– Absolute rule– Vertical trade– Terrace Farming– No market economy– Impose language– No writing; quipu– Fall to Spanish