1

Rise and Decline of Cities

Cities experienced

both rises and declines

during Period III.

Big Era 2

300 CE – 1500 CE

Big Era 3 Big Era 5Big Era 4

1800 CE10,000 BCE 1000 BCE

Big Era 6Big Era 2

600 CE – 1500 CE

Big Era 3 Big Era 5Big Era 4

1800 CE10,000 BCE 1000 BCE

2

The Rise and Decline of Cities

The effects of trade and productivity on cities from

600-1450 CE

3

Between 600-1450 CE, many connections were established among regions. These formed

interregional patterns of unity.

Microsoft®Encarta®Reference Library 2002. ©1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

4

Important Factors

• 5 Main Factors – Population

Growth/Migration– The Rise and Fall of

States and Empires– Trade Networks– The Spread of Ideas

and Beliefs– Diffusion of Crops

and Technologies

5

World population grew from about 250 million to 460 million between 200 CE and 1500 CE.

Sometimes interregional exchanges allowed disease to spread, as well as more helpful things.

Bubonic Plague

6

Population Growth and Migration

• Effects of a growing population– Growing population

strained the environment• Deforestation, soil

erosion, floods and famines

– Diseases spread in heavily populated areas (along trade routes)

– Cities who experienced these issues began to decline

• What did people do?– Migrate to escape

floundering cities• Took food, animals, and

ideas to new home• Pushed out existing

residents and forced them to migrate elsewhere

• New farming and military technology were spread as well

• Introduced new languages, arts and cultures to new regions

7

People migrated to new places in (and out) of Afroeurasia.

Vikings

Bantu-Speaking People of Africa

Mongols

Turkic Groups

People of Oceania

Arabs

Germanic Tribes

Chinese

8

States and Empires

• The Fall of Classical Empires– Creates instability

and the decline of major cities

• New Empires Emerge– Stability improves

trade and commerce

– Trade=Cities Grow– Built on the

framework of previous empires

9

States and Empires (Cont.)• Contribution to the Rise of

Cities– Wars=Destruction, but

also new inventions– Strong gov’t=Stability=

Trade Increase– Patrons of science, art,

and religion– Facilitated interactions

of people from various backgrounds

10

Sui ChinaSilla

Parhae

Yamoto Japan

Harsha’ Empire

Chalukya

Avar Kingdom

Frankish Kingdoms

GhanaAxum

Sassanid Empire

Byzantine Empire

States and Empires in 600 CE

11

Ghana

Carolingian

Byzantine

Abbasid Caliphate

Axum

Gurjara-Pratihara

Tang China

Srivijaya

Parhae

Silla

Cordoba Caliphate

Heian Japan

States and Empires in 800 CE

Dar-al Islam

12

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 CE

Angkor

THE EXCEPTION!!!!!!!!

13

Mali

Oyo Benin

Zimbabwe

Zanj City-States

Ethiopia VijayanagaraSiam

Majapahit

Ashikaga Japan

Korea

Marinids HafsidsMamluk Sultanate

Granada

Portugal Castile

France

ScotlandEngland

Union of Kalmar

Holy Roman Empire

Poland-Lithuania

Hungary

Ottoman Emp.

Russian States

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Jagatai Khanate

Ming China

Timurid Empire

States and Empires in 1400 CE

14

Trade Networks• Trade Networks

Grow=Cities Grow Along Trade Routes– Stimulates use of

natural resources– Spread religion, art,

science, and tech– Manufacturing grows

(jobs)– Bank, credit, and

money systems facilitate long distance trade

• Trade Networks Create Demand– Cities provide new

markets for consumer goods

– Increased population creates needs

– New foods can supplement higher populations

– Merchants see opportunity in urban areas

15

From 600-1500 CE, trade routes extended farther and were used by more travelers.

IOMS

Trans-Saharan

Silk Road

Hanseatic League

16

Spread of Ideas and Beliefs• Cultural Exchange

– Trade increases interaction, interaction causes ideas to be exchanged

• Unity– Common belief systems – Religious and cultural

centers emerge• Conflict

– New and old beliefs and cultures create conflict which can devastate cities

17

Transport and communication technologies improved.

AstrolabeLateen sail North Arabian

camel saddle

Books & paperStern-rudder

Stirrup

Mapmaking

18

Water & energy technologies were

transferred across Afroeurasia.• Hydraulic systems carried water where expanding cities needed it.

• Wheels lifted water to irrigate crops and drain swamps.

• Waterwheels, windmills, and trip-hammers provided energy for pumping, grinding, milling, and pounding.

19

• Citrus fruits rolled from Southwest Asia to Spain, celebrated in garden and song.

• Cane sugar sweetened a path from India to the Mediterranean.

• Cotton wove its way from India to North Africa, Central Asia, and China.

20

• The pace of innovation increased.

• Knowledge accumulated more quickly.

• Manufacturing and farming productivity increased.

• People’s diets and health improved.

• Sea travel and transport webs became thicker.

How did transfers of technology and products

allow cities to grow?