1. 600-1450 Review

2. Why Europe? Many historian debate the nature of why Europeans were successful at exploration and,subsequently, the exploitation of land labor and capital. Some argue that they were geographically compelled or fortunate to be in the time and place which suited them perfectly for territorial expansion. Others argue that they were just fortunate because the Chinese were on the precipice of entire global domination and made a decision which would have centuries long reverberations. Others contend that the Europeans were competitive and maintained and intrepid spirit of exploration and, ultimately, conquest.. Regardless of the interpretations, Europe still had quite a way to go in terms of development in the 15 th century. An account from Zheng He would greatly add an understanding in terms of the skills, motivations and reasons for why the Ming Dynasty decided to scrap their exploratory program because most records were burned including ship logs and the ships themselves for fuel.

3. Americas - Aztec, Inca, Maya Political system: Theocratic, Autocratic monarchy Economic: Agriculture based Religion: Polytheistic, Human sacrifice New Labor system: Mita Gender Roles: Patriarchal, women had more legal rights such as property inheritance. A woman could pass on land and any other belongings to her daughter, as a man to his son. Achievements: Calendar, higher-level math (concept of 0), advanced water system, bridges & tunnels.

4. Europe 500-1200 Political system: Feudalism Economic system: Manorialism Religion: Christianity/Catholic Gender roles: Patriarchal 1200-1500 Political system: National Monarchy Cultural interaction: Crusades, trade begins again Demographic changes: Increased with technology, but decreased with Bubonic Plague, then increased again with trade Japan Political system: Feudalism Economic: Agriculture based Labor system: Serfdom Religion: Buddhism, Shintoism Gender Roles: Patriarchal, women samurai; First novel by a woman Cultural Interaction: Trade, massive cultural diffusion with China

5. Dar al’Islam & Abbasid Caliphate Political system: Theocratic/Autocratic Monarchy Gender Roles: Patriarchal, veiling of women, harems- section of the house where the women stayed and only men of the family could go; women had more legal rights – divorce. Cultural Interaction: trade with Europe; Crusades Achievements: Arabic numbers, Math, Science, Calligraphy, Medicines, Libraries, Universities. Byzantine Location: Present day Greece and Turkey Religion: Christian/Eastern Orthodox (spreads to Russia) Political system:Theocratic/Autocratic monarchy

6. China: Tang & Song 1279-1368 Political system: Autocratic monarchy Economic: Agriculture based Labor system: Free labor with corveé Achievements: Gunpowder, compass, paper, printing, iron, silk, paper money, champa rice Cultural Interaction/influence on: Japan, Korea, Vietnam Mongol Empire 1200-1300 Occupation: originally nomadic pastoralists Achievements: controlled largest land empire ever, promoted cultural diffusion, Mongol Peace Gender roles: Patriarchal, omen were allowed to fight as warriors; women had influence over Khans

7. India Religion: Hinduism Northern India conquered by: Islamic Armies New religion introduced: Islam Gender roles: Patriarchal, caste system gave women little mobility Sati – practice pressuring women to commit suicide after the death of their husband Africa: Ghana, Mali & Songhai Political system: autocratic monarchy Religion: Islam and/or animism Cultural Interaction: Gold-Salt trade (trans-Saharan trade), Bantu migrations, slavery Human Migrations: Bantu migrations, Muslims coming to Northern Africa to settle

8. The Bookends 600- Great Classical Empires have fallen (Han, Rome, Gupta) 570-632- The coming of Islam 1000- Trade increases both by land and sea 1211-The beginning of Mongol conquests 1347-beginnings of Bubonic plague in Med. World

9. The Bookends 1405-1433-Zheng He’s voyages in the Indian Ocean 1441-Beginnings of Portuguese Slave Trade 1450- Fall of Constantinople and decline of Silk Roads 1450- Europe looks to the Atlantic

10. Things to Remember 1. Tremendous growth in trade due to improvements in technology 1. Major technological (navigational) developments 2. Movement of People (Mongols)greatly altered the world 3. Spread of religion and trade acted as a unifying force 4. Political structures of many areas adapted and changed due to the new conditions of the world

11. Growth in Trade Long distance trade increased tremendously Silk Road benefited from big empires and peace –Islamic Caliphate –Mongol Empire Indian Ocean Trade Trans-Saharan trade Mediterranean Trade

12. Technology Maritime –Compass –Ship building tech (rudders, hulls, sails) Overland –camel saddle, stirrup Defense –short bow, gunpowder,

13. Demography Bantu peoples moved along Congo River and further south and east in Africa. Evidence = Bantu language Vikings moved along rivers and oceans into Europe (and even to the New World?) Comparison Viking ships = horses of other nomads

14. Demography Turks and Mongols moved southward and westward from the steppes of Asia bringing bubonic plague to China and Europe Polynesian migrations with canoes to the islands in the Pacific

15. Social & Gender Structure Religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam preached equality of all peoples (social classes and gender) Societies are still very unequal and patriarchal Some religions like Buddhism and Christianity allow women to have monastic roles, which gives them choices.

16. Cultural Diffusion Trade = spread of religions & cultural ideas!!! Christianity spread in Europe & Eastern Med. Unifying force during political fragmentation. Buddhism spread in Asia esp. SE Asia where islands had a trade relationship with India. Islam spread cultural & religious ideas as it expanded under the Umayyads & Abbasids. Confucianism spread as China’s influence grew in East and SE Asia.

17. Political Centralized Empires –Tang and Song in China –Byzantine in Eastern Med. –Umayyad & Abbasid Caliphates in central Asia Decentralized regions –Western Europe and Japan (FEUDALISM!) Mongol Empire - (they later changed political and economic structure) –4 khanates

18. Changes Europe (before Crusades) –Feudalism & manorialism begin = no centralized government –Less learning occurs = only Church and nobles can afford –Crusades & plague = decrease in population –Catholic Church only unifying institution –Ruralization = move away from cities –Decrease in trade Europe (after Crusades) –Increase in nationalism & power of the monarch –Decrease in power of the Church –Urbanization –Increase in trade –Decline of feudalism

19. Changes Asia –Mongols take control - Pax Mongolika, spread of technology –Chinese Technology = Gunpowder, compass, paper, printing, iron, silk, paper money, –Population changes = champa rice increases population; plague decreases –Japan = feudalism & massive cultural diffusion with China Islamic World (Dar al’Islam) –Spread of religion and culture through trade –Rights for women –Crusades –Experience a Renaissance

20. Changes Africa –Bantu migrations = cultural similarities in sub-Saharan Africa –Gold-salt trade –Rulers convert to Islam, many commoners remain animistic General –Classical empires have fallen and new ones have been created –Migrations of nomadic peoples cause major international changes and diffusion of ideas and diseases –Transcontinental trade –Trade spread religions and technology

21. Continuities Role of religion important in life and continues to spread Trade routes continue to link areas together Nomadic tribes still moving (Mongols and Bantus) Patriarchal societies with Social hierarchies Monarchies