The Last of the Great Nomadic Challenges 600-1450 Expanding Communities

Push/Pull factors Push/Emmigration- lack of resources (food), competition over resources, intolerant government policies, war, disease, natural disaster/little ice age, technologies to get you there Pull/Immigration- job opportunities, more abundant resources, more tolerant societies, safety, peace, cities (urbanization), appeal of sedentary societies, trade

Demographic and Environmental Changes Nomadic Migrations Vikings Turks Aztecs Mongols Arabs Predict the impact of these movements.

Demographic and Environmental Changes Migration of Agricultural Peoples Bantu migrations Europeans to Eastern and Central Europe Consequences of Disease For ex. Black Plague 1348 Growth and Role of Cities Urbanization (Ghuang Zhou, Canton, Chang’an,Cairo, Cordova, Samarkand, Baghdad, Damascus, Venice, Constantinople, Tenochtitlan, Timbuktu, etc.) How much of this demonstrates continuity?

Arabs Early post-classical movements along the Arabian Peninsula. Bedouin merchants facilitated spread of Islam invaded and eventually settled in Middle East, Northern Africa and Southern Europe. Although the notion of Caliphate would be sacked by Mongols in 1258, Islam held areas together culturally, and mixed with native customs and religions. Despite political conflict over succession (Sunni-Shiite) Dar Al Islam would unite much of AfroEurasia

Vikings These sea-faring marauders swept into many parts of Europe from Normandy to Mediterranean areas, to Russia during the 8th and 9th centuries looting and destroying communities and churches and monasteries. Some settled and intermarrying with groups like Normans and Rus (Russia). Served in Black sea trade with Byzantium but are mostly known for providing the threat to Western European armies developed under the auspices of Feudalism

Turks Originally Indo-Europeans who migrated into the Middle east dating various time in this era. The Seljuk Turks invaded the Byzanitne Empire sparking another Great migration to the Middle Eats-crusader. Indirectly responsible for Europe’s interest and involvement in long-distance trade. Also served as mercenaries and militia in both Tang and Abbasid armies. By the end of this era, the Ottoman Turks were on the rise capturing Constantinople (thanks to the Mongols) by 1453. Turks (Afghan) even invaded India forming the Delhi Sultanate and introduced Islam into India with such force that the consequences reverberated throughout the rest of Indian history.

Mongols Identified by many historians as the end on the nomadic era. Clearly the good was their ability to establish a Khanate system where safe trade, religious tolerance and a relatively peaceful existence (Pax Mongolica) facilitated an East meets west connecting Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Europe. For even a brief time Central Asian Empire the Timurud Dynasty will become a major Islamic center of trade and scholarship in the great city of Samarkand ruled by Tamerlane. They would also contribute to the spread of the black death, the end of the Song Dynasty and the Abbasid Caliphate and the indirect beginnings of the rise of Western European age of exploration.

Aztecs Migrated to the Central Valley of Mexico around Lake Texcoco according to legend ( area where Eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its talons). Developed an agricultural method of tying reeds to floating gardens known as chinampas. Established a thriving militaristic state using tribute from surrounding areas to develop thriving city Tenochtitlan. Decentralized in nature, the development of causeways and bridges and roads would facilitate trade within the city dubbed “the Venice of the Americas” by the Spanish conquistadores who encountered it for the first time. Many war captives were either enslaved or sacrificed.

Bantus Finally established settlements of stateless societies, integrated into the Tans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade, spread language (see Swahili), agriculture (Sorghum, millet, banana, etc) and establishment of Empires, Kingdoms and city-states ( Mali,Kongo, Benin, Swahili city states of Kilwa, Sofala, Mombasa, Zanzibar and Kingdom of Zimbabwe)

Polynesians Another significant migration during this era was the movement of Polynesian people across the the Pacific Ocean. From their origins in East Asia, probably Taiwan, Polynesians spent several centuries “island hoping” to Fiji, Somoa, and Tahiti. By 500 C.E. they had reached the Hawaiian Islands. After learning to navigate with the stars and perfecting canoe building, their reach extended thousands of miles to complete the Polynesian Triangle, an imaginary triangle with Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island forming its corners. Without a written language or the use of metals, they formed complex hierarchical societies. There is convincing evidence that Polynesian mariners travelled as far as the coast of South America. Nevertheless, these connected societies established in the Pacific remained largely isolated from the rest of the world. The Polynesian Triangle Animals taken by the migrating Polynesians had significant environmental consequences. In Hawaii the pigs they brought destroyed much of the indigenous flora and fauna. Much worse were the consequences of large edible rats the Polynesians carried to Easter Island. The pigs devoured the nuts and seeds from trees thus preventing them from replenishing. Probably to appease their gods, the Polynesians cut most all of the mature trees. Soon there was nothing left to make boats for fishing. After having eaten everything on the island they could, including their dogs, the population suffered a catastrophic collapse

Inter-regional networks and Contacts Mediterranean trade circuit Silk Routes Indian Ocean Trans-Saharan Trade Trans-American circuits

Mediterranean Circuits

Silk Routes

Indian Ocean

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trans-American trade

Religious Connections

COMP Thesis The Mongols and Aztecs both established large empire based on military prowess and might, both collected tribute from peripheral states in return for protection and autonomy, however, the Mongol Empire was established into a massive interregional trading network while the Aztecs regional connections were much smaller extending into only the Central Valley of Mexico The nomadic impacts of the Turks and Arabs from 600-1450 both saw militaristic interaction with the Christina world through conquests and Holy Wars, both integrated interregional trading networks of trade through Islam, however, the Arabs developed a new monolithic culture of Islam whilst the Turks migrated and assimilated into the previously established Dar Al Islam The Vikings and Polynesians 600-1450 both developed sea=faring technologies for nomadic migrations, however, the Vikings came in as conquerors looking for agriculture while the Polynesians diffused agriculture throughout the South Pacific. The Vikings also were involved in previously established societies ( both violently and through trading ties) while the Polynesians would settle in brave new worlds throughout the Phillipines and Indonesia. The Bantu and Mongol migrations from 600-1450 would both serve to integrate previously established trading networks like the Silk Routes (Mongols) and Trans-Saharan (Bantu/Sudanic Kingdoms), however, the Mongols would contribute to a demographic shift causing large swaths of populations to decrease due to the black death while the African Kingdoms and city-states increase due to the introduction of more stable agricultural production. The African Kingdoms would be far more peaceful in their exchanges while the Mongols extended their empire through bloody conquest.

Impact of Mongols: Blessing or a Curse

China: Internal and External Expansion Tang Dynasty Technological innovations: compass, paper, gunpowder etc. Influence on Japan Footbinding, Neo-Confucianism Song Dynasty All the makings of an industrial revolution Early Ming Zheng He voyages, eunochs and nomadic threats

Islamic World: Dar al-Islam Expanding cultural, economic and political influence Al-Andalus/ Islamic Spain North and West Africa Indian Ocean: East Africa, India, SE Asia Technological accomplishments: astrolabe, algebra, philosophy, cartography…

Al-Andalus

Islamic World: Sample Comparisons Compare Islam to Christianity Compare Islamic contacts with Europe and with Africa Crusades- points of view compared Compare gender changes Compare support/ patronage of arts and sciences

Europe Break in eastern and Western Christendom: political significance? Religious schisms compared: Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism Sunni/ Shiite in Islam

Europe Restructuring of institutions Role of religion: Papacy, Crusades, architecture and education Development of feudalism Comparison of feudalism in Europe and Japan Increasing importance of monarchy over church

Amer-Indian World Migrations over the Bering Strait at least 10,000 years ago. Northern America: Cahokia Southwest: Hohokam Meso-America; Olmecs, Maya, Toltec (Aztec) South America: Nazca, Moche, (Inca)

Sub-Saharan Africa West African kingdoms: Ghana, Mali, Songhay East African city states: Axum, Kilwa, Mombasa Southern Africa: Great Zimbabwe Contacts with Islamic World, Indian Ocean world, and within Africa Role of Trade, Education and Religion

Questions we will focus on: Was there a world economic network in this time period? How did gender roles change? How can material culture and urban history help us to understand early societies?

Conclusions Examples of continuity? Examples of change? Think about new and old players. Similar patterns and trends: demographic, social and cultural, technological. New avenues of intersection.