World in 600 Postclassical Period: Fall of Han, Rome, and Indian classical empires Europe in Dark Ages Lack of political boundaries Religion more important than political boundaries (e.g. Christianity in Europe, Hinduism in India, Buddhism in Central and East Asia)

600-1450 Important Developments Rise and Spread of Islam Byzantine Empire influences Russia Europe grows into major civilization connected to Asia and Middle East China becomes large and prosperous empire Mongols impact world system Rise of civilizations in Africa

600-1450 Important Developments Long distance trade becomes more complex and connects Africa, Europe, and Asia Nomads continue to impact civilizations: Bedouins (Arabs), Vikings, and Mongols Demographic changes continue due to: nomadic migrations Black Death increased urbanization

Rise of Islam Five Pillars of Islam Causes of Sunni-Shi’a Split Reasons for spread of Islam Changes in status of women Arts, Sciences and Technologies

Reasons for spread of Islam Well disciplined armies Weakness of surrounding empires Shari’a Poll tax There was no conversion of the sword Business advantage- trade

Hajj and Kab’a

Byzantine Empire Kept alive legacy of ancient Rome Caesaropapism Eastern Orthodox church split from Roman Catholicism Political and cultural influence on Russia and Eastern Europe Justinian- hagia sophia, grew empire and justinian code

Developments in Europe Feudalism and manorialism Similarites and differences between European and Japanese Feudalism Role of Catholic Church Impact of the Crusades Demographic Changes of late Middle Ages (population change and shift)

Crusades Europeans brought into major world trade systems Europeans encounter much more sophisticated cultures of Middle East Brought back silk, spices, and gold Increased demand for additional goods Starts the Mediterranean sea trade and growth of city states

Sui, Tang, Song China Re-establishment of empire Growth of examination system and scholar-officials Rise and decline of Buddhism Decline in status of women Neo-Confucianism Chinese modernism (technology, urbanism, manufacturing, etc.)

Sui 598-618 Re-establishment of empire GRand Canal- increased internal communication and trade

Tang 618-907 Continued effective communication system- postal stations, roads with inns Equal field system- limit power of land owning aristocracy Merit based bureaucracy LARGE empire- Idea of Middle Kingdom (Vietnam, Manchuria and Tibet) Established vassal kingdom in Korea- silla

Song 960- Golden era Lost territory compared to the tang Increased agricultural production Increasing population Urbanization- urban large scale capitals- Xian, Hangzhou Technological innovations- compass, print, gunpowder Financial innovations- flying cash aided trade Women’s status declines Neoconfucianism

Impact of Mongols Reasons for Genghis Khan’s success Style of Mongol Rule Impact of Mongol rule on China, Russia, Middle East (Islamic heartland) Pax Mongolica and diffusion of goods, ideas, and plague

Changes brought by Mongols Overall centralization Changed capitals Increased trade Rule from afar Often times, mongols adopted cultural/religious beliefs of subjects

African Societies Ghana, Mali, Swahili City-States Gold/Salt Trade Influence of Islam Indian Ocean Trade Africa increasingly part of world trade system

Important Issues Imperfect boundaries in areas Cultural labels Wide differences in cultural zones Christendom Muslims in mali vs. Muslim in Central asia

Increasing Complexity of Trade Routes Africa, Europe, and Asia tied together for the first time: Silk Road Mediterranean Trans-Saharan Trade Indian Ocean Trade

Silk Routes

Mediterranean Trade Venice and Genoa became important ports during Crusades

Trans-Saharan Trade

Indian Ocean

Continued influence of nomadic peoples Arabs—spread of Islam Vikings—led to feudalism in Europe Turks Mongols Bantu-speaking peoples in Africa

Impacts of Black Death Areas impacted include Europe, China, and Middle East (Islamic) countries Population declines Labor Shortages

World in 1450 China reestablished but increasingly inward looking under Ming Dynasty End of unified Islamic Empire but Islam still a worldwide religion Growth of Europe into separate kingdoms Increasing desire for trade goods, particularly in Europe Ottoman Turks take over Byzantine Empire Islamic civilizations in India (Mughal Empire) End of nomadic ability to dominate civilizations Decreasing status of elite women in civilized societies (China, Islamic countries, Europe)