UNIT 1: The Global Tapestry c. 1200 - c. 1450

Unit 1

• The Global Tapestry

• c. 1200 - 1450

• various civilizations around the world and how they are maintaining and building their power

State

a territory that is politically organized under a single government

Song Dynasty (CHINA)

• Neo-Confucianism (previously from the Tang Dynasty)

• Imperial Bureaucracy

Neo-Confucianism

got rid of the Buddhist influence on Confucianism

Confucianism

• hierarchical society (proper order of conduct)

• filial piety (extreme respect for elders)

• women were stripped of legal and social rights

• foot binding

Bureaucracy

a government that is politically arranged hierarchically, that carries out the orders of the elite/emperor

Imperial Bureaucracy in the Song Dynasty

• Civil Service Exam (jobs earned on merit and skill rather than hierarchy)

• legitimacy of the emperor’s rule

• focus on education

Song Dynasty’s Influence on Neighboring Regions

Korea + Japan + Vietnam

• each influenced by Chinese traditions and ideals

• tactics used by China influenced neighboring states

Buddhism

• originated in India and spread to China (before the Song Dynasty)

• Four Noble Truths

• Theravada Buddhism - individual enlightenment (Nirvana)

• Mahayana Buddhism - collective enlightenment, helping all people achieve liberation

Buddhism and Hinduism

• cycle of life and death to reincarnation

• become one with the universe

• achieving nirvana

Song Dynasty’s Economy

• prosperity and population growth steadily increased

• commercialization - manufacturers and artisans produced more to sell in markets (from China to across Eurasia)

• porcelain & silk

• champa rice - resisted drought, matured early, could be harvested multiple times per year

• Grand Canal - facilitated trade and communication in China

Dar-Al Islam

“House of Islam” - refers to all the places in the world where Islamic faith was the principal religion

Monotheistic Religions

• Judaism - ethnic religion of the Jews

• Christianity - centered on Jesus Christ

• Islam - centered on “Allah”

the practice of these religions shaped their societies

Prophet Muhammad

• final prophet of God’s messengers

• preached that salvation would be found in righteous action

Abbasid Caliphate

• located in Baghdad and ethnically Arab

• began to break up and lose power allowing political entities to arise

• dominated by Turkic people (ethnic Turks - NOT Arabs)

Seljuk Empire

• established in the 11th century and located in Central Asia

• Seljuk fought the Abbasid regime through weaknesses

• Seljuks claimed most of the power in the region

Dominance of Arabs VS. Turks

During c. 1200 - 1450: the dominance of …

• Arab Muslim DECREASED

• Turkic Muslim INCREASED

Turkic Empires: CONTINUITY

(some practices were still continued from former empires)

• military administered their states

• Sharia Law - governed various aspects of a Muslim's life, including moral, ethical, and legal matters

• The Qur'an

Scientific Innovations: Muslim World

• NASIR AL-DIN AL-TUSI: invented trigonometry

• translation of ancient Greek morals and philosophies like Plato and Aristotle

House of Wisdom

• intellectual center in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age

• established under the Abbasid Empire

• held scholarly works and preserved manuscripts

Dar-Al Islam & Song China

represented the center of the world’s scholarship and wealth during c. 1200 - 1450

Expansion of Muslim Rule

Military Expansion:

• establishment of new empires (Seljuk Empire, Delhi Sultanate, etc.)

Muslim Merchants:

• stimulated trade and the movement of Islam ideals to other region - resulting in conversion (e.g. West African Empire of Mali)

Muslim Missionaries:

• Sufis - represented a new sect of Islam which was more open to adapting themselves to local beliefs (allowing a faster spread of religion)

South & Southeast Asia’s Belief Systems

Hinduism + Buddhism + Islam

South Asia: Prominent Belief Systems

• Buddhism was born here, but declined and reduced to monastic communities in Nepal and Tibet (individuals live in a community, often in a monastery, dedicating their lives to spiritual development and following a set of rules and vows)

• Hinduism became the most widespread religion in India, followed by Islam with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate

Bhakti Movement

• South Asia

• an innovation on Hinduism (polytheistic)

• devotion to ONE of the Hindu gods was emphasized

• this version of Hinduism became much more appealing to believers, without the need for complex hierarchies and sacrifices

• challenged some social and gender norms present in India

Southeast Asia: Prominent Belief Systems

Buddhism + Islam were against each other for dominance

Delhi Sultanate: State Building Attempts (South Asia)

Rajput Kingdoms:

• South Asia - ruled Northern India

• there was difficulty imposing a total Muslim state on a majority Hindu population

• Hindu resistance led to RAJPUT KINDOMS (a collection of rival/warring Hindu kingdoms that existed before Muslim rule) where Muslim rule was controlled

Vijayanagara Empire:

• South Asia - ruled Southern India

• established due to a failed attempt of the Delhi Sultanate extending Muslim rule

• missionaries sent by the Sultanate were former Hindus who converted to Islam under pressure

• they created a rival empire with majority Hindu status

Majapahit Kingdom

• Southeast Asia - sea based kingdom

• Buddhist

• most powerful state

• immense naval power and control over sea routes for trade

• began to decline through the supporting of its trading rival: The Sultanate of Malacca

Khmer Empire

• Southeast Asia

• converted from Hindu to Buddhist

• the blending of these two belief systems is displayed by the structure: Angkor Wat: Hindu temple the underwent Buddhist changes and elements

Americas’ Civilizations

Mesoamerica + Andean Civilizations

Aztec Empire

• Mesoamerica - founded by Meshika people

• capital city: Tenochtitlan: largest city in the Americas before the Europeans

• entered an alliance with two other Mesoamerican states and established an empire with rapid expansionism

Aztec Administration:

• tribute states: people that were conquered had to provide labor for the Aztecs and contributions

• enslaved people: human sacrifice and coerced labor

Inca Empire

• Andean Civilization - over the Andean Mountain Range

• elaborate bureaucracy

• rigid social hierarchy of officials

• Mit’a System: all people under their rule needed to provide labor on state projects

Centralization of the Aztecs VS. the Inca

• Aztecs were mostly DECENTRALIZED

• Inca was highly CENTRALIZED

Swahili Civilization

• East Africa

• series of cities organized around commerce and trade (Indian Ocean)

• social hierarchy - elites over commoners

Muslim Traders: settled in the states and fostered trade and the spread of Islam

• new language emerged - indigenous African Bantu and Arabic scripts (represents the cooperating and intermingling of various cultures)

Islam: as a result of Muslim influence

• the Swahili States became Islamic which increased their integration into the Islamic world of trade

West Africa’s Civilizations

Ghana + Mali + Songhay

Great Zimbabwe

• Southern Africa

• large populations and structures occurred

• farming and cattle herding

• participated in international trade which increased wealth - shifted to gold exports

• Rulers never converted - maintained their indigenous religion

Kingdom of Ethiopia

• Northeast Africa

• flourished through trade (access to the Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsula)

• Christianity - one state in a world of Islamic domination

• hierarchical social structure

Europe’s Prominent Religion

Christianity: Eastern Orthodox + Roman Catholicism

European Systems/Beliefs

Feudalism:

• system where nobles gave land to vassals (less powerful) in exchange for service, like military support or labor, and protection

Manorialism:

• MANOR: piece of land owned by an elite, which is then rented out to a peasant who works the land

• peasants were bound to a piece of land in exchange for protection from the elite

• SERFS: working peasants