WHAP Post-Classical Asia & the Americas(600 CE-1450 CE)

Key Concept(3.1) A deepening and widening of networks of human interaction within and across regions contributed to cultural, technological, and biological diffusion within and between various societies.

• Indian Ocean Trade Route(sea trade)

  • exchange of bulk goods trade, (ivory, gold, timber, books, grain, spices, rice, cotton goods, pepper, banana)

  • Sail improvements - use of dhow & Chinese junk

  • use of monsoon winds

  • included Islamic world, Asia, (NOT Europe)

  • (“domination of Muslim merchants/religious influence - **Mohammad origin”

  • [Cross-Cultural Exchange]diaspora communities of Arabs, Muslims, and Jews on Islamic trading ports

  • Spread Islam to Indonesia

  • DECLINE during Pax Mongolica

  • Impact of Indian Ocean trade:

    SE Asia - Srivijaya: trade-based maritime empire controlled the Strait of Malacca & spread Buddhism - GOLD

    • Center of Indian Ocean trade

    • Dependent on oceanic trade - power to barricade trade as a controlled choke point(Strait of Melcca)

    • Practiced Hinduism & Buddhism

    Funan: First Hindu Kingdom in SE Asia - Angkor Wat largest religious monument ( a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex) ~ property rights for women

  • Swahili City States: interacted in large-scale trade across Indian Ocean

    Wealthy Commercial Port cities - Mogadishu & Kilwa ~ welcomed merchants/traders from Arabia, India and Persia

    Increased Islamization & Arabization ~ Ibn Battuta(prominent Arabian scholar & traveler who noticed this development)

    Great Zimbabwe: powerful African state - TRADING HUB of gold & ivory - rose due to connection to Indian Ocean trade routes - known for large stone structures

  • Formation of diasporic communities(same ethnicity reside not in their origin)

• Silk Road Trade Route(land trade)

  • exchange of luxury goods(silk, porcelain, spices, cotton)

  • included Asia, Islamic World, & Europe

  • INCREASE during Pax Mongolica - (Mongol’s goal to encourage commerce - help/safety of route/offer greater asking price of merchants)

  • Spread Mayhana Buddhism to Asia(Japan, Vietnam, Korea) from (**Sinification/tribute system/trade) from China

  • Spread Bubonic Plague from Asia

  • Marco Polo(Venetian traveler - spread knowledge/technological innovations of Asia to Europe)

  • new food/crops(new rice varieties from Vietnam to China)

• Mediterranean Sea Trade

  • included the Islamic World, Europe, & North Africa

  • traded gold, slaves, timber - cotton goods, pepper, ivory (bulk trade goods)

  • Venetian traders: merchants from Italty(Europe) - developed trade between the Mediterranean region and the rest of the world (ex: Marco Polo)

• Trans-Saharan Trade

  • Saharan Trade Route/Sand Roads ~ included North & West Africa

    • Environmental variation

      Coastal regions - cloth & books Southern regions - crops(yams, sorghum ,millets and kola nuts)

      **biggest trade = Sudan  & Niger Valley

    Trans Saharan Trade:

    • Possible due to camels that could travel long distances

    • Arabian merchants trade camels/Islam → gold & ivory 

    • Creation of a new WEALTHLY Western African Civilization

      (ex: Songhai, Mali, Ghana) ~ taxed traders → new social structure/nation

    • influence of Islamic religion / culture

    West African Society:

    • (Social): Patriarchical - important role of women in agriculture/politics Powerful women = “seductive threats” by male bards? (respected for their role in making babies)

    • Trans Saharan Slave Trade

      slaves = women →deportation of slaves from conquered states

      slave jobs: officials/porters/laborers

      (slave trade - West Africa →North Africa)

Key Concept (3.2): State formation and development demonstrated continuity, innovation, and diversity in various regions.

• China (Sui, Tang, Song(“Golden Age”), — Yuan(Mongol)) ~ reconstituted governments

  • Sui Dynasty -

    Grand Canal(economic prosperity - connected North/South China)

    Fall from peasant rebellion over emperor’s failed attempt to conquer Korea & exhausted resources

  • Tang Dynasty(618-907) - Chinese administration (6 groups, Censorate/overseer of all groups, civil service examination- **privilege to landowning class)

    Greater equality/opportunities for women

    Artistic/literature movement of poetry/landscape painting

  • Song Dynasty(960-1279) -

    Neo-Confucianism movement(combining Buddhism/Daoism with Confucianism values) →Greater restrictions on women - patriarchy(driven out of textile industry, footbinding)

    Technological innovations(gunpowder, printing(**spread education), compass)

    Economic revolution - urbanization/population growth)

    Hangzhou(China capital - economic center of trade, variety of goods/shops)

    Flying cash

    Wu Zhao(only female emperor - expanded territory/irrigation systems & changed exam)

  • Foreign Interactions - Pastoral northern nomads -China exploited through tribute system - ex: Uighurs, Xiongnu Empire - bad stereotype “barbarians”

• Mongol Khanates(Persia, Russia, China) **Pax Mongolica ~ new forms of governance

  (Mongol military administration - successful conquering

  (1)Brutal reputation

  (2)Effective army of soldiers, Mongol warfare/tactics(horses/arrows)(3)Incorporation of conquered people into the military or deportation for use as skilled artisans

  (4)Centralized Bureaucracy - communication/relay system/census-taking

  • Persia - violent military conquest, heavy taxing/neglect of irrigation system/harmful environmental impact on land →poverty

    Integrated government administration with Persians~ Persian Ilkhanate(attempt to fix irrigation, )

    Economy boost in the Persian silk/wine industry

    Mongol adoption of Islam religion, Arabic script, abandoned pastoral life

    [FALL]: Complete Mongol assimilation into Persia

  • Russia**Khanate of the Golden Hordes -

    Violent military conquest/control

    Heavy taxing of Russia through tribute system - Russian princes(**RICH - “Ivan Moneybags”) - growth in Moscow state

    Indirect Mongol rule - lived in complete pastoral life

    [FALL]: growth of the Moscow state through Russian princes’ wealth from Mongol tribute system - overtook Mongols

  • `China -

    North China - violent military conquest from Jurchen nomads - unstable political situation overtaken by Mongols

    South China(Song Dynasty) -

    Military conquest & adopted some Chinese characteristics

    Kubian Klan & Yuan Dynasty - Chinese adoption(influence of wife, Chabi - **more egalitarian)

    (examples) - adoption of Chinese “wang” ruler, some Confucian values, rebuilt canals, improved roads, lowered taxes, limited death penalty/torture, supported peasant agriculture, religious toleration/freedom

    Mongols retained a distinct pastoral way of life

    (examples) - no examination system, deportation of skilled artisans, discrimination towards Chinese/foreigners, few learned Chinese script, no footbinding, more egalitarian, attempt to boost commerce(favored merchants - safety on Silk Road, gave more than merchants’ asking price, free use of Mongol’s relay system)

• Sinfication(Korea, Japan, Vietnam) & Distinct Identity

  • Korea -

    Conquered then established independent state(*Silla Kingdom) - tribute system with China - borrowing from China

    (examples) - Confucianism/Buddism/art/luxury culture among elite, Confucianism schools for elite, greater restrictions on women, use of Chang’an to replicate Korean capital Kumsong

    Chinese script →” hangul”

  • Japan -

    Never conquered - independent borrowing from China - tribute system

    (examples) -

    Shotoku Taishi - Seventeen Articles Constitution(adoption of Chinese ruler/administration practices, taxation system, law codes, court rituals, modeled Japan capital Nara & Kyoto after Chang’an → eventually failed attempt to centralize Japan →Japanese feudalism & samurai**distinct Japan identity-not supported by Confucianism/ ~ new forms of governance), art/Confucian culture/Chinese Buddhism schools used by elite →Japanese Buddhism(spirits/human ancestors)

    Chinese script →”tanka” Japanese script - *The Tale of Genji(written by woman/depiction of elite court life)

  • Vietnam -

    Conquered - forced borrowing from China - tribute system

    (examples) - Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Chinese administration/exam, art/literature style, mandatory Chinese style, used by elite

    Distinct Identity -

    Trung Trac(aristocrat woman-led resistance to Chinese control in Vietnam - successful in the beginning eventually defeated)

    Chinese script →” chu nom”

    cock fighting, betel nuts, greater opportunities/roles for women

• Aztecs & Incas

  • Aztecs -

    Crops - rubber, chocolate, vanilla, tomatoes, maize

    Trade along Pacific Coast - Gulf of Mexico - Caribbean Sea

    (Cultural/Innovations)steppe pyramids, suspension bridges, irrigational canals

    ball games

    365-day calendar

    no pack animals/wheeled vehicles

    chinampas(floating gardens)

    [FALL] Spanish conquistadors(Heran Cortez) conquest/their new technology/warfare, disease, & weak Aztec leadership

    __________________________

    Tenochtitlan capital

    (Political)Forced tribute system with neighbors(bad relations) - human sacrifices(religious - bloodletting)

    theocracy - divine legitimacy

    (Social) Rise of the Pochteca/merchant class in society(originally commoners)

    (Religious)  God Quetzalcoatl worshipped by priests/rulers/people

    (Economic) Trade jade(religious importance - life/power/divinity - jewerly/ritual objects/burial sights)

    Production of gold, jewels, bones, shells, feathers, copper, obsidian

  • Incas -

    quipu - no written language

    llamas(transportation, food, clothes, religious)

    step pyramids(religious)

    war captives(human sacrifice)

    no wheeled vehicles

    ______________________

    (Social) Gender parallelism complementarity ( men and women played different roles ( men played more), but both genders are seen as equivalent in society

    (Political) ayllu: Indigenous government model across the Andes(the basic unit of Inca society)

    Cuzco capital - Incan roads - trading road

    split empire **Tahuantinsuyu - bureaucracy provinces

    mita tax(mandatory labor tax)

    (Cultural/Religious)mummified leaders into battle

    Inti - Sun God

    waru waru - terraced farming

    [FALL]- Spanish conquistadors(Pizarro) conquest with new warfare/technology & disease

Vikings

Scandinavian/Northern European raiders who pillaged continental Europe - then LEFT ~

• Norseman

Post-Classical Europe Response to Viking raids = NEED FOR PROTECTION → MANORIALISM!

• small - close communities ~ pastoral

1. Movement of peoples and subsequent environmental and linguistic effects

   • New environmental knowledge and technological adaptations

     • Vikings’ longships - specialized Viking ships used for sailing across shallow waters (possibilism - environment offers possibility for human activity)Viking

   • Viking Impact -

     • Movement of Goods - (ex: Buddha statue kept as Viking keep safe)

     • Viking Lore - (incorporation in Christianity)

     • Viking Government - (democracy & greater equality between genders)

Key Concept (3.3): Changes in trade networks resulted from and stimulate increasing productive capacity, with important implications for social and gender structures and environmental processes.

1. Innovations in agricultural and industrial production

   1. New technologies (ex. chinampa field system, waru waru)

   2. Exchange of luxury crops

   3. Chinese production of textiles, porcelain, iron, and steel

2. Decline of urban areas and eventual urban revival

   1. Factors contributing to decline (ex. invasion, disease, decline of agricultural productivity) 

   2. Factors contributing to revival (ex. safe transport, rise of commerce, greater availability of labor)

   3. Continuation of cities as governmental, religious, and commercial centers

3. Change in labor management and gender relations and family life

   1. Free peasant revolts (ex. China)

   2. Class and caste hierarchies (ex. feudal obligations in Japan)

   3. Increased power for women (ex. Mongols, Japan, Southeast Asia)

   4. Effect of Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism on gender relations and family life →increased restrictions on women

Canterbury Tales

Written by Geoffrey Chaucer(King Edward’s esquire & diplomatic missions ~ influence on his writing styles through Italian poets(ex: Dante & Petrarch))

~ written in Middle English - an early example of iambic pentameter in English literature

(allows historians to learn about Middle English through its grammar, conventions, and vocabulary)

~24 stories = argued to be “incomplete”

Summary:

Narrated by Chaucer himself who depicts the solo journeys of a group who go on a pilgrimage to visit the shrine of the martyr(murdered in the cathedral)St. Thomas Becket together after meeting in an inn

• host of the inn says whoever tells the best tale gets free dinner

Significance:

• shows the distinctions between social classes(classism) & gender roles in post-Classical European society →united through importance of religion(pilgrimage)

• satirical commentary on politics ~ ex: financial differences from the feudal system(& its impacts) & aftermath of Bubonic plague

Shifts in English: changes in grammar/pronunciation/vocabulary/conventions

• Old English - 650-1100 CE (not understandable)

• Middle English - 1100-1600 CE (Came from Scandinavians and Normans and added French - Easier to read, no new letters)

• Great Vowel Shift - 1350-1700 CE (vowels changed to sound like present time)

• Early Modern English - 1350-1700 CE (understandable to read)

• Late Modern English - 1755-present CE (what we have today)

Sundidata

Reflection on Post-Classical Africa:

• (1)Shows the importance of religion and culture in the decisions of rulers(ex: soothsayer tells the King of Mali to marry Sogolan → son destined for greatness ~ Sundiata)

• (2)Shows strict gender roles of men/women(ex: Sundiata’s inability to walk limits his physical ability to provide for his mother ~ shame/humiliation in society & from Sassouma(queen mother - king’s first wife)

• (3)Shows the importance of family honor(ex: Sassouma’s humiliation of Sogolan →forces Sundiata to walk with the iron rod(bend to a bow) & rips out the baobab tree to bring to his mother ←to defend his mother’s honor)

• (4)Shows the cultural importance of animals(Sundiata depiction/awakening → symbolized through animals)

  • ex: Sundiata’s depiction as a Lion after being able to walk

    “Room, room, make room! The lion has walked; Hide antelopes, Geot out of his way.”

Epic’s Importance:

• Shows Sundiata’s awakening from being inability to walk → journey to power →emperor of Mali(“Mansa”)

Griots:

• Traditional African storytellers who tell stories through playing instruments and dancing - the ability to lengthen/shorten parts based on audience’s mood

• chosen from the griot caste/family & specially trained as an apprentice

Dante’s Inferno

Dante’s Levels of Hell:

Importance of the Level’s Organization:

(1)Reflects how important Dante saw the sins due to their distance being without God

(2)Reflects post-Classical European political system - feudal society - (**large emphasis on loyalty)

worst sin = treachery/treason

Dante’s Satan - appearance:

Large oaf(opposite of God) - frozen in the lake to his actions of constantly flapping his wings

Contrapasso:

“Each human sin has an equivalent punishment in hell”

Summary:

Dante’s journey to the afterlife through levels of hell(with Virgil) to heaven(with Beatrice) after being saved from a she-wolf(greed), leopard(lust), & lion(pride) in a dark/lost forest by Virgil.

Inferno - Purgatorio(climbs mountain of Purgatory) - Paradiso