Unit 4 The Acceleration of Cross-Cultural Interaction

What were some of the traditional groups in Africa?

Masai of Kenya, Bushmen of the Kalahari and Pygmies and they all practiced animism

Animism

Traditional and spiritual belief in music and art their isn’t a distinction between secular and spiritual world. Spirits are in everything trees, grass, animals and they believe in ahimsa. When they have to kill an animal they make sure to use every part of it and honor it. If these groups don’t pray over the animal when killing it they believe spirits will come to haunt them.

How do the Bushmen of the Kalahari hunt animals?

They put poison on the end of a sphere and throw it at the animal. While the animal is dying they pray over it and once the animal is dead they use all parts of the animal.

Age grade system

Traditional African children go to training by elders and teach them the skills they need to become adults. Boys of the same age learn strength, courage, and hunting. Girls of the same age learn how to take care of the home and be nurturing

What is the initiation at the end of their Age Grade system training?

There are multiple tasks at the end they can do circumcision, elongation, sacrification, and killing the lions.

How do traditional African groups live?

They are isolated from civilized men, they don’t have a real sense of time except the sun, and they don’t have any real possessions

What group dominated Africa?

Bantu was the largest group

What’s the structure for traditional Africans?

It was kinbased (governed through family, elder males were village leaders and head of the household - patriarchal) and it was stateless (decentralized).

What was marriage like in traditional Africa?

Marriage was normal; abnormal to stay single. Arranged marriage was common

Polygamy

Allowed to marry more than one wife in traditional Africa

Bride wealth

Pay the bride’s family for marriage (opposite of a dowry - less patriarchal). They payed with money or tangible items (goats, sheep, cows, cattle, a roof)

Griot

A member of a class of traveling musicians and poets

Great Zimbabwe kingdom

12th-15th century centralized, rich, traded, had farmers and slaves. The king controlled taxes and the economy.

Kingdom of Kongo

Modern day Angola they were small, centralized, and Christian. In the 1500s they were annihilated by the Porteguese and took them all into slavery.

Why was it hard for Africans to trade through other regions and what helped them get through?

It was hard for Africans to travel through the Sahara desert to reach Asia or Europe. Cames from the Arabian penisula helped Africans cross since they don’t need much water, can carry heavy weight, and go for long periods of time

What did Ghana trade?

In the Trans-Saharan trade network they traded gold, ivory, and slaves to receive salt

Mali empire

13th-15th century founded by Sundiata. Niani was the capital but Timbuktu was another city with libraries and advanced culture. His great-nephew Mansa Musa was the wealthiest man to have ever lived. Mansa Musa went on the Hajj journey and stopped in Cairo. He had about 1000 people follow him there as he gave out full bags of gold. However, he crashed the Egyptian economy and the inflation rate rose to 25%

What does Islamic architecture generally have?

Arches, buildings in rectangular shapes, pillars on the outside, and a dome roof

Where did the Mongols originate?

From the steppes of Mongolia; they were pastorialists, nomadic did more herding but not farming. They believed their ancestors were a blue gray wolf and a doe. The blue gray wolf represented their strength, hunters, harsh climate, and loyalty to their clans. The doe represented them as gentle, beautiful, and people who tried to avoid violence.

What were the Mongols relationship to horses?

They were skilled horse riders and were able to sleep on their horses. They started riding at age 3.

Khanates

Regions/kingdoms that the Khan ruled

What was Temujin’s origin story?

In 1162 he was born that was the year of the horse. The day he was born he apparently was holding a blood clot from his mother’s womb showig he was vicious. He was a natural leader at age 10 his father was poisoned and died. His tribe kicked him and his family out and he hunted rodents to help the family survive. He killed his older step brother because he was useless and bossy. He group up to be strong and then a tribe captures him but he escapes the cage he was put in. He starts conquering every Mongolian steppe tribe. In 1206 he gives himself the title of Ghengis Khan (Great chief) and starts to organize his empire.

Steppe diplomacy

Do whatever you need to do to survive in the steppes. Nomadic tribes secured benefits through alliances, trade, and marriages.

What advancements did the Mongols create?

They developed the spirit banner and bridges. They didn’t have crops and farming. They were able to get new inventions by bartering, trading, and by conquering other countries.

Culturaldiffusion

Intermingling with new people and learning from them

What did the Mongols bring to Europe?

They brought gunpowder, printing press, paper, and medical techniques. They secured the Silk road and opened it up again for trading. The Mongols also backed merchants by giving them tax breaks

What did the Mongols implement into their empire?

They had a postal system with people riding on horses to deliver messages. They had standarized weights and measures. They conquered 2 times the territory of Rome in 50 years and they could ride horses for 62 miles a day with weapons. They used catapults, set up primary soldiers and used songs to memorize battle plans. They ate things in high protein meat only no fruits/vegetables. They had army units in groups of 10 they used psychology warfare and propaganda to scare enemies (used large drums). When conquering areas they kept the educated people alive so they could work in the empire.

Pax Mongolia

Time of peace in the Mongol empire

Who was Gegnhis Khan’s heir?

Ogodei is Genghis Khan’s 3rd son and heir since he was good with power and the first two sons kept arguing over it and the fourth one was too young. He takes over land and rules from the steppes of Mongolia. It becomes divided into 4 regions.

Who conquered China?

Kublai Khan Genghis Khan’s grandson conquers China but it’s difficult because of topography. He claimed the mandate of heaven and created the Yuan dynasty.

What did Kublai Khan like about China?

He liked their taxation techniques, concept of worshipping ancestors, promoted Buddhism, Daoism, literature, art, music, poetry, and made Beijing the capital city.

What did Kublai Khan not like about China?

He doesn’t like Confucianism he didn’t value education and strength, courage, and loyalty mattered to him more.

Where did Kublia Khan live?

He moved into Beijing into a huge yurt and lived with men, women, and grew grass so animals could live there too. The Chinese people didn’t like this at all and thought he was barbaric. He didn’t allow Mongol men to marry Chinese women.

What was the role of women in the Mongol empire?

Mongol women could be advisors and horsemen.

Who conquered the Abbasid empire?

In 1258, Hugleu one of Genghis Khan’s grandsons assassinated the last Abbasid caliph and captured him. He roles him in a Persian rug and has his horses trample on his body but doesn’t allow blood to go onto the Earth alas the rug. Mongols went into Bagdhad the Abbasid capital and murdered as many Abbasids as they could.

Why is the fall of the Abbasids a turning point?

The Islamic empire is over. The Abbasids wouldn’t surrender to the Mongols so the Mongols punish them with heavy taxes and destroyed the qanats. This led to long term drought and not enough water to water their crops. The Mongols converted some of the farming fields to wine fields which the Abbasids didn’t like since they were Muslims and couldn’t drink wine. The Mongols did assimilate into Persian culture and some converted to Islam.

Who conquered Russia?

Batu Genghis Khan’s grandson took over the Golden horde. He didn’t live there but used it as a base to conquer other areas such as Italy, Austria, Poland and Germany.

What did Batu implement in the Golden Horde?

He collected taxes and tapped them into Asian trade. Allowed them to stay Eastern Orthodox Christian but Russians didn’t like Mongol rule even though it helped them in the long run.

Why did the Mongols leave the Golden Horde?

Once Ogodei died Batu didn’t think Russia was worth maintaining.

Where did the Turks originate?

Central Asia and were cousins to the Mongols

What are some aspects of the Turks?

They had little specialization, were nomadic, had little long distance trade, converted to Islam later, and spoke Altaic language.

What were the Turkish regions like?

There was a Khan ruling through leaders of allied tribes and had khanates

What was the Turk military like?

Strong military and horse skills, learned how to ride at age 4, and the warriors had coordinated movements. Also, arrows were thrown more accurate allowing them to retreat quicker than enemies. They expanded their influence into Anatolia, Persia, Central Asia, and India.

Pastorialists

They kept herds of animals instead of farming (sheep, horses, goats, cattle, and camel)

Why didn’t the Turks farm?

Farming was difficult since they didn’t receive enough rain to support agriculture, they followed seasons when moving, and they lived off of meat, milk and animal hides.

Yurts

Large tents created from wool fabric that the Turks lived in

How did the Turks engage in trading?

They had little specialization and did seek trading oppurtunities with settled people but were limited to what they could carry. They tried to engage in long distance trade from caravans from China crossing to the Mediterranean.

What were the social classes like in Turkish society?

The classes contained of nobles and commoners and social mobility was allowed. Nobles did little governing but did wield absolute power in times of war. Commoners could gain recognition and become nobles and nobles could be bad leaders and become commoners.

What were the roles of men vs. women?

Men were hunters and ran military campaigns. Women tended to the animals, had leadership roles in the tribe and could fight alongside men in war.

What was the original Turkish religion?

They practiced Shamanism and had shamans (religious specialists) communicate with gods and interpret what they said to the community.

What religions did the Turks convert to over the centuries?

In the 6th century Turks converted to Buddhism and Christianity because of trade and religion Turks developed wrinting. From the 10th to 14th century most Turks converted to Islam and the earliest converts were captured by the Abbasids.

Who were the Ghaznavid Turks?

They were led by Mohammed of Gazni and came from Afghanistan and had campaigns in northern India and the campaigns beginned in the 11th century.

What Turks were led by the Sultanate of Delhi?

They took over all of Northern India in the 13th century with a large army. They didn’t like Buddhism or Hinduism and destroyed anything related to them while conquering.

What was Timur Lang’s backstory?

He was a Turkish emperor from central Asia. He walked with a limb was born in 1336 and died in 1405. He rivaled Genghis Khan and came from a family of minor nobility, he was Muslim.

What was Timur Lang’s conquering like?

He was a ruthless conqueror who used Greek fire. In the 1360s he persuaded and defeated other people while not having a centralized government. In 1370 he built he capital in Samarkand and couldn’t manage it well. He killed, raped, plundered, and massacred 100,000 Hindus. He had many military conquests and justified them with jihad and conquered Persia, Afghanistan, parts of the Golden Horde, India, Siberia, and central Asia. He pushed taxes and agriculture on conquered civilians.

What happened after Timur Lang died?

He replied too heavily on allies and preexisting government structures that were almost non existent. His grandsons battled over his heir spilitting the empire for 100 years into 4 regions until it disappeared in the 16th century.

What does the Byzantine government use?

Caesaropapism - the head of the state is also the head of the church and supreme judge in religious matters

What was the west of Europe’s government like?

The Pope had to follow the emperor because the Pope didn’t have an army and the Pope wants an army so it can fight the emperor about the rules they think is unjust.

How does the west of Europe acquire a Pope?

In 800 CE Pope Leo the 3rd crowns Charlemagne Holy Roman emperor. The Pope wanted Charlemagne to manage the secular government while he managed the religious part.

Canon Law

Law of the church

What happens after Charlemagne dies?

Charlemagne doesn’t receive credit for the Holy Roman empire because he dies too quickly. Nobody is backing the Pope once Charlemange dies so regional kings have power over their own land. The kings appoint bishops for their land.

What is Saxony?

Region in Germany where Otto of Saxony tries to take over northern Italy (Lombardy) Italy was in regions, city states not centralized

Papal state

Where the Pope lives

How does the Pope stop Otto of Saxony?

Pope John the 12th stops Otto by allying with him and crowns him the Holy Roman Emperor of the Holy Roman empire in 962 CE. Pope thinks he should appoint religious leaders but Otto thinks he should.

Lamen

Pepole who have no authority in church

Who is Pope Gregory the 7th?

He wants priests to start acting better and from 1073 to 1085 he wants to change the way they are becoming appointed

Simony

Is when a person pays for religious appointment and they live a life of luxury

Lay investure

Outlaws kings appointing church officials in 1075 and they stop getting appointed based on power. Emperor Henry the 4th becomes upset and he doesn’t want his power taken away

Whay does Pope Gregory do to emperor Henry?

Pope Gregory excommunticates him and kicks him out of the church saying he’ll go to hell

What does emperor Henry do in 1077?

In 1077 emperor Henry waits outside of Pope Gregory’s house in a snowstorm and then makes him beg for mercy. Pope Gregory forgives emperor Henry the 4th but tells him the Pope will appoint religious leaders and the emperor can be in charge of secular.

Who did the Christians lose the holy land to?

Some of their land was taken over by outsiders and Christians lost the Holy land. Jerusalem was controlled by the Seljuk Turks (Muslim). Muslims also took over Spain, Iberia, and Sicilly.

Who sent Christopher Columbus to the new world?

In 1492 Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand funded Columbus’ trip

What happened when Charlemagne went on a pilgrimage?

He went to Jerusalem with Pope Urban the second and in 1095 received a letter asking for help from the Byzantine empire (Emperor Alexus). They had a council meeting and a call to arms in the name of God (holy war).

What happens in a holy war?

Christians fight in the name of God to regain Jerusalem (or other holy land) to rise up against the savages (Muslims or other religion). When you die in a holy war you go directly to heaven. If you’re a sinner and fight in a holy war and kill a Muslim you can go to heaven.

What were Pope Urban the second’s motives to call for a holy war?

Pope Urban the second called this to increase the position of western Europe and wanted to catapult the western Roman church against the Eastern orthodox This helped the Christians by uniting them East and West against a common enemy.

What happened to the Islamic world in 1095?

The Muslim world was becoming decentralized and splitting into individual territories

Who called the first Crusade?

Pope Urban the second called the first Crusade and led Crusaders from France to Constantinople taking them one year. The Crusaders took over Nicea in 1097 and took over Antioch. In 1099 make it to Jerusalem and win the city over a month long siege.

What happened once the Crusaders took over Jerusalem?

They had no money left from their long journey. They were starving and ran out of food. They were forced to eat dogs, rats, and fecal matter.

Lepracy

It affects skin and nerves and causes skin sores

What happened in 1187?

Muslims recaptured the holy land

What happened in the second Crusade?

It was from 1146 to 1148 and the Crusaders never reached Jerusalem

What happened in the third Crusade?

It was from 1189 to 1192 it involved 3 major kings Frederick Barbarossa, Richard the first, and Philip the second of Augustus. They weren’t able to make it to Jerusalem.

What happened in the fourth Crusade?

It was from 1202 to 1204 and the Crusaders were convinced by the Venetians to sack Constantinople and they looted, pillaged, and took all the gold.

Who is Saladin?

The Muslim sultan of Egypt and Syria who famously defeated a massive army of Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin and captured the city of Jerusalem in 1187. At the height of his power, he ruled a unified Muslim region stretching from Egypt to Arabia.

What happened to the relationship between Christians and Muslims after the Crusades?

Their relationship was destroyed and are constantly fighting over who should rule the holy land

What happened to Christians relationship with each other?

The 4th Crusade destroyed the relationshiop between Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Christians

What happened between Jews and Christians?

The Jews relationship was destroyed with Christians because they attacked Jewish villages especially in Germany

Why weren’t Jews apart of the feudal system?

Jews weren’t apart of the feudal system because they were bankers since they didn’t follow the usury system only the Jews were able to lend money to other kings and nobles.

Pogroms

Systematic attacks on Jews killed them for just being jewish

When did antisemitism start?

It started in German and Poland land forbiddening them to hold public office and have Christian servents

What was Europe exposed to from the middle East?

Europe was exposed to middle Eastern technology, astronomy, math (arabic numerals) and medicine. From China they obtained paper. Classics from Rome and Greece. They also received sugar, spices, coffee, silk, cotton, and carpets starting the age of exploration.

What does the credit system lead to?

It leads to early forms of banking needed to start the age of exploration and the Renaissance

What goods were traded long distance during the high Middle Ages?

Gun powder, horse, collar, magnetic compass, and candles

What new jobs were developed during the high Middle Ages?

Candle makers, butchers, bankers, brewers, and fish mongers

What happened to agriculture in the high Middle Ages?

Their was a surplus in food and the middle class began to grow. The surplus was from obtaining new technology to help farm and new crops. They have plows and horse collars to help.

Crop rotation

Rotates crops to help replenish the soil

Hanseatic League

Group of cities form a trading group about 200 and they traded timber, grain, leather, salted fish, and fur. The cities were in Holland, northern Poland, and northern Germany.

Guild

Group of people with a specialized job and they ban together to learn the occupation more and do their tasks together (Like a modern day union)

What were cities like in the high Middle Ages?

They were growing but were SUPER DIRTY no sewage 🤮. It was normal to be sitting and walking in feces.

What happened to the European population in the high Middle Ages?

From 29 million in 800 CE to 36 million in 1000 CE to 44 million in 1100 CE to 58 million in 1200 CE. Growth was going up quickly.