East Meets West: Medieval Interactions and Influences

East Meets West

Interactions between European and non-European civilizations.

Middle Ages

Period from 500 to 1500 CE, post-Rome.

Early Middle Ages

Phase from 500 to 1000 CE.

High Middle Ages

Phase from 1000 to 1300 CE.

Late Middle Ages

Phase from 1300 to 1500 CE.

Crusades

Military campaigns between Christians and Muslims.

Silk Road

Trade route connecting East and West.

Black Death

Devastating plague in 14th century Europe.

Byzantium

Eastern Roman Empire after Rome's fall.

Constantinople

Capital of Byzantium, founded 330 CE.

Justinian I

Byzantine emperor known for legal reforms.

Hagia Sophia

Famous church turned mosque in Constantinople.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Branch of Christianity from Byzantine tradition.

Islamic Caliphates

Political-religious states following Muhammad's teachings.

Qur'an

Islam's holy book, revelations from Allah.

House of Wisdom

Baghdad's center for learning and scholarship.

Al-Andalus

Islamic Spain, known for cultural exchanges.

Algebra

Mathematical discipline developed by Al-Khwarizmi.

Ibn Sina

Persian polymath, known for medical advancements.

Cultural exchange

Sharing of ideas and traditions between societies.

Great Schism

Split between Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches.

Roman traditions

Cultural practices inherited from ancient Rome.

Post-Roman Collapse

Period of instability from 6th to 8th century.

Germanic Invasions

Attacks causing political instability in Europe.

Ostrogoths

Germanic tribe preserving Roman elements in governance.

Visigoths

Germanic tribe maintaining Roman administrative structures.

Catholic Church

Unified medieval Europe and preserved classical knowledge.

Clovis I

King of Franks who converted to Christianity around 496.

Merovingian Dynasty

Early Frankish kings known as 'do-nothing kings'.

Mayors of the Palace

Chief administrators who gained real power in Frankish kingdom.

Charles Martel

Defeated Umayyads at Battle of Tours in 732 CE.

Pepin the Short

First Carolingian ruler, deposed last Merovingian king.

Charlemagne

Crowned emperor in 800, united church and state.

Holy Roman Empire

Evolved from Charlemagne's title in the 10th century.

Feudalism

Political system based on land ownership and loyalty.

Vassal Obligations

Duties of vassals include protection and military service.

Manorialism

Economic system centered on lord's estate and serfs.

Three Estates

Societal division: Clergy, Nobility, and Peasants.

Papal Supremacy

Pope's authority over secular rulers, asserted by Gregory VII.

Concordat of Worms

Agreement on bishop appointments between pope and emperor.

Crusades

Military campaigns increasing papal influence from 1095 to 1291.

Papal Zenith

Period of peak power for the papacy under Innocent III.

Avignon Papacy

Period when popes resided in France, 1309-1377.

Carolingian Renaissance

Cultural revival under Charlemagne emphasizing education and arts.

Avignon Papacy

Papal residence in France (1309-1377).

Great Schism

Division of papacy (1378-1417) with rival popes.

Lollards

Heresy movement questioning Church authority.

Hussites

Czech reformers challenging papal power.

Norman Invasion

1066 conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

Battle of Hastings

Decisive battle where William defeated Harold II.

Feudal System

Land redistribution strengthening royal authority.

Domesday Book

First major land survey in England (1086).

Common Law

Legal system based on precedents, not codes.

Royal Judges

Judges applying uniform laws across England.

Trial by Jury

Legal process replacing ordeal and combat.

Magna Carta

1215 document limiting royal power and taxation.

King John

Monarch forced to sign Magna Carta.

Model Parliament

1295 assembly including knights and burgesses.

House of Commons

Representative body emerging from Model Parliament.

Centralized State

England's development with limited royal power.

Exchequer

Royal institution managing finances and taxes.

Sheriffs

Officials enforcing laws and tax collection.

Constitutional Monarchy

Government limiting monarch's arbitrary rule.

Rule of Law

Principle ensuring laws govern, not individuals.

Estates General

French assembly representing clergy, nobility, townspeople.

Holy Roman Empire

Loose federation of states, unified in 1871.

Crusades

Religious wars to reclaim Holy Land from Muslims.

Seljuk Turks

Muslim group threatening Christian territories in 11th century.

Seljuks

Turkish dynasty that threatened Christian pilgrims.

Byzantine Emperor Alexius

Sought Western aid against Seljuk Turks.

Pope Urban II

Called for the First Crusade in 1095.

First Crusade

Successful campaign from 1096 to 1099.

Fourth Crusade

Crusaders sacked Constantinople in 1204.

Fall of Constantinople

Ottoman Turks conquered city in 1453.

Crusades' Impact

Shifted power dynamics and territorial control.

Saladin

Muslim leader who reclaimed Jerusalem.

Trade Expansion

Increased exchange of goods between Europe and the Middle East.

Black Death

Killed 25-33% of Europe's population (1347-1351).

Hundred Years' War

Conflict between England and France (1337-1453).

Agricultural Decline

Reduced food production in the 14th century.

Religious Crisis

Decline of Papacy and rise of heresy.

Renaissance

Period following the medieval era, marked by cultural revival.

Mongol Empire

Largest land-based empire in history during the 13th century.

Chinggis Khan

Temujin, unified Mongol tribes and founded empire.

Cultural Legacy of Mongols

No significant cultural influence outside Mongolia.

Eurasian Trade Networks

Facilitated contact and exchange across continents.

Pastoralist Power

Decline marked by absorption of territories by Russia and China.

Eastern-Western Relations

Diplomatic ties grew despite religious tensions.

Crusader Motivations

Sought salvation, land, and wealth through warfare.

Chinggis Khan

Declared leader of Mongols in 1206.

Pax Mongolica

Period of peace facilitating trade and exchange.

Siege Warfare

Military strategy involving surrounding and attacking cities.

Psychological Warfare

Use of terror to intimidate enemies.

Mongol Khanates

Four divisions of the Mongol Empire post-fragmentation.

Ilkhanate

Mongol khanate in Persia.

Yuan China

Mongol rule established in China.

Chagatai Khanate

Mongol khanate in Central Asia.

Golden Horde

Mongol khanate in Russia.

Battle of Legnica

Mongol invasion that shocked European rulers.

Battle of Mohi

Significant Mongol victory against Hungary.