modern world history- unit 1

Middle Ages

period in history between the fall of Rome and the start of the Renaissance

Feudalism

social hierarchy based on local administrative control/ distribution of land

What was the distribution of land into units called?

fiefs

A landowner (lord) gave a fief what?

promise of military and legal protection in return for a payment

Who received the payment?

a vassal

serfs

an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on their lord’s estate

Three ______ Religions

Abrahamic

characteristics of the religions

• monotheistic (believe in one god)

• accept that God revealed himself to the prophet Abraham

• originate from present day Middle East region

Judaism

• founded in 1500 BCE

• Holy Book- Torah

• Symbol- Star of David

• Place of Worship- Synagogue

• Clergy- Rabbi

Christianity

• Founded by Jesus Christ in 4 CE

• Holy Book- Bible

• Symbol- Cross

• Place of Worship- Church

• Clergy- Minister, Priest, Pastor

Islam

• Founded by Muhammad in 610 CE

• Holy Book- Quran (Koran)

• Symbol- Crescent

• Place of Worship- Mosque

• Clergy- Imam

Islam was founded by ________ on the Arabian Peninsula (present day ___________)

Muhammad, Saudi Arabia

What are the 5 pillars of Islam?

1. faith or belief in the God (Allah)

2. establishment of the 5 daily prayers

3. concern for and almsgiving to the needy (Zakah)

4. self-purification through fasting in the month of Ramadan (Sawm)

5. the pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are able (Hajj)

What year does Muhammad die and where?

632, Medina

Who becomes the first caliph?

Abu Bakr

Rashidun Caliphate

• Umar ibn al-Khattab succeeds Abu Bakr (634-644)

• Uthman ibn ‘Affan succeeds Umar (644-656)

• Ali ibn Abi Talib succeeds Uthman to become 4th and final caliph (656-661)

Umayyad Caliphate

moved center of Islam to Damascus in Syria, spread Islam to the Iberian Peninsula (661-750)

In 732, Franks stop Umayyad advancement into Northern Europe at?

Battle of Tours

Abbasid Caliphate

moved center of Islam to Baghdad in modern-day Iraq (750-1258)

After Muhammads death, there was split as to who should lead the Muslims? These groups were called?

Shiites and Sunnis

Shiites

• wanted Ali ibn Abi Talib to be Muhammad’s successor

• believed that leaders should be descendants of Muhammad

• today, 10-15% of world Muslims are Shia

Sunnis

• opposed to political succession based on descendants of Muhammad

• today, 90% of Muslims are Sunni

Tang Dynasty

• expanded networks of roads and canals in China

• promoted foreign trade (along Silk Road), improved agriculture

• renewed the use of civil service exams

• 618-907

Tang Dynasty was founded by?

Li Yuan

civil service exam

merit-based system to select bureaucrats for the imperial government, allowed people to move up in society

What is the capital of the Tang Dynasty?

Chang’an (present-day Xi’an)

Song Dynasty

• ruled southern China

What is the capital of the Song Dynasty?

Hangzhou

Li Bo

wrote about pleasures of life

Tu Fu

• praised order/Confucian virtues

• wrote about war/hardship of soldiers

Innovations/Inventions during Tang/Song

• porcelain

• mechanical clock

• printing (block and movable type)

• explosive powder (gunpowder)

• paper money

• magnetic compass

• Improved steel smelting process

• drought-resistant rice

• period lock (for canals)

• watertight compartments (on ships)

• silk-reeling machine

Silk Road

series of trade routes connecting China to the West, trades lasted until Ottomans closed trade to the West in 1453 CE

• traders traveled in caravans for protection

What did China trade?

silk, porcelain, tea, spices, gunpowder, jade

What did the West trade?

horses, glassware, textiles, gold

Mongols

nomadic pastoralists from Eastern Europe

steppe

dry grassland, wide temp

pastoralists

herders

yurt

portable Mongol huts

Why are yurts circular?

wind blows in different directions and goes around yurts

Genghis Khan

• original name: Temujin

• new name means ‘universal ruler’

• conquers most of Asia over next 21 years

• brilliant organizer

• gifted strategist

• used cruelty & terror

• died in 1227

Mongol Empire stretched from?

China to Poland

Mongol kingdoms called?

khanates

Khanate of the Great Khan

China

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Russia

Ilkhanate

Persia

Chagatai Khanate

Central Asia

Pax Mongolica

• Mongol Peace

• period of stability and law across Asia brought by Mongol rule

• safe passage guaranteed across empire for all travelers

• encourages trade/restores Silk Road (disease spreads along road)

Kublai Khan

Genghis Khan’s grandson, becomes Great Khan in 1260