State Building, Expansion, and Conflict, 600-1450
New states took over the classical empires and regimes
State Building In Afro-Eurasia: Tradition and Innovation
Europe and Byzantium
After Rome’s collapse, the system of feudalism emerged
feudalism: a system of rule, in which monarchs awarded land to loyal followers who governed the land
nobles: those who received the largest amount of land
the hierarchy included knights: the army that received lifelong training
followed the code of chivalry: dealing fairly with the lower class, and showing women respect
A relationship between European monarchs and the Catholic papacy was formed
The Magna Carta was formed: guaranteed nobility certain rights and privileges
Eventually a Parliament was created. The Parliament worked in conjunction with the King and represented the population
Common Law was created. Common Law provided jury trials and observed personal liberties
There was war over French territories, the last and most important war was the Hundred Years’ War, which led to social unrest and death on both sides. The French won and centralized their power
The Renaissance emerged, a period of cultural dynamism
Reconquista: a period of war that lasted between 1000-1492
Byzantium empire was the strongest and most advanced state in medieval Europe
Their capital was Constantinople
Followed Eastern Orthodoxy
The Catholic Church had power
Promoted the ideal of Christendom
Popes had the tight to determine what was heresy
Excluded worshippers from the Catholic Church, or excommunication
Established the Holy Inquisition: a set of special courts to seek out and punish non-conformity
Declared crusades: holy wars
The Middle East
The Muslim world was governed by the caliph
- Caliph: one person who combined political and religious power
The ley political principle was the “circle of justice”
Africa
Arab traders spread Islam to Africa
Islam spread to Mali and Ghana
Mansa Musa: Mali’s most powerful ruler
- Mansa Musa centralized power and expanded trade
Population was limited due to disease and fluctuating climate
Asia
China was ruled by the Han dynasty, then the Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty enforced the tributary system: countries had to make regular monetary payments to avoid punishment
Tang rulers expanded the Grand Canal
The Chinese silk industry generated large profits during the Tang era
The An She rebellion broke the Tang dynasty
China broke down into separate states after the Tang breakdown
The Song Empire ruled east-central China and the Yellow River in the north to the Vietnamese border in the South
- Steady population growth, urbanization, and thriving trade
- Port of Canton
- China’s invention of gunpowder, compass and paper money
- Followed the mandate of heaven, civil service examination and Neo-Confucianism
Genghis Khan took over China
A series of rulers ruled over China until the end of the dynasty
Afro-Eurasia: Interregional Contacts and Conflicts
Tang China and the Abbasid Caliphate
- Tang-Abbasid Interchange: enabled the westward movement of Chinese innovations
The Crusades
- Crusades: holy wars declared by the pope
- Worsened relationship between European Christians and Middle Eastern Muslims
- Economic wealth
- Technology transfer
The Mongol Khanates
- Mongols: nomadic horse warriors united by Genghis Khan
- Used new military techniques
- Adept cultural borrowers
State Formation in The Pre-Columbian Americas
pre-Columbian era: period before 1492
- North America
- Anasazi culture
- Lived in pueblos: complex dwellings
- Earth-mound building cultures
- Mexico and MesoAmerica
- Mayan culture faded away
- Toltecs emerged: aggressive warrior society that ruled much of the region from 800-1100s
- Aztecs emerged
- adopted cultural and religious practices of pyramid building and human sacrifice
- The Andes
- Civilization called the Moche emerged
- terrace farming and waru waru agriculture