HIST_1101_becoming_world

HIST 1101 Week 12: Becoming World

Questions from Previous Week

• Factors contributing to the swift spread of Islam include trade connections, military campaigns, and cultural exchanges.

• Common features of the Islamic world and Tang Empire (600-1000) include advanced trade networks, cultural and scientific achievements, and religious diversity.

Maritime Trade Network: Advancing Transnational Communication

• Maritime transportation became increasingly vital to global communication in the 10th century, overshadowing traditional land-based methods.

• Key drivers of this transformation:

  • Sophisticated navigation techniques.

  • Expanded cartographic knowledge.

  • Innovations in shipbuilding, improving vessel reliability and efficiency.

Entrepôts: Meeting Points of Trade

• Definition of Entrepôts: Key trading cities located between borders or at ports where traders from diverse regions converge.

• Purpose: Exchange goods and replenish supplies in a merchant-friendly environment.

Departure: Cairo or Alexandria (1100)

• Historical context: North Africa under the Fatima dynasty (909-1171).

• Cairo: Home to numerous Muslim and Jewish trading firms.

• Alexandria: Critical for trade with Europe, especially for goods like silks.

• Journey begins by navigating the Nile Delta into the Red Sea, entering the Islamic world.

Next Station: The Arabic World

• Trade and cultural interactions span from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Asia.

• Key ports on this route:

  • Aden: Important hub for incense trade from the 11th to 13th centuries.

  • Access to Indian Ocean with Arab dhows and Persian vessels trading precious commodities.

  • Persian Gulf ports like Hormuz, Basra, and Siraf, popular for spices and textiles.

Entering India

• Ports of Cambay, Calicut, and Quilon: Centers for diverse goods, including cotton and sandalwood.

• India during the Chola Dynasty: Quilon became a major hub of maritime trade connecting multiple regions.

• Continuous trade flourishing post-Chola golden age.

Quilon Port under Chola Dynasty (9TH - 13th Century)

• Personal relationships were essential for trade relations in Quilon.

• The Muslim community was the largest foreign population, involved in horse trade seen as symbols of royalty.

Through the Strait of Malacca

• Srivijaya: The most powerful empire in Southeast Asia during 7th to 11th centuries.

• Trade sightings: Colorfully dressed sailors, Javanese artisans creating batik, and an influx of traders.

The Riches of China

• Final destination: Ports of China, particularly Quanzhou during the early Song period.

• Quanzhou: Noted as the largest port, known for premium silks, porcelain, and rare teas.

The Islamic World: 1000 - 1400

• Fragmented rule in the Arabian Peninsula, with Sunni and Shi'i dynasties contesting power.

• Shiite influences from the Buyid family in Baghdad and the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt.

• Control of Baghdad by Buyids from 945.

Seljuk Pressure

• 1055: Seljuk Turks invaded and toppled the Buyid regime in Baghdad.

• Expansion from Baghdad into Syria and Palestine, defeating Byzantine forces in 1071.

Islamic World by the 13th Century

• Three regions emerged in the Islamic heartland:

  • East (Central Asia, Iran): Remnants of Abbasid authority.

  • Core regions (Egypt, Syria, Arabian Peninsula): Non-Arab military powers governing.

  • North Africa: Arab rulers influenced by Berber input.

Spread of Islam (Indonesia)

• Initial Islamic influence in Indonesia began as early as the 7th century, with significant growth occurring in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

• Johan Shah's acceptance of Islam in 1204 marked a pivotal point for broader Islamic adoption.

Developments in Sub-Saharan Africa

• Notable integration with Eurasia increasing due to trade.

• Mali Empire (1240-1645): Prosperity driven by extensive trade routes connecting West Africa to the broader Muslim world.

• Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325 highlighted the empire's wealth.

Sufism

• Spiritual and communal aspect of Islam emphasizing closer relations with God through rituals.

• Sufism's spread attributed to trade routes, brotherhoods, and Sufi orders using art, music, and dance for teachings.

Christendom in Europe

• Post-Rome: Rise of Germanic kingdoms and eventual unification under Christianity.

• Carolingian dynasty emerged, with Charlemagne's crowning as the "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Leo III.

The Rise of Manorialism

• Manorialism dominated Western Europe post-Carolingian collapse, centering around manors as economic units.

• Structure included lord's fortified home, agricultural lands, and villagers.

Church after 1000

• Transition from monastic-centered Christianity to parish churches influencing daily lives.

• Clergy gained authority over personal matters, such as marriage and divorce.

Hostility between Christendom and the Islamic World

• Hostile relations developing into a series of military campaigns initiated in 1095 to reclaim the Christian Holy Land.

Middle Ages: A Dark Age?

• The term "Dark Age" coined by Francesco Petrarca reflects perceived cultural stagnation post-Rome.

• Perceptions arguably flawed, as some scholarly achievements continued.

Song Dynasty in China

• After Tang's collapse, the Song Dynasty (960) unified China and launched its global economic power.

Agricultural Revolution in Song

• Iron plows enhanced agricultural efficiency leading to surpluses, transforming social structures.

• Increased cultivation of economically valuable crops post-Tang instability.

Unparalleled Economy

• China’s economy boomed under the Song; key sectors included silk, metallurgy, and paper-making.

• Revolutionary use of paper money commenced, underpinning commercial growth.

The Legend of Mongols (Late 12th Century - 14th Century)

• Mongols rose from Central Asian steppes, with military prowess established under Chinggis Khan by unifying tribes.

• Territorially expansive campaigns resulted in the largest contiguous land empire in history.

The Four Khanates of the Mongol Empire (13th - 14th Century)

• Geographic spread of the empire detailing key regions: Kiev, Moscow, Golden Horde, Karakoram, Chagatai Khanate, and others.

The Barbarian Stereotype

• Western perceptions of Mongols as mere plunderers shaped by historical accounts.

• Despite hostile images, the Mongol Empire fostered substantial East-West cultural exchanges upon achieving stability in their regions.