Document 8

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Major Innovations

  • Agricultural Developments:

    • Introduction of fast-ripening rice and improved plowing techniques.

  • Technological Inventions:

    • Invention of paper money and the compass.

    • Advancements in metallurgy.

  • Printing Technology:

    • Development of woodblock printing as a significant technological advancement.

Gender Relations

  • Foot Binding:

    • A practice symbolizing beauty and status among elite women, resulting in restricted mobility.

  • Role of Women in Society:

    • Women typically confined to domestic roles and faced limitations on legal rights.

    • Some women rose to power in family businesses or held influential court positions.

Tribute System

  • Overview:

    • A trade and foreign relations network where neighboring states paid tribute to the Chinese emperor for protection and trade rights, asserting China's dominance in East Asia.

Canal System

  • Grand Canal:

    • A major infrastructure project that connected northern and southern China, enhancing trade, transportation, and communication, ultimately boosting economic integration.

Civil Service Exam

  • Description:

    • A rigorous examination system for selecting government officials based on merit and Confucian texts, focusing on literature, philosophy, and policy.

Religion in China

  • Religious Trends:

    • Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism were the three main traditions influencing social and cultural life during the Song Dynasty and later.

Islam

Creation of Islam and Early Major Players

  • Founding:

    • Founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century in Mecca.

    • Key figures include Abu Bakr (first caliph) and Ali (Muhammad's cousin).

Golden Age of Islam (8th-14th Century)

  • Significance:

    • A period marked by significant cultural, scientific, and economic advancements, particularly in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.

Early Christian Church

First Split of the Christian Church

  • The Great Schism (1054):

    • Divided the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church due to theological and political conflicts.

Indulgence

  • Definition:

    • A grant from the Catholic Church reducing a person's punishment for sin, often exploited for financial gain, leading to criticism during the Reformation.

Crusades

  • Overview:

    • Military campaigns (11th-13th centuries) aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control, resulting in significant cultural exchanges and tensions between Christians and Muslims.

Divine Right

  • Concept:

    • The belief that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, used to justify their rule and often resulting in absolute governance.

Mongols

Importance

  • Empire Establishment:

    • Created the largest contiguous empire in history, promoting trade and cultural exchanges across Eurasia.

Innovations

  • Military Strategies and Governance:

    • Introduced policies that ensured stability and facilitated trade, notably the Pax Mongolica.

Silk Road

  • Revitalization:

    • The Mongols helped to protect and enhance trade along the Silk Road, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Gunpowder Empires

Three Main Empires

  • Safavid Empire:

    • Located in Persia, associated with Shia Islam.

  • Ottoman Empire:

    • A Sunni empire known for significant cultural achievements.

  • Mughal Empire:

    • Predominantly Sunni in the Indian subcontinent, recognized for its wealth and architectural achievements like the Taj Mahal.

Differences

  • Religious Practices:

    • Safavid (Shia), Ottoman (Sunni), Mughal (predominantly Sunni but religiously tolerant).

  • Social Structures:

    • Varied roles of women and social hierarchies among these empires.

Middle Ages

Feudal System

  • Structure:

    • A hierarchical land ownership system where vassals pledged loyalty to lords in exchange for land and military service.

Byzantine Empire

  • Significance:

    • Preserved Greek and Roman knowledge and was a center of trade and Orthodox Christianity, facing cultural achievements and military challenges.

Printing Press

  • Invention:

    • Developed by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, transforming the spread of information and facilitating the Renaissance and Reformation.

Humanism and Renaissance Movement

  • Focus:

    • Celebrated human potential and achievements with an emphasis on classical knowledge, art, and literature, departing from medieval scholasticism.

Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther

  • Initiation of Reformation:

    • Posted the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, criticizing practices like indulgences.

Response by Catholic Church

  • Counter-Reformation:

    • Efforts included the Council of Trent, reaffirming doctrines and addressing issues of corruption.

Nationalism and King Henry VIII

  • Henry VIII's Influence:

    • Established the Church of England to secure a divorce, leading to significant political and religious changes in England.

Transatlantic Interconnection

Columbian Exchange

  • Overview:

    • The exchange of goods, cultures, and diseases between the New World and Europe, drastically influencing food systems, populations, and economies.

European Exploration

Reasons for Exploration

  • Motivations:

    • Quest for new trade routes, resources, territories, and the spread of Christianity.

Impact on Africa

  • Consequences:

    • Societal disruptions due to the slave trade, economic exploitation, and the introduction of new crops altering agricultural practices.

Triangular Trade

  • Overview:

    • A trading system involving Europe, Africa, and the Americas, exchanging enslaved persons, raw materials, and manufactured goods.

Native Americans and European Exploration

  • Impacts:

    • Experienced population decline from diseases, loss of land, and lifestyle changes due to colonization.

Mercantilism

  • Economic Theory:

    • Prioritized exports over imports to accumulate wealth, encouraging colonial establishments.

Trading Post Empire and Encomienda System

Trading Post Empire

  • Focus:

    • Emphasized establishing trading posts for controlling trade routes (e.g., Portuguese in Africa and Asia).

Encomienda System

  • Labor System:

    • A Spanish colonial system granting settlers the right to enslave Indigenous peoples in return for protection and Christianization.

European Sailing Innovations

  • Developments:

    • Enhanced ship designs (caravels), navigation technology (compass, astrolabe), and knowledge of wind patterns facilitated exploration.

Silver in the New World

  • Economic Impact:

    • Silver mining, particularly at Potosí, significantly contributed to global trade and financing European ventures.

Important Trade During the Columbian Exchange

  • Key Goods:

    • Included crops such as potatoes and maize, and livestock such as horses and cattle, which had profound impacts on diets and economies globally.