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.