Unit 3: Regional Civilizations Study Notes

Overview of Regional Civilizations

  • Topic Description: The study of regional civilizations focuses on analyzing the significant attributes and historical contributions of civilizations within their specific regions and in broader world history.

  • Key Inquiry: Examining how these main concepts connect to the overall topic of regional development and global historical integration.

The Byzantine Empire

  • Establishment of "New Rome" and Legalization of Christianity:

    • The impact of Constantine the Great's establishment of "New Rome" (Constantinople) as the capital of the empire.

    • Constantine the Great's recognition of Christianity as a legal religion within the Roman world.

  • Continuity and Departure from the Old Roman Empire:

    • The extent to which the Byzantine Empire was a direct continuation of the old Roman Empire.

    • The specific ways in which the Byzantine Empire represented a structural, linguistic, and cultural departure from the old Roman Empire.

  • Iconoclast Controversy and Religious Schisms:

    • The causes and effects of the Iconoclast controversy of the 8th and 9th centuries.

    • The 11th century Christian schism between the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Rome.

  • Decline of the Empire:

    • The internal and external factors contributing to the decline of the Byzantine Empire over time.

  • Rise of the Ottoman Empire:

    • The geopolitical rise of the Ottoman Turks.

    • The conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

    • The subsequent growth and imperial expansion of the Ottoman Empire under the sultanate.

Islamic Civilization

  • Major Monotheistic Faiths:

    • The core beliefs, foundational principles, and shared context of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

  • Islamic Military Expansion:

    • The causes, historical effects, and geographical extent of Islamic military expansion.

    • The conquest and integration of territories across Central Asia, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula.

  • Expansion into India:

    • The process of the expansion of Islam into India.

    • The socio-political, religious, and economic relationship between Muslims and Hindus.

  • The Islamic Golden Age:

    • Key achievements, cultural and scientific contributions, and major figures associated with the Islamic Golden Age.

  • European Response:

    • The causes, key events, and lasting effects of the European response to Islamic expansion beginning in the 7th century.

African Civilization

  • Sub-Saharan Kingdoms and Empires:

    • The growth and emergence of major sub-Saharan African kingdoms and empires.

  • Characteristics of West African Empires:

    • Significant economic, political, and social characteristics of the empire of Ghana.

    • Key economic, political, and social structures of the empire of Mali.

    • Major economic, political, and social attributes of the empire of Songhai.

  • Drivers of Cultural Diffusion and Preservation:

    • The effects of transportation systems and trade routes on the preservation and diffusion of culture.

    • The role of communication, science, and technology in maintaining, advancing, and spreading regional cultural identity.