unit 1

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200 - c. 1450)

  1. Developments in Europe

    • State-building and its effects

      • Rulers in Europe used several methods to centralize their power:

        • Developing professional armies

        • Growing the bureaucracy.

        • Ways states developed:

          • France grew from feudal kingdom to centralized state.

          • The Holy Roman Empire remained fragmented.

          • Italian city-states grew in wealth and power.

    • Feudalism: A political, economic, and social system in which royals/nobility own land. Society was structured in a hierarchy. In decline during this period.

      • Social Changes:

        • The Black Death reduced the population drastically.

        • Resulted in a shortage of workers.

        • Giving the remaining peasants more leverage/bargaining power with their lords.

  2. Developments in Dar al-Islam

    • Intellectual Innovation

      • Significant transfers of knowledge occurred in mathematics, science, and medicine.

        • House of Wisdom in Abbasid Bagdad

    • Rise of New Islamic Empires

      • Muslim states continued to expand their reach:

        • Delhi Sultanate in India.

        • Ottoman Empire in Anatolia.

    • Sufism

      • Mystical form of Islam emphasizing introspection and spiritual closeness with God.

      • Played a crucial role in spreading Islam, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa

  3. Developments in Asia

    • China

      • The Song Dynasty (960-1279) saw significant advancements:

        • Gunpowder

        • Movable type printing which led to increased literacy and scholarship.

      • China continued to exert a strong cultural influence on surrounding regions like Korea and Japan.

        • However, distinctive cultures and political entities developed in these areas.

    • Japan

      • Decentralized political structure

      • Powerful regional lords (daimyo) controlled land and resources.

      • Samurai warriors adhered to a strict code of conduct (Bushido).

    • India

      • Remained politically divided into various kingdoms and sultanates.

      • Powerful empires like the Delhi Sultanate controlled parts of northern India

      • Diverse cultural and religious landscape

        • Hinduism and Islam coexisted, often leading to syncretism in art, architecture, and religious practices.

  4. Developments in the Americas

    • The Maya

      • Complex civilization in Mesoamerica

      • Advanced knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering.

      • Developed a sophisticated calendar system, and impressive architectural structures like pyramids and temples.

    • The Aztec

      • Established a powerful empire in Mesoamerica

      • Practiced intensive agriculture

      • Constructed urban centers like Tenochtitlan

      • Engaged in tribute system

    • The Inca

      • Established a vast empire in the Andes Mountains

      • Developed advanced agricultural techniques (terrace farming)

      • Constructed an extensive road system.

      • Centralized government

  5. State Systems

    • Key Concepts:

      • State-building involved diverse methods across different regions, including:

        • Centralizing power

        • Military expansion

        • Religious legitimacy.

      • Interregional conflicts and competition often shaped state development and expansion.

  6. Cultural Comparison

    • Significant technological and cultural transfers occurred between different regions.