Culture, Science, and Technology, 600-1450

Trade, migration, empire-building, and cross-cultural mixing led to the diffusion, of religious practices, cultural traditions and style, and scientific and technological innovations

• Cross Cultural Exchange and Cultural Growth
• Cross-cultural exchange shaped art, literature, and traditions of many parts of the world
• Buddhist culture: spread throughout East Asia, Korea then to Japan
• Neo-Confucian principles of hierarchy and filial piety spread widely, reinforcing social stratification and gender inequality throughout East Asian societies
• Buddhist and Hindu influences radiated outward from India
• Islam extended from North Africa to the Middle East and Persia, and even beyond
• In the Americas, pyramid building, human sacrifice, sun god worship and the use of quips was followed
  • quipi: knot tying instead of writing
• Mulsim scholars derived much of their expertise from encounters with mathematical writings from India and ancient Greece
  • formation of algebra, Greek philosophy and science
  • navigation tools such as the compass and astrolabe
• China invented (wood) block printing, and movable-type printing
• Far From Home: Interregional Travelers
• Interregional Travelers created ties between distant societies through writing, travel and raised geographical and cultural awareness

Old and New Traditions: Cultural Developments by Region

• Medieval and Renaissance Europe
• The medieval period advanced from the Dark ages to the cultural revival known as the Renaissance
• Latin was the international language of learning
• Geocentric theory: the sun revolves around the Earth
• first cost-effective movable-type printing press
• Artists could not violate Church dictates, and humanism: the conviction that o be human is something to rejoice in
• Islam and The Middle East
• Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are three monotheistic faiths possess an eventful shared history
• Follow the Quran
• Sharia is the codification of traditional Islamic law
• Follow the Five Pillars of Faith
• Social community called the umma, governed by the caliph
• Africa
• Islamic culture powerfully shaped artistic and intellectual life in many parts of Africa
• African literature was preserved through oral tradition
• Asia and Oceania
• The Tang and Song dynasty were the world’s scientifically and technologically advanced society
• Revival of Neo-Confucianism teachings
• Officials had to pass the civil service examination
• A new form of Buddhism emerged in China known as Chan and Zen known in Japan
• Forbidden City: architectural masterpiece of the early Ming period
• The Americas
• Lived by hunting and foraging
• Built large earth mounds which were used for religious and ceremonial purposes
  • Built pyramids to serve as temples, and worshipped the same gods as MesoAmericans that proceeded them
  • Temple of the Sun was the largest place of worship