TK

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