Confucianism - System of philosophical and ethical teachings (founded about 1700 years before our time frame starts) that put society in a hierarchy

• Created ~600 BCE by Confucius

• Good government depended on having wise leaders

• Civil Service Exam - Han Dynasty

Unifying the Country

• The chaotic, violent, and politically fragmented centuries that followed the collapse of the Han Dynasty made people discredit Confucianism

• This led to the rise of Buddhism by the Silk Road

• Many upper class found comfort in Buddhism

• Before the Song Dynasty, China was split into regional kingdoms as the Tang Dynasty was collapsing

• Zhoa Kuangyin a General in the Northern Zhou army rebelled against his king and established his own Dynasty (Song) where he took the name Emperor Taizu

CENSORATE(Song Dynasty Structure)

(Checks and Balances System)

6 different departments

• Personnel (government)

• Finance/Revenues

• Rites (Religious/customs)

• Military

• Justice (courts)

• Public Works

• Trade Across Afro-Eurasia Rises

Neo-Confucianism

• Losing State-Support for Buddhism During the time of the song

• Some saw Buddhism as a threat or challenge to the imperial bureaucracy

• Resentment of its enormous wealth

• Buddhism was of foreign origin

• During the Song Dynasty, Neo-Confucianism became very popular

• Revival of Confucian thinking, while incorporating insights of Buddhism and Daoism

• Revival of filial piety and the five relationships

• Re-instituted the Civil Service Exam (Problems - dont take into account of poorer populations because they can't read)

“Golden Age” of Achievement

Sui (589-618), Tang (618-907), & Song (960-1279)

Chinese rulers extended country’s canal system; linked northern and southern china, Yellow River (North) Yang Ci (South)

Economic Boom, population growth, and urbanization

Population: 50-60 million during the Tang Dynasty to 120 million by 1200 during the Song Dynasty

Agricultural production - fast ripening & drought resistant strain of rice from Vietnam (champa rice)

Champa Rice is the main reason that China's population doubled

Network of Water

An immense network of waterways connected to southern China (farming) to northern China (urban) of ~30,000 with the Grand Canal of 1,000 miles linking the Yellow River to the Yangzi

Chinese Accomplishments

Iron industry boomed - rivaled Europe in the 19th century

Inventions in printing (wood-block and movable type) = widespread use of books

Navigation and shipbuilding technologies improved

Astrolabe - Uses stars to determine latitude on the planet

Triangular Sail allowed wind to be caught from any direction

Gunpowder - Daoist Alchemists (Now used for Militaristic Purposes)

Cheap transportation (due to immense network of internal waterways) allowed peasants to grow specialized crops

Commercialization - use of paper money, letters of credit, promissory notes

• In the Tang Dynasty, women had freedoms but in the Song it's a patriarchy

• Elite women in the Tang enjoyed greater freedom

• Song Dynasty & Revived Confucianism = stricter patriarchy, restoration of notions of female submissions

• Weak and Distracting

• Foot binding(ended 1912)

Not all Bad for Women

Women's rights expanded in property

Control their own dowries

Inherit property family

Korea, Vietnam, & Japan

Korea and Vietnam were Tributary - every year they pay the song government to not invade them

Population + Agriculture + Manufacturing = Wealthiest Empire on the Planet

Common Language + Confucianism + Culture = Unity

Topic 1.2 Developments in Dar al-Islam from c. 1200-1450

Vocabulary:

Caliphate: a state under the leadership of a ruler with the title caliph (a caliph is both a governmental leader and a religious leader)
Sultanate: a territory under the leadership of a ruler with the title of sultan (islamic, does not rule religion)

Empire: a territory under the leadership of a ruler with the title of emperor (usually christian)

Setting the Stage

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam continued to influence Europe, Africa, and the Middle East

Island spread quickly in the centuries after the prophet

Muhammad dies

Islam separates into two sects

Sunni - best friend of muhammad should rule

Shia - the people are called shi’ites, cousin/brother in law of Muhammed to take over

Islam extends all the way from India to Spain

Advances in Algebra and medicine between the 8th and 13th centuries under the Abbasid Caliphate

Capital of Abbasid Caliphate is in Baghdad, where pakistan is

Center of learning at the Baghdad House of Wisdom

Christians and Muslims cooperated in Spain

Invasions and Trade Shifts

Invasions of the Abbasid Empire in the 1100’s-1200’s by 4 different groups.

Mamluk Sultanate

Egypt recruited slaves, or Mamluks to serve in the military and government

Mamluks mostly Turkish

Seized control of Egypt and North Africa

Seljuk Turks

Originated in Central Asia

Captured parts of the Middle East, including Baghdad

They are sunnis

Seljuk leader called himself sultan

Reduced the role of Abbasid Caliph to Chief religious authority

Clashed with the Byzantine Empire

Seljuk Empire lasted from 1037-1194

Crusaders

Abbasids allowed Christians to travel to holy sites in and around Jerusalem

Seljuk Turks limited travel of Christians

European Christians organized crusaders, or soldiers to reopen access

Mongols

Like Seljuk Turks, originated in Central Asia

Conquered remaining Abbasid Empire in 1258

Drove Seljuk turks out of Baghdad - highest casualties in battle so far

Pushed westward, but stopped in Egypt by the Mamluks

Siege of Baghdad

Civilian casualties: 200,000-800,000 (western sources) 2,000,000 (Arab Sources)

Invasion and Trade Shifts

Abbasids faced economic and military challenges in the 1300’s

Goods traded through Baghdad on Southern Silk Road shifted to Northern Silk Road routes

Baghdad lost population, canals fell into disrepair

Countryside unable to sustain agricultural needs

Cultural and Social Life

Islamic world fragmented politically, but advanced culturally

Universities in Baghdad, Cordoba, Cairo, Bukhara

Cultural Continuities

Preserved and translated Greek literary classics into Arabic

Studies mathematics texts from India

Adopted paper-making from China

Cultural Innovations

Nasiral-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274) contributed to astronomy, law, logic, ethics, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine

Built observatory with world most accurate astronomical charts

Laid groundwork for trigonometry

Medical advancements and hospital care improved in cities

Ibn Khaldun(1332-1406) known for historical accounts

Father of historiography and sociology

Aisha al-Ba’uniyyah(1460-1507)-most prolific female Muslim writer before the 20th century

Many works describe journey toward illumination

Reflect Sufi traditions - branch of Islam that reflects on inner reflection

Sufis

• Sufi Muslims- emphasized introspection to learn truths

Incorporate polytheistic religions into Islam

Unlike Muslim who focused on study of Quran

Possible began as a mystical response to love of luxury by Early Umayyad Caliphate

• Sufi Missionaries (Massive role) play an important role in the spread of Islam to eastern Asia

• Tended to adapt to local cultures and traditions

Tolerance encourages converts (blend different cultures)

Commerce, Class, and Diversity

Islamic society viewed merchants more prestigious than Europe and Asia

Prophet Muhammad a merchant

Grew rich from Silk Road revival with trade across the Indian Ocean and Central Asia

Some merchants sent out as missionaries

Slavery

Slavery was allowed but not to enslave other muslims (Jews, Christians, and Zoroastianists exempt)

Slaves imported from Africa, Kievan Rus (Eastern Europe) and Central Asia

Hereditary Slavery not developed (Children considered free)

Many slaves freed by converting to Islam

Slave Women

Slave women often served as concubines to Islamic men

Allotment of four wives for men

Slave women allowed more independence

Example: go to markets

Opportunity to earn money and buy freedom

Free Women

Many customs toward women originated in Central Asia and Byzantine Empire before Muhammad

Ex: Veiling of head and face (Hijab) Predates Muhammad (Mesopotamia)

Muhammad’s Policies

• Raised the states of women

• Insisted dowries paid to future wife rather than father

• Forbade female infanticide (killing of female infants in place of a son)

• Muhammad’s first wife educated and owned business

Impact of Islam in West Africa

Islam brought cultural changes to Africa through trade not conquest!

Islamic traders expanded trade network in Indian Ocean and West Africa (Mali, Ghana, and Songhai)

Sufi’s play little role with little arab immigration happening

Bantu and Arabic blended to create Swahili language in East Africa (still spoken today)

By the 16th century, Timbuktu had over 150 Quranic schools, libraries with thousands of books, rulers built mosques and arabic becomes the language of trade, religion, and education

Leader of Mali - Mansa Musa

• Converted to Islam and went on a Hajj

  • Pilgrimage to Mecca

• With him came a huge caravan of wealth

Islamic Rule in Spain

• Islamic state in Spain (al-Andalus) a center of learning

• Islamic scholarship and scientific innovations helped lay groundwork for European Renaissance and Scientific Revolution

Topic 1.3 Developments in South & Southeast Asia from 1200 to 1450

Political Structure in South Asia

• Southern India was more stable than northern India

  • Chola Dynasty

• The second kingdom. The Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1646) took its name from the word for “the victorious city”

  • Started with two brothers Harihara and Bukka

  • The Deli Sultanate in the north wanted to extend Islamic reach to the south

Political Structures in Northern India

• Over time, the Islamic presence in the region grew

  • 8th century - Islamic armies invade what is today Pakistan

  • 11th century - Islamic forces plundered Hindu and Buddhist temples and shrines in northern India

• In the early 13th century, Islamic forces managed to conquer the city of Delhi and much of the northern portion of South Asia

  • Delhi Sultanate reigned for 300 years, from the 13th through the 16th centuries

Delhi Sultanate

• The Delhi Sultanate never organized an efficient bureaucracy in the style of the Chinese

  • Sultans had difficulty imposing their policies in a land as cast and diverse as India

  • Ruled northern India 1206-1526 C.E.

  • Weak Administrative structure

    • Sultan is relying on local Hindu rulers to implement laws (and they don't)

    • Out of 35 sultans in the Delhi Sultans, 19 of them were assassinated

• Sultans wanted to extend their rule southward.

  • Had to focus on defending themselves from an onslaught by the Mongol army from the northwest

Social Structure in South Asia

• India’s caste system is its strongest historical continuity

• Islam altered very little to the structure of society in South Asia

• The caste system was flexible and able to accommodate newcomers

• Those who tried to escape the caste system failed

Cultural Interactions in South Asia

• People in South Asia and the Middle East shared their intellectual and cultural achievements

• In India, sultans erected buildings melding the Hindu art with the geometric patterns preferred of Islamic architecture

  • Qutub Minar, stands in the southern part of Delhi Sultanate

Islam - Geometric patterns

• New language developed among Muslims of South Asia: Urdu (Farsi and Arabic)

• The Bhakti Movement Beginning in the 12th century

• Though the Bhaktis were Hindus, they were similar in some ways to Sufi Muslims.

  • Both groups were mystical movements

    • Emphasized inner reflection in order to achieve a direct personal relationship with a deity.

    • Placed less emphasis on strict adherence to traditional rituals and beliefs

  • Just as the Sufis helped spread Islam, the Bhaktis helped spread Hinduism

Southeast Asia

• Like China, South Asia strongly influenced its neighbors, particularly the lands of Southeast Asia– today’s Indonesida, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam

• Trade voyages introduced the Indian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism to Southeast Asia

• Strait of Melakka

• Whoever controlled this region could influence the valuable trade between South Asia and East Asia

Sea Based Kingdoms

• The Srivijaya Empire (670-1025) Hindu kingdom based on Sumatra

• The Majapahit Kingdom (1293-1520) based on Java had 98 tributaries at hits height

  • Like Srivijaya, Majapahit sustained its power by controlling sea routes

  • Unlike Srivijaya, Majaphit was buddhist

Land Based Kingdoms

• The Khmer Empire, also known as the Angkor Kingdom (802-1431)

• The Khmer capital was at Angkor Thom

  • Angkor Thom is the entire city

  • Angkor Wat is the temple

• Massive display of Hindu architecture and culture sprinkled in with Buddhist origins

Topic 1.4 - State Building in the Americas

• Setting the Stage

• New civilizations rose in the Americas starting in 250 CE

  • Maya, Aztec, and Inca

• Several civilizations developed strong states, large urban centers and complex belief systems

• Current knowledge largely comes from archeological evidence, oral traditions, and writings by the Europeans after 1492.

• The Mississipian Culture

  • The first large-scale civilization in North America

  • Built Enormous mounds

  • Cahokia - Capital city of middle mississippians

  • Rigid social Structure

  • Men hunted while women farmed.

• Decline of the Mississipian Civilization

  • Cahokia abandoned around 1450, other cities by 1600

  • Historians disagree on reasons for abandonment

• Mesa Verde

  • Built multi-story buildings into the cliffs

  • Protection from floods

• The Maya City-States

  • Reached their height between 250-900 CE

  • Stretched over Southern Mexico and Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala

  • Most people lived in or near one of the approx, 40 cities - cities ranged from 5,000 - 50,000 people

  • Approx, 2 million total population at its peak

  • Mayan Government

    • City-State structure

    • Most kings were male

    • Warfare between city states common

  • Mayan King claimed to be a descendent from a god

  • Elite Scribes and priests administered state affairs

  • Common people required to pay taxes

  • City had no standing army

  • No central government ruled all Mayan lands

  • Mayan Religion

    • Priests held major power in Mayan religion

    • Worship of many gods

• The Aztecs

  • Actual name of Mexicas (Mesh-e-Cah). Called Aztecs by the Spanish

  • Originally hunter-gatherers who migrated to Central Mexico in the 1200’s

  • Founded the capital city of Tenochtitlan in 1325

  • Empire stretched from Gulf of Mexico to Pacific Ocean

  • Capital City of Tenochtitlan

    • Founded on an island in the middle of a lake

    • Population near 200,000

    • 150 foot pyramid built in the city center

    • Built chinampas, or floating gardens, to increase food production

    • Irrigated lake water for crops, drained parts of the lake for more land

  • Aztec Government, Economy, and Society

    • Tribute system established dominance of Mesoamerica

    • Conquered people forced to pay tribute, surrender land and perform military service

    • Allowed conquered rulers to stay in positions

    • Grouped city-states into provinces

  • Role of Women

    • Women wove valuable cloth used as tribute

    • Men may obtain multiple wives to help pay for tribute

    • Most women work at home, some came priestesses, midwives, healers, and merchants

  • Religion

    • Like the Mayans, they worshipped many gods (polytheistic)

    • Human sacrifice common

  • The Decline of the Aztecs

    • In decline by the late 15th century

    • Empire extended too far to govern

    • Extraction of conquered people for sacrifice inspired resentment rather than loyalty

• The Inca

  • Small states combined into empire by Pachuti (founder of Inca) in 1438

  • Extended from present day Ecuador to Chile in South America

  • Government, Economy, Society

    • Empire split into 4 provinces for efficiency

    • Subject peoples to the mita system (mandatory public service)

  • Religion

    • The most was Inti, the sun god

    • Incan rulers considered Inti’s representation on earth

    • Two major elements:

      • One - Pray to the inti everyday

      • Two - Honor dead ancestors

    • Temple of the sun in Cuzco formed core of religion

    • Dead rulers mummified, organs removed preserved in alcohol. New kings inherit power but not possessions

    • Priests consulates before important actions

    • Serious events such as famines, plagues, and war called for human sacrifice

    • Included animism, the belief that physical elements of the world could have supernatural powers

  • Achievements

    • Developed quipu, a system of knotted strings used to record numerical information

    • Developed sophisticated mountain agriculture

    • Built the Carpa Nan, a massive roadway

  • The Decline of the Inca

    • Civil war during the arrival of Spanish Conquistador Pizzaro in 1532 after the death of the emperor

    • Disease introduced by the Spaniards

    • Spanish killed or enslaved native populations by 1572

Topic 1.5 - Developments in Africa

• Tran-Saharan Trade Network

• Setting the Stage

  • Important information about Africa came from Ibn Battuta

  • Some parts of Africa resisted Islam but most blended local customs

  • South Africa had little contact with Islam until later

  • By 100,000 most Sub-Saharan Africa adopted agriculture, in agricultural communities

  • Unlike Asia or Europe, didn’t have central power

  • Kin-based networks common

• Hausa Kingdoms - Political Structure in Inland Africa

  • Hausa ethnic group formed seven states in modern day Nigeria before 1000

  • Benefited from Trans-Saharan trade

  • Islam introduced by missionaries in 14th century

• Political Structures of West and East Africa

  • Increased exchange of goods brought wealth, political power, and cultural diversity

  • Spread of Islam added to the pre-existing practice of animism (belief that physical objects have spiritual powers) and Christianity

  • Four Major Kingdoms: Ghana, Mali, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia

  • Ghana

    • Not in same location as modern Ghana

    • Reached its peak between 8th and 11th century, became vassal state of Mali by 1300

    • Rulers sold gold and ivory to Muslim traders for salt, copper, cloth, and tools

    • Capital city of Kumbai Saleh

    • Centralized Government

    • Military armed with iron weapons

  • Mali

    • Replaced Ghana as the major power by the 12th century - Mansa Musa

    • Most powerful trading society

      • Thriving gold trade (universal trade good)

    • Founded by Muslim ruler Sundiata

      • Used Islamic connected to establish trade

  • Zimbabwe

    • Established by the 9th century in East Africa

      • Located in modern day Zimbabwe and Mozambique

    • Known for stone architecture

    • Most powerful East African kingdom between 12th and 15th century

    • Prosperity built on agriculture, grazing, trade, and gold

    • Traded with the Swahili city-states

    • Tied to Indian Ocean trade

      • Connected East Africa, Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia

  • Ethiopia

    • Known as Aksum

    • Christianity spread to region in 1st century

      • Weakened by Islam in the 7th century

    • Embraced Christianity in 12th century

      • Developed independently from Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church

      • Combined local traditions with christianity

        • Ancestor veneration, belief in spirits

      • Built 11 massive christian churches from rock

      • The Roch-Hewn Churches 

  • Slavery in Sub-Saharan Africa and SW Asia

    • Long History of Slavery in Africa

      • Prisoners of war, debtors, criminals

    • Most men and women worked in agriculture

      • Some worked in households

    • In many kin based societies, land could not be owned privately, but people could be owned

    • Owning of slaves increased owners social status

  • Cultural life in Sub-Saharan Africa

    • Continuity of music, visual arts, story telling

    • Song lyrics used for communicating with the spirit world

    • African music had distinctive rhythmic pattern, vocals and percussive elements such as handclaps, bells, pots or gourds

    • Visual arts commonly served religious purpose

      • Metal workers created busts of past rulers

      • Artists in Benin (West Africa) famous for intricate iron and bronze sculptures

    • Griots, or storytellers, shared history with the community

      • Possessed knowledge of family lineages, deeds of great leaders

      • Often sang their stories, accompanied with instruments

      • Were both venerated and feared

      • Kings sought their counsel

    • Female storytellers were known as Griottes

      • Sang at special occasions

        • Weddings

      • Provided Women with empowerments in patriarchal society

Topic 1.6 - Developments in Europe

Setting the Stage

• The European “Middle Ages: began with the decline of the western Roman Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries

• Trade, Intellectual life and political unification declined

• European kings, lords and peasants worked out agreements for defense against high invaders

• 1000-1450 known as the “High Middle Ages” (learning and trade flourished again)

• Catholic Church the only institution that retained power from the fall of Rome to the 16th century

Feudalism: Political and Social Systems

• Feudalism is a decentralized political organization based on the exchange of land or loyalty

• European Civilization characterized by feudalism

• A monarch granted land, called fiefs, to lords

• Lords gave land rights to knights

• Lord gave land and protection to peasants

• Feudalistic System depends on agriculture

• Feudal system incorporated code of chivalry and unwritten sets of rules, courtesy and bravery

• Although protected, women did not have any rights

• Monorial System

  • Large fiefs or estates known as manors

  • Manorial system provided economic self-sufficiency and defense

  • Manors included: small village, blacksmith, mill, presses

  • Manors included homes for serfs

  • Serfs (knights granted them land to own) > Peasants > Slaves

• Three-Field System improved agricultural output

• Technological developments included windmills and plows

• Population grew due to increased agricultural output

• Manors produced everything the people needed

• Monarchs hired bureaucracy to carry out decisions and organized armies

• Desire for power created tension between monarchs and the pope

• France

  • King Philip II (1180-1223) was the first to develop a real bureaucracy

  • First Estates General met under Philip IV (ruled 1285-1314)

    • First- clergy 

    • Second - nobility

    • Third - commoners

• Norman England

  • The Normans were descendents of vikings who settled in NW France (Normandy) in 1066

  • Successful invasion of England by William the Conqueror

  • Tightly organized feudal system using royal sheriffs as administrative officials

  • Nobles objected to the power of William and successor monarchs

  • Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215 under pressure from nobles.

  • First English Parliament formed in 1265

  • House of Commons - Wealth of Townspeople

  • House of Lords - Nobility

• Education and Art

  • First universities in Europe established by the church

  • Most philosophers, writers and thinkers were religious leaders

  • All artists worked for the church

• Church and State

  • Church held great power in the feudal system

  • Roman Catholic Church had extensive hierarchy

  • Missionaries spread Christianity throughout Europe

• Monasticism

  • Clergy were part of the economies of Western Europe

• Reform

  • Clergy had considerable political influence

  • Monasteries became wealthy

  • Wealth led to corruption during 13th and 14th centuries

• Christian Crusades

  • Primogeniture laws state that when a noble dies everything will be inherited by its eldest son

  • Europeans sought to reclaim control of the Holy Land, the region of Palestine significant to Jews, Christians, and Muslim

  • Rules of primogeniture added pressure to invade the Middle East

  • Nobles saw military campaigns as a way to divert restless nobles and unemployed peasants

  • Merchants sought access to trade routes in Middle East

• The First Crusade

  • The only successful Crusade from Christian forces

• The Fourth Crusade

  • The last major crusade (1202-1204)

  • Wealthy city of Venice contracted to transport crusaders to Middle East

  • Fourth Crusade never made it into the Holy Land

• Economic and Social Change

  • Local economic self-sufficiency in Europe gradually grew to interest in trade goods

  • Venetian trader Marco Polo visited Mongol court of Kublai Khan in the late 13th century

  • Urban Growth

    • Three-field System and new farming technologies increased agriculture, leading to population growth

    • Need for labor gave serfs bargaining power with lords

    • Growth hampered in 1300 by five-century cooling of climate known as the Little Ice Age

• Jew

  • The small jewish population in Europe grew during the Middle Ages

  • Some political leaders welcomed Jews as they brought business and trade experience

    • Ex. Amsterdam

  • Anti-semitism, (anti-jewish sentiment) was widespread among Christians

  • Jews were seen as outsiders and untrustworthy

  • Jews were expelled from England in 1290, France in 1394, Spain in 1492, and Portugal in 1497

  • Expelled Jews often moved to Eastern Europe

• Renaissance

  • The Renaissance was a period characterized by revival of interest in classical Greek and Roman literature, art, culture, and civic virtue

  • Scholars recovered and studied manuscripts written centuries earlier

  • Interest in Humanism, the focus on individuals rather than God

  • Humanists sought education and reform

    • Wrote secular literature

  • Increase of vernacular language

    • Language of the local people

  • Rise of powerful monarchies, centralization of governments, and birth of nationalism

• The Origins of Russia

  • Extensive trade in furs, fish, and grain connected Scandinavia, Central Asia, and region around the Black Sea and Mediterranean

  • Center of trade in the city of Kiev (Kyiv) (present day Ukraine), under the state of Rus. (state of Ruthenia)

  • City-States and regions involved in trade known as Kievan Rus.

  • Regions taken over by the Mongols

Region became independent of the Mongols by Moscow-based ruler Ivan the Great in the late 15th century