SK

Unit 1 Notes: The Global Tapestry (1200–1450)

1.1 Development in East Asia 1200-1450

  • Song China (960–1279 CE)
    • Emerged after unification by Zhao Kuangyin who reunited divided regions formerly under the Tang (618–907 CE) to form the Song Dynasty
    • Song state structure built on innovations from Tang rulers and lasted for more than a millennium
    • Song State Structure
    • Bureaucracy led by Confucianism; meritocracy
    • Mandate of Heaven as a legitimizing principle
    • 6 departments: personnel, finance, rites, army, justice, public works
    • Censorate (watchdog over government)
    • Confucian thought and political culture
    • Reality viewed as hierarchical; everyone has a defined place
    • Revival of civil service examinations; shift of power from hereditary elites to scholarly leaders → the Scholar-Gentry class
    • Emphasis on Filial Piety and a Patriarchal society; respect for parents, elders, ancestors
    • Foot binding becomes a status symbol among the upper class (indicating wealth and status; reflects gendered labor division and social norms)
    • Trade and economy
    • Heavy involvement in long-distance trade ( Silk Road across Afro-Eurasia )
    • Commercialization of Chinese society; goods produced for sale in markets
    • Innovations in production for market: cast iron goods; Song iron production rivaled 18th‑century Europe
    • Porcelain (Fine China) becomes a notable export/reputation
    • Currency and finance
    • Silk and other goods used for trade; scarcity of metal coinage leads to paper money; overprinting leads to inflation; term: “flying money”
    • Infrastructure and transportation
    • Grand Canal connected north and south (Sui to Yuan) facilitating grain and revenue flow
    • Naval and maritime advances
    • Compass and navigation charts; Junk ships (large cargo vessels with square sails)
    • Military technology
    • Gunpowder discovered by alchemists, via saltpeter and charcoal; spread to military use
    • Agriculture and technology
    • Metalworking advances; iron plows; improved agriculture productivity contributing to population growth
    • Population and global context
    • Population growth contributing to broader global shifts; Song China as a leading economic and technological power
    • Cultural and religious exchanges with Japan
    • Heian Japan (794–1185) interacts with Chinese influence; attempts to form an independent identity while integrating Chinese cultural elements (architecture, art, state structure)
    • Religion in China
    • Buddhism remains central; Mahayana Buddhism from Vietnam influences Chinese Buddhist practice; religious diversity grows due to trade routes
    • Connections and significance
    • Illustrates the transmission of Chinese bureaucratic governance to East Asia
    • Demonstrates how state structure, meritocracy, and examination systems shape long-term governance and social mobility
  • 1.1 East Asia – additional notes on broader regional interactions
    • The Silk Road and naval routes linked East Asia with other parts of Eurasia, contributing to cultural diffusion and economic prosperity
    • Footbinding as a gendered cultural practice that signals elite status and reinforces patriarchal norms
    • Technological innovations (paper money, iron production, gunpowder) set groundwork for later state power and military developments

1.2 Development in Dar al-Islam 1200-1450

  • Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE)
    • Rise to power after fall of the Umayyads; Sunni caliphate with Fatimid (909–1171) as the Shia caliphate in North Africa
    • Caliphs served as both religious and state rulers; the concept of a caliph as political and religious leader
    • The Golden Age of Islam (~750–1250) aligns with a flourishing of science, culture, and commerce
  • House of Wisdom and knowledge production
    • Baghdad’s House of Wisdom became a center of learning; built upon and expanded Greek and other civilizations’ knowledge
    • Translations and adaptations of ancient Greek texts into Arabic; adoption of papermaking from China
    • Advancements in mathematics; Arabic numerals developed through study of Indian mathematics; mathematical texts translated and disseminated across Dar al-Islam
  • Technology, trade, and economy
    • Papermaking adopted from China; manuscript culture expands
    • Jizya tax implemented for non-Muslims; many converted due to tax incentives, social mobility, and legal codes
    • Trade networks expand: Dhows with lateen sails; knowledge of monsoon winds; joint ventures with Christian and Jewish traders; credit systems, receipts, and bills reduce risk in long-distance commerce
    • Hospitals and medical care improve; public health and medical knowledge preserved and expanded
    • Slavery and slave labor important to the economy and household dynamics
  • Political structure and challenges
    • Baghdad’s “Round City” as a capital symbol; over time the Islamic world becomes decentralized with competing regional caliphates
    • The expansion and size of the Dar al-Islam give rise to powerful states such as the Seljuk Turks; Byzantines and other neighbors remain rivals
    • External pressures: Crusades (1096–1291) and later Mongol incursions (13th century) reshape political dynamics
    • 1258: Mongols capture Baghdad during the Crusades era, marking a major turning point and the collapse of the Abbasid caliphate’s political authority
  • Culture, science, and religion
    • Cultural flourishing along with religious tolerance and exchange; diverse communities (Muslims, Christians, Jews) contribute to a rich urban culture
    • Islamic civilization preserves and builds upon earlier Greek, Indian, and Persian knowledge; science flourishes in fields such as astronomy, algebra, medicine, and philosophy
  • Decline and enduring legacies
    • Emergence of new Islamic states (e.g., Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt) and continued influence in the region; the synthesis of diverse cultural and religious traditions persists in later periods

1.3 Development in South and Southeast Asia 1200-1450

  • South Asia overview
    • Northern India largely under Muslim rule (Delhi Sultanate, 1206–1526); Hindu kingdoms remain influential in the south and center
    • Hinduism remains dominant in many regions; Islam interacts with local religious and social customs
  • Ghaznavid and early Turkic invasions
    • Ghaznavid Empire (977–1186 CE) under Mahmud of Ghazna launches expeditions from the Afghan heartland; capital at Ghazni
    • Muhammad Ghuri leads a later wave of Islamic Turkic invasions from Afghanistan into northern India; penetrates deep into the subcontinent
    • Rajput kingdoms in the north and center resist but gradually integrate withIslamic polities; Hindu elites secure patronage networks with incoming rulers
    • Turks establish political patterns of local integration and hybrid governance; Brahmans aid rulers with scholarly and cultural legitimacy
  • Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)
    • Turkish rulers establish dominance over much of northern and central India; later southern influence expands under the sultanate’s reach
    • Policies: jizya tax on non-Muslims; incorporation of local administrators; tolerance and accommodation in some regions
    • Political strategy includes sending brothers to the south to gain influence; conversions occur for social mobility and political alliances, with some rulers reverting to Hinduism when out of influence
  • Hindu–Islamic synthesis and regional kingdoms
    • Hindu kingdoms continue to influence politics and culture; Islam integrates with local varna system and languages; Persian becomes administrative language
    • Local artisans and builders are commissioned for substantial architectural projects that blend influences
    • Islam does not compel mass conversion in South Asia; many regions maintain religious plurality and coexistence in urban centers
  • Vijayanagara and other southern polities
    • Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646) emerges in southern India as a Hindu kingdom; a major trading hub and one of the region’s most populous polities
  • Southeast Asia and maritime networks
    • Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam host Hindu, Buddhist, and later Islamic communities
    • Trade-based exchange shapes cultural and religious landscapes; trade networks link with Indian Ocean commerce
  • Southeast Asian empires and religion
    • Majapahit Empire (1293–1527) is a sea-based Buddhist kingdom centered on Java; controls sea routes and taxes spices and trade
    • Khmer Empire (802–1431) is land-based; advanced irrigation and drainage systems support prosperity; initially Hindu, later Buddhist influence grows; Islam spreads to some coastal regions
  • Trade hubs and port cities
    • Malacca (Meḷaka) became a major entrepôt; Port of Quilon (Kollam) on the south Indian Malabar coast emerges as a key node
    • Trade routes bridging China, India, the Middle East, and Africa; personal relationships and dense Muslim trading networks contribute to prospering economies

1.4 State Building in the Americas 1200-1450

  • Mayan Empire (250–1697 CE)
    • Central American city-state organization; no centralized standing army; rulers collected tributes and captives through warfare
    • Polytheistic religion with gods of sun, rain, and corn; human sacrifice common in ritual life
    • Astronomy and calendars used for religious and civic purposes; significant understanding of celestial cycles
    • Writing system and concept of zero developed; monumental architecture and pyramids used for religious and political signaling
  • Aztec Empire (Mexicas, 1300–1521 CE)
    • Capital at Tenochtitlan on Lake Texcoco; large professional army; population around the scale of millions (≈12 million people in the empire)
    • Expansion through conquest and political alliances; theocracy with the emperor as both political and religious leader
    • Heavy taxation and ritual practices (human sacrifice) to appease gods; local rulers maintained some autonomy through tribute systems
    • Infrastructure: roads, irrigation, chinampas (floating gardens) to maximize agricultural output; ensured food supply for large urban center
    • Women’s roles centered on household production; crafts and some commerce; important textile production
  • Inca Empire (1438–1533 CE)
    • South American empire in the Andes; bureaucracy in provinces; ruler claimed to be the sun god Inti’s representative; Mita system (mandatory public service)
    • Professional army; stratified society; extensive road networks and bridges; Carpa Nan network (~25,000 miles) as the major transport and communication system
    • Religion centered on sun worship; rulers mummified after death; elements of animism; state-supported religious ceremonies
    • Economic and administrative achievements: quipu (knotted strings) for record-keeping; terrace farming and irrigation patchworks
  • Mississippian culture (c. 700–1350 CE)
    • Earthen mounds as centers of ritual and governance; Cahokia identified as a major mound site; matrilineal elements in some chiefdoms; Great Sun as a key ruler archetype
    • Decline and abandonment for uncertain reasons (possible environmental factors, disease, or resource pressures)

1.5 State Building in Africa 1200-1450

  • Sub-Saharan Africa’s political landscape by 1000 CE
    • Many communities organized into kin-based networks with chiefdoms; loose federations and councils solve local problems
    • By 1000 CE, agriculture spread across sub-Saharan Africa, but centralized states were less common; kin-based leadership and councils played key roles
    • Bantu migrations spread language, ironworking, and irrigation techniques; linked diverse regions via trade and culture
  • Hausa Kingdoms (c. 1300–1800 CE)
    • A group of multiple kin-based networks organizing into a kingdom with seven states; no single central authority; specialized regional economies (plains states, western states provide military functions)
    • Benefited from Trans-Saharan trade routes; gold, salt, and textiles linked to northern markets
  • Mali Empire (c. 1235–1600 CE)
    • Founded by Sundiata; Islam as a unifying faith that enables trade with North African and Arab merchants; the epic of Sundiata preserved by griots
    • Thrived on gold and ivory trade; established strong commercial networks with trans-Saharan traders
    • Mansa Musa: famous for wealth and pilgrimage to Mecca; journey showcased Mali’s wealth and connected Timbuktu as a center of learning with mosques and madrasas
    • Timbuktu as a major urban and scholarly hub with mosques and educational institutions
  • Songhai Empire (c. 1375–1591 CE)
    • Emerged as Mali declined; adopted Sunni Islam to facilitate integration and broader legitimacy
    • Expanded through military campaigns; built on the Muslim trading networks of the Sahara
  • Great Zimbabwe (c. 1000–1400 CE)
    • Centralized political power under a king; wealth indicated by impressive stone architecture and large enclosures
    • Economy tied to long-distance trade and gold; evidence of relationships with Indian Ocean trading networks and Swahili trade routes
  • Ethiopian/Abyssinia (c. 1270–1974 CE)
    • Emergence of Ethiopian Christian state continuity from Axum; Christian monarchy develops distinctive architecture and churches
    • Trade with India, Arabia, the Roman world, and Africa; religious and cultural exchange shapes the region’s Christian and local practices

1.6 Development in Europe 1200-1450

  • Feudalism and political fragmentation
    • Political fragmentation into small, semi-autonomous, warrior-led territories; mutual obligations between kings, lords, knights, and serfs
    • Three-field system and manorialism as the backbone of agrarian economy; labor and land management sustain population and production
  • High Middle Ages (c. 1000–1450)
    • Centralizing trends under monarchs; growth of centralized bureaucracies by kings; large standing armies financed through taxation
    • Rise of powerful monarchies capable of exercising authority beyond feudal lords
  • Magna Carta (1215) and English Parliament (1265)
    • Limiting monarchical power and protecting baronial rights; early steps toward constitutionalism
    • Right to a jury trial and property rights for free citizens; Parliament represents the interests of the noble class and later expanded to broader elites
  • The Catholic Church and education
    • Church maintains continuity of political and cultural unity; funds universities and supports scholars
    • Much art and intellectual work funded by the Church; education and literacy spread through ecclesiastical networks
  • Crusades (1096–1291)
    • Papal-initiated campaigns to reclaim Jerusalem; religious devotion framed as holy war; mobilized Christendom and influenced European-Christian identity and politics
  • Trade, exploration, and the early global outlook
    • Marco Polo’s travels to China (late 13th century) and published accounts broaden Europe’s imagination of Asia; cartography and navigation improve
    • Rise of a merchant middle class (bourgeoisie) in towns and cities; urbanization and commercial capital
  • The late medieval transition and cultural shifts
    • Little ice age and agricultural challenges; population pressures and economic strain contribute to social change
    • Renaissance begins to take shape (c. 1300–1600), emphasizing humanism and a revival of classical ideas
  • National consolidation and identity
    • England, France, Spain, and other kingdoms move toward centralized nation-states; examples include France (Joan of Arc) and Spain (Isabella and Ferdinand) pursuing centralized authority and religious unity

1.7 Comparison of the Period 1200–1450

  • Direct time-based comparisons
    • Europe (feudal) vs. Europe (emerging nation-states) – shift from decentralized power to centralized monarchies; stronger state capacity by mid‑late medieval period
    • Song China vs. Japan – Song’s centralized bureaucracy vs. Japan’s feudal, regionalized governance; cultural exchange and adaptation from Chinese models in Japan
    • Abbasid Caliphate vs. Western Europe – Muslim political-religious fusion vs. European fragmentation and emerging church-state conflicts
    • Swahili coast and Indian Ocean networks vs. Western Europe’s isolation from some trade routes; Swahili coast connected to vast networks, while Western Europe remained largely outside early global trade networks until late period
    • Silk Road and global trade networks – Silk Road links connect Song China with Abbasid and beyond; Europe remains geographically peripheral to much of these networks early on
    • Agriculture and technology – three-field rotation in Europe; Champa rice and advanced agrarian tech in China; both support population and urban growth
    • Islam in Africa and Asia – Islam unites diverse populations and fosters long-distance trade; Islam’s role in governance and culture varies by region
    • Religious diversity and conflict – religious differences (Christianity and Buddhism; Islam and Hinduism) contribute to tensions in some regions
  • New states, revived empires, and cross-cultural synthesis
    • New states: Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517), Seljuk Empire (predecessor-identity within Abbasid framework), Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526), Ottoman Empire (1299–1918)
    • Old empires revived: Song Dynasty (Han-based) in East Asia; Mali (Ghana-based) in Africa; Holy Roman Empire (centrally influenced by earlier Empires in Europe)
    • Cross-cultural syntheses: Japan’s adoption of Chinese governance and culture; Delhi Sultanate’s fusion of Hindu and Muslim governance; Neo-Confucianism’s adaptations
  • Expanding scope and interconnectedness
    • Aztecs, Incas, East African city-states (Swahili, Ethiopia), and Southeast Asian city-states (Srivijaya, Khmer) illustrate a broader, more interconnected world by 1400

1.8 Thematic connections and implications (syntheses from 1.1–1.7)

  • Religion and governance
    • Religion often legitimates political authority (Mandate of Heaven in China; Caliphal authority in Islam; divine kingship in Africa and the Americas)
    • Religious tolerance varies: some regions adopt syncretic practices; others enforce religious uniformity (e.g., sporadic intolerance in different eras)
  • Trade and technology as drivers of change
    • Innovations (paper money, gunpowder, compass) alter economies and warfare; trade networks (Silk Road, Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan) shape state power and cultural diffusion
  • Social structure and gender
    • Patriarchal norms reinforced by Confucian social order; women’s status influenced by regional norms (e.g., foot binding in China; varying roles for women in Africa and the Americas)
  • Economic systems and labor organization
    • Three-field and manorial systems in Europe; Mita in the Inca; tribute and labor in the Aztec; tax and land revenue in African kingdoms; all contribute to state stability and expansion
  • Technology and geography
    • Geographic breadth of 1200–1450 expands global reach; knowledge transfer accelerates through travel, conquest, and scholarly exchange
  • Ethical, philosophical, and practical implications
    • The period sees balancing religious orthodoxy with cosmopolitan exchange; ethical questions around conquest, tribute, slavery, and religious intolerance
  • Formulas and numerical notes
    • Population scale references: Song China contributed a significant share of world population; estimates often cited as around 25 ext{ extbf{ extperthousand}} ext{ to } 40 ext{ extbf{ extperthousand}} of the world’s population, depending on estimates of world population in this era
    • Key date ranges to memorize:
    • Song Dynasty: 960 ext{-}1279 CE
    • Abbasid Caliphate: 750 ext{-}1258 CE
    • Delhi Sultanate: 1206 ext{-}1526 CE
    • Mongol destruction of Baghdad: 1258 CE
    • Mali Empire: around 1235 ext{-}1600 CE
    • Songhai: 1375 ext{-}1591 CE
    • Majapahit: 1293 ext{-}1527 CE
    • Khmer Empire: 802 ext{-}1431 CE
    • Aztec Empire: 1300 ext{-}1521 CE
    • Inca Empire: 1438 ext{-}1533 CE
    • Great Zimbabwe: c. 1000 ext{-}c. 1400 CE
    • European milestones: Magna Carta 1215 CE; Parliament 1265 CE; Crusades 1096 ext{-}1291 CE

1.9 Connections to broader historical themes and exam-ready takeaways

  • Core patterns to remember
    • Centralization vs. fragmentation: Song and Abbasid empires vs. European feudal fragmentation
    • Trade as a global catalyst: Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan networks linking disparate regions
    • Cultural syncretism: blending of local traditions with incoming religious and administrative frameworks (e.g., Delhi Sultanate’s governance, Neo-Confucianism, Southeast Asian syncretism)
    • Technological diffusion: gunpowder, papermaking, compass, irrigation tech spreading across regions
  • Quick-reference framework for essays
    • Compare governance: centralized bureaucracies vs. decentralized feudal systems
    • Analyze religious influence on state-building and social structure
    • Explain how trade networks shaped political power and cultural exchange
    • Discuss the role of technology in economic and military power

1.10 Quick glossary of key terms

  • Mandate of Heaven: Chinese political doctrine legitimizing rulers as divinely authorized
  • Scholar-Gentry: social class rising from merit-based civil service exams
  • Foot binding: gendered practice signaling elite status in Song-era China
  • Jizya: tax on non-Muslims in Muslim-ruled lands
  • Dhows: Arabian sailing vessels used in Indian Ocean trade
  • Monsoon winds: seasonal winds enabling predictable maritime travel
  • Chinampas: floating gardens used by the Aztecs for agriculture
  • Mita system: labor obligation in the Inca Empire
  • Swahili: lingua franca of East Africa blending Bantu and Arabic elements
  • Méleka (Malacca): major port city in Southeast Asia essential to Indian Ocean trade
  • Quipu: Inca system of knotted strings for record-keeping

Appendix: Connections to the broader course themes

  • Illustrates long-term patterns of state formation, economy, and culture across continents (Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe)
  • Emphasizes the interconnectedness of medieval world regions through trade routes, religious networks, and scholarly exchanges
  • Highlights how ideas and technologies travel across cultures, reshaping societies in profound ways