Unit Overview

1
Unit Overview

• Chapters 18-22 (and other relevant information)

2
General Information

• The period between 1000-1450 was an era during
  which newer world civilizations matured, largely
  on the foundations of older civilizations that
  had collapsed or faded away
• In era in which civilizations came into more
  contact with each other

3
Background

• From the 200s to 1000 C.E. many of the worlds
  ancient civilizations failed altogether or were
  falling into decline.
• For example Roman Empire, Han and Tang China,
  Heian Japan, Indias Mauryan and Gupta Empires,
  the great civilizations of the Middle East, etc.
• Most of these are referred to as Classical
  Civilizations

4
What does Classical Mean?

• Has many meanings
• In this case, an older civilization that attains
  high levels of achievement, then after falling,
  leaves behind a cultural legacy for new states
  and nations that rise up in its place in the same
  part of the world
• Frequently looked upon as a golden age

5
Back to 1000 C.E.-1500 C.E.

• Classical period had ended
• In some cases, a lengthy period of
  backwardness, decentralization, and chaos
  followed (Europe)
• In other areas (China) the transition was not a
  rocky
• Again, in most cases sophisticated, advanced
  cultures were appearing throughout the world
  during the period between 1000-1450 (most on a
  legacy left behind by a classical civilization)

6
Increased connections (although not at great as
we will see later with the Age of Exploration)

• Although the Americas remained relatively
  isolated from the rest of the world, vibrant
  systems of interaction and exchange appeared
  among those in Africa, Europe, the Middle East,
  central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the far East
• Other characteristicstrade, religious influence,
  tech exchange, cultural and artistic interaction

7
Global Power and International Relations

• Increased contact (except Americas)
• China (esp. during Yuan and Ming) and Ottoman
  Empire were the most advanced and politically
  influential during these years
• Nations if medieval Europe were gaining power and
  sophistication

8

• Major states such as Mali, Ghana, Great Zimbabwe,
  Delhi Sultanate, the Aztecs, and the Incas
  flourished, but for a shorter time
• During the 1200s and 1300s, Mongols changed the
  power balance in Eurasia they connected Europe
  and Asia and imposed political unity, economic
  and cultural connectedness
• Invention of gunpowder weaponry gradually started
  to change the equation of world power

9
Political Developments

• Most forms of government were nonrepresentative
• Monarchies and Oligarchies were most common
• In a few cases restrictions were placed on a
  monarchs power (EnglandMagna Carta)
• Most nations were decentralized
• Others were multicultural empires joined together
  only by the fact that a single civilization had
  conquered them all

10

• Feudalism had become a common form of political
  organization in areas that were decentralized
  (Medieval Europe and Japan under the shoguns)

11
Economic Developments

• Most societies remained fundamentally
  agricultural
• The vast majority of people resided in the
  countryside and made their living by farming
• Artisanry and craftsmanship were becoming
  increasingly important
• Slow trend urbanization, growth of cities

12

• Trade and commerce (even banking) becoming part
  of economic life
• Merchant classes becoming larger and more
  influential
• Creation of intercultural and international trade
  networks (Silk Road, Indian Ocean network,
  Mediterranean trade Network, caravan routes in
  the Sahara, gold trade along the Niger River in
  sub-saharan Africa)

13

• Certain cities became exceptionally important
  centers for intercultural and international trade
  (Venice, Cairo, Zanzibar, Samarkand, Guangzhou,
  Melaka, Timbuktu)

14
Cultural Developments

• Distinct artistic and cultural traditions were
  developing in each major region of the world
• China, The Mid East, Japan, and Muslim Spain
  civilizations that possessed the greatest degree
  of scientific knowledge and cultural
  sophistication
• Renaissance Europe underwent cultural development

15

• China and India had tremendous cultural and
  religious influence on their neighbors
• Buddhism, Hinduism, art forms, and architectural
  styles spread from there to Southeast Asia,
  Korea, Japan, Tibet,etc.
• The Middle East spread knowledge, scholarship,
  music,art, and architecture to North Africa and
  Europe

16

• Travelers and explorers were creating links
  between societies (Zheng He, Marco Polo, Ibn
  Battuta, etc)
• Invention of block printing in China (and perhaps
  Korea) began to alter cultural life
• Invention of the moveable type printing press in
  Europe led to an information explosion

17
Gender Issues

• As in earlier times, women continued to occupy a
  secondary role in most societies
• In most, political rights were minimal or
  nonexistent
• Women had defined occupational rolesusually in
  the domestic sphere
• Women primarily seen as childbearers and
  homemakers

18

• However, in a majority, women did possess some
  freedoms
• Including legal and economic rights
• The right to divorce abusive husbands, the right
  to a dowry, the right to inherit and own property

19

• In many societies played important, but informal
  roles
• Such assupervising childrens education,
  influencing husbands, managing households
• Noblewomencultural patrons
• Priestesses and nuns often enjoyed higher status

20

• In some African societies, women enjoyed a great
  deal of respect and family trees were matrilinear
• In most societies around the world, upper class
  women lived easier lives but still had a lot of
  religious and cultural restrictions
• Societies that feared magic or witchery tended to
  blame women

21
Comparative Issues to Consider

• Differences and similarities of various world
  trading systems
• Intellectual and cultural developments in
  different societies (for ex. The Mid East
  influence on medieval European culture, Indians
  influence on the development of Southeast Asian
  religion, art, and architecture

22

• Comparisons and contrasts between one of the
  major European states and one of the major
  African states
• Differences and likenesses between the Mongol
  Empire and earlier conquest states such as Rome
  and Han
• The successes and failures of the Roman Catholic
  Church and Islamic Caliphates in their attempts
  to create a large multinational civilization
  united by religion

23

• The economic, social, and political roles, of
  major cosmopolitan cities such as Constantinople,
  Samarkand, Guangzhou, Timbuktu, Venice, Melaka,
  and Calicut
• (Resource John McCanon Ph.D. and Monty Armstrong)