Post-Classical Period

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Post-Classical Period

• 600-1450

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Middle East ISLAM

• Sasanid Empire 224 651 CE
• Muhammad 570 632 CE
• Prophet of Allah
• Sees Islam as an extension of Christianity
• Muslims begin to take over the Middle East
• Islam spreads most successfully in urban areas
• Umayaad, Abbasid
• Europe was under the cloud of the Dark Ages, but
  advancements in learning, exploration,
  mathematics, and history were thriving in Islam
• Sunni/Shiite split

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THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE AT ITS HEIGHT
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Europe in the Middle Ages

• Germanic Kingdoms- Religion
• Many nomadic groups as well
• Byzantine Empire
• Kiev
• Feudalism
• Population explosion during High Middle Ages
• Schism of 1054 CE
• Crusades- 1099-1294 CE

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China at its Height

• Sui 589-618 CE
• Grand Canal
• Buddhist
• Tang 618-907 CE
• Changan- the most prosperous and populous city
  in the world
• Neoconfucianism

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EAST ASIA, cont.

• Song 960 - 1279 CE
• Increased agricultural capacity
• Increased economic productivity
• Improved military technology
• Footbinding
• Japan
• Adoption of Buddhism
• Taika Reforms 646 CE
• Korea
• Adoption of Buddhism Confucianism
• Printing, textiles
• Vietnam
• Women have more freedom
• Villages are strongest centers of government

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Americas

• Maya 300-800 CE
• Maize
• City-kingdoms
• Aztecs 1325-1520 CE
• Empire fed itself on conquest
• Chinampas
• Inca 1425-1530 CE
• Allyu, mita reciprocal labor obligations
• Bureaucracy/Quipu (or khipu)
• Northern Amerindians
• Many different tribes and organizations, with
  varying degrees of social stratification and
  government

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Mongols

• Migrate with herds- excellent horsemen
• Very independent clans until Ghengis Khan (r.
  1206-1227)
• Yuan (China)- Khublai Khan 1279-1368
• Il-Khans (Persia) 1258-1335
• Devastated economy- tax farming
• Became Muslim
• Golden Horde (Russia) 1237-1450s
• Muslim
• Mongol Yoke- though protected, Russia is
  isolated from economic and technological
  developments of elsewhere

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Impact of Mongols

• Secured long-distance trade and communication
  routes
• Destroyed many important cultural centers
  systems
• Maintained peace for a relatively long time (Pax
  Mongolica)
• Spread the plague
• Redistributed conquered peoples with specialized
  skills
• Inspired a prompt return to traditional Chinese
  culture in the Ming dynasty

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Ming

• Peasants overthrow Mongol dynasty after major
  economic downturn/plague
• Neoconfucianism
• Civil Service Exam
• Voyages of Zheng He (1405-1423 CE)
• New food crops favorable trade with Europe

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Africa

• Trans-Saharan gold trade
• Ghana, Mali, Songhai
• Islam
• Christianity, Axum
• Swahili Coast
• Women have a higher status

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Tropical Asia

• Sultanate of Delhi 1206-1526 CE
• Overtaxed subjects
• Muslim
• Indian Ocean Trading Ports
• Highly lucrative
• Producers and traders
• Port of Malacca