An Age of Accelerating Connections

How do Historians Define this Millennium (500-1500 C.E.)? “Postclassical” (?) “Medieval” (too Eurocentric) “Third-Wave Civilizations” (Strayer)

Third-Wave Civilizations: Something New Civilizations created in “new” locations Emergence of Islamic civilization Nomads & Pastoralists as empire builders

Third-Wave Civilizations: Something Old Continued globalization of civilization New civs similar to earlier civs  all borrowed from earlier/more established urban centers

Third-Wave Civilizations: Something Blended Some older civs were reconstructed Byzantine Empire China (Sui, Tang, & Song Dynasties) India under Muslim rule Sudanic Kingdoms (W. Africa) Inca & Aztec Empires W. Europe’s “hybrid civ.”

The Worlds of European Christendom (500–1500 C.E.)

Comparing Civilizations in European Christendom (500-1300) Byzantine Empire (c.330?-1453) Western Europe (500-1300) Cont. Roman imperial traditions Tightly centralized political authority (emperor) Stable pop. growth Wealthier & more urbanized (capital at Constantinople) Central player in Eurasian trade Transmitted classical learning to Islamic World & W. Europe Byzantines dominant E. Mediterranean (unitil1200) Had foot in both Europe & Asia (conflict w/ Persians) Orthodox Christianity (E. Orthodox Church) Hybrid civ. (classical, Germanic, Celtic) Fragmented, decentralized society (feudal system) Pop. fell by 25% b/c of war & disease More rural society (manor)/ decline in urban life Long-distance trade shriveled up outside of Italy Great decline in learning & literacy Germanic peoples emerged as dominant Shift in center of power from Mediterranean to north & west Latin Christianity (Roman Catholicism)

Comparing Eastern & Western Christianity Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic 1. Services conducted in Latin 1. Services conducted in Greek & local languages 1. Teachings of Jesus in Gospel 2. Patriarch & other bishops head the Church as a group 2. Pope has authority over all bishops 2. Sacraments 3. Church hierarchy 3. Emperor claims authority over the patriarch & other bishops 3. Pope claims authority over all kings & emperors 4. The Bible 5. Missionary impulse 4. Celibate clergy 4. Clergy can marry 6. Intolerance of other faiths 5. Divorce allowed (certain conditions) 5. Divorce not permitted

Feudal System: Western Europe A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

The City of Constantinople

The Worlds of Islam (500–1500 C.E.)

The Travels of Ibn Battuta (1325-1354)

The Crusades (1095-1291)

Discussion Questions What were the Crusades? What were the cause(s) of the Crusades? What was the motives of the Crusaders? What was the significance of the Crusades?