1. An Age of Accelerating Connections

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

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

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

5. 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.”

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

9. Comparing Civilizations in European Christendom (500-1300)
Byzantine Empire
(c.330?-1453)
Western Europe
( )
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)

10. 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

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

13. The City of Constantinople

20. The Worlds of Islam
(500–1500 C.E.)

23. The Travels of Ibn Battuta (1325-1354)

24. The Crusades ( )

25. 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?