1. The Post-Classical World: 600 CE - 1450 CE
Unit 3 Review
The Post-Classical World:
600 CE CE

2. Themes Two Main themes of Post-Classical Period Caused:
Religious Expansion and Cultural Change
Development of Interregional Trade
Caused:
Boundary Conflicts
Technological expansion
Consumer interest in products
More disease

3. States and Empires in 800 CE
Ghana
Carolingian
Byzantine
Abbasid Caliphate
Axum
Tang China
Srivijaya
Parhae
Silla
Cordoba Caliphate
Heian Japan
States and Empires in 800 CE

4. States and Empires in 1237 CE
Scandanavian Kingdoms
Russia
England
Poland
H.R.E.
Mongol Empire
France
Spain
Hungary
Rum
Koryo
Portugal
Almohad Caliphate
Sung China
Kamakura Japan
Ayyubid Caliphate
Delhi Sultanate
Mali
Angkor
Ethiopia
Oyo
Benin
Zimbabwe
States and Empires in 1237 CE

5. Islamic Caliphates Islam developed in 632 CE
Muhammad driven out of Mecca because of opposition from polytheists (Umayyads); goes to Medina where he gains followers and ultimately regains control of Mecca
Descendants of Muhammad ruled after - dispute over who should rule
Sunni Islam - Whoever is most capable should lead (majority of Muslims)
Shi’a Islam - leaders of Islam should be direct descendants of Muhammad (minority)

6. Arab Political Development
Valued trade, all based on Muslim law (shari’a),
Taxes on non-Muslims (dhimmis) but no forced conversions, cannot enslave Muslims
Umayyad caliphate ( CE): capital at Damascus; make into hereditary monarchy, expand land, set up bureaucratic gov’t, must be Arab and Muslim for positions; focus on expansion
Abbasid caliphate ( CE): size made difficult to control, broken into smaller states, allowed non-Arabs as long as Muslim; based in Baghdad; borrowed from Persia; focus on trade

7. Africa
Based on gold and salt trade; does not develop manufacturing; empires fall due to waning of resources, smaller provinces gaining independence
Ghana ( ): by 900s Islam major force, increase in trade
Mali ( ): Sundiata; Mansa Musa (hajj to Mecca displays wealth of Mali)
Songhay ( ): Niger River; significant in gold trade
Swahili City States (Eastern Africa) - major trade center on Indian Ocean Trade Route
Ethiopia - relatively free of invasion; not terribly influenced by Islam; primarily Christian

8. Byzantine Empire Eastern portion of Roman Empire; Constantinople
Theocracy: leader of state is leader of religion
Eastern Orthodox (split from Roman Catholic Church in 1054 CE)
Emperor Justinian
Law Code (updated Roman Laws); tries to re-conquer Rome but fails; Hagia Sophia
Women had relative freedom (Theodora)
Wealthy b/c Silk Road; Constantinople
Weakened by large empire, disease, the Crusades and external invasion; lose land to Seljuk Turks, allows Islam to spread; finally conquered by Ottomans (1453)

9. Medieval Europe
Feudalism: political and military system based on loyalty; king, lords, knights, vassals, serfs
Manorial system: social and economic system where people lived in walled self-sufficient manors
Decentralized power, makes trade difficult which makes Europe develop at a slower pace
Early Governments: England (William the Conqueror-1066); France (Charlemange; 8th/9th c. CE)
Roman Catholic Church - central power (cathedrals, bishops, abbeys, monasteries only centers of learning)
Towards end of Medieval period - development of towns and cities; guilds; more centralized government; increased interactions – the Crusades; limited government (England)

10. China
After the fall of the Han Dynasty, there are six weak dynasties ( )
Sui ( CE):
Reorganized state control and overcome political unrest; govt is extremely harsh and controlling; shift focus from north to south and south east
redistribute land, peasants overworked/taxed; expensive building projects
Try to take over Korea, fail, increase in revolts, assassinate emperor
Tang ( CE):
Civil Service examination perfected; reduce power of aristocracy
Foot binding began
Leader in technology and trade
Grand Canal - reunifies northern and southern China; helps with food shortages
Expands into Afghanistan, Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea
Empress Wu supports Buddhism, but later face persecution and revival of Confucianism (neo-Confucianism)

11. China (cont.) Song (960-1127 CE):
Peasant revolts during Tang dynasty helps topple dynasty
Reinforces Tribute Systems
Power shift from north to south for trading, sea power
Urban growth, neo-Confucianism(personal morality)
Decline: not able to unify, military and economic problems, invaded by Mongols
Yuan ( CE) - Mongol rule, Chinese style
Try to keep Chinese and Mongols separate
Decline of scholar-gentry
Try to continue Mongol nomadic lifestyle
Help trade
Tolerant of religions- except for Confucianism
Do not support foot binding for Mongol women, more equal position for Mongol women
Decline: too big, good conquerers but poor administrators

12. Japan
Heavily influenced by Chinese style leadership (Taika Reforms of 646 CE), writing etc, brought Confucianism and Buddhism but Chinese bureaucracy didn’t take off much
Emperor loses power to aristocracy and warriors by 9th century CE
Little social mobility
Local leaders have own military
Feudalism developed b/c large landowners took much power no one able to unify
Similarities between Japanese and W. European feudalism: mutual ties and obligations, militaristic values
Differences: W. Europe (Contracts), Group/Individual bonds (Japan)
Mongols tried but not able to conquer
Shoguns- military leaders; diamyos- nobles; Samurai - noble warriors
The Talk of Genji

13. Korea and Vietnam Korea Hunters/Gathers from Siberia and Manchuria
Colonized by China during Han dynasty
Sinification - Buddhism, Chinese writing
Not Chinese gov’t style
Gov’t jobs based on birth and family connections; some use of the exam system
Chinese influence mainly touched Aristocratic classes
Vietnam
Raided by Qin dynasty then conquered by Han in 111 BCE
Power in small villages; distinct language and cultural practices
Women had greater freedoms than Chinese women
After conquest: Sinification - schools, exam system, Confucianism, agricultural techniques, political and military organization
Frequent revolts against Chinese power (Trung sisters - 39 CE)
939 CE - gains independence and maintains it until 19th century

14. The Mongols
Tribal nomadic structure; forced to expand for enough resources for growing population
Ghenggis Khan - founder of unified Mongolian empire; when he dies, split into four major territories
Tolerant leaders, Calvary based
Mostly allow local rule in exchange for tax revenue
Support trade and expansion of religions
Rule Russia, China, Middle East
Mongol control of Russia (The Golden Horde):
Russian princes paid tribute to Mongols, peasants meet demands of lords AND Mongols, increase in feudalism for protection from Mongols
Decreased trade possibilities, military and political organization influences Russia; Mongols isolated Russia from western developments

15. Americas Less Developed Lack of trade and technology due to isolation
Traded with each other, but not outside Americas
Agriculture: maize/corn
Polytheistic religion- bloody sacrifices; warfare had religious significance
Maya (2000 BCE CE): city-states, decline due to disease, drought, internal unrest
Aztecs ( CE): centralized city states but separate, tribute system, no bureaucracy, chinampas, Tenochtitlan, conquered by Spain
Incas ( CE) - tribute and welfare system, lack of merchants in comparison to Maya and Aztec, major system of roads, conquered by Spain

16. Interactions Crusades (1095-1272) The Black Plague Pax Mongolia
Byzantine ask for Roman Catholic help to get holy land (Jerusalem) back
1st crusade Christians gain control but all other Crusades have Jerusalem under Muslim control,
Increases trade shows how much less developed Europe was compared to the Arab world, brings Arab technology to Europe
The Black Plague
Spread through trade routes, especially bad in China and southern Europe
Pax Mongolia
Period of relative peace and expansion of trade because of Mongolian control