1. Post-Classical Period 600-1450

2. 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/Shi’ite split

3. THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE AT ITS HEIGHT

4. 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

6. China at its Height Sui 589-618 CE –Grand Canal –Buddhist Tang 618-907 CE –Chang’an- the most prosperous and populous city in the world –Neoconfucianism

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

14. Tropical Asia Sultanate of Delhi 1206-1526 CE –Overtaxed subjects –Muslim Indian Ocean Trading Ports –Highly lucrative –Producers and traders Port of Malacca