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The Postclassical Era: 600 CE – 1450 CE

The Postclassical Era: 600 CE – 1450 CE. SO . . . Who would YOU pick as “Person of the Era” for this era?. Why Abdallah Ibn Battuta? (1304 – 1369 ). A devout Muslim in the “Golden Age” of Islam

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The Postclassical Era: 600 CE – 1450 CE

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  1. The Postclassical Era:600 CE – 1450 CE • SO . . . Who would YOU pick as “Person of the Era” for this era?

  2. Why AbdallahIbn Battuta? (1304 – 1369) • A devout Muslim in the “Golden Age” of Islam • An astute observer of most of the era’s most important civilizations (Yuan Dynasty China, the Delhi Sultanate, the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuk Turkish kingdoms, Sub-Saharan Africa) • Probably the greatest traveler in an era of increasing interregional contacts and trade

  3. Why Marco Polo? (1254 – 1324) • A merchant in an age of trade. • An official in the Mongol government of China (Yuan Dynasty), in the age of the Mongol Empire. • Also a valuable chronicler of the societies of the Mediterranean; Middle East; Central Asia; and East Asia during this time period.

  4. The Year 600 CE: What has ended? (Or will soon?) • Han Dynasty has broken apart (third century) • The WESTERN Roman Empire has fallen (fifth century). • The Gupta Empire (united most of South Asia) has collapsed (also fifth century). • Within 200 years, the Mayan civilization will collapse.

  5. The Year 600 CE: What will soon begin (or already has)? • Sui Dynasty reunifies China. • Recent Connection of Sub-Saharan Africa to the Mediterranean on the Trans-Saharan Trade Network • Expansion of Christianity northwards from the Mediterranean • . . . But the most significant change around this year is . . .

  6. The Rise of Islam • 622: The Hijrah • 630: Reconquest of Mecca • 632: Death of Muhammad • 632 – 661: Succession debates lead to Sunni-Shia split • Umayyad Caliphate

  7. Explaining Islam’s Success . . . • Culturally: • Five Pillars of Islam • Ideas of monotheism were NOT a big, radical change (Allah = Yahweh) • SUFI MISSIONARIES . . .

  8. Explaining Islam’s Success POLITICALLY: . . . Not to mention conquests by LATER Muslim peoples/states, like the Turkic conquerors of the Delhi Sultanate.

  9. Stages of Central Islamic States • 661 – 750: Umayyad Caliphate -- “The Caliphate” • 750 – End of Islamic political unity; beginning of Abbasid Caliphate – The Islamic world fractures POLITICALLY. • Abbasid Caliphate: Mixing of Arab and Persian culture, language, political leadership • Abbasid Caliphate lasts until Mongol conquest in the 1200s . . .

  10. Umayyad Vs. Abbassid Caliphates Umayyad (650s – 750) • Capital at Damascus • Arab Culture; Others Excluded • 750 – End of Islamic political unity; beginning of Abbasid Caliphate – The Islamic world fractures POLITICALLY. Abbasid (750 – 1258) • Capital at Baghdad • Adopts much of Persian Culture • Falls to Mongols

  11. Explaining Islam’s Success . . . • . . . Economically: • A religion FAVORABLE TO and FAVORED BY merchant class . . . • Islam traveled along key trade routes of the era: • Indian Ocean • Trans-Sahara • Silk Road • As a bond of trust, facilitated trade & business

  12. Explaining Islam’s Success . . . • . . . Socially: • Religious tolerance • Equality before God

  13. What Routes did they Travel On? Hanseatic . . . Silk Roads! Mediterranean! Trans-Saharan! Indian Ocean!

  14. HOW Did They Travel? Camel Saddle! Dhow! Astrolabe! Caravanserai!

  15. What would they have traveled WITH?

  16. How would they have PAID THEIR WAY? • New forms of GOVERNMENT-MINTED CURRENCY (like FLORINS!) • New FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (like CHECKS!)

  17. What BELIEF SYSTEMS would they have travelled with? • The spread of HINDUISM to Southeast Asia • The spread of BUDDHISM to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia • Of course, the spread of ISLAM to North Africa, East Africa (Swahili Coast), West Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia.

  18. What IDEAS would they have travelled with? Many which spread through DAR AL-ISLAM . . • The Arts (architecture, visual arts, literature) • Language (use of Arabic and Persian [Farsi]) • Science and Technology • Adoption and transmission of South Asian learning . . . • . . . Especially in terms of FARMING.

  19. What TECHNOLOGIES Would They Have Traveled With? • Generally, ideas spreading EAST to WEST . . . Papermaking and gunpowder technology from China, through the Muslim Middle East, to Europe, for example.

  20. What would they have EATEN? • CHAMPA RICE in Southeast Asia . . . And now EAST ASIA, too! • SUGAR and CITRUS FRUITS, spread from South Asia throughout the Muslim World and beyond! • BANANAS in Southeast Asia and East Africa! • Globalization and Southernization of agriculture!

  21. What GERMS Would They Have Traveled With? • Black Death during PaxMongolica

  22. THE BLACK PLAGUE! (1320s-1360s) • Probably a mix of the bubonic plague (spread by fleas), anthrax, and some other diseases . . . • Killed MILLIONS in East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe (where 1/3 of the population died) • In EUROPE, the Black Plague WEAKENED the feudal system – Farm workers could demand HIGHER PAY, because they were alive & others weren’t.

  23. What kind of PLACES Would They Have Stayed? TRADE CITIES! . . . Often the home of DIASPORIC COMMUNITIES OF MERCHANTS! (Jewish traders in Europe, the Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean Basin; Muslims in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.)

  24. Some cities DECLINED . . . • . . . Because of INVASIONS . . . • . . . Because of DISEASE . . . • . . . Because of the DECLINE OF FOOD SUPPLIES . . . • . . . After 1300, because of the “LITTLE ICE AGE”.

  25. . . . But in GENERAL, the BIG TREND of URBANIZATION in human history CONTINUES! • Invasions END in some places! • Transportation improves & Becomes More Reliable! • Trade Increases! • From about 800 to 1300, there’s a period of WARMER WEATHER! • More people = more workers and residents!

  26. What ROLES Would They See Cities Playing? • Government Centers! • Trade Centers! • Religious Centers!

  27. How would they see people WORKING?

  28. How would they see people WORKING? • FREE PEASANT LABOR in most societies. • SERFDOM in Europe (Manorialism/Feudalism) • SLAVE LABOR, especially in the Muslim world. • MILITARY SERVICE (CONSCRIPTION!) • FORCED LABOR FOR THE STATE (like the mitasystem!)

  29. What STATES Would They Have Visited?

  30. Postclassical China: Where we would feel most at home? MANDATE OF HEAVEN AND DYNASTIC CYCLE CONTINUES! • 589: Restoration of unified rule under Sui Dynasty • 618-906: Tang Dynasty • 960-1279: Song Dynasty • 1279 – 1368: Mongol Rule (Yuan Dynasty)

  31. The “Chinese Renaissance”

  32. The “Chinese Renaissance” • State-sponsored public works • Science and Technology • Urban Lifestyles • Leisure Activities • Women’s roles? • Outsiders who want in . . .

  33. China and Outsiders • CULTURAL DIFFUSION to Japan and Korea (which adapt Chinese culture and create syncretic societies). • TRIBUTE SYSTEM and exchange with nomadic peoples.

  34. BELIEF SYSTEMS in China • TANG: Buddhism favored; Patriarchy Less. • SONG: Neo-Confucianism; Suppression of Buddhism; Patriarchy More. • YUAN: Confucianism Suppressed; Patriarchy Lessened. • MING: Neo-Confucianism; Patriarchy Increased.

  35. The Mongol Empire • Origins: Chinggis Khan • Different models of rule in different areas (different Khanates)

  36. The Mongol Empire • Origins: Chinggis Khan • Different models of rule in different areas (different Khanates) • Trade . . . • . . . And trade of germs. • Ultimately, too unwieldy to survive long. • Yuan Dynasty overthrown by peasant revolt in 1368 – Ming Dynasty established.

  37. The Byzantine Empire!

  38. The Byzantine Empire . . . • Hellenistic Continuation of Eastern Roman Empire • Solidifying accomplishments of the Classical Era and Christianity; Foundation of Eastern Orthodox Christianity • Cultural Diffusion to Russia and Other Slavic Lands

  39. The Delhi Sultanate • Founded in India by invading Turkic peoples from Central Asia, c. 1200 • Muslim state where Ibn Battuta worked as a qadi for a number of years. • Population remained mostly Hindu, though many low-caste peoples and Buddhists converted to Islam.

  40. The Swahili Coast • CITY-STATES! • Trade-based (Captives, Ivory & Gold Out; Porcelain, Spices, Textiles In) • Islam for the Elites; Indigenous Religions for the Rest • Swahili = Bantu + Arabic

  41. REMEMBER – Bantu Migrations are CONTINUING . . . . . . Spreading CULTURE, LANGUAGE, TECHNOLOGY (Ironworking and farming.)

  42. Mali • One of a series of complex societies in West Africa, along the Niger River. • A TRADE STATE: Wealthy from the trade in: • Salt (from the Sahara) • Gold (from the south) • Captives (from the south) • Elites adopt Islam, which arrives with merchants.

  43. . . . Marco Polo came from WESTERN EUROPE, too! • A SYNCRETIC CIVILIZATION – Germanic and Latin (Roman) • CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY! • Feudalism & Manorialism! • Avid Adopters of Culture and Technology from Elsewhere! (Including during the CRUSADES!) • Economic revival – TRADE and GUILD SYSTEM producing more goods to sell! • Emergence of NATION-STATES!

  44. Where did they NOT go? • OCEANIA – Where the Polynesian Migrations are wrapping up.

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