Big Era # 3: Regional & Transregional Interactions: 600-1450 CE

S​ocial P​olitical I​nteraction: C​ultural E​conomic

Humans &
Environment

Africa *spread of farming *early Africa was *the Bantu *traditional African *agriculture and
led to a more kin-based societies​- migrations led to religions (there were beginnings of
hierarchal society where there was no the spread of thousands) were specialization but
formal gov’t structure agriculture/iron animist with common with less
*significantly less (council of male heads metallurgy/langua features​-single male development
patriarchal- with of family) and ppl. ge god who created compared to rest of
women enjoying mostly lived in small universe, no priests or Afroeurasia
more power, rights, villages (100-200 *spread of farming formal structure,
& social prestige ppl.) led to population concerned with daily
growth life, many lesser gods & *focused mainly on
*traditionally all *population growth spirits harvesting local
land was held led to chiefdoms (one *most people lived exotic products
communally by the leader for a village or in small villages *trade led to the (ivory, gold, leopard
kin group a series of villages) introduction of Islam skins, tortoise shells)
*introduction of to East & West Africa- to be sold for int’l
*slavery was very *evolution into long-distance trade where it merged with market
common & kingdoms and leads to local cultural
important since it regional kingdoms (in development of traditions *slave labor was
was one of the only West Africa- Ghana, urban centers in important &
sources of private Mali, Songhay) with East African coast *Christianity widespread
wealth increased population (Swahili introduced to East
growth city-states) and in Africa (Ethiopia) *creation of a system
West African for slave
*evolution of more kingdoms *Swahili raids/catching,
complex states aided culture/language selling of slaves, and
by increased trade created in East Africa transporting slaves
with outside world by combining Arabic over long-distance to
& Bantu Arab world

Middle East *continued social *at the beginning *population *Islam became the *the whole region
hierarchy and there are the growth due to new dominant cultural was deeply
patriarchy Byzantine & Sassanid crops & farming force (religion & a way connected via trade
(Perisan) empires- techniques of life)
*spread of Islam led constant warfare *major part of
to Arabs and then *highly urbanized *Sharia dominated long-distance trade
Muslims at top of *founding of Islam & population with way of life in the networks (Indian
social structure with its spread leads to a many large, world of Islam and Ocean, Silk Roads,
“people’s of the political empire of important urban united various Med Sea)
book’ (Christians & Islam (Caliphate) centers (Baghdad, cultures/ethnic
Jews) allowed to -​Umayyad Caliphate Cairo, Damascus) groups into one *Arab merchants
keep religion but -Abbasid Caliphate played a prominent
with fewer rights *population *the Haij both united role (helped spread
decline due to the Muslim world Islam too)
*Islam is influenced *divisions within Mongol invasions & (trade, sharing ideas)
by Islam (Sunna vs. Black Death in and showcased *urbanization, new
traditions/cultures Shiia/Arabs vs. 1300’s unity/equality of technology,
of region and Non-Arabs) lead to believers agricultural
increasingly restrict improvements, and
 women’s rights & political divisions *borrowed heavily new techniques in
movements-making within Islam from Persian (art, banking/credit
it part of Islamic Law poetry), Indian helped facilitate
*Arabs relied on local (mathematics, trade
admin and Persian numerals) & Greek
gov’t techniques (philosophy) cultures *domestication of
camel opened up
*development of *became a major trade over deserts
Sharia Law to govern center of learning &
area with law schools science- ​mathematics, *widespread
& specialists (qadis) medicine, philosophy, importation of slave
astronomy labor from over
*Umayyad Caliphate, long-distances
then the Abbasid *adoption of paper (Islamic Slave
Caliphate, and then (from China) made Trade)- mainly from
more localized sharing ideas easier Sub-Saharan Africa,
control (Saljuk Turks C. Asia, and Eastern
play important role) Europe

*use of Mamluk
system for military
(recruiting/buying
young boys, raising
them as Muslims and
soldiers, eventually
made free)

South Asia *continued use of *lack of a centralized *improvements in *evolution of popular *increasing
Caste System imperial power or farming led to Hinduism (devotion specialization leads
gov’t population growth cults, secular stories to abundant trade
*evolution of Caste used to teach Hindu within India
to include many *localized rule with *increasingly principles, ability to
sub-castes (Jati) to princes/nobles in urbanized, with reach salvation) *India (and Indian
help meet the needs charge and regional many large cities merchants) play an
of a more diverse kingdoms in the South *Hinduism overtakes important role in
economy *introduction of Buddhism in long-distance trade
*creation of Islamic Islam brings new India/decline in networks (Silk Road,
*Caste evolved to kingdom & rule in N. ethnic groups to N. Buddhism Indian Ocean Basin)
include new groups India (Sultanate of India (Turks,
(Turks, Muslims) Delhi) Muslim merchants) *introduction of Islam *Indian ports are key
and expanded more to N. India- major warehouses & trade
into southern India minority religion cities for
there long-distance trade
networks
*advanced
mathematics (Hindu *Indian became more
numerals, concept of specialized in
zero) and astronomy production (cotton
textiles, sugar
refining, stone
carving, & carpet
weaving)

East Asia *continued social *restoration of *improvements in *continued *growth &

hierarchy empire (Sui, Tang & farming techniques dominance of improvements in
Song dynasties) after & the spread of Confucianism but with farming leads to
*strict and growing 300 plus years of twice ripening rice development of more trade
patriarchy (foot divided rule & help create Neo-Confucianism
binding) warfare massive population *Grand Canal
growth generates huge
 *growth of the *Mongol conquests & *continued spread & increases in trade
practice of creation of Yuan *highest development of within China
veneration of dynasty population on Buddhism within
ancestors earth China *fluctuates between
(reinforced *overthrow of an active & passive
patriarchal nature of Mongols & restoration *increasingly *Daoism grows in role in long-distance
society) of Chinese rule (Ming) urbanized, with popularity trade
many cities over 1
*​Japan​- creation of a *use of a large million people-led *veneration of *new business
feudal social system bureaucracy with to the growth of a ancestors practices (credit,
with warrior class merit based distinct lending, market
(samurai) holding appointments (civil cosmopolitan *development of many based economy,
prestige..held service examination) culture new technologies paper money) helps
together by (paper, gunpowder, facilitate trade
obligations towards *gov’t based on *building of Grand compass, mechanical
superiors obligated Confucian education Canal helps link clock, porcelain,
by Confucianism principles North & South printing press)
more
*highly centralized *influence of Chinese
state with tight *influx of disease culture in much of
control over nation (Black Death) & East Asia (Japan,
Mongol conquests Korea, etc.)
*Tang dynasty upheld lowers population
a system of tributary in 1200 & 1300’s *​Japan- ​development
with states outside of of Shinto (local faith)
China (loosely held) & Bushido Code

*brief period of
exploration &
expansion under Ming
(voyages of Zheng He)
but with isolationist
tendencies afterwards

*Japan​-period of
imperial rule under
Heian dynasty with
Shoguns (generals)
running nation

*​Japan- ​creation of a
feudal political
system with local
warlords (daiymo)
using private armies
(Samurai)

*​Mongols-​ create the

largest land empire in
history/use educated
locals to help
admin/quickly
divides into 4
Khanates, none of
which is long-lasting

Europe *development of *early time period *early time period *Christianity becomes *early on there is
Feudal social system sees the development (500-1000) sees the dominant faith & significantly less
based on mutual set of Germanic kingdoms declining way of life long-distance trade
of obligations with population (localized system of
 strictly enforced & *Frankish empire (disease, fall of *spread by conquest, production &
rigid social (Carolognian) Rome, invasions) political means consumption based
distinctions becomes first large (conversion of ruling on a self-sufficiency
kingdom since Rome, *expansion of elites), & model of the manor)
*important social but falls apart quickly arable land & new missionaries/monks
standing for warrior farming techniques *growing regional
class (knights/lords) *frequent raids & lead to rapid *Catholic Church plays trade (Hanseatic
incursions by Vikings, population growth important social, League,
*development of Maygars, & Muslim (1000-1340) economic, political, & Mediterranean)
serfs as social class pirates cultural role (main
(legally tied to land * ”Black Death” source of education, ⅓ *improvements in
with few rights) *Europe evolves into lowers Europe’s of all land) farming &
very small, locally population by ⅓-½ urbanization leads to
*social system held controlled political between *later time period increased trade
together by religion units- each 1348-1350 sees the building of
(Catholic Church) administered & massive cathedrals, *creation of guild
protected by a local *Europe is much universities systems in cities to
lord (who owed more rural than control
loyalty to either other major production/prices of
another lord or a civilizations many products
king) (majority live on
manors)
*later Middle Ages see
the development of *increasingly
larger regional urban based later
kingdoms (England, in time period
France, Spain, Holy
Roman Empire) with
fierce competition

*whole time period

characterized by
frequent warfare

*Crusades are
launched against
Muslim world in Holy
Land (leading to
increased
long-distance trade,
exposure to Muslim
technology/ideas)

The *most of North *development of *civilization *Mayan & Mexica *creation of trade
Americas American tribes are America’s first centers in religion focused on networks within the
more egalitarian civilizations in America’s have agriculture, civilizations of
Mesoamerica high population astronomy, & Mesoamerica &
*development of -​Olmecs density and urban bloodletting/human Andean but no
social hierarchy & -Toltecs centers sacrifice long-distance
job specialization in -Maya connections
the civilizations of *most of North *development of
the Americas *Maya are organized America is less writing systems in *some regional trade
(located in South & into independent densely populated Mesoamerica in N. America
Central America) city-states with with smaller scale
frequent warfare villages *mixture of farming,
*Mexica society is hunting, and
strictly hierarchical *development of *tribes living gathering done in N.
with warriors civilizations in sedentary, America
playing most Andean region of semi-nomadic, or
prominent role S.America nomadic
 depending on
*creation of the Aztec region
alliance dominated by
the Mexica

Australia/
Oceania

Major Events *collapse of classical empires (Rome, Han dynasty (earlier), Persian, Indian)

*foundation & spread of Islam (creation of Islamic world)

*restoration of empire in China

*Crusades

*Mongol conquests & increased Eurasian integration (‘Mongol peace’)

* “Black Death”

*Chinese exploration under Zheng He

*rise and fall of Mayan civilization in Mesoamerica

Major *long-distance trade networks connect Afroeurasia (Silk Roads, Mediterranean Sea)
Continuities
*continued spread of Christianity (Europe) & Buddhism (Central, East, SE Asia)

*continued influence of Confucianism & Daoism in China

*improvements in farming lead to regional & global population growth

*economic specialization & urbanization

*wide-scale use of slave labor

*pastoral nomadic threats to settled civilizations (Mongols, Turks)

*societies have clear social hierarchy with patriarchy

Major *increase in the volume of long-distance trade

Changes
*increased connections across Afroeurasia (Trans-Saharan & Indian Ocean Basin trade)

*creation of world’s first long-distance slave trade system (Islamic Slave Trade)
*development & spread of new technology (compass, gunpowder, paper, printing press)

*universal religions become more widespread (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism)