Overcoming Isolation

1000-1200 AD

The American North

Thule– Moved east during warm spell around 1000 AD– Navigated Arctic Ocean– Landed in Greenland– Hunting culture (reindeer, walrus, etc.)

Arctic Settlements

Blue = Thule

Red, Yellow, Orange = Scandinavian

Green = Dorset

Thule Hunter

The American North cont.

Scandinavians– To Greenland via Iceland– Erik the Red 982 AD– Desperate men– Fleeing Blood feuds

Established trading colony in Newfoundland– Leif Erikson– Didn’t last– Not enough civilizations close by

The American Southwest

Large civilization centered at Chaco Canyon– Extensive road building– Large cities– Mass executions– Irrigation canals– Drying climate led to decline

Isolated from Meso-America

Mississippi Region 900 AD – 1200 AD

Settlers from across Gulf of Mexico Centered at Cahokia (St. Louis)

– Part of Mound-Building Culture– 100 ft flat mound

This civ. falls to be replaced by many smaller societies

Indian Ocean Trade 1000-1200

Ethiopia on west end – isolated mtn. kingdom – gradually growing due to trade

Khmer (Cambodia)– rich soil --> surplus food

sold on Indian ocean trade routes

– centered at city of Angkor largest temple in world = Angkor Wat Originally Hindu but gradually replaced by Buddhism

Angkor Wat

Indian Ocean Trade cont.

India – previously center of learning & culture

Buddhism Hinduism science, technology, logic

– geographic trade center – fading into background during this period

political disunity states collapsing in comp w/ each other plagued by Muslim raiders

– Chola kingdom maintains order in the south merchants & pirates

Isolation in Europe

Blocked by oceans to south & west Blocked to the east by steppe people Europe felt besieged

– Pope Urban II 1095 AD called for Christian unity– attempts to unify fell flat

Led to rise of nation states Benefits? Problems?

Pope Urban II

Isolation in Europe cont.

Interior, rather than exterior expansion – Needed to cope with increased population

35 million by year 1000– Highlands opened up due to global warming – cleared forests – drained bogs – “Reclaiming wilderness for God”

felled trees sacred to Pagans Broke power of Druidic and animistic religions

– Major Engineering begins (1170 when the word first appeared)

Engineering and Technology

Land drainage Infrastructure

– canals – bridges – roads

New Technologies– windmills – clocks – paper milling – firearms – compass

European Economics

Atlantic & Mediterranean trade linked trade agreements between ports

– Hanseatic league 1143 AD promoted trade in N. Europe

– Italian leagues Genoa Venice largest economies since fall of Rome

Effects of Trade Stabilization

Steady trade routes led to geographic specialization– Textiles– Shipbuilding– Wheat– Fish

leads to urbanization– Requires new city governments

city council & administrators– rise of middle class & beginning of fall of aristocracy– Some develop into city states (Italian cities)– Most into nation-state structure

Effects of Trade cont.

Peace & Plenty allowed time for contemplation– developed codes of chivalry

governed behavior reaction to old warrior codes charity, loyalty, etiquette

Effects of Trade cont.

Massive economic change led to change in culture and religion– Heresies

Leutard called for universal celibacy burnings in 1015 AD are first in 600 years.

– Church responds to heresy with clerical reform Gregorian reform ( Pope Gregory VII 1073-1085)

– church vs. nobles for church appointments– Begin focusing on peasants rather than nobles

Art focus on peasants New portrayals of Christ Carvings/sculpture of lower classes, not aristocrats

Pope Gregory VII

3rd Century Christ as Sun God

4th Century Christ as Teacher

15th Century Christ’s Baptism