Post ClassicalJackson C, Aaron W, Tessa H

Empires’ Interactions with Their Environment

● Justinian’s attempted takeover of the former Roman Empire.● Constantinople became one of the biggest trade cities in the Post Classical.● The Muslim traders facilitated both the trans saharan trade and the spread of islam in

sub-saharan Africa.● The Aztecs and Mayans spread innovation and culture throughout their vast empires

like the Chinampa.● The Song Dynasty used many of the tactics used by the Tang but with some

improvements. The Yuan were Mongol leaders in China.

All the Trade Routes● Saharan trade spreaded beliefs such as Islam and goods

such as gold, also Trans Saharan trade created a lot of cultural diffusion between different regions of Afro-Eurasia.

● Silk Road was a major trade route through Asia and Europe, during the post-classical era. The mongolian empire facilitated trade by controlling and protecting travelers and merchants along the route. Also the Silk road was a trade route the carried most of the luxury goods.

● Indian ocean trade was a major trade route through the Indian ocean connecting various parts of the world such as Africa, Asia, and small portions of Europe. Indian ocean trade was or did carry most of the “bulk” items since ships could carry more weight compared to domesticated animals and wagons or carriages.

Mongols● Established the largest empire in the

Post Classical period, but the formation was slow at first.

● Secured trade along the Silk Road. One man once said, “You could walk across one end of the Mongol Empire to the other with gold on your head without the fear of being robbed.”

● The Mongols had a high religious tolerance, spreading religion as the conquered regions.

Development and Interactions Cultures● Europe had the divine rights of kings and rulers got their power directly from the Pope.● In Eastern Europe, Kievan Rus’ used Eastern Orthodox.● Mali, Ghana, and Songhai used religion to control their people and spread Islam. They also controlled

trade with gold.● The Bantu migration allowed Islam to take control in different regions of Africa.● In South Asia, after the fall of the Guptas, India transfered over to principalities. ● Turkic warriors begin to arrive in India.● Islam began after Muhammad’s death in 634 ce.● Mecca becomes a hub for trade when Islam spreads.● Abbasids are more worried about spreading the religion while Umayyads

wanted political control.

The Americas

The Aztec empire is at the height of their power and are expanding rapidly thorugh out South America. The Mayan empire were also spreading their power thorugh out South America. Both empires worshiped the sun god and made religious sacrifices to satisfie the sun god. The Aztec empire made engineering feats with creating the Aqueduct.

More Development and Interactions of Cultures● Islam spread throughout sub saharan Africa through

the Islamic traders ● Mansa Musa used the Haj to legitimize his rule in

West Africa and spent money as he went.● The interactions of Islam with the other religions was

mainly peaceful● The interaction of Islam and christianity was hostile

with the crusades from the europeans

State Building, Expansion, Conflict ● Japanese Feudalism and European Feudalism were both ways to

build the state and expand the governments power. They differed in that the Japanese version had more specific classes than the European version. Also conflict occurred between The spread of Islam in Europe which was mainly Christian. These conflicts were called the crusades. Ferdinand and Elizabeth were king and queen in Spain. The crusades mainly took place in Spain to kick Islam out. Manorialism is a way to build an empire. It was a political, economic, and social system in which descendants of mid-evil Europe were elected to power through their land and lord.

Significant Terms● Syncretism is the merging of or attempt of merging of religions,

cultures, or schools of thoughts. This happened in China with the introduction of Buddhism.

● Feudalism is the social system in medieval Europe in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, vassals are tenants for nobles, peasants are to live on their lord’s land and the lords give him homage, labor, and produce in exchange for military protection.

● Manorialism is the political, economic, and social system by which the peasants of medieval Europe were rendered dependent on their land and on their lord.

● Neoconfucianism is a movement in religious philosophy derived from Confucianism in China around 1000 AD in response to the ideas of Taoism and Buddhism.

● The Chinese Civil Service Exam System is an exam system in imperial China to select candidates for the state bureaucracy.

● Significant mean to sinicize, which is to modify by Chinese influence. This can be found in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

More Significant TermsIslamic Caliphates- These were the largest Islamic empires in the Middle East during the post classical period. The Umayyads were focused on political organization and the Abbasids were focused on the spread of islam.The Crusades- These were the wars fought by the Europeans against Islam and tried to take the Holy land from the Islamic CaliphatesThe Viking- They were highly skilled seamen and impacted the way that ships were built in the post classical and onwardCatholic Church- This was one of the main religions centered in europe and was one of the main reasons that the crusades were fought in the post classical period

Gender Roles● While Islam viewed women as spiritually equal, woman in their

society had less rights. For example, woman in some regions were forced to wear a veil.

● In Europe, Christianity also viewed women as spiritually equal even though they still had limited rights in the society.

● Women in Europe weren’t allowed to have jobs.