The Postclassical Period, 500 –
1450 CE
The post-Classical Period was once
viewed as a confusing stage
Reasons:
• Large geographical area, more civilizations to
study
• Traditional use of term Middle Ages, implies
awkwardness and stagnation
• From a world history perspective, postClassical period is dynamic with vigorous
societies
Periodization: the introduction of a new
time period means we need a new
framework for analysis
Introducing a new time period require three
understandings:
1) The themes of the previous period are no longer
dominant
2) When the period begins and when the period ends,
and the events marking those points
3) What are new themes and issues that most major
societies must react to
(1) Expansion of great unified empires is a
major theme from Classical Era not seen in
post-Classical Period
• Expansion and integration process in China,
India, and Mediterranean is over
• China and India are basically established
• Mediterranean civilization bursts apart
(2) Chronological boundaries of the
post-Classical period
• Marked by the fall of Han China, Gupta India,
and the Roman Empire
• The period is marked by the emergence of
Arabs and Islam as a new force.
• Marked by the fall of the Byzantine Empire
• The period ends as Arab political dominance
deteriorates and a revitalized Western Europe
exerts itself
(3) Themes of the post-Classical
Period
1. Emergence of a larger number of
civilizational centers, and a larger
geographical range for civilizations
2. The spread of major world religions:
Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam
3. Emergence of a sophisticated “world
network” of trade and commerce
Post-Classical Theme #1: More civilizations emerge,
civilizations spread over larger geographic area
Post-Classical Theme #2: The spread of major
world religions
• Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam will touch
every major Afro-Eurasian society
• Originating in the Middle East and India these
religions spread through intense missionary zeal
• Postclassical era not defined by overarching
political developments (i.e. massive empires).
Churches, Islamic “universities”, and Buddhist
temples become the focus of activity, making the
role of formal states less important
Post-classical theme #3: Emergence of a “world
network” of trade
• A major artery
from Mid East
across Indian
Ocean to
Pacific Coast
of China
• North-south
feeder routes
(most not
depicted in
map to the
left link China,
Africa and
northern
Europe to the
Arab world
Categorization of new and old civilization
centers into two economic and contact zones
• The first zone consists of the major civilization
centers from the Classical period: the Arab
world, Byzantine Empire, India, and China
• Zone One centers were more developed and
sophisticated
• Around Zone One emerged new civilizations
(ex. Japan). Imitation of cultural and economic
apparatuses allowed them to develop more
quickly
Theme #2 and #3 raise some final
points to consider
• The spread of world religions created new
rivalries, suspicions, and contacts (i.e. war)
that endure up to today
• Some historians believe the new trade
connections, contacts, and imitations are
more important
• Dilemma: the religions established new
cultural boundaries that could modify or
challenge the commercial connections
Questions to Consider
1) What are the main differences between the world
around 1200 CE and the world around 100 CE?
What are the main differences, in other words,
between postclassical and classical worlds at their
respective high points? Are there also some
important continuities between these two eras?
2) What are the signs of growing convergence among
major societies during the postclassical period?
What were the main reasons that this convergence
occurred?