AP World History
Post-Classical Era
Summary
Chronology of Postclassical Period
• World civilization map became greatly
altered
– By decline of classical civilizations
– Nomadic invasions from central Asian
• Also, another era opened as Europeans
explored the wider world
Post Classical Era--Rise of Islam
• Islam created a new empire
encompassing
– Asia, Africa, & Europe
• During the classical period correct to say
their was a balance of civilizations
• With Islam this new empire (parts of Asia,
Africa, & Europe) becomes a world leader
• Islam’s decline marks the end of this
phase of world history
Post Classical Era
Expansion of Civilization
• Civilization spread into many new regions
– Parts of Africa
– Parts of Europe
– Japan
• American & Polynesian societies expand
Post Classical Era
Expansion of Civilization
• Six diverse areas important in
postclassical era
– India & southeast Asia
– China & East Asia
– Americas
– Eastern & western Europe
– Middle East & North Africa
– Sub-Saharan Africa
Postclassical Era
World Religions
• Major religions spread into Asia, Africa, &
Europe
• Islam, Christianity, & Buddhism brought a
new focus to spirituality and an afterlife
• These religions reached beyond local
cultures
– Brought diverse peoples together
– Growth in international commerce also
influenced this
Postclassical Era
World Network
• Most important characteristic was
development of world network
– International trade & military contacts
promoted intellectual & material exchanges
• Negative with world network: diseases
• Once in place the network simply
continued to expand
• Americas, Polynesia, & Australia were not
yet included in this world network
Postclassical Era
World History Themes
• Agriculture expanded in postclassical era
• No real massive environmental problems
• Not many new fundamental technological
changes
• Basic structure of social & gender inequalities
persisted
• Nomadic impact of Mongols was major influence
on world history
• New religions gave opportunity for influence
Post Classical Era
What did not happen
• Eastern & Western Hemispheres were not
joined
– Trade networks intensified, but no sustained
contact between hemispheres
– Americas developed in isolation from the
connected realms of Asia, Europe, & Africa
– Australia and Polynesia developed on their
own
Post Classical Era
What did not happen
• Innovations were not numerous, although
technology expanded
– Expansion of technology was more the norm,
than innovation (print technology & gun
powder did develop in East Asia
– Previous technologies diffused beyond their
original foundation point: camel saddles,
stirrups, steel plows & silk-making techniques
Post Classical Era
What did not happen
• No political form became dominant
– Empire was the dominant form from 600 BCE
to 600 CE
– During Post Classical empires were smaller &
other originations appeared such as
kingdoms, caliphates, & khanates, but no
overall form appeared
Post Classical Era
What did not happen
• Environmental changes were not as great
as in other areas
– More areas became agricultural, but no
massive transformation of areas occurred as
before:
– Classical period soil had been depleted of
nutrients (Roman Empire fell in part due to
this, as agricultural production had declined)
Post Classical Era
What did not happen
• Most societies remained patriarchies with
clear social distinctions
– Few changes occurred in gender relations,
although inequality actually grew between
sexes
– Slavery remained in place on about the same
level
– Status and wealth still based on land
ownership