Abbasid Caliphate Social: - rejected old allies - bureaucrats, servants, slaves worked within Baghdad - Caliph = religious/political leader - merchants became rich; trade very respected - artisans = developed guilds worked in workshops but produced fine textiles, carpets, and glassware - unskilled labor left to slaves (most slaves came from Africa and used as domestics - Zanj slaves = captured Africans -increased seclusion of upper-class women in harem and veiling Political: 2nd Caliphate capital = Baghdad - centralized absolutist imperial order formed - bureaucratization = reflected growing power of caliph -1055 Caliph will be a puppet of the Seljuk Turks (nomads from Central Asia) will remain that way until collapse - Crusades start 1095-1291 -Christians failed to permanently recapture Holy Land with the major reason being Saladin (great Islamic warrior) -when Mongols collapsed Baghdad, kept going where they were defeated by Egyptian slave soldiers (Mamaluks) ; Mongols then retreated cause a powervoid to be filled by Ottoman Turks under Osman (forged 1st gunpowder empire) Interaction: - smaller geographically than Umayyad, centered in Middle East - more extensive trade not only overland but overseas but dominated the Indian Ocean Trade Network - Seljuk Turks (nomads from central Asia) moved into empire in late 1000s and control caliphate but keep caliph as puppet ruler -Seljuk's go on to take Palestine which was controlled by Byzantine Empire - Western Europe would "awaken" from "Dark Ages" because of contact with Islamic world Crusades were Europe's most successful failure Cultural: RELIGION - more converts - Sunni dominated - Tolerant - Trade spread Islam into Afghanistan, Pakistan and Western China because of Silk road and East, West Africa, as well as Spice Islands - 1095 - Seljuk Turks invade Palestine and initiate the Crusades last until 1291 (even after empire collapses) ARTS -- Arab, Persian, Egyptian, and European mixture - Byzantine (Greco-Roman )domes and arches -nonreligious art could portray humans -geometric patterns shown in religious art; forbids graven images - dhows = ships that carried goods; lateen sails; navigational equip - religious schools, baths, rest houses - luxury items = glassware, jewelry, tapestries INTELLECTUAL -- mathematics algebra, geometry - science astronomy, medicine, anatomy -study of Greek, Greco-roman culture -study of Indian knowledge -spread number system; becomes know as Hindi-Arabic system as a result -learning = importance -oral poetry, books A Thousand and One Nights -Qur'an = most important book -libraries, universities - converts advanced schooling and career administrators, judges, traders - Persian, Hellenistic, Indian, Egyptian, Mesopotamian centers (domains) - Christian and Jewish learning - Indian system of numbers (Arabic numbers) was spread through trade -Medicine (hospitals, ER's, surgeries, Cannon of Medicine Economic: - large trading network (over land and overseas)...Indian Ocean trading network from east African city -states of Sofala, Mogadishu, Kilwa to Spice islands in modern day Indonesia - port of Malacca -dominated Indian Ocean/Asian Sea trade network - credit, banks -use of spreading beliefs and culture -agriculture - converts exempt to pay head tax - revival of Afro-Eurasian trade that subsided after collapse of Rome and Han - new commercial enterprises - purchase of land Mexican (Aztect) Social: -Women (subordinate) were secluded in households and were skilled in weaving -Majority farmed -Warriors could obtain nobility -Merchant acted as spies Political: -Capital: Tenochtitlan -Single emperor was chosen by council of nobles and priest (officials) -Warriors gained land and tribute for conquered towns Interaction: -Valley of Mexico -Swampland -Similar to Incas -Aqueducts like Romans as well as imperial conquest -used tribute system like Mongols Cultural: RELIGION -Polytheistic -Priest held power -Main god = Sun god -Human sacrifices -temples ARTS -Aqueducts and canals were made -Stone causeways -Huge pyramid temples INTELLECTUAL -Chinampas (floating gardens) -Accurate calendars -Set broken bones and treated cavities -Stone causeways -Huge pyramid temples -Used herbs and medicine to cure fevers and wounds Economic: -Majority farmers -grew sim products as mayas -Converted swampland in farmland (Chinampas) -Wealth came from tribute and trade -Agriculturally based -merchants acted as spies -contacts with Mississippian cultures Inca Social: -Women wove cloths and took care of household -Men=peasant and herders -Nobility expressed by attire and custom -Many arranged marriages Incan socialism (mita) Political: -Capital: Cuzco -Absolute rule under emperor -Inca was title and had divine status and believed to be son of Sun god -Gov't controlled the people Interaction: -Andes Mountain -Modern day Peru to Chile -Terrace farming -Similar to Aztecs -roads comparable to Rome and China and Imperial conquests -like Abbasid dynasty studied Astronomy Cultural: RELIGION - Polytheistic -Priest held a lot of power -Main god = Sun god -Human sacrifices -temples ARTS -Pottery, painting, portraits, ceramics, gold work, instruments, costumes, architecture, gold work, wood carving INTELLECTUAL -Irrigation system, terraces (step farming), road system -Road runners were messengers -Quipu (colorful knots) instead of writing system -Astronomy -Head surgery -Calendar Economic: -Farming -Trade(Gov't controlled it) -POTATOES -Taxes -Gold and Silver mines -Had markets -Agriculturally based -Incan socialism to combat famine in parts of the empire Song Dynasty Social: Political: • In the Song government, the scholar-gentry carefully restrained military growth to prevent internal uprisings, but perhaps weakening the military allowing for a decline in strength leading to decline • Song rulers promoted the interests of the Confucian bureaucracy; quite elaborate and expensive • The examination system was further regularized • The Song empire never matched the Tang dynasty in terms of extent of land controlled or military power Interaction: Population growth and the increased pace of trade served to stimulate urban growth in - home to largest populated cities in the world Cultural: RELIGION ARTS INTELLECTUAL ECONOMIC: • Song chose to specialize in Silk, cotton and porcelain manufacturing (kilns operated constantly which allowed finished porcelain to be stored in warehouses waiting for export) • Improvements in agricultural technique, in addition to increased acreage, promoted higher yields Zimbabwe City, now in ruins (in the modern African country of Zimbabwe), whose many stone structures were built between about 1250 and 1450, when it was a trading center and the capital of a large state.
