East Asia (1200-1450)

Developments in East Asia (1200-1450)

• Confucianism, originating in the Han Dynasty and revived in the Tang Dynasty, was adopted by the Song Dynasty
• Confucianism is a philosophy emphasizing hierarchical relationships in society

Filial Piety

• Filial Piety involves honoring ancestors and parents, which was used to justify the honor due to the emperor

Neo-Confucianism

• Neo-Confucianism's revival integrated Buddhist and Daoist ideas, adapting to contemporary needs
• It led to lower status for women, including legal restrictions and practices like footbinding among the elite

Imperial Bureaucracy

• The imperial bureaucracy expanded during the Song Dynasty, helping to maintain their rule through thousands of government officials

Civil Service Examination

• The bureaucracy was staffed with qualified men selected through examinations based on Confucian classics, merit-based rather than through connections

China's Influence on Korea

• Korea maintained political independence while engaging in tributary relations with China and Korean officials visited the Song court
• Korea adopted a civil service examination and Confucian principles that shaped family structures
• Korea went further than China in marginalizing the role of women

Heian Japan

• Japan voluntarily adopted cultural traits, such as Buddhism, from China due to its separation by the ocean

Vietnam

• Vietnam was politically independent but considered a tributary state of China
• In Vietnam, elite members of society adopted Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese literary techniques, and the civil service examination system

Buddhism in China

• Buddhism originated in South Asia and spread to China during the Han Dynasty
• The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhism, including the existence of suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path to end suffering
• The Eightfold Path outlines principles and practices for Buddhists, emphasizing a moral lifestyle and meditation

Theravada Buddhism

• Theravada Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka, emphasizing escaping the cycle of birth and death, with practices mainly restricted to monks

Mahayana Buddhism

• Mahayana Buddhism emphasized that Buddhist teachings were available to all, highlighting compassion and devotion to the Buddha

Tibetan Buddhism

• Tibetan Buddhism shares core doctrines with other forms of Buddhism, but includes mystical practices like prostration and deity visualizations

Chan Buddhism

• Chan Buddhism was developed by the Chinese

Economy in China

• China experienced widespread commercialization, producing more goods than needed and selling the surplus on the world market
• By the 11th century, iron and steel production was widespread, supporting military, taxation, and agricultural needs via large-scale manufacturers and home-based artisans
• Champa Rice from Vietnam was drought-resistant and harvestable twice a year, which effectively doubled agricultural output and increased the population
• Transportation innovations such as the Great Canal reduced trade costs and facilitated trade expansion

Magnetic Compass

• The magnetic compass improved navigation and facilitated sea-based trade

New Shipbuilding

• Innovation in shipbuilding involved the reinvention of the "Junk" with stern-mounted rudders, promoting trade and economic prosperity

Dar-al-Islam (1200-1450)

• Judaism originated in the Middle East as an ethnic religion of the Jews
• Christianity, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, promoted salvation

Islam

• Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad, emphasizes salvation through righteous acts like almsgiving, prayer, and fasting

Dar-al-Islam

• Dar-al-Islam included the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia
• The Abbasid Caliphate fragmented around 1200, leading to the rise of new Islamic empires ruled largely by Turkic people rather than Arab people

Seljuk Empire

• The Seljuk Empire came to power from pastoral people in the Abbasid army.

Mamluk Sultanate

• The Mamluks (Turkic warriors) seized power in Egypt, establishing a new Turkic Muslim state

Delhi Sultanate

• The Delhi Sultanate was a state established by Turks in North India and ruled for approximately 300 years

Common Features of Seljuks, Mamluks, Delhi

• The Seljuks, Mamluks, and the Delhi Sultanate were characterized by military administration and the implementation of Sharia Law

Expansion of Islam

• Islam's expansion continued through military expansion, merchant activity, and Muslim missionaries, including Sufis who emphasized mystical experiences open to all

Intellectual Innovations

• Intellectual innovations happened through mathematics, spearheaded by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, who invented trigonometry

House of Wisdom

• The House of Wisdom in Baghdad preserved Greek knowledge by translating works into Arabic, which were later transferred to Europe

South and Southeast Asia (1200-1450)

• Hinduism originated in India, with a belief in many gods, setting it apart from monotheistic religions
• The ultimate goal in Hinduism is to reunite individual souls with Brahman through reincarnation

Caste System

• The Caste system, a social structure, to provide India unified culture
• Buddhism was founded in India with equality for all, making Buddhism universal

Expansion of Islam

• Turkic Muslim invaders created the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia in 1206
• Because Muslim armies gained power, Islam became the religion of the elite and spread throughout Southeast Asia

Belief Systems Change

• The Bhakti Movement encouraged worship of a particular Hindu god, rejected the Hindu hierarchy, and promoted spiritual experiences,
• A more mystical version of Islam, known as Sufism
• Buddhism grew exclusive with access to enlightenment predominantly found in monks

South Asia State Building

• Sea-based and land-based states' power comes based on land or sea
• In India, there was a Muslim minority and a Hindu majority

Rajput Kingdoms

• The Rajput Kingdoms remained independent Hindu states, rejecting the Delhi Sultanate

Vijayanagara Kingdom

• The Vijayanagara Kingdom was established as a Hindu kingdom in response to attempts by Muslim sultans to expand the Delhi Sultanate

Srivijaya Empire

• The Buddhist Srivijaya Empire controlled the Strait of Malacca, taxing merchants to pass

Majapahit Empire

• As a Hindu kingdom with Buddhist influence, the Majapahit Empire exerted control over other states through tributes

Sinhala Dynasty

• The Sinhala Dynasty was a Buddhist state in what is now Sri Lanka which was a land-based empire despite being on the island

Khmer Empire and Angkor Wat

• The Khmer Empire was founded as a Hindu empire featuring Angkor Wat, a temple representing the Hindu universe
• The Khmer later converted to Buddhism, adding Buddhist elements to Angkor Wat

Americas (1200-1450)

• Before 1200, Mayans had a sophisticated math system and a concept of zero
• The Mayans had a decentralized state, the city states fought one another
• The Mayans emphasized human sacrifice

Aztecs (1345-1528)

• The Mexica people migrated south, strategically marrying into powerful families forming the Aztec Empire
• The Aztecs and Mayans were both decentralized, with conquered states paying tributes

Warfare and Expansion

• Warfare and expansion among the Aztecs both had religious and economic motivations

Mexica Legitimacy

• The Mexica asserted legitimacy by claiming descent from earlier Mesoamerican peoples to secure their rule
• The Mexica built up cities evidenced by the Aztec City Building Projects and the commercialization of the empire meant there was a marketplace
• Wari borrowing older civilizations, so they could establish in region

Inca

• Inca’s Mit'a System required the labor of all people

Mississippian Culture

• Mississippian Culture around the Mississippi River Valley were the first large scale civilization in North America
• Very fertile for agriculture that built Society
• Political systems had powerful chiefs

Mesa Verde

• The Mesa Verde was innovative with storing and transporting water, and built housing complexes along cliffs using sandstones

Chaco

• The Chaco were also innovative with storing and transporting water, and carved sandstone blocks, and imported timber

Africa (1200-1450)

• Swahili Civilization: Had independent city states to trade in Indian Ocean They existed due to access to Indian Ocean Trade
• They were decentralized and commercialized

Swahili Beliefs

• Swahili elites converted to Islam providing greater economic opportunity

Great Zimbabwe Economies

• Zimbabwe inland, but rich from Indian ocean trade, farming and cattle herding
• Had a massive capital

Hausa Kingdoms

• Collection of city states that politically independent
• Wealth from the trans saharan trade

African States and Islam

• African States adopted Islam to facilitate trade

Ethiophia

• Ethiopia: centralized power, king on top, stratified class hierarchy

Europe (1200-1450)

• Christianity dominated Europe

Roman Empire

• Rome unified, but some later parts fell
• The Byzantine Empire, maintained faith and political
• Social structure

Christianity

• Roman Catholic Christianity in Western Europe

Khivan Rus

• Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Crusades:

• Fought to reclaim from the muslims

European Minority Religions

• Islam and Judaism held in minority positions

Iberian Peninsula

• Muslims invaded 8th century
• Established muslim rule

Jew

• Scattered through Europe and facilitated and trade

Political Decentralisation in the West

• No large empires in Europe
• Decentralisation and political fragmentation
• Economic order organised by federalism

Federalism

• Allegiances between powerful lords
• Land exchanged in order to everyone loyal

Manorialism

• Peasents bound to the land in exchange for lord protection
• Monarchs gain power
• Increase competion equals centralisation of conquests