Major World Religions in 1200

Overview of World’s Major Religions in 1200

• Most belief systems still impact history.
• Most major religions have divisions, including subgroups and sects.
• Key understanding involves the theological basis of belief systems and their influence on social, political, cultural, and military developments.
• Examining the origin and spread of belief systems reveals cultural interactions.
• Religious Mysticism: Adherents focus on mystical experiences, like prayer and meditation, to connect with the divine.

Buddhism

• Originated in India, spreading to China, Southeast Asia, and Japan.
• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE), who rejected wealth to become the Buddha.
• Does not involve a supreme being; emphasizes the Four Noble Truths regarding suffering and desire.
• Four Noble Truths (1) all life is suffering, (2) suffering caused by desire, (3) can be freed of desire, (4) freed of desire following a prescribed path
• The death of Buddha in 483 BCE led to its division: Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
• Theravada Buddhism focuses on meditation, simplicity, and nirvana through renunciation.
• Mahayana Buddhism incorporates ritual and spiritual comfort, complexity, and broader appeal.
• Buddhism rejects the caste system, attracting lower-rank individuals.
• It was reabsorbed into Hinduism in India.
• Buddhism thrived in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia and spread via trade routes.

Christianity

• Emerged from Judaism, expanding throughout Europe, Northeastern Africa, and the Middle East.
• Centers around Jesus of Nazareth, believed to be the Messiah, teaching devotion to God and love.
• Jesus was crucified around 30 CE; believers hold that he resurrected into heaven.
• Based on Bible teachings.
• Jesus is considered the Son of God, offering forgiveness and everlasting life.
• God created the world, though it has fallen; believers should seek God and care for others.
• Promotes compassion and grace through faith, appealing to lower classes and women.
• Became the predominant religion in the Mediterranean by the 3rd century.
• It became the Roman Empire's official religion, branching north and west, with Roman influence impacting global culture.

Confucianism

• Predominantly within China, beginning around 400 BCE.
• Founded by Confucius, focusing on restoring political and social order, collected in the Analects.
• Centers on five fundamental relationships for an orderly society: ruler/subject, parent/child, husband/wife, older/younger sibling, and friend/friend.
• Compatible with other religions, contributing to its success.
• It led to a distinctive Chinese culture with tight-knit communities.
• Primarily stayed within Chinese culture.

Hinduism

• Concentrated in India.
• Believes in Brahma, a supreme force, with gods as its manifestations (Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer).
• The goal is to merge with Brahma, requiring multiple lives, influenced by dharma (caste rules).
• Moksha is the highest state, involving internal peace and soul release.
• Guided by the Vedas and Upanishads rather than a single sacred text.
• Integral to the social caste system, which has prevented global acceptance.
• Though, recent rebellions against the caste system have occurred.
• Gave rise to Buddhism.

Islam

• Encompasses caliphates, North Africa, Central Asia, and Europe.
• Muhammad recorded Allah's words in the Qur’an.
• Salvation is achieved through submission to God.
• Five Pillars of Islam: confession, prayer five times a day, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Two main groups, Shia and Sunni, differ on Muhammad's succession.
• Rapidly spread throughout the Middle East.

Judaism

• Practiced by the Hebrews.
• God chose a holy people to follow his laws and worship him.
• Emphasizes a unique relationship with God.
• Believes in free will and that the world is for enjoyment but will ultimately become paradise.
• The Hebrew Bible includes the Torah, miracles, laws, chronicles, poetry, and prophecies.
• It is the first of the major monotheistic faiths.

Developments in the Middle East

• The Abbasid Dynasty marked a golden age from 750-1258 CE, especially in the early to mid-9th century.
• Baghdad (modern-day Iraq) served as the capital.
• It was a center for arts and sciences, including mathematics (Nasir al-Din al Tusi), medicine, and the House of Wisdom library.
• Built around trade, using receipt and bill systems.
• Decline: faced challenges from Turkish warriors, a Shia dynasty in Iran, Seljuk Turks, Persians, Europeans, Byzantines, and Mongols.
• Mongols overtook and destroyed Baghdad in 1258.
• Ottoman Turks later reunited Egypt, Syria, and Arabia until 1918.
• Mamluks: An Egyptian group that defeated the Mongols in Nazareth, preserving Islam in the Near East

Developments in Europe

• The Middle Ages followed the fall of Rome and preceded the Renaissance.
• The Eastern Roman Empire evolved into the Byzantine Empire.
• Western Europe: saw a complete collapse, excluding Christianity, which remained strong.
• European Feudalism: a hierarchical social structure.
• King: had comprehensive power.
• Nobles: controlled sections of the kingdom, owing loyalty and military service to the king.
• Vassals: were lesser lords who could further divide land, with estates termed fiefs or manors.
• Manors operated on a three-field system.
• A code of chivalry regulated conflict among lords.
• Male dominated: women primarily educated in domestic skills, weren't allowed to own land, and land was given to eldest son (primogeniture).
• Peasants/serfs worked the land with few rights or freedoms outside the manor.
• Skilled trades led to middle-class emergence due to global trade growth.

Emergence of Nation-States

• The shift from feudal kingdoms to culturally organized countries occurred at the end of the Middle Ages.
• Germany: saw merchants and tradespeople gaining influence due to the reigning family dying out, entering a period of interregnum. England: nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, reinstating nobles and laying the groundwork for Parliament.
• Parliament: Later split into the House of Lords and Commons which dealt with legal issues, and trade and taxation respectively.
• France: was unified by revolts against English occupation, with Joan of Arc fighting the English out of Orleans.
• Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453): Unified France, leading to England’s withdrawal
• Spain: Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand united Spain and forced all residents to convert to Christianity, monitored by the Spanish Inquisition.
• Russia: was taken over by the Tartars under Genghis Kahn in 1242 until Ivan III expanded power in the 1400s and became czar.
• Ivan the Terrible: became a ruthless ruler utilizing secret police in 1500s

Developments in Asia

• Song Dynasty (960-1279) in China.
• Confucianism: promoted female subordination, seen in foot binding.
• Neo-Confucianism: integrated Buddhist ideas with Confucian values like filial piety and loyalty.
• Ming Dynasty (1368-1644): reinstated after Mongol rule. Religion: saw influences from Nestorianism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and especially Buddhism.
• Mahayana: taught peaceful existence.
• Chan/Zen: valued meditation and beauty.
• Japan.
• Remained isolated from outside influence.
• Feudal Japan (1192): operated under a hierarchy of emperor, shogun, daimyo, and samurai.
• Bushido code: Guided the samurai, stressing loyalty, courage, and honor.
• Women had limited rights.
• India.
• The Delhi Sultanate: was an Islamic kingdom with colleges and farming improvements.
• Rajput Kingdoms: Hindu principalities that resisted Muslim forces until 1527.
• Southeast Asia.
• Religion spread and different States were established as a result.
• Khmer Empire (9th-15th century): A Hindu empire in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Crafted the Angor Wat temple.

Developments in Africa

• Islam: spread to North Africa in the 7th-8th centuries, extending trade into the Sahara.
• Hausa Kingdoms: Established a state system off Niger River dependent on long trade (salt and leather). Political and economic downturn in 18th century due to internal wars

Developments in the Americas

• Central and South America's prominent civilizations: Maya, Inca, and Aztec.
• Aztecs: arrived in Mexico in the mid-1200s.
• Tenochtitlan: was the capital.
• Practiced expansionism with a strong army.
• Governed 12 million people with thriving trade and enslavement.
• Women were subordinate but could inherit property.
• Incas: settled in the Andes Mountains in Peru.
• Expansionist with an army, bureaucracy, language, and road system.
• Many were peasants.
• Cuzco: was the capital with 300,000 residents.
• Allowed women to pass property to daughters.
• Practiced polytheism with human sacrifice, especially to the Sun god.
• Practiced mummification and valued the military.

Height of the Middle Ages: Trading and Crusading

• Burghers: Merchants emerged in towns and gained political power.
• Towns allied with each other, seen in the Hanseatic League (1358), a trade alliance in northern Europe.

Architecture: Romanesque to Gothic

• Characterized by flying buttresses, tall windows, and vaulted ceilings, reflected in cathedrals.
• Often included art, sculpture, and music.
• Scholasticism: spurred education and university founding for men to study philosophy, law, and medicine; Muslim and Greek ideas conflicted with religion.
• Crusades (11th-14th century): European campaigns to convert Muslims/non-Christians and combat religious questioning.
• Heresies: Religious practices went against traditional church doctrine.
• Pope Innocent III: issued decrees on church doctrine, persecuted heretics and Jews, and had the 4th crusade.
• Pope Gregory IX: Launched the Inquisition to prosecute heretics, using excommunication, torture, and execution.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): advanced Christian thought by addressing faith and reason.
• Urbanization: Trade grew urban culture; Silk Route cities like Baghdad and Chang’an were most populous.

The Rise and Fall of the Mongols

• Tribes: Excelled as horsemen and archers.
• Genghis Kahn: United Mongolia's tribes in the 1200s to expand into China in 1234.
• Mongol Empire: stretched from the Pacific to Eastern Europe but split into hordes after Genghis Kahn's death. _ Golden Horde: Conquered Russia. _ Kublai Khan: Was Genghis Kahn’s successor - Ruled China.
• They didn’t enforce a religion but were peaceful after settling in cities.
• Timur Lang: A Mongol leader, grew Islam in India and destroyed everything.
• Those who resisted Mongol takeover: were immediately killed, leading to compliance.
• Impact:
• They diffused culture.
• Prevented Russia from culturally developing.
• Increased world trade, cultural diffusion, and global awareness spread through the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Mali and Songhai

• Mali: had gold, attracting Islamic traders.
• Mansa Musa: Built Timbuktu and expanded Mali beyond Ghana.
• Sonni Ali: conquered West Africa in the 15th century.
• Became a major cultural center until 1600.

Chinese Technology

• Song Dynasty: used merit in government, improved transport, communication, and business.
• Focused on industry.
• Improved literacy with widespread book printing, increasing productivity and growth.

Review of Interactions Among Cultures

• Trade exploded from 1200-1450, improving transport and monetary systems. Main Global Trade Routes
• The Hanseatic League
• The Silk Road
• The land routes of the Mongols
• Trade: Between China and Japan and Between India and Persia.
• The Trans-Saharan trade routes.
• Cultural diffusion: spread religion, language, art, ideas, disease, and the Bubonic Plague.
• Bubonic Plague: Spread from Asia and carried by merchants, killing 1/3 of people

Indian Ocean Trade

• Dominated by Persians and Arabs, connecting western India to eastern Africa.
• Great Zimbabwe: Trading Empire in Africa from 11th to 15th centuries Vibrant Indian Ocean Communities.
• Cultural intermixing: Occured due to sailors marrying local women.
• Silk Road
• Connected China to Mediterranean cultures through trade towns like Kashgar and Samarkand.
• Exchanged silk, porcelain, paper, religion, food, and military technologies.
• Hanseatic League
• 100+ joined cities.
• Created a middle class in northern Europe.
• Set precedent for large, European trading operations.
• Cultural Clash: Between religion and empire through natural spread, missionary work, and religious war. Reasons People Were on the Move
• Cities: Were always increasing in size as opportunities grew in them.
• Muslim pilgrimages.

Notable Global Travellers

• Xuanzang: A Chinese Buddhist monk who went to India to explore Buddhism.
• Marco Polo: A Venetian merchant who traveled to China and Europe.
• Ibn Battuta: An Islamic traveler who explored from India to China.
• Margery Kempe: An English Christian traveled through Europe and Holy Land

Major European Developments

• Europe developed over 300 years to become a globally dominant power. Revolutions in European Thought and Expression
• European unification and expansion into countries preserving history broadened Europe's worldview, enabling cultural movements.
• The Renaissance
• As trade increased, people moved to the cities and an influx of money was experienced, which went to studying the past
• Humanism: Focus on personal accomplishment, happiness, and life on earth instead of living for the goal of salvation.
• Arts Have A Comeback
• People could afford art again.
• Artists Focused on Realism
• Leonardo da Vinci.
• Donatello.
• Johannes Gutenberg
• Made books easy to produce and affordable, and accessible to everyone
• Made more people literate.

The Protestant Reformation

• Catholic Church: was one of the most powerful authority
• Capitalized with indulgences.
• Nobles and peasants: were frustrated by the church’s exploitation and corruptness.
• Martin Luther: Suggested salvation was given directly through God greatly reducing the church’s influence.
• Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther when refused to recount his idea.
• Christianity Split _ Lutherans: Followers of Luther. _ Calvinism: Under John Calvin Predestination Great influence in Scotland and France.
• Henery VIII: Declared himself the head of religious affairs (Anglican Church) because pope wouldn't annul his marriage.
• Jesuits: Ignatius Loyola: prayer and good works leads to salvation.
• Catholic Reformation Catholic church tries to give remedies to some of their controversies and regains some of its credibility
• Council of Trent Reinstated pope authority Punished heretics Reestablished Latin as only language in worship.

Scientific Revolution

• Expanded education led to world discoveries.
• Copernican Revolution: Nicolaus Copernicus, the Earth revolved around the sun
• Galileo: Proved Copernicus’s theories - Forced by Catholic Church to recant and put under house arrest Scientific Method: From reasoning to scientific method
• Impact: Led to rejecting the church - Atheists, Deists.

European Rivals

• Spain and Portugal _ Spain: Supported expansion, culture, and had a large naval fleet, Under Charles V, Spain controlled parts of France, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Spain, and America, Continued the Spanish Inquisition in order to oust heretics. _ Portugal: Focused on controlling costal Africa, Indian Ocean, Spice Islands; Lost control to Dutch and British
• England _ Elizabeth I's rule (1558-1603) Was a golden age with expansion, exploration, and colonization, Muscovy Company: First joint-stock company, British East India Company. _ James I's rule (1607) Failed attempts to accommodate Catholics and Puritans. _ Charles I's rule (1625) Signed the Petition of Rights but later ignored it. _ English Commonwealth: Oliver Cromwell, religiously intolerant Oliver Cromwell. _ Charles II Agreed to Habeas Corpus Act. _ James II's rule (Glorious Revolution) Driven from power by Parliament, Succeeded by his daughter Mary and her husband William.
• France _ Unified: Under a strong monarchy, French Protestants emerged (Huguenots). _ Henery IVs rule (Edict of Nantes) Was the first of Bourbon kings. _ Cardinal Richelieu Compromised with Protestants (noblesse de la robe). _ Louis XIV Condemned Huguenots, appointed by Jean Baptiste Colbert to manage royal funds, France almost constantly at war to increase empire. _ War of Spanish Succession(1701-1714) Prevented France and Spain from combining
• German Areas
• Holy Empire was in present day Austria/Germany Lost parts of Hungary to Ottoman Turks in early 16th century, Peace of Augsburg (1555) Meant to end conflict between Protestants and Catholics.
• Thirty Years’ War Began when Protestants challenged Catholics; Peace of Westphalia (1648) German states affirmed to keep the peace.
• Russia
• Moscow: Became the center of Orthodox Christianity.
• Ivan III: Declared freedom from Mongols.
• Recruited peasants from freedom from boyars.
• Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible): Strong leader feared by many.
• Michael Romanov Was elected and consolidated power for the Romanovs. . - Peter the Great Redesigned adapted Russia in to westernized fashion Catherine the Great Educated and Western culture.

Islamic Gunpowder Empires

• Ottoman Empire preceded 1450: Founded by Osman Bey as the Mongol Empire fell Invaded Constantinople in 1453 Ending Byzantine Empire. _ Employed devshirme Christian children enslaved and turned into warriors Selim I Led much empire growth Made Istanbul center of Islamic civilization _ Suleiman I Succeeded Selim I Build militaries and its arts golden age from 1520-1566, could not successfully take over Vienna.
• Babur (Mongol leader): invades northern India in 1526 - Mughal Empire.
• Akbar: Succeeded Babur United India further with religious toleration, and did give Muslim landowners (zamindars) power to tax.
• Aurangzeb: Ended the religious toleration for the Hindus and waged wars. _ Queen Nzinga: Resisted Portuguese attempts Took over parts of Hungary, resists the portuguese.

Isolated Asia

• China _ Ming Dynasty (1368) Restored and built fleets to explore until 1644 Economy, silver currency inflation, famines, and revolt Qing warriors was invited to help emperor Ousted him. _ Qing/Manchus Not Chinese, Kangxi: conquered territory, Qianlong did not interact alot.
• Japan
• Shoguns _ Tokugawa Ieyasu: strict government and rigid social class system, National SeculsionPolicy policy (1635), cultural expansion, Kabuki theatre and haiku poetry became popular.

European Expansion

_ Protugal: Financed explorations. Prince Henry the Navigator. _ Vasco da Gama: Explored. _ Finced Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus. _ Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) between Spain and Portugal to split colonized land between them. _ England: Netherlands, France launched own explorations Acquisition new colonies Nationalism and powerful monarchies. _ Navigational advantages: Sternpost Rudder, Lateen Sails, Astrolabe, Magnetic Compass, Three-Masted Caravels.

The New World

_Spanish explorers found wealth.

• Hernando Cortés sought to exploit the Aztec Empire, neighboring states helped Spanish conquer Aztecs. _ Disease destroyed the empire (Reduced population from 20 million in 1520 to 2 million in 1580).

The Encomienda System

_Spanish implemented a hierarchical colonial society.

• Peninsulares.
• Creoles.
• Mestizos.
• Mulattos.
• Native Americans.
• Viceroys established Encomienda forced laborer.

African Slave Trade

_Africa traded to Europe.

• Demand increased and caused ruthlessness - kidnapping Africans, causing wars, rulers giving up their citizens.

• Middle Passage

Columbian Exchange

_Animals, Plants, Diseases, Tech, People ideas to to each other, food increase

• Sugar and Silver

Age of exploration - finance schemes

_Banking became respectable which lead to companies,

• Muscovy, India took over trade routes.

Commercial Revolution

_Mercantilism import, export led to intense colonialism, caused resentment to new colonies, Europe,

_Developments in specific countries 1450 -1750, monarchies contributed to development but has conflict or wars.

The Enlightenment

_17 and 1800s human kind in relation to government.

• Question of ultimate authority
• Philosophers of the age. _Thomas Hobbes preserve peace , all powerful leader _John Locke equal born, government guaranteed rights _Jean = society will of people . _David Hume lack of evidence _Adam Smith "Invisible Hand _Mary .Women _Enlightented Monarchs. utilized ideas, tolerance, justice- Neoclassical imitation

Enlightenment Revolutions in the Americas and Europe

_America _British defeated in American land _America revolt _Colonist imposed -Tea act 1773 _Lawyer oppsoing. _Paine. common sense better _France joined with Americans

Enlightenment Revolutions in the Americas and Europe

• French Revolution _French were in debt from wars and drought Louis asked taxes. _First estate ,2nd nobels, 3ervere. _3er est form nationalist assemble. DEclared rights of men - National assembly _Convention - Jacobibns
• _Committee of pubic afety - Maximilian _French. head Robesperrie in 1795 new contions

Naopleab overthrew Driceotry - Code recgonized quality, overthrew him

Congress of Vienna

• Balence of power _Erase revol.
• Haitti.

Q: Which best explains the increase in cross-cultural interactions resulting from the intensification of trade networks

A: The Columbian Exchange transformed the world by creating interactions among Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Q: Which of the following developments best explains why many history courses include the time period from 1450 to 1750 in the unit on the Early Modern Era?

A: The uniting of The Old World and New Worlds in 1492, beginning in an era which featured global trade and European dominance

Q: Which of the following factors contributed most to the Columbian Exchange? A: Advances in navigation and shipbuilding

Q: Which of the following best explains the role of coerced labor in the economies of Spanish colonies in the Americas? A: Coerced labor served as the labor force on agricultural plantations and in mines.

Q: Which of the following best explains the Atlantic trading system

A: Europeans traded manufactured goods for enslaved Africans, who were then sold for raw materials in the Americas

Q: Which of the following explains a result of the Columbian Exchange? A: Europeans brought their crops and animals to the Americas and decimated the native population with new diseases

Q: A historian would most likely use the concept of mercantilism to understand which of the following? A: The economic policies of European colonial powers in the 17th century

Q: One reason why the Renaissance began in Italy? A: Italian city-states grew wealthy from trade between Europe and Asia

Q: The most important aspect of the Protestant Reformation A: It was a split in beliefs from the Catholic Church with many different interpretations of the Bible being used

Q: What effect did the Ottomans having control over Constantinople have on Europe? A: Europeans sought new trade routes to Asia

Q: Which term best describes the series of European military expeditions to the Middle East between 1095 and 1291? A: The Crusades

Q: Which of the following empires facilitated trans Eurasia trade and communication during the 13th and 14th centuries? A: The Mongol

Q: Which statement accuratley describes the interactions between Muslims and people in Europe during the period of 800-1400 A: Islamic scholarship influenced intellectual life in Europe

Q: Which of the following resulted from the fragmentation of the Mongol empire following the death of Genghis Khan? A: The development of khanates in Central Asia

Q: All of the following characteristics of Mongol rule caused economic hardship in conquered areas EXCEPT: They did not focus on agriculture or sedentary life A: They promoted Trans Eurasian integration

Q: How did the Black Death affect Europe? A: It caused a labor shortage, which weakened the feudal system

South America

France invades napoleon

His son pedro became independence with contions

Slavey abolishe

• Mexico Agergulted leader kill

Morelos pick up where left

A: US and Soviet Union became superpowers after they ended, _U.s Institie Marshall plan, _War inspired native populations.

721,000k Women -Took over,

_Creation of international organizations.

_united nations was created against war. world bank created too.

Code,

• US and Su did not want echa other to spread

Coldwar,

• Conflcit over future,

Chinese,

###Korean ###Viet

Cuban

###Tensions and Dem

Cold Ends,

###India.