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Unit 1: The Global Tapestry
Review of History Within Civilizations
โ What rises out of collapse of classical civilization and interactions developing between new states โ Growth of long-distance trade
Overview of Worldโs Major Religions in 1200
โ Most events are connected to religion โ Key Points: โ Most belief systems still are impacting history โ Most major religions have divisions = subgroups and sects (focus more on overall religion) โ Understand theological basis of belief systems and impact of belief systems on social, political, cultural, military developments โ Origin and spread of belief systems - cultural interactions โ Religious Mysticism: adherents within religions focusing on mystical experiences that bring them closer to divine - prayer, meditation โ Buddhism โ Cultures : India, China, Southeast Asia, Japan โ Context : โ Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a young Hindu prince - lived in Nepal from 563-483 BCE, rejected wealth and world possessions and became Buddha (Enlightened One) โ No supreme being - 4 Noble Truth: (1) all life is suffering, (2) suffering caused by desire, (3) can be freed of desire, (4) freed of desire following a prescribed path โ Death of Buddha (483 BCE) = Buddhism split - Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism โ Theravada Buddhism: meditation, simplicity, nirvana as renunciation of consciousness and self โ Mahayana Buddhism: great ritual, spiritual comfort - more complex but with greater spread โ Impact : rejects caste system - appealed to those of lower rank โ India: reabsorbed in Hinduism โ China, Japan, Southeast Asia: Buddhism continued to thrive โ Further: spread via trade routes โ Christianity โ Cultures : started as group of Jews, quickly expanded through Europe, northeastern Africa, Middle East โ Context : โ Based around Jesus of Nazareth, a figure who claimed to be Messiah the Jews had awaited - teachings of devotion to God and love for others
โ Jesus was crucified by Roman and Jewish leaders in 30 CE and his followers believe he rose from dead into heaven โ Based on Bible teachings โ Believe Jesus is the Son of God - forgiveness of sins, everlasting life is achievable through him โ World was created by God, but world has fallen from God โ Believers should seek God and care for him and others โ Impact : compassion, grace through faith appealed to lower classes and women โ Became most influential religion in Mediterranean basin by 3rd century โ Became official religion of Roman Empire, then branching north and west โ Connection with Roman Empire had profound impact on global culture โ Confucianism โ Cultures : China (400 BCE+) โ Context : โ Founded by Confucius, educator and political advisor - thoughts and sayings collected in the Analects โ Deals with how to restore political and social order, not with philosophical or religious topics โ 5 fundamental relations build society and make it orderly - (1) ruler and subject, (2) parent and child, (3) husband and wife, (4) older sibling and younger sibling. (5) friend and friend โ Impact : โ Compatible with other religions, causing it to flourish โ Led to distinctive Chinese culture of tight-knit communities โ Stayed within Chinese culture โ Hinduism โ Cultures : India โ Context : โ Belief in one supreme force called Brahma who created everything - gods are manifestations of Brahma (Vishnu = preserver, Shiva = destroyer) โ Goal of believer is to merge with Brahma - believe it takes multiple lives to accomplish and believers live to determine who they will be in their next life โ Following the dharma (rules and obligations of your caste) will move you towards Brahma - moksha is highest stake of being (internal peace and release of soul) โ No sacred text - Vedas and Upanishads guide Hindus โ Impact : โ Religion and social caste system, which has prevented global acceptance of religion โ Recently, Hindus are rebelling caste system โ Spawned Buddhism โ Islam โ Cultures : caliphates (Islamic kingdoms), North Africa, central Asia, Europe โ Context : โ 7th century - Muslims are the believers
- Nobles : had power over sections of kingdom in exchange for loyalty to king and military service
- Vassals : lesser lords with sections of Noble land who could divide it further - estates were called fiefs or manors (self-sufficient) โ Founded three-field system : 3 fields for fall, spring, and empty one to replenish nutrients โ Conflict between lords was regulated with code of chivalry which condemned betrayal and promoted mutual respect โ Male dominated: women could not own land and land was passed down to eldest son (primogeniture), their education was limited to domestic skills
- Peasants or Serfs : worked the land โ Had few rights or freedoms outside of manor โ Skilled in trades, which helped them break out of feudal mode as global trade increased - led to middle class emergence of craftsmen and merchants
Emergence of Nation-States
โ At end of Middle Ages, people began moving from feudal kingdom organization to linguistic and cultural organization - emergence of modern countries โ Achievement of statehood in 13th century took different paths โ Germany : reigning family of emperorship died out, entering a period of interregnum (time between kings) - merchants and tradespeople became more powerful โ England : English nobles rebelled against King John and forced him to sign the Magna Carta - reinstated the nobles, laid foundation for Parliament โ Later divided into House of Lords (nobles and clergy - legal issues) and House of Commons (knights and wealth burghers - trade and taxation) โ France : in 12th century, England began to occupy many parts of France which spurred revolts - Joan of Arc fought back English out of Orleans โ Hundred Yearsโ War (1337-1453): unified France, leading to Englandโs withdrawal โ Spain: Queen Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married to unite Spain in a single monarchy and forced all residents to convert to Christianity - Spanish Inquisition โ Russia : taken over by Tartars (group of eastern Mongols) under Genghis Kahn in 1242 until Russian prince Ivan III expanded his power in 1400s and became czar - Ivan the Terrible became a ruthless ruler utilizing secret police in 1500s
Developments in Asia
China and Nearby Regions
โ Song Dynasty (960-1279)
โ Confucianism justified subordination of women - foot binding : womenโs feet bound after birth to keep them small โ Neo-Confucianism : Buddhist ideas about soul, filial piety, maintenance of proper roles, loyalty to superiors โ Ming Dynasty (1368-1644): after brief period of Mongol dominance โ Religion: influenced by Nestorianism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and especially Buddhism in two of its forms โ Mahayana : peaceful and quiet existence apart from worldly values โ Chan or Zen : meditation and appreciation of beauty
Japan
โ Relatively isolated from external influences outside Asia for many years โ Feudal Japan (1192):
- Emperor
- Shogun (chief general)
- Daimyo : owners of larger pieces of land, powerful samurai (like knights)
- Followed Code of Bushido code of conduct - loyalty, courage, honour
- Lesser samurai (like vassals)
- Peasants and artisans โ Women had little rights and esteem
India
โ Delhi Sultanate : Islamic invader kingdom in Delhi โ Islam took over Northern India - clash between Islam monotheism and Hinduism polytheism โ Islam rulership brought in colleges and farming improvements โ Rajput Kingdoms : several Hindu principalities that united to resist Muslim forces from 1191 until eventual takeover in 1527
Southeast Asia
โ 3 great civilization in Central and South America: Maya, Incas, Aztecs โ Aztecs: Trade and Sacrifice โ Arrived in Mexico in mid 1200s โ Tenochtitlan : capital city (modern Mexico City) โ Expansionist policy and professional, strict army โ Empire of 12 million people with flourishing trade, many of people enslaved โ Women were subordinate, but could inherit property โ Inca: My Land is Your Land โ Andes Mountains in Peru โ Expansionist - army, established bureaucracy, unified language, system of roads and tunnels โ Many people were peasants โ Capital of Cuzco had almost 300000 people in late 1400s โ Women were more important and could pass property to their daughters โ Polytheistic religion with human sacrifice - Sun god was most important โ People were mummified after death โ Military was very important โ Temple of the Sun and Machu Picchu architecture โ The Mayans (textbook does not go into detail)
