Chapter 10Chapter 10

Remaking the World: Remaking the World: Environmental Frontiers before Environmental Frontiers before

1000 C.E.1000 C.E.

Review QuestionsReview Questions HOW DID geography influence the transmission of

culture in sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas? WHAT WERE the environmental consequences of the

Islamic conquests in Africa and Eurasia? WHERE DID Christendom expand in the eighth and ninth centuries? HOW DID Japan, China, and the states of southeast Asia

seek to stimulate economic growth? HOW DID Pacific islanders succeed in colonizing the

Pacific? HOW WIDESPREAD during the history of this period was ecological experiment?

Geography Affects Culture: Africa and Geography Affects Culture: Africa and AmericaAmerica

Difficulty of overcoming African geographical barriers:Difficulty of overcoming African geographical barriers: Sahara desert, coasts with few seaports, difficult rivers impede Sahara desert, coasts with few seaports, difficult rivers impede

traveltravel Large-scale migrations (Bantu) take longer than other Large-scale migrations (Bantu) take longer than other

continents continents

Dense populations develop at western end of Sahel by 100 C.E.Dense populations develop at western end of Sahel by 100 C.E. Senegambia region: mixed economy of farmers, ironworkersSenegambia region: mixed economy of farmers, ironworkers Ghana and Gao emerge as powerful states, 1000 C.E.Ghana and Gao emerge as powerful states, 1000 C.E.

Sacred kingship apparent in Ghana capital of Kambi-SalehSacred kingship apparent in Ghana capital of Kambi-Saleh Trade and travel focus on reaching north of SaharaTrade and travel focus on reaching north of Sahara Ethiopia at eastern end of Sahel focused on Indian Ocean & Ethiopia at eastern end of Sahel focused on Indian Ocean &

NileNile American isolation: sporadic contact w/Asia, Europe in pre-American isolation: sporadic contact w/Asia, Europe in pre-

Columbus era Columbus era N/S travel inhibited by mountain ranges, riversN/S travel inhibited by mountain ranges, rivers Civilizations develop in Andes (S. America), Mesoamerica, N. Civilizations develop in Andes (S. America), Mesoamerica, N.

American SWAmerican SW Dramatic shifts in climate/geography inhibit contact with other Dramatic shifts in climate/geography inhibit contact with other

regionsregions See Study Aid #10, Table 10.2 (Expanding States) for specific See Study Aid #10, Table 10.2 (Expanding States) for specific

comparisons of regionscomparisons of regions

Figure of a sacred king. The Oni, or king, of lle-lfe, excavated at lta Yemoo, Nigeria in 1957, 1000-1100 C.E. The king is shown draped in beads, a symbol of royalty.

Nazca lines. The Nazca made the vast images for which they are famous by scraping the surface of the desert in Peru to reveal the bare rock underneath. But why did they do it? Vivid, intricate designs, such as this monkey, were too big to be fully visible except from the air. The people who made them can only have experienced them by walking the pathways the patterns made. The straight lines that accompany the images may have served as maps, perhaps indicating underground irrigation channels, but the pictures remain a mystery.

Mayan kings. The legitimacy that royal ancestry conferred was an important part of Maya kingship— especially when things were going badly. Yax Pasaj, who became king of Copán in 763, when he was still a small boy, ruled in a time of economic decline and political unrest. This may be why he had himself depicted in the company of all Copán’s previous rulers, seated as if in conference around a small stone platform.

Royal Bloodletting. The reign of Itzamnaaj B’alam (“Shield Jaguar”) II of Yaxchilián (681-742), in what is today Mexico, produced some of the finest stone reliefs in which Maya rulers commemorated their performance of important rituals. The most common ritual was royal bloodletting, which was intended to provoke visions. During these bloodlettings, kings communicated with ancestor’s or gods.

The Dresden codex. The Maya almanac known as the Dresden Codex contains a wealth of data on agriculture, divination, and religion. But its most remarkable contents are the detailed astronomical observations and predictions,including the table recording the cycle of Venus, one page of which is shown here. The red bars and dots at bottom right are numbers, adding up to 584—the average number of days between the dates on which Venus rises with the sun. Such dates were favorable for war and sometimes foretold drought and death. The gods depicted represent from top to bottom, the Morning Star, Venus as bringer of war, and Venus demanding sacrifice.

Environmental Effects of Islam in Africa, Environmental Effects of Islam in Africa, AsiaAsia

Military expansion brings contact with new peoples, Military expansion brings contact with new peoples, foods.foods. Rice, citrus, cotton, dates, sugarcaneRice, citrus, cotton, dates, sugarcane From Mediterranean through Mideast, arid SW Asia, Sahel, From Mediterranean through Mideast, arid SW Asia, Sahel,

savanna, tropical forests in Africa into India, SE Asia savanna, tropical forests in Africa into India, SE Asia Systematic introduction of new crops sponsored by Islamic Systematic introduction of new crops sponsored by Islamic

rulersrulers Stimulates new forms of irrigation--underground tunnels, wellsStimulates new forms of irrigation--underground tunnels, wells Increased clearance of forests, use of fertilizersIncreased clearance of forests, use of fertilizers Free markets encourage high productivity Free markets encourage high productivity

Expansion of marketsExpansion of markets 12,000 villages along Guadalquivir River in Spain (Cordoba)12,000 villages along Guadalquivir River in Spain (Cordoba) E/W trade: sea routes, land caravansE/W trade: sea routes, land caravans

Relative peace within empire increases quantity/value of Relative peace within empire increases quantity/value of tradetrade

Watermill. Increased agricultural output caused demand for more and bigger mills to grind grain. Most have not survived, but a fine example of medieval watermill technology, pictured here, is on the Orontes River at Hama, Syria. Water wheels on this scale also hoisted water from riverbeds to aqueducts and irrigation channels.

Mayan CivilizationMayan Civilization

Increased food production plus heightened trade in Increased food production plus heightened trade in “cash” crops such as cacao increase population.“cash” crops such as cacao increase population.

Elites help support this through religious practicesElites help support this through religious practices Bloodletting rituals “feed” gods, legitimate rulersBloodletting rituals “feed” gods, legitimate rulers Mass sacrifice of captive slaves, warriorsMass sacrifice of captive slaves, warriors Role of cacao throughout MesoamericaRole of cacao throughout Mesoamerica

Agricultural techniques spread northAgricultural techniques spread north SW North America: Chaco canyon, Pueblo culturesSW North America: Chaco canyon, Pueblo cultures Mississippian cultures: Cahokia, mound building in Mississippian cultures: Cahokia, mound building in

SoutheastSoutheast Ceremonial platforms built on terraced earthen Ceremonial platforms built on terraced earthen

pyramidspyramids Maya “collapse” may have in large part been a Maya “collapse” may have in large part been a

failure in agricultural production.failure in agricultural production.

Christendom ExpandsChristendom Expands Military expansion into new areas in Central Military expansion into new areas in Central

EuropeEurope Conversion strategiesConversion strategies Co-opting pagan symbols, rituals, sacred sitesCo-opting pagan symbols, rituals, sacred sites Role of Charlemagne as French king, Holy Role of Charlemagne as French king, Holy

Roman EmperorRoman Emperor Establishment of new Christian states in Slavic Establishment of new Christian states in Slavic

lands, Bulgarialands, Bulgaria Role of Vikings, North sea regionRole of Vikings, North sea region

Establishment of new Christian states in Establishment of new Christian states in Asturias and Barcelona in SpainAsturias and Barcelona in Spain

Expansion into areas of pagan BritainExpansion into areas of pagan Britain

China’s Economic, Political GrowthChina’s Economic, Political Growth

Government encourages expansion through building of canal Government encourages expansion through building of canal systems and more extensive irrigation.systems and more extensive irrigation. Price regulations, government granaries create stable Price regulations, government granaries create stable

supplysupply Creation of Grand Canal, roadsCreation of Grand Canal, roads Efficient bureaucracy: taxation, justice officials travel Efficient bureaucracy: taxation, justice officials travel

widelywidely Population expands, moves into uncultivated areasPopulation expands, moves into uncultivated areas

Southward shift into areas of rice cultivationSouthward shift into areas of rice cultivation Buddhist/Daoist monasteries help development in frontier Buddhist/Daoist monasteries help development in frontier

regionsregions Encouragement of small land holdings increases food Encouragement of small land holdings increases food

productionproduction Tang Dynasty leaders break up large landholdingsTang Dynasty leaders break up large landholdings Major land reform of 737 divides estate lands among Major land reform of 737 divides estate lands among

workersworkers

The Grand Canal. China’s ancient canals are still useful to commerce. Here, long lines of barges sail the Grand Canal, an artificial waterway that was first built in the seventh century C.E.

The temple of Borobodur on the Indonesian island of Java began to receive pilgrims in the early 800s. Visitors, emerging from the dense tropical forest that surrounded the site, would ascend through four galleries, where stories of virtuous Buddhists were carved in relief eventually reaching the realm of Enlightenment— the circular platform, guarded by statues of Bodhisattvas.

Japanese ExpansionJapanese Expansion

Governmental policies encourage population Governmental policies encourage population growth through adoption of new technologies growth through adoption of new technologies in rice production and plowing.in rice production and plowing. Early dynasties consolidate power by 700 C.E.Early dynasties consolidate power by 700 C.E. Intensive management of limited agricultural Intensive management of limited agricultural

landland Encouragement to expand into and colonize Encouragement to expand into and colonize

frontier regions and to displace indigenous frontier regions and to displace indigenous populationspopulations Expansion: northern Honshu to conquer native Expansion: northern Honshu to conquer native EmishiEmishi

Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia Growth of Khmer kingdom (Cambodia) along with Growth of Khmer kingdom (Cambodia) along with

Viet, Cham regionsViet, Cham regions Rich agricultural lands along Mekong riverRich agricultural lands along Mekong river Ivory, wood, 3 crops of rice yearlyIvory, wood, 3 crops of rice yearly

New agricultural technologies increase food New agricultural technologies increase food production.production.

Populations rise and new states appear: Populations rise and new states appear: Srivijaya, Sailendra.Srivijaya, Sailendra.

Srivijaya and Sailendra are also boosted by Srivijaya and Sailendra are also boosted by increased trade through the South Pacific increased trade through the South Pacific islands.islands.

The Settlement of PolynesiaThe Settlement of Polynesia

Development of intensive agriculture on small Development of intensive agriculture on small islands in Micronesiaislands in Micronesia Pohnpei and monumental religious architecturePohnpei and monumental religious architecture

Development of new technologies such as Development of new technologies such as outrigger canoesoutrigger canoes new navigation techniquesnew navigation techniques Oral traditions to retain knowledge Oral traditions to retain knowledge

Spread of Polynesians across the Pacific OceanSpread of Polynesians across the Pacific Ocean First to Tahiti, then Marquesas, Hawaii final stopFirst to Tahiti, then Marquesas, Hawaii final stop Common linguistic roots, religious concepts: Common linguistic roots, religious concepts: ManaMana

Today’s QuestionToday’s Question

Do we have any place left to go?Do we have any place left to go?

Consider Consider The voyages of the Polynesians were amazing feats of The voyages of the Polynesians were amazing feats of

exploration and settlement, opening up a whole new world exploration and settlement, opening up a whole new world for human communities. They also filled the last great hole in for human communities. They also filled the last great hole in human habitation outside of Antarctica.human habitation outside of Antarctica.

Other new opportunities in the time of this chapter were also Other new opportunities in the time of this chapter were also on ecological frontierson ecological frontiers

And the prospect of environmental catastrophe again is an And the prospect of environmental catastrophe again is an issueissue

What other environments offer possible destinations for What other environments offer possible destinations for human occupation?human occupation?

Is colonization of undersea environments, nearby planets, Is colonization of undersea environments, nearby planets, or even deep space a real possibility?or even deep space a real possibility?

What are the implications if all frontiers close?What are the implications if all frontiers close?