The Last of the Great Nomadic Challenges 600-1450

Expanding Communities

Demographic and Environmental Changes Nomadic Migrations

VikingsTurksAztecsMongolsArabs

Predict the impact of these movements.

Demographic and Environmental Changes Migration of Agricultural Peoples

Bantu migrationsEuropeans to Eastern and Central Europe

Consequences of Disease For ex. Black Plague 1348

Growth and Role of CitiesUrbanization (Ghuang Zhou, Canton, Chang’an,Cairo,

Cordova, Samarkand, Baghdad, Damascus, Venice, Constantinople, Tenochtitlan, Timbuktu, etc.)

How much of this demonstrates continuity?

Compare the Aztecs to Group 1-Arabs Group 2-Turks Group 3- Vikings Group 4- Bantus Group 5- Mongola

Aztecs were nomadic and settled around Lake Texcoco, established a militaristic empire based on tribute, became expert engineers constructing chinampas (floating gardens) demanding tribute from their peripheral states and creating a flourishishing marketplace in Tenochtitlan. Their religious polytheistic components could be felt in everything from their monumental architecture, calendars and human sacrifice to appease the Gods. Theiir military is how they established and maintained their empire while creating gender paralellism where spearate spheres of work were establiehd fore men and women.

Arabs Early post-classical movements along the Arabian Peninsula. Bedouin merchants

facilitated spread of Islam invaded and eventually settled in Middle East, Northern Africa and Southern Europe. Although the notion of Caliphate would be sacked by Mongols in 1258, Islam held areas together culturally, and mixed with native customs and religions. Despite political conflict over succession (Sunni-Shiite) Dar Al Islam would unite much of AfroEurasia

Vikings These sea-faring marauders swept into many parts of Europe from Normandy to

Mediterranean areas, to Russia during the 8th and 9th centuries looting and destroying communities and churches and monasteries. Some settled and intermarrying with groups like Normans and Rus (Russia). Served in Black sea trade with Byzantium but are mostly known for providing the threat to Western European armies developed under the auspices of Feudalism

Turks Originally Indo-Europeans who migrated into the Middle east dating various time

in this era. The Seljuk Turks invaded the Byzanitne Empire sparking another Great migration to the Middle Eats-crusader. Indirectly responsible for Europe’s interest and involvement in long-distance trade. Also served as mercenaries and militia in both Tang and Abbasid armies. By the end of this era, the Ottoman Turks were on the rise capturing Constantinople (thanks to the Mongols) by 1453. Turks (Afghan) even invaded India forming the Delhi Sultanate and introduced Islam into India with such force that the consequences reverberated throughout the rest of Indian history.

Mongols Identified by many historians as the end on the nomadic era. Clearly the good

was their ability to establish a Khanate system where safe trade, religious tolerance and a relatively peaceful existence (Pax Mongolica) facilitated an East meets west connecting Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Europe. For even a brief time Central Asian Empire the Timurud Dynasty will become a major Islamic center of trade and scholarship in the great city of Samarkand ruled by Tamerlane. They would also contribute to the spread of the black death, the end of the Song Dynasty and the Abbasid Caliphate and the indirect beginnings of the rise of Western European age of exploration.

Aztecs Migrated to the Central Valley of Mexico around Lake Texcoco according to legend ( area

where Eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its talons). Developed an agricultural method of tying reeds to floating gardens known as chinampas. Established a thriving militaristic state using tribute from surrounding areas to develop thriving city Tenochtitlan. Decentralized in nature, the development of causeways and bridges and roads would facilitate trade within the city dubbed “the Venice of the Americas” by the Spanish conquistadores who encountered it for the first time. Many war captives were either enslaved or sacrificed.

Inter-regional networks and Contacts Mediterranean

trade circuit Silk Routes Indian Ocean Trans-Saharan

Trade Trans-American

circuits

Religious connections: missionaries, inter-religious contact

Impact of Mongols

Mediterranean Circuits

Silk Routes

Indian Ocean

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trans-American trade

Religious Connections

COMP ThesisThe Mongols and Aztecs both established large empire based on military prowess and might, both collected tribute from peripheral states in return for protection and autonomy, however, the Mongol Empire was established into a massive interregional trading network while the Aztecs regional connections were much smaller extending into only the Central Valley of Mexico

Impact of Mongols: Blessing or a Curse

China: Internal and External Expansion Tang Dynasty

Technological innovations: compass, paper, gunpowder etc.

Influence on JapanFootbinding, Neo-Confucianism

Song DynastyAll the makings of an industrial revolution

Early MingZheng He voyages, eunochs and nomadic

threats

Islamic World: Dar al-Islam Expanding cultural, economic and

political influenceAl-Andalus/ Islamic SpainNorth and West AfricaIndian Ocean: East Africa, India, SE Asia

Technological accomplishments: astrolabe, algebra, philosophy, cartography…

Al-Andalus

Islamic World: Sample Comparisons Compare Islam to Christianity Compare Islamic contacts with

Europe and with Africa Crusades- points of view compared Compare gender changes Compare support/ patronage of

arts and sciences

Europe Break in eastern and Western

Christendom: political significance? Religious schisms compared:

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism

Mahayana and Theravada BuddhismSunni/ Shiite in Islam

Europe Restructuring of institutions

Role of religion: Papacy, Crusades, architecture and education

Development of feudalismComparison of feudalism in Europe and

JapanIncreasing importance of monarchy

over church

Amer-Indian World Migrations over the Bering Strait at

least 10,000 years ago. Northern America: Cahokia Southwest: Hohokam Meso-America; Olmecs, Maya,

Toltec (Aztec) South America: Nazca, Moche,

(Inca)

Sub-Saharan Africa West African kingdoms: Ghana, Mali,

Songhay East African city states: Axum,

Kilwa, Mombasa Southern Africa: Great Zimbabwe Contacts with Islamic World, Indian

Ocean world, and within Africa Role of Trade, Education and

Religion

Questions we will focus on: Was there a world economic

network in this time period? How did gender roles change? How can material culture and

urban history help us to understand early societies?

Conclusions Examples of continuity? Examples of change?

Think about new and old players.Similar patterns and trends:

demographic, social and cultural, technological.

New avenues of intersection.