Introduction

History
isthestudyofideas,beliefs,andactionsofpeoplelivingofthepast

Ethnocentrism
iswhenyouviewyourownculturetobesuperiortoallothers

Archaeology
isthestudyofobjectsfrompasthumanlivesandcultures

Artifacts
arehumanmadeobjectse.g.,tools,pots,clothes.Does
not
includebones

Geography
isthestudyofpeople,theirenvironment,andtheirresources
Thereare
FiveThemesofGeography:

Location
istherelativeorexactpositiononEarth

Place
isthephysicalandhumancharacteristicsofalocation.Physical=landscape,climate,soil,etc.
Human=religion,language,jobs,food,etc.

Region
isanareawithsimilarorunifyingphysicalorhumancharacteristics.Physical=sameelevation,climate
Human=samegovernment,jobs,culture

InteractionBetweenPeopleandEnvironment
:howpeopleadapttoorchangeenvironments(wearheavy
coats,buildbridges,etc.)

Movement
isthespreadofpeople,goods,andideas.Whenpeoplemigrateandtradethey
shareideas

Culturaldiffusion
isspreadofculturaltraitfromonesocietytoanother

Climate
isaffectedby
latitude,positionrelativetoocean,andelevation

7ElementsofCulture:
(
S
anta
C
lausis
LARGE
)

SocialOrganization
describessocialstructure,includesfamily/socialclasses.Family=patriarchal,
extended,etc.Social=basedonwealth,education,lineage,canberigid,etc.

Customs
arerulesofbehavior,likelawsorunwrittenconventions

Language
isthemeansofcommunicatingthoughts,feelings,andknowledge

Arts
includeart,music,literature

Religion
seekstoanswerquestionsaboutlife,monoorpolytheism

Government
isthepeople,procedures,andinstitutionsthatcreaterulesonhowtobehave

Economy
ishowpeopleuselimitedresourcesforneeds/wants

EarlyHumans

Hominids
arecreaturesthatare
bipedal
,evolvedwhenAfricawasconvertedintoasteppeenvironments.
MuchofAfricabecameflat,grassyland,andhominidscouldtravelfardistancesonground,lookovertall
grass,andholdthingswhilewalking

Lucy
wasan
AustralopithecusAfarensis
,discoveredby
DonaldJohanson
earlyhumanswere
nomads
untiltheylearnedhowto
farmanddomesticateanimals
the
NeolithicRevolution
ledtoriseofcivilization,noneedforhuntergathererlifestyle
the
FiveCharacteristicsofaCivilization
are:

AdvancedCities
(MohenjoDaro,Ur,Athens)

SpecializedWorkers
(potters,soldiers,merchants)

ComplexInstitutions
(government,economy,businesses,education)

RecordKeeping
(scribes,papyrus,cuneiformtablets)

AdvancedTechnology
(boats,weapons,wheels)

Mesopotamia

FertileCrescent
isarablelandbetweenPersianGulfandMediterraneanSea,Mesopotamiaisbetween
Tigris
and
Euphrates
Rivers(TigrisonTop).Culturaldiffusionoccurredbecauseoffewnaturalbarriers
Peoplefirstsettledbyriversbecausefloodwatersleftfertilesoil/
silt

Riverfloodingwasveryinconsistent
someyearswereextremedrought,othersdisastrousfloods
Thisresultedin
muchofSumerianculturerevolvingaroundappeasinggods
,whomtheybelievedwere
alwaysangrywithhumans

UrukVase
illustratedimportanceofthetworiversuponMesopotamianlife

Sumer
,firstMesopotamiancivilization,wasmadeofindependent,walledcitystates
Sumeriancontributionsare
wheel,sail,andplow
,recordkeepingsystem,cuneiform
ComplexInstitutionsinSumer:
Economy:hadtradenetworks,bazaars
Government:leaderswere
initiallypriests
(inchargeofappeasinggods),thenbecamemilitaryleaders
whenconflictsoverlandbecamemorecommon(butstillhadtogiveofferingstogods)
Religion:polytheisticgodswereimmortal,hadsupernaturalpowers,believedtobe
harsh
tohumans.
Theafterlifewasaterribleplacefullofsuffering.Sumeriansbuilttemplescalled
ziggurats
,wherethey
believedthecityspatrondeitylived

AkkadianEmpire
wasworldsfirstempire,createdby
SargonofAkkad
Later,Sumeriancitystateswereconqueredbythe
Babylonians.

Babylon
becameimportanttradecenter

Babylonian
empirereachedpeakunder
Hammurabi
.HeconqueredallofMesopotamiaandcreatedthe
Code
ofHammurabi
oneoftheworlds
firstlawcodes
bestknownfor
harshpunishments
engravedonstonesolawwas
unchangeable/universal

didnottreatpeopleequally
Men>women,rich>poor
AssurbeganunderBabyloniancontrol,thenfoughtforindependence,became
AssyrianEmpire
ruledwithorganizedgovernmentandterror,verywarlikesociety,advancedwartechnology.
Completelydestroyedcapturedcitiesandenslaved/killedresidents
alsohadlibrarywiththousandsofclaytablets,includingthe
EpicofGilgamesh
The
ChaldeanEmpire
or
NeoBabylonianEmpire
overthrewAssyrians

Nebuchadnezzar
wasfamousking,expandedempiretoMesopotamia,Syria,somepartsof
Mediterraneancoast,conqueredCanaan,built
HangingGardensofBabylon
andrebuiltBabylonwith
Canaaniteslavelabor.He
deportedHebrewpopulationfromJudahtoBabylon
ineventcalled
theExile
The
PersianEmpire
overthrewChaldeans
startedaspeacefulkingdomuntilattacked.Asaresult,Persiangeneral
Cyrus
begantoorganizearmy
andconquerareasinMesopotamia,Anatolia,Canaan,Egypt,India,andpartsofsoutheasternEurope.

Cyrus
theGreatwasverytolerantofconqueredpeoplescultures,allowedHebrewstoreturnto
Jerusalemandrebuildtheirtemple

Darius
expandedempire,butfailedtoconquerGreeceatthe
BattleofMarathon
.
dividedtheirempireintoprovinces(Satrapiesgovernedbyloyal
Satraps
),
builtroads
toallowfast
communication
,andused
standardcoins
thereligion
Zoroastrianism
taughtthattheEarthwasaconstantbattlegroundbetweenAhuraMazda
(entityofgood)andAhriman(evil)

Otherempires:
the
Hittites
inAnatolia(Turkey)developed
ironweapons

Lydians
madecoinmoney
Judaism
TheHebrewsweremonotheistic,andbelievedthatGodandhispeoplehadacovenant/mutualpromise:God
wouldprotectHebrewsaslongastheyfollowedhiscommands

ethicalmonotheism
:placesemphasisongoodbehavior
the
Torahisareligioustext
,thefirstfivebooksoftheHebrewBible,whichdocumentsthestoryofcreation,
AdamandEve,Noahandtheflood,Abraham,MosesandtheExodusandMountSinaiand10
Commandments
AbrahamwasashepherdinMesopotamia,whomGodcommandedtomovehispeoplesouthtoCanaan
Judaism,Christianity,andIslamare
saidtohaveacommonorigin
,astheir
foundersarebelievedtobe
descendantsofAbraham
TheHebrewsbecameenslavedbyEgypt.AfterGodsentthe10PlaguestoEgypt,
Moses
ledhispeopleto
freedombytakingthemacrosstheRedSeainaneventcalledthe
Exodus
WhilewanderingtheSinaiPeninsula,MoseswenttothetopofMountSinaiandreceivedthe
10
Commandments
fromGod,whichwasa
codeoflawsforproperbehavior
ThebooksdetailingtheHebrewconquestofCanaan,riseofIsraelikingdoms,andtheirexileiscollectively
called
TheProphets
WhenconqueringCanaan,their
godwouldhelpinthebattles
Canaanwouldbedividedintothe
TwelveTribesofIsrael
,buttheywouldoftenfightamongstthemselves

KingSaul
wouldunitethemintothe
KingdomofIsrael
,andledthemintobattleagainstthePhilistines.Here,a
youngIsraelisoldier,David,killedthegiantGoliath,andtheeventwouldbeasubjectofmanyartists,like
Michelangelo
AfterSaulsdeath,
David
becamethenewkingand
establishedthecapitalatJerusalem

Solomon
wasakingheraldedforbeingverywise,andalsobuiltthe
Temple
tohousethe10Commandments
Afterwards,duetohightaxesandforcedlabor,thekingdomsplitintotwo:theKingdomofIsraelandthe
KingdomofJudah.TheKingdomofIsraelwouldbeconqueredbytheAssyrians,whiletheKingdomofJudah
wouldlaterby
conqueredbytheNeoBabylonians
Under
KingNebuchadnezzar
,theTemplewouldbedestroyedandaboutaquarterofthepopulationwas
forcedtomovetoBabyloninaneventcalled
theExile
WhenPersiaconqueredBabylon,the
tolerant
KingCyrustheGreat
allowedtheHebrewsto
returnto
Jerusalemandrebuildthetemple

Egypt
Egyptis
mostlydesert
,allagriculturerevolvedaround
annualfloodingoftheNile
(leavesbehindsilt).Flooding
wasvery
regular
Becauseofconsistentflooding,Egyptians
made365daycalendar
basedontheagriculturalcycle
Fertileland>morefood>growingpopulations>specializedworkers
Nilewasalso
importantfortransportation
riverflowednorth,andifpeoplewantedtogosouththeywoulduse
theirsailstocatchthewindblowingsouth
Recordkeeping:
usedpapyrus,papermadefrompapyrusreeds

systemofwritingcalledhieroglyphs
Complexinstitutions:Government
absoluteleadercalled
pharaoh
,leaderofgovernmentandmilitary
directedthereligion,andwasalsobelievedtobea
godonEarth
rulingpowerpasseddowninclans,called
dynasties
Economy:tradenetworksalongtheNile
Religion:

Polytheistic
,thousandsofgods.Osiriswasthekingofunderworld,Horuswasprotectorofpharaohs
Afterlifewasbelievedtobeverysimilartothislife,peoplewereburiedwiththeirpossessionsandpets
Manytemplesforworship,priestsbecameverywealthyfromofferingsandprayersduringwar
TechnologicalAchievements:
Calendar(mentionedabove)

Pyramids
werebuiltasroyaltombsduringthe
OldKingdomonly
.SnefarubuiltRedPyramid(first
successfulpyramid)andKhufubuiltGreatPyramidatGiza
Preservedbodies,called
mummification
,usingsaltandtookoutmanyorgans
OldKingdom:
startedwhen
Narmer
unitedUpperandLowerEgypt
pyramidswerefirstbuiltandimproved
endedwithkingPepiII.Aftercollapse,Egyptenteredperiodofpoliticalandeconomicturmoilcalledthe
First
IntermediatePeriod
MiddleKingdom
wasshortandnothingofimportancehappened
NewKingdom

Ahmose
droveouttheHyksos,startedEgyptian
GoldenAge

Hatshepsut
wasthefirstfemalepharaoh,verysuccessful

Akhenaten
wasverycontroversial,shownbyuniquesculpturesofhimthatshowedhisdeformities.Moved
capitalcityand
triedto
institutemonotheism

RamsesII/RamsestheGreat
foughtagainstHittitesinBattleofKadesh
GrecoRomanPeriod

AlexandertheGreat
conquersEgyptafterhisdeath,the
Ptolemys
rule

Cleopatra
islastGreektogovern,thenlosesEgypttoRome

India
SubcontinentofIndiaisseparatedfromAsiabythe
HinduKush
and
HimalayanMountains
Threeimportantriversystems:Indus,Ganges,andBrahmaputra.Floodunpredictablybutcrucialforagriculture

Monsoons
areseasonalwindssummerandwintermonsoon
veryimportant
.Wintermonsooncomesfrom
Himalayasandisdryair,summermonsooncomesfromIndianOceanandisverymoistair.Summermonsoon
resultsinflooding(canbeverydevastatingfloodsorbetoolate,resultinginfamine)

Harappa
and
MohenjoDaro
wereearlycitiesthathad
sophisticatedcityplanning
:buildingslaidonagrid,
standardproportionsforbricks,ditchesinstreets,
sewagesystem

thatallowedforprivatetoiletsandshowers
EvidencethatcitiestradedwithMesopotamia(complexeconomy),hadspecializedworkerslikecraftsmen,and
developed
copper,boats,andwheels
(advancedtechnology)
The
Aryans
wereanomadicgrouplivinginthe
steppe
landneartheCaucasusMountains(partofgroupcalled
IndoEuropeans).TheymigratedtoIndiathroughtheKhyberPassinHinduKushmountains

Theyconqueredthenative
IndoDravidians/Dasas
and
influencedIndianculture
Introduced
verystrictsocialstructure
calledthe
Varna/
castesystem
basedpartlyuponskincolor.
Brahmins/priestswereontop,thenKshatriyas/warriors,thenVaisyas/skilledworkers,thenSudras/unskilled
workers.TheUntouchableswerethelowestoutcastsanddidfilthywork
Aryanswerepolytheisticand
greatlyinfluencedreligion,Hinduism
(seebelow)

ChandraguptaMaurya
unifiedIndiaandestablishedthe
MauryanEmpire

Kautilya
washisadvisorwhocompiledhisadviceongoverningempireinthe
Arthasastra
.
usageof
bureaucracy
,orhavingsmallerviceroysgovernprovinces

usefear:
usedspies,torture
Under
Asoka
,
MauryanEmpirereachedpeak.
Expandedempireusingviolentconquest,untilthe
BattleatKalinga
,whichwassoviolentthatafterwards
AsokaconvertedtoBuddhism
enforcednewlawsof
toleranceandnonviolence
,
inscribedtheselawsonthe
PillarsofAsoka
and
distributedaroundempire
MoralConquest:traveledaroundempireandtoforeignstatestohavediscussionsonnonviolence
builthospitals,veterinaryshelters,botanicalgardens,anda
systemofroads

ChandraGupta
laterestablishesthe
GuptaEmpire
Accomplishmentsinliterature:legaltexts(Dharmasastras),Mahabaratareachesfinalform
Medicine:useyogatoregulatebreathing,freehospitals,doctorsperformedsurgery
Roads:weremiddlemenontheSilkRoad,BuddhismspreadtoAsia
Math:Aryabhatawasafamousastronomer/mathematicianandfurtherdevelopedgeometry,algebra,
andtrigonometry,usedArabicnumeralswith
fractions,decimals,and0
Astronomy:calculatelengthofyear,proposedthatEarthspunonaxis,MercuryandVenusrevolve
aroundsun
Hinduism
Aryanswerepolytheisticandcompiledtheirprayers/instructionsforperformingritualsinthe
Vedas
,the
longest/mostimportantbeingthe
RigVeda
.

Brahmins
werepriests
The
Upanishads
(philosophicalreflectionofVedas)focusedonhowonecouldbeliberatedfromthislife
Thegoalofhumanityistoachieve
moksha
,whichistheliberationfrom
samsara
(cycleofbirth,death,and
rebirth).Becauselifewasaccompaniedwithsomuchsuffering,onehadtotrytoescapeit
The
atman
wasoneseternalsoulthatwasrepeatedlyreborn
Whatdeterminedwhetheronewasrebornornotwastheir
karma
and
dharma
Karmaisallthegood/baddeedsdone

D
harmais
d
uty,determinedbywhatcasteyoulivedin.The
castesystemwassorigidbecausethey
believedonewaswheretheywerebecauseoftheiractionsoftheirpastlife
,andsotheyhadtouphold
theirpositionsanddotheirduties.Ifonerebelledagainstsystem,theywouldbeborninlowercaste

Brahman
wastheuniversalsoulthateveryonewasapartof
HinduismistechnicallymonotheisticbecauseeverygodwasjustadifferentmanifestationofBrahman
Buddhism
Founderwas
SiddhartaGautama
,questionedwhytherewassomuchsufferinginlifeengagedinmeditation
andbecameenlightenedrenamed
Buddha

Buddhacametounderstandthe
FourNobleTruths:
lifeisdukkha/dissatisfaction>dukkhaiscausedbydesire>
toeliminatedukkhaonemusteliminatedesire>musteliminatedesirebyfollowing
EightfoldPath
WhenonehasfollowedEightfoldpath,theycouldachieveenlightenmentor
Nirvana
,triggeringreleasefrom
samsara
Buddhistmonks/nunslivedlifeofpovertyandlivedinmonasteries

Theravada
sectofBuddhismismost
t
raditional,believedBuddhatobeanormalhumanandenlightenedpeople
couldnotbereborn

Mahayana
secttaughtthatBuddhawasagodlybeingwhoarrivedtohelpothersachieveenlightenment,and
enlightenedpeoplecouldchoosetobereborntohelpothers
BuddhismwasspreadthroughoutAsiathroughSilkRoad
MaindifferencesfromHinduism:rejectscastesystem(anyonecouldachievenirvana)anddoesnotworship
Hindugods
Jainism
Theprincipleof
ahimsa
ornonviolencewasmainpartofreligiontaughtworshipperstobeextremelypeaceful
andtolerantrefusedtohurteveninsects

China
WasisolatedfromworldbyGobiDesert,Himalayanmountains,andseas.Thisresultedinthembelieving
themselvestobethecenteroftheworld,andthenresultingin
ethnocentrism
and
isolationism
whentheycamein
contactwithoutsideworld
Only10%oflandisfarmableallfarmlandinNorthChinaPlainbetween
YangtzeRiverandHuangHe
,where
earlycivilizationbegan
theHuangHe/YellowRiverisyellowduetoyellowcoloredsiltcalledloess,veryfertile
YellowRiveralsocalled
ChinasSorrow
becausefloodingcouldbeunpredictable/violent
XiaDynasty
Firstdynasty,buildingsmadeofwoodandsurroundedbyhugewalls
ShangDynasty

Royalburials
werehugetombsforthekings(complexinstitutions)andfilledwithartifactslikebronzeweapons,
tools,pots(specializedworkersandadvancedtechnology)

Oraclebones
weremeansofcommunicatingwithgods,andshowedalotaboutthewritingsystemandreligion
pictographicsystem,3000characterstomemorize
peopleweremorelikelytoworshipancestorsthanlargergods

YinandYang
wasthebalanceoftwoforcesthatgovernedtheuniverse,
Qi
istheuniversesflowofenergy
ZhouDynasty
violentlyoverthrewtheShang,justifiedtheirconquestbysayingthatthegodshadbecomeunhappywithhow
theyruledChinaandgavetherighttoruletotheZhou

MandateofHeaven
wastheideathatthegodsgaveauthoritytorule,andwas
usedtoexplaindynasticcycle
(riseandfallofdynasties).Iftherewasa
naturaldisaster
,itwasasignthatthegodswerenothappywithruler
usedfeudalism:kingsweregivenlandbyemperortoruleover
builtroadsandcanalsandintroducedcoins,allofwhichincreasedtrade
developedcastirontechnology,improvedfarmingtoolsandweapons
WarringStatesPeriod

Timeofchaos,butledtoChinese
goldenageofphilosophy
,alsoknownas
HundredSchoolsofThought
,in
whichphilosopherstriedtounderstandwhatwentwrongwithgovernmentandtriedtohelprulers

Confucianism
wasfoundedby
KongFuzi
,mainteachingswrittenin
TheAnalects
ordercouldbemaintainedifeveryonepracticed
li
(properbehavior).Thisincludedrespectforhierarchy
thesuperiorarevirtuousandfair,whileinferiorareobedient

filialpiety
wasrespectforonesparentsandancestors

Daoism
wasfoundedbyLaozi,mainteachingsinDaoDeJing
anaturalforcecalledDaoguidedallthings,andorderwasmaintainedbyfollowingthisnaturalorder
(i.e.,gowiththeflow).Notfollowingtheorder/tryingtoresistwouldcausemisery,taughtthatancestor
worshipencourageddwellinginthepast
governmentforcedpeopletoactagainsttheirnatures,thus,thesizeandpowerofgovernmentshould
bereduced(Thebestgovernmentisthatwhichgovernsleast)

Legalism
wasfoundedbyHanFei
taughtthathumanswerenaturallyevil/selfishandsogovernmenthadtodoeverythingintheirpowerto
controlthem
encouragedrulerstoenforcestrictlawsanduseseverepunishments
exactoppositeofDaoism
wouldbeusedindynastiesfollowingperiodsofchaos/turmoil,andeventuallydynastywouldcollapse
duetobeingtoostrict(Ex.Qin,Sui)andthenbecomesreplacedwithConfucianistdynasty(Han,Tang)
Itskindalikewhenparentsgivechildrentimeoutsforbeingbrattyitseffectivetoinstallorder,but
childrenhatetheirparentsfordoingit.Afterrealizingthechildhatesthem,theparentsswitchtacticsand
becomemorelenient
QinDynasty
Emperor
ShiHuangdi
unifiedChinabyreplacingZhousfeudalismwith
centralizedlegalistgovernment,
seized
landofnobles/forcedthemtomovetocapitalcity,andorderedmeltingofallweapons
Builtroads,standardizedwriting,currency,cartaxles,weightsandmeasures,andlawthattreatedallsocial
classesequallytounifyChina

DestroyedConfucianandDaoistteachings
topreventrebellion
Created
GreatWallofChina
byconnectingsmallerpreexistingwallstokeepoutinvadingXiongnufromnorth
Had
royaltomb
witharmyof
terracottasoldiers
HanDynasty

LiuBang
loweredQintaxesandlaborrequirementsandreducedpunishments
Wasa
Confucianist
society,peoplewantingtoobtaingovernmentpositionstook
civilserviceexams
to
testtheir
knowledgeaboutConfucianism
this
allowedforsomemovementinsocialclasses
poorpeople(iftheycouldgetaneducation)hadthe
opportunitytomoveupinsocialpyramid

gentryclass:
classofwealthypeoplewhoDIDNOTacquirewealthfromlandowning
Hancontributions:
papermaking,fishingreel,rudder,acupuncture,herbalmedicineandanesthesia,jadeand
ivorycarvings,collarharness,doublebladedplow,wheelbarrow

Wudi
colonizedManchuria,Korea,andVietnam,forcedthemtoassimilatetoChineseculture,alsoexpandedto
traderoutesthatconnectedtoIndia,MiddleEast,andEurope

Thisledtothedevelopmentofthe
SilkRoads
,vastseriesoftradenetworksconnectingChinatoIndiato
Europe,namedafterthemostpopulartradeitem:
Chinesesilk

both
goodsandideaswerespread
,ex.Porcelain,spices,glassware,andBuddhism
SomeChinesewereafraidoftheirculturebecomingdilutedbytheincreasedcontactwithoutside
cultures(
ethnocentrism
)somerchantswereactuallyconsideredtheleastimportantpeopledespitetheir
wealth
Exampleof
MandateofHeaven
:Becausefathershadtodividelandamongstsons,landholdingsbecame
smallerwitheachgeneration.Asaresult,farmersbecamepoorerandeventuallyhadtoselllandtowealthy
farmers.Manypeasantsunitedbehindscholarnamed
WangMang
,andheoverthrewtheHantodistributeland
backtothepoor.However,a
floodstruckandkilledthousandsofpeople
,sopeoplethoughtthegodsdidnotlike
himandreestablishedtheHan
EraofThreeKingdoms:
achaotictime,nocentralauthority,theHunsfromnorthkeptinvading
SuiDynasty
Reestablishedorder
usinglegalism
,althoughveryunpopular(quicklyoverthrowndueto
forcedlabor
and
high
taxes
)
expandedGreatWallandconstructedthe
GrandCanal
,connectedYellowandYangtzeriversand
unifyingChina
TangDynastyandSongDynastyChinasGoldenAge

reinstatedConfucianism
andcivilservice,loweredtaxesandredistributedland

WuZhao
wasfirstandonlyfemaleemperor(likeHatshepsutfromEgypt)

CulturaldiffusionresultedfromSilkRoad:
hadlargestcitiesintheworld,withpeoplefromaroundknownworld
(Europe,Arabia,India,Japanetc)comingtogetherandsharingforeignideas
Inventions:
porcelain,mechanicalclock,
moveabletype
,
gunpowder
,papermoney,and
compass

Footbinding
becameaverypopularpracticeuntilearly1900s,inwhichyounggirls(usuallyage46)hadtheir
feetbrokenandbentintoatinyhooflikeshape,wasconsideredtobeveryfashionableandalmostnecessaryto
attractahusband
YuanDynasty

GenghisKhan
unitedtheMongolsandconqueredChina,hisson
KublaiKhan
begannewdynastywhereforeign
nationruledChina,gotridofmanytraditionalChineseinstitutionslikeConfucianism

PaxMongolica
(MongolPeace):MongolsbeganprotectingtravelersfrombanditsonSilkRoads,
tradebecomes
muchsaferandreachespeak
(itkindamakessensebecausebefore,theMongolsweretheonlybanditsonthe
routes,sonowtheresnopointinstealingfromyourowntraderoutes)
Chineseinventionslikecompass,gunpowder,andmoveabletypeare
introducedtoEurope
Compass:usedinAgeofExploration
Gunpowder:usedinwarfare
Moveabletype:adaptedintoprintingpressandfacilitatedtheReformation

MarcoPolo
travelstoChinaandpublishesaccountofadventures,sparksEuropeanintenseinterestinChina
anditswealth
MingDynasty
ZhuDibuildsForbiddenCity(emperorspalace)and
launchesZhengHesvoyage

ZhengHe
:ChineseMuslimadmiral,sailedtoSoutheastAsia,India,Arabia,andAfricawithfleetofhundreds
ofboatstodisplayChinaspowerandexpanditsallies
MingDynasty:
Manchurianrule,butunlikeMongols,upheldtraditionalChinesebeliefs
Japan

Archipelago
,mountainousterrain,andfrequentearthquakesandtsunamis
Koreawasaculturalbridge/steppingstonebetweenChinaandJapan

Religionwas
Shintoism:
believedthatkami(spirits/gods)weremanifestedbyforcesofnature(e.g.,mountains,
tsunamis,forests),andthespiritsoftheancestorswerealsokami(formof
animism)

Feudal
society,nocentralauthority,landownerswerecalled
Daimyos
Daimyoshadsoldierscalled
samurai
whoweregovernedby
CodeofBushido
thatrequiredcourageandnoble
death.
SuccessfulattemptsofunifyingJapan:
HeianPeriod
,
Tokugawa
leadersofmilitary,governmentandtaxeswerecalled
Shogun
(emperorswerebelievedtobegods,but
hadlittleactualpower)

Greece
Civilizationbeganonthe
BalkanPeninsula
andAnatolia
Threeimportantseaswere
Mediterranean,Ionian,andAegean
,mostpeoplelivedbycoast/traveledbysea

Mountainousterrain
resultedinindependent
citystates
(acitystatewascalleda
polis)
withindependent
government,laws,andarmy
Earliestcivilizationwas
Minoancivilization
ontheisland
Crete

KingMinos
builtcapitalinKnossos,mythaboutMinotaurlivingunderpalace
bullsweregreatlyrespected

Phoenicians
werehugeseapower,networkof
traderoutesaroundMediterranean
,invented
phoneticalphabet
andproducedpopularpurpledye

Mycenaeans
wereIndoEuropeans,migratedtoBalkanpeninsulaandcontrolledMediterraneantrade
verypowerfulandwealthykings(monarchy),culturerevolvedaroundwar
King
Agamemnon
defeated
Troy
inthe
TrojanWar
,butwarledtoweakeningofMycenaeans

Dorians
werealsoIndoEuropeans,replacedtheMycenaeansandledto
GreekDarkAge
citiesdisappeared,populationdeclined,tradecollapsed
verylittleart,writtenlanguagewaslost

IlliadandtheOdyssey
wascollectionoforalmythscomposedby
Homer
,revealedmuchaboutAncient
Greekmythology/religion
AfterDorianAge,newpoleis(pluralofpolis)emerged,likeAthens/Sparta
The
Agora
wasthecitycenter,includedmarketplaceandimportantgovernmentbuildings
The
Acropolis
wasafortificationonahilltopnearthecenterofthecitywhereresidentstookshelterininvasion
citizenswereonlyfreemenwhoownedpropertyandwhosefatherswerecitizensasaresult,verysmall
percentageofpeoplewereactuallycitizens
Citizenswereexpectedtoserveassoldiers/
hoplites
inmilitary
Asaresult,theybeganto
demandmorepoliticalrights
,ledto
riseofdemocracy
inpoleislike
Athens

Democracy:
governmentinwhichthepeopleruledthemselvesimportanttonotethatonlya
smallpercentofthepopulation
(thecitizens)wasactuallyinvolvedinthis.Alsoimportanttonote
that
slaveryfacilitatedthegrowthofdemocracy
(peoplecouldaffordtogotodebatesinsteadof
workinthefieldsbecausetheyhadslaves)
CreationofDemocracyinAthens:

Draco
published
DraconianLawCode
,whichhadharshpunishments,butalsoreplacedarbitraryorallaw


Solon
outlaweddebtslavery(whenpersonindebtbecameslavetopayoffdebt)andcreateda
Councilof400
forwealthycitizensandan
Assembly
forallcitizens.TheCouncilwouldproposelawsandtheAssemblywould
voteonthem

Cleisthenes
,FatherofDemocracy,replacedCouncilof400with
Councilof500
,andhadmemberschosenby
lot(randomdraw)insteadofbywealth

Sparta
wasdifferentfromAthensbecausetheyhadan
oligarchy
,inwhichafewpeople(CouncilofElders)
governedoverthepopulation
Spartahadavery
militaristicsociety
andemphasizeddutytothecommunity
Thiswasmostlybecauseslaves/HelotsgreatlyoutnumberedSpartans,sotheyhadtoconstantlyput
downrebellions
Womenalsoreceivedmilitarytraining,andhadagenerallybettersocialstatusthanAthenianwomen
Athenswasan
intellectualsociety
andemphasizedindividualfreedom/expression
PersianWar
BeganwhenPersianEmpire(underDarius)conqueredAnatolia,whereafewGreekcolonieswere.The
coloniesrevolted,withAthenianassistance.DariussworetodestroyAthensinresponse
At
BattleofMarathon,
Persianshadahugearmy,AtheniantroopswereathirdofthePersiantroops.
Despitethedisadvantageinnumbers,theGreekswon
AftertheirlossthePersiansdecidedtoattackAthens,whichwasleftunguarded.Athenianssentthe
messengerPheidippidestorunfromMarathontoAthenstotellthecitizensthatthehopliteswere
victoriousandreturnhomesoon
PersiansinvadeGreeceagain,Greekforcesholdthemoffinthemountainpassat
Thermopylae
300SpartansheldthemoffwhiletheGreeksranbacktotheirrespectivepoleistoprotectthem
TheAtheniansconfrontPersiansonwater,withfleetofsmallships.Theymanagetobeatthemat
Salamis
becausethePersianscouldnotmaneuverships
AfterPersianWar,200poleiscametogethertoformanalliancecalledthe
DelianLeague
Membersoftheleaguewouldpay
taxestobuilduptheLeaguesdefenses
forfutureinvasions
However,
AthenseventuallydominatedtheLeague
and
useditsfundstorebuildAthensandstartthe
Athenian
GoldenAge
advancementsin
architecture,philosophy,history,drama,sculpture,andscience
AthenianGoldenAgealsocalled
AgeofPericles
,fortheAthenianleader
Pericles
whoworkedtorebuildAthens
bypurchasinggoldandmarbleforsculptures/buildings,buildAtheniannavy,and
payingpeopleforservinginthe
Councilof500,
alsogaveAssemblypowertoproposeandpasslaws

PericlessFuneralOration

wasafamousspeech
praisingAtheniandemocracy
The
Parthenon
wasafamoustemplededicatedtoAthena,huge
engineering/architecturalachievement
PeloponnesianWar
SpartabecameconcernedwithAtheniandomination,createdthe
PeloponnesianLeague
andcameinto
conflictwithAthens/DelianLeague
Athenshadastrongnavy,butSpartahadaninlandlocation
Spartahadastrongarmy,butAthenswassurroundedbywalls
SpartaburnedallcropfieldssurroundingAthenstoforcethemout,butPericlesconvincedthemtostay
andimportcropsfromanearbycitystate,butplaguehitsandSpartawinsthewar

Herodotus
and
Thucydides
werefamoushistorianswhorecordedpasteventsandalso
triedtounderstandthem


Socrates
wasafamousphilosopherwhobelievedthat
theunquestionedlifeisnotworthliving
.Thus,he
challengedpeoplestraditionsandwouldeventuallybeexecutedbecausehewassoannoying

Plato
wasastudentofSocratesandrecordedhisfamousconversations.Healsowrote
TheRepublic
abouta
utopiansocietygovernedbyaphilosopherking,themostintelligentpersonintherulingclass

Aristotle
inventedmethodofarguingusing
logic
,orreasoning
AlexandertheGreatsEmpire
Greekpoleiswere
greatlyweakened
byPeloponnesianWar,so
KingPhilipofMacedonia
soughttoconquer
Greece
Hisson
Alexander
wasa
brilliantmilitarystrategist
andhada
powerfulcavalry
unit(soldiersonhorses),andthe
twowould
conquermostofGreece
,exceptSparta
WhenAlexanderassumedthethrone,he
invadedthePersianEmpire
.
WouldconquerTyre,Egypt,thePersianEmpireandpartsofIndia,createdthe
largestempire
intheworldupto
thatpoint
AlexandertheGreatunitedtheEastandtheWest
Culturaldiffusion:
Greek,Egyptian,Persian,andIndian
culturesblendedinto
Hellenistic
culture
Egyptiancityof
Alexandria
wasacenterofHellenisticculture,hadthe
worldsgreatestlibrary
whichsoughtto
owneverydocumenteverpublishedinhumanhistory
Thiswouldattractmanygreatthinkerslike
Euclid
,
Aristarchus
,and
Archimedes,
hadmany
achievementsin
math,science,andmedicine

Math:

Pythagoras
andhistheoreminvolvingrighttriangles,
Euclid
wasknownastheFatherofGeometryand
publishedabookcalled
TheElements
withmanygeometricaxioms

Science:

Aristarchus
wasanastronomerwhodeterminedthattheEarthrotatedonitsaxisandrevolvedaround
theSun,
Archimedes
exploredtheprinciplesoftheleverandthepulley

Medicine:

Hippocrates
wasknownastheFatherofWesternMedicineandunderstoodthatdiseaseshadnatural,
notsupernatural,causesandalsocomposedtheHippocraticOath,uponwhichdoctorssweartoservepatients
ethically
EmpirewasdividedafterAlexandersdeathintothreesectionsgovernedbyhisleadinggenerals:Greece,
governedbyAntigonus,Egypt,governedbyPtolemy,andMesopotamia,governedbySeleucus

Rome
Onthe
Italianpeninsula
,surroundedby
AlpsandApenninemountains
,mostimportantriverwas
TiberRiver
Inearlyages,threegroupsofpeople:
Greekcolonists
insouth,
Etruscans
inthenorth,and
Latins
(preRomans)
incentralItaly
MythologybehindRome:
Aeneas
,soldierinTrojanwarwhofledTroy,settledinItalyandmarriedLatinprincess,
foundedthe
Romanpeople
(storytoldin
TheAeneid
by
Virgil
).Centurieslater,
RomulusandRemus
,areprinces
whoarenursedbyashewolfasbabies.Whentheylearnoftheiridentitiesasadults,theychosetobuilda
capital
cityalongtheTiberRiver
,RomuluskillsRemusforcontrolofthecityandnamesit
Rome
The
RegalPeriod
ofRomeisstarted,inwhichRomewasgovernedbykings.
Thekingwaschosenbyacouncilofaristocraticlandowners,the
Senate

TarquintheProud
wasthelastking,wasterriblesothe
Senatedrovehimfrompowerand
sworetoneverlet
Romebegovernedbykingagain
,createsthe
Roman
Republic
withelementsofmonarchy,aristocracy,and
democracyinearlyrepublic,hada
Senate,2consuls,8praetors,andCenturiateAssembly


Romangovernmentlegacies
:
veto,separationofpower,checks/balances,termlimitshadhugeinfluenceonUS
government
TheSenatewould
giveadvice
totherestofthegovernment,whichwasusuallyfollowed,soSenatewasthe
mostpowerfulpartofgovernment
CenturiateAssemblywas
legislativepower
,dividedintoblocksofcitizenscalledcenturies,andeachcentury
cast
avoteonlawsandelectedgovernmentofficials
Consulswere
executiveofficials
and
commandedthearmyandcarriedoutlaws
,couldalsovetodecisionsmade
byoneanother
Praetorswere
judicialofficials
who
interpretedthelaw
AdictatorwasallowedtoserveforhalfayearattherequestoftheSenateduringtimesofcrisis

Patricians
:peopletracingancestrytomembersoforiginalSenateallotherpeoplewerecalled
plebeians
Plebeianswere
notallowedtoserveasconsuls/praetors
,andthus
couldntserveonSenate
because
onehadtoserveasoneoftheformertobeonthelatter
Plebeianswerealso
givenfewercenturies
(whichmeans
fewervotes
)inCenturiateAssembly
Plebeiansalsosufferedfroman
arbitrarylaw
nowrittenlawcode
Toprotestlackofrepresentation,plebeiansseceded(separatedfromRome)andcreatedowncitywithplebeian
assemblyofelectedofficialscalled
Tribunes
Becauseplebeiansweremajorityofpopulation(aswellasarmy)andtheirabsenceleftRomevulnerable,
patricians
agreedtoseveralreforms

TwelveTables
wasawrittenlawcodethatwasveryspecific/hadharshpunishments
allmagistratepositions(consul,etc)wereopentotheplebeians,sotheycouldhavepositioninSenate
aswell
anallplebeian
TribalAssembly
wascreated,couldpassownlaws
RomewouldcometoconquertheentireMediterraneanworld,calledtheMediterraneanSeaMareNostrumor
OurSea
TheirculturewasinfluencedbytheEtruscansandGreeksthattheyconquered
Etruscan
arches
andalphabet,
gladiatorfights
wasadaptedfromEtruscansbloodsacrificestodead
Greek
pillars
,metalcoincurrency,and
religion
PunicWars:

Carthage
wasPhoeniciancityinNorthAfricaandwas
dominantinMediterranean
beforeRome

TheSecondPunicWar
:famousCarthaginiangeneral

Hannibal
invadedRomefromthenorthby
crossingtheAlps,
broughtmanyelephantsandthousandsofsoldiers.ItseemedasthoughHannibaland
Carthagewouldwin,butRomangeneral
Scipio
turnedtideofwarbyinvadingCarthageanddefeated
Hannibal
Duetoexpansionoftrade,newclassofwealthyplebeianmerchantschallengedpatricianlandowners
Smallplebeianlandownerswereforcedtoselltheirpropertytopatricianlandownersbecausetheirlandwouldfall
indisrepairwhiletheywerefightinginwars,andpatricianswouldalsouseslavelabortoincreaseprofitsfurther
thisangeredplebeians
Tofixthis,Tribune
TiberiusGracchus
limitedthelandacitizencouldownandredistributedtheleftoverstopoor
However,hedidthisby
bypassingbothSenateandCenturiateAssembly
.Becauseofthis,Senate
respondedtohisunconstitutionalactionswithviolence
bymurderinghim
Laterhisbrother
GaiusGracchus
waselectedTribune,andalsoopposedSenatewasalsokilled
This
usageofviolencebytheSenate
becamecommoningovernment


FirstTriumvirate
:
allianceofthreeleadersto
returnpowertotheTribunesandTribalAssembly
consistedof
Crassus,Pompey,and
Caesar
CaesarledawarinGaulthatwasnotmandatedbytheSenateandaddedFrancetoRomanRepublic
Senatewasbecoming
concernedthatCaesarwastoopowerful
PompeyalsoalignedwithSenate
WhentheSenate
orderedCaesartodisbandhisarmy
andreturntoRomeunarmed,he
crossedthe
RubiconRiverintoRomewithhisarmy
,
defyingtheSenate
andessentiallyinvadingRome
AfteracivilwarbetweenCaesarandPompey,PompeyescapedtoEgypt,wherePtolemyXIIIand
Cleopatrawerecompetingforthethrone.PtolemyXIIIkilledhiminhopesofwinningCaesarssupport.
Instead,
CaesargotangryandsupportedCleopatra
sascensiontothethrone.Thetwohadachild,
Caesarion
CaesarthenwentouttoeliminatetherestofthesupportersofPompeyandbecametheunchallenged
leaderofRomeand
establishedhimselfasalifelongdictator
Outraged,the
SenateassassinatedCaesar
(seeabovefortheabolitionofRomeslastking
Tarquin
and
Senateusingviolenceagainstopposition)
TheplebeianswereangeredbythemurderofCaesar,whomhadhelpedthemgreatly

MarkAntony
,oneofCaesarsclosestallies,hadaspeechthat
praisedCaesarathisfuneral
andreadhiswill,
whichstatedthatallofCaesarsmoneywouldbedistributedtoRomancitizens,andthat
Octavian

(his
greatnephewwhomheonlymetonce),notCaesarion,wouldbehisheir

SecondTriumvirate:
allianceamong
Lepidus,MarkAntony,andOctavian
.Theyassumeddictatorshipand
hunteddownallofCaesarsopponentsandhisassassins
Duringstruggleforpower,MarkAntony(whowasmarriedtoOctavianssisterasapoliticalmarriage)
divorcedwithhiswifeandmarriedCleopatra.TheythendeclaredthatCaesarionwasthetrueheirof
Caesar,whichwasadirectchallengetoOctavianslegitimacy
OctavianrespondedthatAntonywascollaboratingwithEgyptandwantedtoconquerRometobecome
aking.
Thisledtoashortwarbetweenthetwo,which
Octavianwon
.HeincorporatedEgyptintoRomeand
took
totalcontrolofRome
,andalsotookonthename
Augustus
,orexaltedone
AugustusallowedallthetraditionalelementsofRomangovernmenttocontinue,buttheyallhadtohavehis
consenttopasslawsandholdmeetings.Thus,thebeginningofhisreignmarkedthe
endoftheRomanRepublic
andthebeginningofthe
RomanEmpire

PaxRomana
wasRomes
GoldenAge
withflourishingtradeandachievementsinarchitecture,engineering,art
andliterature
Literature:VirgilcomposedAeneid,Ovidpublishedmanycontroversialpoems,Livycompiledhistoryof
theRepublicandTacituswrotethehistoryoftheEmpire
Architecture/engineering:arch,dome,aqueducts,usedconcrete
Art:wasformorerealisticthanGreek,usedbasrelief(elevatedimagesfromflatblockofstone),
mosaics,andfrescoes/murals
RomanEmpirewas
connectedwithroads
,hadcommoncurrency,andcontrolledtheMediterraneansea,
facilitatingtrade
Hada
civilservicesystem
similartoChinas,inwhichgovernmentpositionswerefilledbypeoplewithhighest
testscores.This
allowedRometothriveevenunderbademperors
GoodemperorsincludedTrajanandHadrian(whobuilttheHadriansWallinBritain)
BademperorsincludedCaligula,Nero,andCommodus(whoserulebroughttheendofPaxRomana)


Legacies
ofthePaxRomanainclude
ClassicCivilization
(GrecoRomanculture),
language
(Latininfluenced
manyotherRomancelanguagesandwastheofficiallanguageofCatholicChurch)and
law/legalconcepts
includingequalitybeforethelaw,innocentuntilprovenguilty,andrighttoconfrontaccusers(**MOSTOFTEN
ASKEDONEXAMS)
PersecutionofJewishandChristiansubjectsbeganemperorsdemandedthattheyberecognizedasgods,but
monotheistsrefusedtoworshipthem(seebelowsection:Christianity)
FallofRome
ThedeclineofRomehappenedovercenturiesmanytheoriesastohowithappened
Socialproblems:populationdeclinecausedbywaranddisease,
declineinmorals
,
upperclasses
becamecorruptanddevotedtoluxury
Politicalproblems:oppressivegovernment,increased

governmentcorruption
(manyemperorsbecame
greedyandcareless),internal
powerstruggles
anddivisionofempire
Militaryproblems:poorlytrainedsoldiers,mostsoldierswereforeignmercenarieswhowerenotloyalto
empire,seriesofGermanicinvasions
Economicproblems:
increaseintaxestosupportarmy
andbureaucracy,inflation,heavyrelianceupon
slavelabor(resultsin
fewerjobsforcitizens
aswellas
lackofmotivationtoinventnewtechnology)

D
iocletian
wasanemperorwhothoughtthatRomewascrumblingbecause1)traitorsweretryingtooverthrow
thegovernmentand2)theempirewastoolargetogovern

targetedChristians
,whorefusedtoacceptthedivinityoftheemperor

d
ividedtheempire
intoaWesternandEasternRomanEmpire

Constantine
reunitedempireunderoneleaderandmovedcapitalfromRometo
Byzantium
intheeasternpartof
Rome,whichherenamed
Constantinople
.
Healsopassedthe
EdictofMilan
andheldthe
CouncilofNicaea
(see
below,section:Christianity)

Theodosius
thenmadeChristianitytheofficialreligionofRomeandbannedpolytheism,whichthenturnedthe
tablesuponthepolytheists,whowouldnowbecomepersecuted.
Theseattemptsfailedtosavetheempire,andGermanicinvaders(e.g.,Visigoths,Ostrogoths,Franks,Angles,
Saxons)beganattackingwesternempireinanefforttofleefromthe
Huns
,whowereledby
Attila
InAD476,thecityofRomewasconqueredbytheOstrogoths.The
WesternRomanEmpirecollapsed
,butthe
Easternhalfwouldliveon
,renamedthe
ByzantineEmpire

ByzantineEmpire
EasternRomesurvivedbecauseofitslocationthecapitalConstantinoplewaseasiertodefendanditwasahub
ofEuropean,African,andAsiantrade
ByzantineEmpirealsocalledNewRomebecauseit
preservedGrecoRomanculture
,keepingthepolitics,law,
engineering,entertainment,andreligion

Justinian
wasthemostfamousemperor
preservedRomanlawthroughthe
JustinianCode
built
3hugewallsaroundcity
,whichwouldstanduntiltheOttomanEmpires
MehmedII
usedcannonsto
knockthemdown
builtthe
HagiaSophia
,afamouschurchwithalargedomeontop
keptRomantraditionofbreadandcircusesandbuiltahippodromeforchariotracing
Christianreligionwasslightlychanged,splitinto
OrthodoxChurch
,whichdidnotseethePopeastheleader

Christianity
RomehadruledoverJudea,resultinginpeopleinJerusalemplanningarevolution.Theybelievedthata
messiahwouldleadtheJewishpeopletoindependence
Theybelievedthismessiahwasamannamed
Jesus
,whowasapopularpreacher
Despitethathewaslargelyaspacifist,theRomanswereafraidhewouldleadarevoltand
executedhim
Theapostles(followersofJesus)spreadhisteachingsandwere
anothersectofJudaism
ChristianitybecameanindependentreligionwhenPaultookthemessageofJesusbeyondJudea,andtaught
nonJewishpeoplesthereligion
Christianity
becamewidespreadquickly
fortwomainreasons:
the
PaxRomanaprovidedroadsandsecurity
,makingtravelsafeformissionaries.A
commonlanguage
throughouttheempirealsomadecommunicatingthemessageeasy
thereligion
promisedthatGodloveseveryone
,nomattertheirwealth/status,andhadablissfulafterlife.
Thiswas
verydifferentfromtheRomanreligion
,inwhichthegodswereapatheticofpeoplesproblems,
onlygrantedwishesinexchangeforhugesacrificesoffood,andtheafterlifewasadrearyplace
Rome
insistedthattheiremperorwasagod
,andshouldbeworshippedassuch.However,
monotheistsrefused
toaccepttheemperorasagod,oranyoftheotherRomangods
atthistime,theRomanEmpirewasbeginningtofall.ManyRomansbelieveditwasbecausethegods
wereabandoningthembecausemonotheistsrefusedtoacceptthem,so
theybegantopersecuteJewish
andChristianpeople
.Christianswhowerekilledwerenamed
martyrs
Thetworeligionsseparatedevenfurtherafterthe
GreatJewishRevolt
,afterwhichRomansforcedallJewsto
leaveJerusaleminaneventcalledthe
Diaspora
.ChristiansthentriedtoappeasetheRomansbydevelopingan
antiSemiticmindsetandarguedthatJesuswouldcreatea
heavenlykingdom
,butonearththeleaderwasstill
theemperor
thiswouldstillfailbecause
Christiansstillrefusedtorecognizedivinityofemperor
UndertheRomanemperor
Diocletian
,Christianpersecutionincreasedgreatly

Emperor
Constantine
believedhe
sawtheimageofacrossinthesky
beforeanimportantbattle,andordered
thatthecrossshouldbeinscribedonthesoldiersshields.Theywon,andhe
attributedthevictorytotheChristian
god.
Heremainedpolytheistic,butpassedmanyreformsinfavorofChristianity
wouldpasstheEdictofMilan,whichformallyapprovedofChristianityandendedallChristian
persecution
setoutto
formalizeChristiandoctrine
andgaveland/moneytoChristianChurch
heldthe
CouncilofNicaea
,ameetinginwhichtheNewTestamentwascompiledaswellwastheNicene
CreedstatingthatJesuswasagod

EmperorTheodosius
made
Christianitytheofficialreligion
ofRome,
makingpolytheismillegal

IslamandtheIslamicEmpires
TheSoutheastAsia,orthe
MiddleEast
,isalsoknownasthe
crossroadsoftheworld
becauseitiswhere
Europe,Asia,andAfricameet
.Assuch,itwasacenterof
culturaldiffusion
andIslamspreadquickly
TheArabianPeninsulawasdominatedbydesert,theoriginalArabnomadswerecalled
Bedouins
andwere
fiercetribalpastoralists.However,coastalregionscouldsupportagriculture,andmanytradingcenterswereon
thecoast.Onesuchcitywas
Mecca
,whichwasalsoa
placeofreligiouspilgrimage
ThereligionIslamoriginatedontheArabianPeninsula,betweentheRedSeaandPersianGulf


Muhammad
taughtthattherewasonlyonegod,
Allah
,and
AllahwasthesamegodasinJudaismand
Christianity
.HealsotaughtthathewasthelastprophetofAllah
His
teachingsbecameknownas
Islam
,orsubmissiontothewillofAllah.The
followerswerecalled
Muslims
,or
onewhohassubmitted

Quran
(sometimespelledKoran)isthe
holybookofIslam
,containingtherevelationsofAllahandincluded
everythingaboutthereligion,fromdaytodayconducttoJudgmentDay

Sunna
wasthe
Muhammadsexamplethroughhiswordsanddeeds
andguidesMuslims

Hadith
recordedthewordsanddeedsofMuhammad
TheguidanceoftheQuranandSunnaareassembledintoa
bodyoflawcalled
Sharia
The
FivePillars
aredutiesuniversaltoallMuslims
Thefirstpillarisa
statementoffaith
,proclaimingThereis
noGodbutAllah
,andMuhammadisthe
messengerofAllah
Secondpillaris
prayingfivetimesaday
,facingthedirectionofMecca
Thirdis
almsgiving
,ordonatingasmallpercentage(2.5%)ofonessalarytothepoor
Fourthis
fastingduringtheholymonthofRamadan
,whichhelpscultivatediscipline,focusonAllah,and
empathyforthepoor
Fifthisthe
hajj,orreligiouspilgrimagetoMecca.
There,onewalksaroundthe
Kaaba,ashrine
dedicatedtoAllah
,seventimesandperformsotherrituals

Jihad
=struggle.Lesserjihadwasstruggleagainstnonbelievers,greaterjihadwasinternalstruggle
AfterMuhammadsdeath,theMuslimcommunitydecidedtoelectasuccessor,or
caliph
.
ThefirstfourcaliphsareknownastheFourRightlyGuidedCaliphsandexpandedtheMuslimstatethroughout
Asia,Africa,andpartsofEurope
3reasonsforsuccessfulexpansion:
fiercearmybecauseofBedouinsmilitaristicsociety
theircompetitors,ByzantineandPersianempires,weregettingweaker
theyhada
strongdesiretospreadtheirfaith
(lesser
jihad
)
Conquered
polytheistshadtoconvert
toIslamorbeexecuted,butconquered
JewsorChristiansweretolerated
becauseitwasbelievedtheyworshippedthesamegod
theycalledthem
PeoplesoftheBook
becauseofthissharedgod
AfterdeathofMuhammad,peoplessplitupforwhotofollowascaliph
thosewhofollowedtheUmayyadswerecalled
Sunni
thosewhofollowedAli,adescendantofMuhammad,werecalled
Shia
thesetwosectsofIslamwould
havemanywarsagainstoneanother
TheUmayyaddynastywaslateroverthrownbythe
Abbasids
oneUmayyadprinceescapedandestablishedastatein
Spain
,whichwaspreviouslyownedbyagroup
of
NorthAfricanMuslimscalled
Moors
Kingswerecalled
shahs
TheAbbasidsexpandedpowerinNorthAfricaandMiddleEast,setcapitalin
Baghdad
Muslimempirereached
GoldenAge
withmanycontributions
developed
algebra
achievementsin
astronomy
,inventedthe
astrolabe
,devicemeasuringlatitudeusingstars,whichwould
laterfacilitateAgeofExploration


bankingsystem
,usedchecks

madebooks
,
calligraphy
wasbeautifulwriting,the
LibrariesofCordoba
and
HouseofWisdom
held
thousandsoftextsand
preservedGreekandRomanliterature
AbbasidcaliphatewasconqueredbythePersianEmpirelaterthe
SeljukTurks
capturedBaghdad

SeljukTurksadoptedIslam
andcreatedahugeempire
StartedattackingByzantineEmpireandgainedcontrolof
Jerusalem
Catholicattemptstorecapture
Jerusalemledto
TheCrusades
(seeMedievalAges)
MongolscapturedBaghdadandmuchofempire
OttomanTurks
Startedunder
Osman
,whobuiltanIslamicstate
expanded
verysuccessfully
duetouseof
cannonsandguns
soldiersofIslamwerecalled
ghazis

MehmedII
usedcannonstodestroywallsprotectingConstantineturnedHagiaSophiaintoamosqueand
renamedcity
Istanbul
SelimtheGrimexpandedintoPersiaandcameintoconflictthethe
Shia
Safavidslivingthereorderedexecution
ofallShialivinginOttomanterritorywhiletheSafavidShahorderedexecutionofallSunnilivinginPersia

SuleymantheMagnificent
ledOttomanEmpireintopeak
expandedtoNorthAfricaandEuropewithsoldierscalledJanissaries(Christiansthatweredrafted,
convertedtoIslam,andtrainedtofight)
Suleymanisalsocalledthe
Lawgiver
for
creatingalawcode
literature,math,science,andarchitectureflourished
MosqueofSuleyman
isbuilt
Mughals
descendantsofTurksandMongols,
gainedcontrolofIndia
alotofviolencebetweenthe
MuslimsandlocalHindus

AkbartheGreat
ledMughalempiretopeak,wasknowntobea
very
tolerant
leader.
Heallowed
religious
freedom
,appointedHindustoworkingovernment,abolishedthejizyataxonnonMuslims,andmarriedmany
Hinduwomen

ShahJahan
builttheTajmahalasatombforhiswifeshowscombinationof
HinduandMuslimarchitecture

Aurangzeb
wastheoppositeofAkbar,wasvery
intolerantofothers
.Hereinstatedthejizyatax,dismissedall
Hindusfromgovernment,anddestroyedHindumonuments.ThisledtothefalloftheMughals

TheMiddleAges
AfterfallofRome,WesternEuropesplitinto
severalsmallkingdoms
with
nocentralleader
ThethreepillarsoftheMiddleAgeswere
TheclassicalheritageofRome
CustomsofGermanictribe
**
ChristianityandlifeundertheCatholicChurch
**

Feudalism
inwhichakingdivideduphisterritoryintolandscalled
fiefs
andgavethemto
vassals
,whowouldin
turnbeloyaltohimandoffermilitaryservice.Thevassalswhoownedthelandswerecalled
lords
,andtheywould
dividetheirlandandgivethemto
knights
,cavalrymenwhoweretopromiseprotectiontothelords(theywouldbe
vassalstothelords)
Despitethefactthatknightsweresupposedtobeloyalandchivalrous,manyofthemwere
corrupt,
violent,impulsive,anddestructive
.Clergytriedtofixthemusing
CodeofChivalry
(didntwork)

Serfs
wereaclassofpeasantsthatwerelegallyboundtotheirlordsproperty


Manorialism:
a
manor
wasthelandthatthelordownedpeasants,inexchangeforlabor,weregiven
protection,andcouldlivetheirentirelivestherebecausethemanorswereselfsufficient.This
selfsufficiencyalsoledto
declineoftrade
duringtheMedievalAge
Almostallpeasantswereilliteratelifeexpectancywasshortduetointenselaborandunhygieniclifestyle

Tithes
wereataxgiventotheChurch,about10%ofwage

CharlestheHammerMartel
drovebackSpanishMuslims,slowedMuslimexpansionandwasregardedasa
hero,popularizedthe
CarolingianFamily

Charlemagne
expandedkingdomofFranksundertheCarolingiandynasty,andlaunchedthe
Carolingian
Renaissance
,inwhichhehiredscholarsto
teachscholarshowtospeak/readLatin
and
copymoreeditionsofthe
Bible
HewascrownedRomanemperorbyapope
This
showed
superiorityoftheChurchoverkings
iftheycouldhavethe
powertocrownemperors
,they
could
dethronethem
aswell

TreatyofVerdun
dividedtheCarolingianEmpireintothreeseparatekingdomsresultedin
emperorsnolonger
havinganypoweroverkings
TheChurch
ThediversepeoplesoftheMiddleAgeswere
unitedbytheChurch
Initially,kingsweresupposedtotakeover
secular(nonreligious)matters
andtheChurchwouldonlyrulepeople
religiously
buttherewasa
constantstruggleofpower
betweenChurchandState
Churchexpandedpoliticalpowerthrough
coronationandcanonlaw

Coronation
:claimedtherighttocrownkingsandemperors(seeabove)

Canonlaw:
legalandjudicialsystemthatallChristiansweresubjecttoclergywouldconducttrialsand
determineverdictsofthosewhobrokecanonlaws

Excommunication
wasacommonpunishment:personwasdeniedsacraments,whicharerituals
necessarytogotoHeavenpersonwasessentiallycondemnedtohell

Interdiction
wasmassexcommunicationwholepopulationwasexcommunicated
ExampleofChurchhavingpoweroverstatePopeexcommunicatesKingHenryIV,andHenryIVwentallthe
waytoRometobegforgiveness
The
Reconquista
wasanattempttodriveallMuslimsoutofSpain

The
Inquisition
identifiedheretics(peoplenotChristiansorhaddifferentbeliefsthanwhatChurchtaught)through
theusageoftortureandexecutionhad
trialsbyordeal
Churchexpandedeconomicpowerthrough
tithes
(seeabove)and
simony

Simony:
sellingChurchpositionsresultedinthewealthy(andoftenunholy)gettinghighpositionsin
Church
Churchwasabletofundelaboratechurchesstyleofarchitecturecalled
Gothic
Statetriedusing
layinvestiture
togainpoweroverChurchpracticeinwhichsecularleadersappointedChurch
officials,wasafailedattempt
KingHenryIIofEnglandwouldintroducea
trialbyjury
and
commonlaw
toreducepowerofChurch
TheCrusades
SeriesofholywarsagainstIslamicempire
StartedwhenByzantineemperorasked
PopeUrbanII
forhelpdefendingempireagainstSeljukTurks
**
ReasonsfortheCrusades:
Takeback
controlofJerusalem
,whichwasunderMuslimcontrol


ProtectChristian
religion
SomebelieveditcouldtriggertheSecondComingofJesus
Wantedto
reunitetheCatholicandOrthodoxchurches
(separationcalled
TheGreatSchism)
PopeUrbanIIpromisedallCrusaderstheywouldautomaticallygotoHeavencalled
plenaryindulgence
Thiswasespeciallyattractiveto
sinfulknights
Kingswantedtogetridofdisloyalandviolentknights
Under
primogeniture
,theeldestsononlywouldinheritlandwasanopportunityforyoungersonsto
acquiremoreland
MerchantshopedtogaincontroloflandalongSilkRoad,thus
cuttingouttheMuslimmiddlemen
ResultsoftheCrusades

EuropeanstradedmorewithAsia
exposedtothegreatwealthAsiahadandwantedtofindnewtrade
routestoit(started
AgeofExploration
)
Strengthenedkingsbecausemostvassalsdied
feudalismdeclined
andmore
centralizedstates
appeared
IncreasedhostilitybetweenCatholicsandOrthodoxaswellasbetweenChristians,Muslims,andJews

The
CommercialRevolution
wasthe
expansionoftrade
asaresultoftheCrusadestownsgrewandbecame
centersoftrade,banksownedbyJewsweresetupbecauseChristianscouldnotloanmoney,andnewclassof
peoplecalled
Burghers
arose,orpeoplewhobecamewealthynotfromlandownership,buttrade

KingJohn
ofEnglandwasa
tyrannicalking
whomanagedtoplaceallofEnglandunderaninterdict,ignored
rightssetbycommonlaw,raisedtaxestofinancewars,andlosthugepiecesofterritoryfromwarslost.
Noblesforcedhimtosignthe
MagnaCarta
,which
greatlylimitedthepoweroftheking
Assemblycalled
Parliament
alsolimitedpowerofEnglishking

PapalSchism

wasaneventwheretherewerethreepopesatthesametime,eachonetryingtoexcommunicate
eachotherandtryingtoassumeauthority
thisledtopeople
questioningpapalinfallibility
,andthattheywerenotledbyGodaspopesclaimed
Reformerslike
JohnWycliffe
and
JanHus
beganopenlyaccusingChurchofcorruptionandclaimedthatthe
Biblewastheultimatesourceofreligiousauthority
BubonicPlague
beganinAsiaandspreadtoEurope
throughtraderoutes
,carriedbydiseasedratsandfacilitatedby
unsanitary
andcrowdedtowns
Resultedin:
ChurchaccusedJewsandhereticsforcausingdisease,manywereexecuted
ManypeoplelostfaithinbothGodandChurchGodforallowingittohappen,Churchfornotbeingable
tostopit
Weakenedfeudalism,becausemostofthelaborersdied
HundredYearsWar
wasastrugglefortheFrenchthroneKingofEnglandfoughtFrenchnobilityforcontrolof
France
Feudalismwascompletelyreplacedbynationstates,aspeoplebegantoassociatethemselvesmore
withtheirnationratherthantheChurch
MarkedendofMiddleAges
TheVikings
Tribesofpeoplelivingin
Scandinavia
(Norway,Sweden,Denmark,Finland).Areawasdenselyforested(almost
completelyunfarmable)withharshwinters,
surroundedbyseas

Vikingsbecame
expertsailors
,usedveryswiftboatsthatallowedthemtoquicklyattackanareaandescapewith
incrediblespeed
Theywere
verybrutalwarriors
alsolootedbecausetheyneededfood
Whenclimatebecamewarmer,theybegansettlingdown/farmingconvertedtoChristianityandsetup
settlementsinEuropelike
Normandy
Playedimportantrolein
NorthernTradeArc
,
primarycarrierofgoods
betweenwestandeast
suppliedtheAbbasidEmpirewithSlavicslaves
mighthavebeeninvolvedinSilkRoad

TheRenaissance
Renaissancemeans
rebirth
classic
GreekandRomancultureisrevived
CAUSESOFRENAISSANCEISIMPORTANTFOREXAM
BeganinItaly,wheremanycitieswere,becauseincities
peoplewithdiverseskillsmet
and

ideaswere
spread
quickly
.
ItalywasalsothecenteroftheCommercialRevolution,sothereweremany
wealthybankersand
merchants
who
fundedartists
,called

patrons
Onefamouspatronfamilywasthe
Medici
familywerepatronsforDonatello,daVinci,andMichelangelo
Italianscouldalso
getinspirationfromtheRomanruins
thatsurroundedthemand
Latintextspreserved
byItalianmonks
.Inaddition,many
ByzantinescholarstraveledtoRome
afterthefallofConstantinople
Newphilosophycalled
Humanism
believedin
focusingonthiscurrentlife
,and
happinesscouldbeachieved
in
thisworldthroughthoughtandaction.Theybelievedin
learningfromthepast
andstudiedethics
This
greatlycontrasted
fromMedievalphilosophiesthathumansweresinfulanddeservedtosuffer
Medievalart
lackedperspectiveandproportion
,andthesubjectswerereligiousandfullyclothed
Renaissancearthad
properperspectiveandproportion
throughtheuseofavanishingpoint.Thesubjectswere
also
secular
aswellasreligious,andwouldoftenbe
portrayednude
ItalianRenaissance:Artists

Donatello
createdthefirstnudesculpturesincetheClassicalperiod

Michelangelo
wasapainter,sculptor,andarchitectbestknownforpaintingthe
SistineChapel
,lifelike
sculptures,anddesignedthedomeofSt.PetersBasilica

LeonardodaVinci
wasapainterandinventorbestknownforthepaintingsMonaLisaandTheLastSupperas
wellasideasforwarmachines

Raphael
wasbestknownforpaintingTheSchoolofAthens
ItalianRenaissance:Writers

FrancescoPetrarch
wascalledthefatherofRenaissanceHumanism,mostfamousworksarehundredsof
sonnetsabouthisloveLauraandalsowrote
OnIllustriousMen
,takingmoralexamplesfromhistoricalfigures

GiovanniBoccaccio
wrotethe
Decameron
,abookof100shortstoriesthatchallengedMedievalbeliefs

NiccoloMachiavelli
wrote
ThePrince
,whichwasapoliticalguidebookonhowarulercouldgainandkeeppower
usingcutthroattacticsanddeceivinghissubjectstheendsjustifythemeans
NorthernRenaissance
patronsweremostoftenkings

AlbrechtDurer
wasafamouswoodengraver

HansHolbein
paintedrealisticportraitsoftheEnglishroyalfamily,includingCharlesVIII

ChristinedePizan
wasawriterwhowrote
TheBookoftheCityofLadies
,whichsupportededucationforwomen


FrancoisRabelais
wrote
GargantuaandPantagruel
,abouttwogiantswhoaresymbolsforhumans

WilliamShakespeare
wasafamous
Humanistplaywright
,manyofhisplays
celebratedGreekorRomanhistory
.
Hisplaysexploredthehumanmindandencouragedtheaudiencetolearnlessonstoapplytotheirownlives

ThomasMore
wasanauthorwhotriedto
combineHumanismwithChristianity
.Inthebook
Utopia
,he
criticized
theEnglishgovernmentfornotupholdingChristianlaws
(executioneventhoughGodtellspeopletonotkill)as
wellasthe
Churchsunholyandselfishpriests
whodressedinfancyclothes

DesideriusErasmus
wasaHumanistwhocriticizedthecorruptionoftheChristianChurchin
ThePraiseofFolly
,
andpointsoutallthewrongdoingsofthepopes
ScientificRevolution
ScholarsbegantochallengetheteachingsofancientphilosophersandtheCatholicChurch
Causesoftherevolutionwere
RenaissanceandReformationencouragededucationandquestioningoftraditions
AgeofExplorationnecessitatedbetternavigationalinstrumentsandalsoresultedindiscoveriesof
completelydifferentwaysoflife

Printingpressspreadnewideasquickly
Begantousethe
scientificmethod
and
experimentation
toarriveupontheories

FrancisBacon
and
ReneDescartes
setforth
inductiveanddeductivereasoning
Shiftfrom
geocentric
modelofuniverseto
heliocentric
:itwasa
radicalchangethatchallengedChurchteachings
andrequiredshowedhow
peoplepublishedtheirideas,andthenotherswouldexpandoffthem
GeocentricmodelwasfirstproposedbyclassicalGreekthinkerslikeAristotle,andthensupportedbythe
ChurchbecauseitmadeitseemmorelikeEarthwasGodsspecialcreation

Copernicus
studiedthemovementoftheplanetsandrealizedthatthegeocentricmodeldidntexplain
theplanetarymovementscompletely,and
revivedAristarchussheliocentricmodel
published
Onthe
RevolutionsoftheHeavenlyBodies

TychoBrahe
wasinspiredbybookandcompiledmassiveamountsofdataaboutplanetarymovement

JohannesKepler
thenusedBrahesdatatofinalizetheheliocentricmodel,andfoundthatplanetshad
anellipticalorbit(insteadofperfectcircles)

GalileoGalilei
builtatelescopeandfoundimperfectionsincelestialbodies(moonhascraters,sunhasspots)
andpublishedworkin
StarryMessenger
alsosupportedheliocentricmodel
theChurchwasoutragedandwere
afraidpeoplewouldbeginquestioningtheirauthority
,andforced
Galileoto
recanthissupport
forheliocentricmodelunder
threatoftorture

IsaacNewton
developedhis
threelawsofmotionandalawofgravitation
,whichheusedtoexplainKeplerslaws
ofplanetarymotion
TheReformation
atimewhenmanygroupsofpeoplewouldopenlyrefusetoaccepttheauthorityofthepope,andformtheirown
sectsofChristianity
often,thesourceofauthorityinthesereligionswouldbetheBible
Importanttonotethat
thesecriticismsoftheChurchwerenothingnew
,butwiththe
inventionoftheprinting
press
,theideascould
reachmorepeople,
andliteracyrateswereincreasing,allowingpeopleto
interpretthe
Bibleforthemselves
CausesoftheReformation:

political
:kings
dislikedhavingtobowdowntothepope
,andweregladtosupportanymovementthat
would
weakenthepapacy


economic:
merchantsdislikedhavingtopaytaxestobothkingsandpopes,andiftheirnationbroke
awayfromtheChurch,theywould
nolongerhavetopaytithes
totheChurch

religious
:spiritualprestigeofthepopewasgreatlyreducedbythe
GreatPapalSchism
most
popesweresinful
andmoreinvolvedwithsecularmattersmanyhadchildren,securedtheir
positionwithbribesorpoisoningopponents,andlivedlivesofgreatluxury
becausebishopsgottheirpositionsbysimony,theywerealsovery
unconcernedwithreligious
matters
onebishopspenthisentirecareerofalmost30yearswagingwarbutneverconducteda
service
serviceswereseveralhourslong,spokeninLatin,andpriestsstoodbehindawoodscreenbecause
theybelievedpeasantshouldntbeallowedtowitnessthedivinityofthemass.Assuch,peopleat
churchspentseveralhoursstandingandstaringatawoodscreen,notunderstandinganything
priestsweresometimes
drunkards,gamblers,andfatheredchildren
.Theywerealso
illiterateand
couldntreadtheBible
assuch,theyoftenmadeupprayers.Thisledtopeoplequestioningifthe
prayerswereeffectivewhenreadbysinners,ornotevenactualprayersatall.
TheChurchs
failuretostoptheBlackDeath
alsocalledintoquestionwhetherornotGodrefusedto
answertheprayersofthecorruptandsinfulandallowedtheplaguetopersist

MartinLuther
wasamonkwhowastroubledthathecouldneverdoenoughgoodworkstopleaseGodandearn
salvation.Hethenreasonedthat
humanbeingsaresosinful
thattherewas
nothingthattheycoulddotoearn
salvation
,but
GodwassomercifulthatHeprovidedsalvation

Peoplearesavednotbygoodworks,butbyfaithalone

FriarTetzelsold
indulgences
tofundthebuildingofacathedral.Theseindulgencescouldbeboughtto
forgive
sinsthathadnotbeenconfessedornotyetcommitted
,andbuyingindulgenceswouldsupposedly
reducethe
amountoftimeyouorarelativehadtospendinpurgatory
beforegoingtoHeaven
Toprotest,MartinLuthernailed
95Theses
tolocalchurchdoor,criticizingChurchpractices

EdictofWorms:
declarationmadebyHolyRomanEmpirestatingthatLutherwasahereticanddemandedarrest
ManyGermanprinceshelpedLutherhide/escapegotintocivilwarwithotherHolyRomanEmpirestatesabout
religion

PeaceofAugsberg
wassigned,allowingeachprincetochoosereligion,CatholicismorProtestantism.Luthers
Protestantteachingswerecalled
Lutheranism
Anglicanism
InEngland,King
HenryVIII
separatedfromChurchaftertheydidntapproveofhisdivorce
KingEdwardwasveryyoung,andmostofhisadvisorsweredevout
Protestants
QueenMarywasextremeCatholic,executedmanyProtestantsandearnednicknameBloodyMary
QueenElizabethreturnedEnglandtoProtestantismandestablishedthe
AnglicanChurch
,combiningelementsof
ProtestantandCatholicpractices

gotintowarwithCatholicSpain,defeatedthe
SpanishArmada
Calvinism
JohnCalvinbelievedin
predestination
thatinthebeginning,whenGodcreatedeverything,he
determinedwho
wouldgointoHeaven
andwhowouldnot

Salvationensuredthatapersonwouldperformgoodworks
thus,apersonwhowaspredestinedtogoto
Heavenwouldbefaithfulanddevout
CalvinistsinScotlandwerecalledPresbyterians,inFrancewerecalledHuguenots
ThousandsofHuguenotsweremassacredduringthe
St.BartholomewsDayMassacre

CounterReformation
Churchtriedtoreformitself,butintheendwouldmostlyreaffirmitsrules

IgnatiusofLoyola
ledthe
Jesuits
,andwouldfoundCatholicschoolsthroughoutEuropeandtaughtCatholic
theologytostudents,alsosentmissionariesaroundtheworld

RevivalofInquisition
andcreationof
IndexofForbiddenBooks
toremoveheretics
BiblewasincludedontheIndexsopeoplecouldntread/interpretBibleanymore
Overall,ProtestantReformation
greatlyreducedpowerofChurch
andledto
absolutemonarchy
TheAgeofExploration

CausesofAgeofExploration
:
CrusadesgaveEuropeansaccesstoAsiantechnologiesliketheastrolabeandcompass,helpednavigation
Crusaderscomingbacktoldstoriesof
adventure
,amazing
wealth
,and
innumerableMuslims
thusEuropeans
soughttoexploretheworldfor
glory,god,andgold

Glory:
wantedanadventure,aswellas
fame
thatwouldaccompanybeingsuccessfulexplorer

God:
wouldtrytospreadChristianityasmuchaspossible,competingwiththeIslamicreligion.Spanish
conquistadorswouldreadadecreecalledthe
Requiremento
tothenatives,forcingthemtoconvert

Gold:
wantedtofindnewdirect
traderoutes
toAsia
Portugals
PrinceHenrytheNavigator
builtanavigationschool

Portuguese
triedtogotoAsiaby
sailingaroundAfrica
numerousvoyagesweretakentomapoutwesterncoast
ofAfrica

BartolomeuDias
wasthefirsttolocatethesoutherntipofAfrica

VascodaGama
wasthefirsttosailaroundsoutherntipofAfricaandtoAsia

Spanish
triedtofinddirectroutetoAsiabysailingwest

ChristopherColumbus
triedtheoryanddiscoveredtheexistenceoftheAmericas
TheAmericaswereinitiallythoughtofasanobstacletoAsia

FerdinandMagellan
andhiscrewsailedaroundtheAmericasandcircumnavigatedtheglobehowever,
voyagewassolongthatpeopledecideditwasnotpracticaltosailwest
EuropeanssoonrecognizedtheAmericasasasourceofwealthandsetupcolonies,SpainandPortugalwere
especiallycompetitive
TreatyofTordesillasdividedworldinhalfandallottedoneportiontoPortugalandtheothertoSpain

HernandoCortes
and
FranciscoPizarro
conqueredtheAztecandIncanEmpire,respectively
partofthereasonwasbecauseofmoreadvancedtechnologyandtheusageofhorsesandwardogs
thegreatestreasonforsuccesswas
Europeandiseases
wipingoutthenativepopulation,makingthe
civilizations
mucheasiertoconquer

Encomiendasystem
:pieceoflandgiventoSpanishcolonist,andcolonistwouldbegiventherightstoallthe
nativeslivingthere.Thenativeswouldoftenbeslaughteredbrutallyorenslaved.

BartolomedeLasCasas
criticizedtheencomiendasystemandhelpeditsabolitionhowever,lossof
NativeAmericanlabor
necessitatedAfricanslaves

ColumbianExchange:
globaltransferoffood,plants,andanimal.
Resultedin
:

cornandpotatoes
(aswellasmanyothercrops)
introducedtoEurope
,leadingto
hugepopulationboost

diseases
likesmallpoxwipedoutmillionsofNatives,whodidnothaveanimmunitytothem

AgeofAbsolutism
Wascharacterizedbylargekingdomsruledbypowerfulmonarchs
Monarchshad
absolutepower
,claimingthattheyweregiventhe
divinerightofkings
,inwhichGodapprovesof
theirruleandkingscarryoutthewillofGod
verysimilartoMandateofHeaveninChina
weakenedpowerofnoblestoincreasetheirownpower
createdbureaucracywithclosealliesinsteadoflords
hadstandingarmystaffedbynonnobles,nolongerneededlordsprotection

BalanceofPower
:differentrulingfamilieswantedtokeepeachotherfromhavingtoomuchpower,determined
whoalliedwithwhominwars

Hapsburg
familywasoneofthegreatestabsolutistdynasties,controllinglandinHolyRome,Netherlands,and
Spain+itscoloniesinAmerica
Spain
PhillipIIledSpain,gained
greatwealth
fromcoloniesinAmerica
andfunded
goldenage
ofSpanishartand
literature
UsedwealthtobuildWesternEuropesgreatest
army/navy,usedtodefendCatholicism
IncreaseofgoldfromAmericasledtorapid
inflation
,pricesincreasedgreatly,andgovernmentlostalotof
moneytoforeigncountriesbecausetheirproductswerecheaper
PhilipIIneededtoraisemoneyfromtaxes,butnobleswereexemptfromtaxes,thepoorhadnomoneytogive,
andthemiddleclass,largelycomprisedofJews/Muslims,weredrivenoutduringtheInquisition.Asaresult,he
hadtotaxtheDutch
Netherlands
DespisedPhilipIIstaxesandrevolted
HugebattlesbetweentheDutchProtestantsandSpanishCatholics
Intheend,wontheirindependenceandestablished
UnitedProvincesofNetherlands
,arepublic
Became
hugetradingpower
,involvedinsilk/spicetradewealthgeneratedalsofundedarts
France
Ruledbythe
Bourbonfamily
HenryIVpassedthe
EdictofNantes
allowingHuguenotstoworshipfreely,beararmsandfortifytheirtowns
CardinalRichelieu,advisorforaking,increasedpowerofBourbonbytakingawayHuguenotsrightstobeararms
andfortifytowns,destroyednoblescastles,andemployednonnoblescalled
intendants
togovernmentpositions

JeanBaptisteColbert
,aneconomicadvisor,developed
mercantilism
theorythatholdsthatcountryshould
preventwealthfromleavingcountryasmuchaspossiblebyestablishing
favourablebalanceoftrade
country
exportsmorethanimports

LouisXIV
iscalledhimselfthe
SunKing
becausehewassopowerful.
completely
revokedEdictofNantes
forced
noblestoliveathispalace
andbecomehisservants
builtthe
Versailles
,largestpalaceinEuropeatthetime

fundedplaywrights
andstarredinhisownplay
protectedkingdomfromHapsburgRingbyinvadingNetherlandsandHolyRome

LeagueofAugsburg
wasanallianceof
HolyRomanEmpire,Spain,England,andUPN
tocounterFranceand
balancepower

WarofSpanishSuccession
resultedinFrancelosingallcoloniesinCanadatoEngland

CentralEurope

ReligiousdivisionasaresultofPeaceofAugsburg
ledto
30YearsWar
betweenCatholicFerdinandIIofHoly
RomeandtheProtestantBohemiansBourbonfamilyassistedProtestantsto
balancepower
againstthe
Hapsburgs

MariaTheresa
rulerofofAustria(Hapsburgs)

FredericktheGreat
rulerofPrussia(Hohenzollerns)
Russia
Previously,MongolshadtakenoverRussiaandkeptRussiansfrommodernizing

PetertheGreat
ofthe
RomanovDynasty
westernizedRussia
afterhetravelledabroadandsawwealthy
Europeankingdoms
Wasespeciallyinfluencedbythe
ByzantineEmpire
followedOrthodoxchurchandusedByzantinearchitecture
Forcedeveryonetoadoptwesternstylesofdress
Createda
WindowtotheWest
bysecuringlandaroundBalticSeafortrade
Constructednewcapitalin
St.Petersburg
England
absolutismwas
largelyinhibitedbyParliamentandMagnaCarta
JamesItriedtobeabsolutemonarch,used
CourtofStarChamber
whichignoredtraditionoftrialbyjury
CharlesIwasforcedtosign
PetitionofRight
toreaffirmprinciplesinMagnaCarta/commonlaw,andthen
ignoredit
CivilwarbetweenParliamentandnobles
Parliamentwasledby
OliverCromwell
defeatedandabolishedmonarchyandbecameanabsoluterulerhimself
Afterwards,monarchywasreinstated
The
GloriousRevolution
wasbloodlessoverthrowofanotherbadking
newrulersrecognizedParliament
and
becamea
constitutionalmonarchy

Africa

Diverselandscape
coastshaveveryfewharbors/ports

SaharaDesert
inthenorth,
KalahariDesert
insouth
SaharaisexpandingintotheSahelregioninprocesscalleddesertification
Rainforestsnearequator
Northandsouthcoastsaremostdenselypopulated,but
mostpeopleliveinSavannah
,hugegrassyplain

Nok
wasfirstcivilization,producedironandhadtradingcenter
DjenneDjeno

Bantu
descendedfromNokand
migratedacrossAfrica
,sharedlanguage,slashandburnagriculture,and
ironworking
Religionwas
mostlyanimism
,buttherewere
MusliminfluencesfromNorthAfrica

Aksum
wascivilizationbyRedSea,hadGoldenAgedueto
tradingonRedSea
culturaldiffusionfromtrade
shownbyleaderEzanaconvertingtoChristianity

ThreeempiresGhana,Mali,andSonghai
gainedgreatwealthfrom
GoldSaltTransSaharantrade
,withMuslim
BerbermerchantscrossingSaharadesertoncamelswithloadsofsalttoexchangeforgold
Ghanaprovided
safeandfairmarketsfortrade
,which
greatlyincreasedtrade
soldierstoprotecttravellingmerchants
officialscheckedmerchantsscalestomakesurewerebalancedfairly

Ghanakingscontrolledgoldonthemarketandhadownershipofallgoldinkingdomto
preventdecreasein
value

Islam
broughttoGhanafromtradewithBerbers

MaliEmpire
afterGhana
M
ansa
M
usafrom
M
aliwasa
M
uslimwhowentto
M
eccaandputMalionthe
M
ap
whilegoingonhajj,MansaMusastoppedatCairoand
distributedsomuchgold
thatvalueofgold
decreasedinEgyptandEuropean
cartographersbegantodrawMaliontheirmaps
whenhecameback,heturnedcityTimbuktuintocenterofIslamicworship/learning

IbnBattuta
wasanexplorercomparedtoMarcoPolowhovisitedMali

SonghaiEmpire
hadMuslimrulers
AfterSonghai,WestAfricadevolvedintoseveralcitystatesthatcompetedfiercelywithoneanother
Began
tradewithEuropeans
capturedPOWsand
soldintoslaveryinexchangeforguns
,started
TransAtlantic
SlaveTrade
AfricanslaveswereinhighdemandforlaborinthecoloniesNativeAmericanslavesdiedeasilyfrom
Europeandiseases,butAfricanshaddevelopedimmunity(seesection:AgeofExploration)
Bantupeoplewhomigratedtoeastcoaststartedchainof
tradingcities
thatengagedinactivetradewith
Arabia,
India,andChina
Usedthe
monsoonwinds
tosailfromIndiato
Kilwa
(southernmosttradingcity)summermonsoonwindspushed
boatsnorth,whilewintermonsoonpushedboatssouth
ResultedinculturaldiffusionIslamspreadtoEastAfricaandmanymosqueswerebuilt,Arabiclanguage
blendedwithnativetocreate
Swahililanguage
WhenPortugalroundedtipofAfrica,theyconqueredmanytradingcities

TheAmericas
TheearliestAmericanscrossedthe
BeringiaLandBridge
,orlandthatwasexposedintheBeringStraitduringan
iceage
Theywere
huntergatherers
whoweresimply
followinganimals
,andhadnoideatheyweremigratingtoanother
continent
Whentheydiscoveredagriculture,theirstaplecropswere
squash,beans,andmaize
ThefirstMesoamericancivilizationwasthe
Olmec
civilization,theirculturewould
greatlyinfluencelater
civilizations
,andassuchtheywerecalledthe
MotherCulture

landonthecoast,manyswamps/jungles,abundantresources
builtcentersoftradeandreligion,residentialareas,pyramids
sculpted
giantstoneheads
thatwereeitherpoliticalleaders,priests,orballgameplayers,alsohadhalf
humanandjaguarsculptures
TheMayans
The
Mayan
settledontheYucatanPeninsula,wasanadvancedcivilizationofmanycitystates
Many
templesandpyramids
,liketheKukulcanPyramidatChichenItza

B
elievedthatthegodsneedbloodtoliveandthus
sacrificeswerecommon
Had
ceremonialballgame
,whichwas
believedtoensurerainandthesuntorise
losersofthegame
(usuallyPOWs)were
sacrificedtothegods
Mayan
kingswouldalsoparticipate
inbloodlettingpulledaropelacedwiththornsthroughtheirtongue
Hadanincredibly
complexandaccurate
calendar
system
.Eachdaywasassociatedwithadifferentgodcarrying
thesun,andMayanswould
planactions
(marriage,plantingcrops)
basedonthegodcarryingthesunthatday

couldbeusedto
predictsolarandlunareclipses
Mathematiciansdeveloped
basetwenty
numbersystem
and
conceptofzero
Advancedwrittenlanguage,800
glyphs

Codex
(pl.codices):stoneandbarkpaperbookallbutthreecodicesweredestroyedbySpanish
Mayamayhavecollapsedduetofamine,civilwarleavingthemdefenselesstoinvaders,orcitizensrebelling
AztecEmpire

ValleyofMexico
hadfertilesoilandmanylakes,inCentralMexico
Builtcapitalcity
Tenochtitlan
onanislandinLakeTexcoco
Built
chinampas
forfarmingfloatinggardensbuiltonthelake,to
increasefarmableland

Humansacrifices
wereacentralpartofreligion
,believedwasnecessaryforsuntorise
estimatedthattensofthousandsofpeopleweresacrificedeveryyearatthe
GreatTemple

wagedwar
solelyforgettingmorePOWstosacrifice
conqueredareaswereforcedtopayatribute,orelsetheAztecwoulddestroythevillageand
sacrificeall
theinhabitants

Quetzalcoatl
wasthegodoflightandgood,wasbelievedtoeventuallyarriveandusherageofpeach

HernandoCortes
kills
EmperorMontezuma
andconquerstheAztecempirewithaidof
smallpoxdisease

IncanEmpire
Inthe
AndesMountains
soilwaspoor,littlefarmingsurface
adaptedbyusing
terracefarming
,orcarvingout
stepsintothemountainstocreateflatsurfaces
Believedtheir
kingwasdescendedfromthesungod
Humansacrificewas
notascommon
asAztecEmpire

TempleoftheSun
wasthemostsacredShrine
Under
EmperorPachacuti
,empireexpandedtoinclude2500miles,16millionpeople
createda
bureaucracy
togovernhugearea
standardizedschoolsystemandusedsinglespokenlanguage

hugesystemofroads
and
footbridges
utilized
socialism
governmentcontrolswhatisproducedandbywhom
usedrecordkeepingsystemofknottedstringsknotsrepresentsnumbers
systemof
messengers
similartotheAmericanPonyExpress(minustheponies)

FranciscoPizarro
kidnapsandthenkills
EmperorAtalhualpa
,andtakesovertheIncanEmpire

MiscellaneousKeyConcepts/Connections
Theworldsfirstcivilizationsstartedaroundrivervalleys,wherefarmingwaspossible,liketheFertile
Crescent,Egypt,India,andChina
Whenlawcodeswerewrittendown,theywereunchangeable:CodeofHammurabi(Babylon),Draconianlaw
(Greece),SuleymantheGreatslawcode,thePillarsofAsoka(MauryanEmpire),theTwelveTables(Rome)
TheIndoEuropeansstartedinthesteppelandoftheCaucasusMountains,thenmigratedtomanydifferent
places.TheHittiteswenttoAnatolia,theAryanswenttoIndia,theMycenaeansandDorianswenttothe
BalkanPeninsula
Roadswereusedtoconnectvastempires:Rome,HanDynastyChina,Persian,Guptan
Importantcitiesoftradewereestablishednearbodiesofwater:Tyre,Rome,Mogadishu