3.1.7: Identify the general changes and their causes brought about by inter-regional conflicts and contacts. The Case study must include one of the following: Tang Chinese and Abbasid Dynasty, Mongol Conquest, or Crusader conflicts
Basic Gist
Tang Dynasty China 618 C.E. - 907 C.E.
Map depicting the Tang Dynasty (click to enlarge)
Known for it's strong leadership, the Tang Dynasty used mainly four innovations to keep the country stable, those innovations being the equal field system in order to keep the peasants happy, a complex communications network to pass information quickly, the civil service exam to select qualified officials, and the tribute system which was used to help deter invaders. In addition to those ideas, they also lowered taxes to about 2.5%. The impact of the Tang can still be seen today, as the equal field system was a precursor to modern day communism, and gunpowder is still the current armament of choice throughout the world
Abbasid Dynasty 750 C.E. - 1258 C.E.
Map depicting the Abbasid Dynasty (click to enlarge)
The Abbasid Dynasty was second of the two great dynasties of the Muslim Empire of the Caliphate. It came to power in 750 ad when it overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate and moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad. The dynasty lasted until 1258 when the Mongols invaded the area. The regime reasserted the theocratic concept of the caliphate and continuity with orthodox Islam as the basis of unity and authority in the empire. A strong Persian influence persisted in the government and culture of the Abbasid period, and Hellenistic ideas led to the rapid growth of intellectual life.
Mongol Conquest 1206 C.E. - 1368 C.E.
Map depicting the Mongol's Empire (click to enlarge)
The Mongol Empire was first led by Chinggis Khan, who began by uniting the Mongol tribes. Chinggis then relied on the powerful cavalry belonging to the Mongols to conquer much of Eurasia. His empire began in the Central Asian steppes, and eventually stretched from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan, covering large parts of Siberia in the north and extending into Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. It is known as the largest continuous empire in the history of the world.
Crusades 1096 C.E. - 1272 C.E.
Map depicting the route of the Crusades. (click to enlarge)
The crusades were a number of campaigns made by the Christian Europeans against the Muslims to the Southwest. The purpose of this was to spread the Christian religion and to eliminate the people they labeled heretics. The Crusades were ultimately unsuccessful though not for lack of trying. The end result of it was the spread Muslim and European culture, an increase of trade, and the movement of ideas/goods. The list of items includes things such as sugar, lemons, glass mirrors, and a number of words from the Arabic language.
List of the many campaigns
- First Crusade: 1096 - 1099 : The People's Crusade - Freeing the Holy Lands. 1st Crusade led by Count Raymond IV of Toulouse and proclaimed by many wandering preachers, notably Peter the Hermit.
- Second Crusade: 1144 -1155 : Crusaders prepared to attack Damascus. 2nd crusade led by Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III and by King Louis VII of France.
- Third Crusade: 1187 -11923 : Third Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart of England, Philip II of France, and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I. Richard I made a truce with Saladin.
- Fourth Crusade: 1202 -12044 : Crusade led by Fulk of Neuil French/Flemish advanced on Constantinople.
- The Children's Crusade: 1212 : The Children's Crusade led by a French peasant boy, Stephen of Cloyes.
- Fifth Crusade: 1217 - 1221 : The 5th Crusade led by King Andrew II of Hungary, Duke Leopold VI of Austria, John of Brienne.
- Sixth Crusade: 1228 - 1229 :The 6th Crusade led by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.
- Seventh Crusade: 1248 - 1254 : The 7th Crusade led by Louis IX of France.
- Eighth Crusade: 1270 : The 8th Crusade led by Louis IX.
- Ninth Crusade: 1271 - 1272 : The 9th Crusade led by Prince Edward (later Edward I of England).
Bibliography
Information
- http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/crusades-timeline.htm (crusades)
- http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/abba/hd_abba.htm (Abbasid)
- http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/chinahist/dynasties.html (Tang Dynasty)
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/465/Abbasid-Dynasty (Abbasid)
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/465/Abbasid-Dynasty (Abbasid)
- http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his101/TIMELINE/T-MONGOL.HTM (mongols)
- Ways of the World: a brief global history by Robert W. Strayer
- http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/tang-dynasty-map.cfm
- http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/mongol-empire-map.cfm
- http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/lecture_mid_civ.htm
- http://ocw.nd.edu/arabic-and-middle-east-studies/islamic-societies-of-the-middle-east-and-north-africa-religion-history-and-culture/lectures/lecture-3
- http://ewas.us/Silk.Road.syllabus.2011.1.htm