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The post era of 600-1450 was ripe with change from the manipulation of continuities such as trade routes, religion, and technology serving as building blocks for further advancement of societies. Even though names changed and monarchs fell, these concepts stayed with a rapidly advancing world.
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The Byzantines draw from Greek philosophy and values, separating themselves from their western counterparts and like Islamic powers, merged political life with religious authority. The Emperor was regarded as head of the church as well as a hereditary monarch, at the top of the bureaucratic hierarchy that ran the empire. The Byzantine empire was responsible for military and religious campaigns into Russian and Slavic territory, estabestablishing many trade communities in northern Europe.
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Height of Mayan SocietyThe Maya civilization was present in south Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador and prospered for a few centuries before mysteriously disappearing. They successfully grew crops in the tropics and eventually learned advanced farming strategies, taking advantage of fertile soils and water ways. As agriculture flourished, so too id their civilization. At the height of their power, the Mayans had many large ceremonial centers as well as small settlements.
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Map of the Spread of Islam The Islamic Religion began with the prophet Muhammad and became significant when he and his followers conquered Mecca in 630. Islam became a missionary religion as well as the basis of governing law in the Arabian Peninsula. The ambitions of officials to spread drastically impacted conquered peoples and through the 7th and 8th centuries military campaigns became the central focus of Islam. Not only did government dedicated to Allah shape technological development, art and, literatur
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More on The SchismThe Pope of Rome and Byzantine Emperor excommunicated each other over several disputing beliefs; one of which was of caesaropapism (the Emperor being head of the church as opposed to the Pope). This inability to compromise led to a split in Christianity leading to two separate churches; the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Likewise each body spread into separate regions with Catholicism advancing into Western Europe and East. Orthodox campaigning into Slav and Rus territory
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Art and Artifacts from CrusadesPope Urban II declared that knights from western Europe must defend Christian interests in the Middle East, especially the Holy Lands. Bloody war was raged against Turkish Muslims and though the violence echoed throughout Europe and the Middle East, the Crusades also pulled Europeans into major world trade. Many European powers, that were once isolated, found themselves being exposed to foreign goods, ideas, and technology brought back by knights.
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Details of Mongol Expansion and EmpireTemujin (Genghis Khan) unified the Mongol states in 1206 and went on to conquer most of Asia. He established what would become the largest Empire (in land mass) of all time and because of this unification an era of peace began with the new Yuan (Mongol Dynasty).
As a result, many Asian states experienced economic growth and prosperity. Because the Mongol Empire was so vast trade, knowledge, and geographic advancements during this time were all impacted and advanced by the security of the silk r -
The Plague reached Italy in 1384, striking a trail of death and sorrow across Europe. It is estimated that anywhere from a fourth to half of Europe’s entire populace perished to the epidemic. The influx of sickness impeded technology, literature, and economic advancement in Europe as basic survival became a challenge.
Firsthand Account of The Black Death -
More on The Rise of The OttomansOsman I founded the Ottoman state in the late 1300’s. This powerful empire could grow to hold most of the Mediterranean lands within it’s borders. During it’s rise to power the Ottoman empire captured Constantinople, helping to cause the Byzantine Empire’s decline. Islamic belief spread even more as a result of the Ottoman military. And a demand for high volumes of trade and luxury goods such as rugs, fine clothing, and exotic delicacies also came about as the Ottoman’s flourished.
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The Feudal system reared its head in the 9th century in Germanic and Frankish territories, eventually making it's wayto Britan and Spain and even into some Slavic regions. The nobility owned land and offered protection to the lower clases who workedthe land in exchance fore meager pay or food. The peasant's dependence on employers for survival isolated fuedal lands which limtied trade between communities and diffusion of new ideas or technolgies. A clear hierchy of power was maintained this way.
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Both these Dynasties saw an increase in production, population, literature, and trade in the China The borders of the Tang dynasty expanded far into Korea and central Asia and China became even larger during the Tang dynasty than it had been during the Han. The Grand Canal was completed and went on to stimulate effective trade through both dynasties. Both dynasties also saw more opportunities for lower classes to thrive with civil service exams and an increase in scholar based government leaders
