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Period: 395 to 1453
Byzantine Empire
Important Facts
Eastern half of the roman empire: survived after the western half dissolved
Christianity was the main religion
Fell to the Ottoman empire -
600
Continuity
Empires fell to other empires or countries. For example, the Byzantine fell to the Ottoman, the Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish. Control and land is constantly passed from one people group to the next. -
Period: 800 to 1050
Vikings
Important Facts
Sailed from place to place conquering and expanding their empire
Had brutal forms of torture, such as the “bloody eagle”
Mainly Scandinavian -
Period: 1000 to
Mali Empire
Important Items:
Mansa Musa was from Mali: the richest man alive and Mali empire had a successful empire under his rule
Mali was an Islamic empire known for wealth and the spread of islam
Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage alerted the world to the power of Mali and the wealth of the empire. -
Period: 1000 to 1400
Zimbabwe
Important Facts:
Ruins found of what must have been a great city, many arguments over how a black kingdom could have so much power
Part of a large trading network; a great Bantu trading empire -
1100
Contextualization
During the Postclassic era, spanning from 500-1500A.D., Islam spread and gained in popularity. Across many trade networks, Muslim merchants integrated into societies and spread their beliefs to the peoples they traded with. Mansa Musa of the Mali empire helped Islam to grow through his creation of mosques, implementation of religious teaching, and the spread of Islam through trade. -
Period: 1206 to 1368
Mongols
Important Facts
Ghengis Khan was a supreme leader who expanded the mongol empire greatly
Spread disease by throwing infected bodies over city walls
Pax Mongolica: “Mongol Peace”, describes the relative stability in Eurasia under the Mongol Empire -
Period: 1300 to
Ottoman Empire
Important Facts:
Osman: First leader; prince
Battle troops of the sultan were called Janissaries, and were often made up of young christian men who were forced to convert to Islam
Changed into Turkey -
Period: 1336 to
Vijayanagara
Important Facts:
Ruled by four dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu
Notable cultural, political, and economic prosperity
founded by Harihara -
Period: 1345 to 1521
Aztec
Important Facts
Tenochtitlán: Capital of Aztec Empire
Human sacrifices were carried out under the belief that it pleased the gods and kept the sun moving across the sky
Hernan Cortez: Conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztecs -
Period: 1438 to 1572
Inca
Important Facts:
Machu Picchu: ancient city
Heavy focus on agriculture
Roads were built through the empire -
Period: 1526 to
Mughal Empire
Important Facts:
Akhbar: Leader who believed in religious freedom and encouraged interactions between religions
Founded by Babur
Taj Mahal built during Mughal Empire -
Continuity
Overtime, empires began to flourish when the ruler at the time prioritized wealth, land expansion, and general success for the people. -
Social Interactions and Organization
Religion plays a huge role, each empire has a central religion or belief. These beliefs play a role in how societies are governed and how people interact, all according to the rules of the religion of belief. -
Contextualization:
During the Postclassic era, spanning from 500-1500A.D., trade networks expanded, becoming a vital asset in global connection. The Silk roads, for example, spanned across Asia and brought trade goods, disease, and religion to the peoples that it reached. The Indian Ocean trade networks also connected people, reaching across the middle east and into Africa, and connecting peoples through trade goods, religion, slaves, and spread of culture.