3.1.I.D What factors encouraged com- mercial growth? 3.1.8.E How did the expansion of empires & trade networks affect the relationship between peoples inside vs. outside those “zones?” • and new forms of credit and monetization (bills of exchange, credit, checks/banking houses) • New state practices (the minting of coins, use of paper money) • New trading organizations (the Hanseatic League) • New state-sponsored commercial infrastructures (Grand Canal in China) The expansion of existing empires (China, Byzantine Empire, Caliphates) as well as new empires (Mongols) facilitated trans-Eurasian trade and communication as new peoples were drawn into their conquerors’ economies and trade networks. • dhow • junk • checks • “flying cash” 3.1.II What were the effects of migration? 3.1.II.A What basic understandings of environment and technology did post- classical traders need to conduct their business? 3.1.II.B What were the environmental effects of migration? 3.1.II.C … linguistic effects of migration? The expansion and intensification of long-distance trade routes often depended on people’s understanding of a particular regional environment and their subsequent technological adaptations to them. • the way Scandinavian Vikings used longboats to travel in coastal & open rivers & estuaries • the Arabs and Berbers adapted camels to travel across and around the Sahara • central Asian pastoral groups used horses to travel in the steppes) Some migrations had significant environmental impact. • the migration of the agricultural Bantu-speaking peoples in forested regions of Sub-Saharan Africa • the maritime migrations of the Polynesian peoples who cultivated transplanted foods & domesticated animals as they moved to new islands Some migrations and commercial contacts led to the diffusion of languages throughout a new region or the emergence of new languages • the spread of Bantu languages • the new language of Swahili which developed in E African coastal areas • the spread of Turkic and Arabic languages 3.1.III How did networks as a whole develop in the post-classical era? exchanges were fostered by the intensification of existing or the creation of new networks of trade & communication.
3.3.II Why did some post-classical urban areas decline, while others prospered & grew? 3.3.II.C What roles did cities play in their societies? Factors that contributed to declines of urban areas in this period included invasions, disease, the decline of agricultural productivity, and the Little Ice Age Factors that contributed to urban revival included the end of invasions, the availability of safe and reliable transport, the rise of commerce and the warmer temperatures between 800 and 1300. Increased agricultural productivity and subsequent rising population and greater availability of labor also contributed to urban growth. While cities in general continued to play the roles they had played in the past as governmental, religious and commercial centers, many older cities declined at the same time that numerous new cities took on these established roles. NOTE: Students should be able to explain the cultural, religious, commercial and governmental function of at least TWO major cities. 3.3.III How did social and labor systems develop during the era? 3.3.III.A What pre-existing labor systems continued? 3.3.III.B How did social and gender hierarchies develop? 3.3.III.C What new labor forms developed? 3.3.III.D Who did some gender roles and family structures change? • free peasant agriculture • nomadic pastoralism • production • organization • coerced/unfree labor • government-imposed labor taxes & military obligations As in the previous period, social structures were shaped largely by class and caste hierarchies. Patriarchy persisted; however, in some areas, women exercised more power and influence, most notably among the Mongols and in West Africa, Japan and Southeast Asia. New forms of coerced labor: • serfdom in Europe and Japan • elaboration of mit’a in Inca Empire Free peasants resisted attempts to raise dues and taxes by staging revolts. (China & Byzantine Empire) The demand for slaves for both military and domestic purposes increased particularly in central Eurasia, parts of Africa and the eastern Mediterranean The diffusion of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Neo-Confucianism often led to significant changes in gender relations and family structure.