First Exam - Significance Portion Flashcards
Define the “Magna Carta”
Turns 800 yrs old this year
Signed by King John in 1215 in Runnymede
John some of the land of Normandy, and his mothers old land of Aquitaine. The Normandy’s were not happy This led to war against King John
The Nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter). This granted the Nobles freedom from unjust prisonment, and guaranteed life of the church. Limited taxes that the nobles had to pay, and gave the church of rights and freedoms
Basically the basis of Modern Democracy
Basis of rights, and freedoms of the english speaking world (Only concerned Nobles. Even though serfs and peasants were 70% of the population)
In the 1700’s, rights and freedoms were given to everyone
Define “Mendicant Orders”
For centuries monks, and nuns lived in enclosed monasteries, excluded from the world.
Their job was to pray for society. They received money in donations because their prayers were more effective than others.
Also the Catholic Church was the largest land owner in Europe. Made money from farms, animals, etc.
However, in the 13 CENTURY. Old monk types still existed but a new type developed.
MEDICANTS were not enclosed, their function was to go into the world and interact with society.
MEDICANTS jobs were to preach, and make sure the average person knew the correct christianity.
MEDICANTS didnt have estates, they lived solely on donation.
MEDICANT means BEGGAR
TWO MOST IMPORTANT ORDERS (FRANCISIANS, AND DOMICANS)
FRANCISCANS:
Name for St. F of Assisi (1181-1226)
Preached extreme poverty, (Only had what was needed to survive).
Wear simple clothes, and no shoes. Focused on the humanity of Christ, his suffering, devotion to us.
DOMINICANS:
Named for St. Dominic (1170-1221). Focused on preaching, really get out there. Preach the “correct” version of christianity.
Ran the inquisition (Churchs’ courts to see if you were following the right religion and practicing it right) Jews and muslims were classified as heretics. Court was to see if you were a heretic
Wear black robes
Define “Affective Piety”
Emotional piety, emotional belief, emotional devotion.
Up until around the year 1200, jesus was a very harsh and judgemental god. He kept track of your sins and assured you that he would make you pay on judgement day
BUT after 1200’s, Jesus became a very passionate god. Who chose to give up his life for humanity because he loves us that much.
Moves from being judgemental to becoming a saviour and martyr. There was now emphasis on his humanity and suffering
Transubination (The bread and wine is basically the body of christ), develops in 1215. Theory is that this emphasis on the body of christ enables the growth of Affective Piety
Define the “Black Death”
Occurred from 1347-1351
Caused by YERSINIA PESTIS
Originated In CENTRAL ASIA, WESTERN CHINA, and MONGOLIA (Modern day borders)
Caused by fleas spread, fleas living on rats
When it really spreads and gains momentum, it’s called PNEUMONIC PLAGUE
Killed 60% of European Pop
The visual infection was called a BUBOE, it appeared black, swelling like a bruise (Kind of like little tumours)
Death Dances: People lived their last days to their fullest. Banged etc.
People began to question religion
Increased wages due to the absence of people, they were fleeing to the countryside or dying
People understood that it was contagious
Jews were sometimes persecuted as blame for the Black Death
Define “Convivencia”
Translation is “Living Together”
Muslim capital of Spain was called CORDOBA - It had 100,000 people, Jews, Christians, and Muslims living together more or less peacefully
Spain was sometimes called the land of 3 religions
By this point, Islam had spread far and wide. They had contact with many cultures and technologies.
Many texts survive in arabic form that were translated.
Had the most sophiciated culture in the world
Extensive libraries, large schools, scholars translated and read hebrew, latin, greek.
In islamic culture, it is not right to portray humans in art
The Muslims brought: Glass, Deoderant, non urine based Laundry Whiteners, lots of water, and tolerance (how 3 religions can live together)
Define “Santiago de Compostela”
Santiago means Saint James
In the late 100’s, a poem states that the muslims called upon Mohamed for help in battle, and the christians called upon SANTIAGO for help in battle
In the start of the 9th century, a tomb is found. And on no basis of proof or grounds, the christians decide that this must be the tomb of St. James.
What matters is that they took the legend of St. James coming to Spain to make a counter to Mohammad (Who the christians perceived as the Muslim war saint)
Christian soldiers would claim to see St. James the moor-killer in battle on his horse guiding them to battle
If spain had never been conquered by muslims, this cult of the belief in Saint James may have never existed
The shrine of Santiago becomes the 3rd most popular pilgrimage site in christianity
Monks, priests, and saints, were now justified to fight because there was a saint of St. James
In 1100, one bishop had to forbid monks from wearing spurs and knight beards in church.
In 1492, the requonquista is completed. Explore the new world, expel all jews from spain. And left with a sense of christian unity in spain. Again the common enemies are jews to help create unity
Conversos: Jews who converted (Are always under suspicion of being crypto-jews (hidden jews))
Moriscos: in 1502, the muslims are forced to convert or leave.
700 year process
Elaborate on “Five Pillars of Islam”
Islam means submission, Muslim means one who submits
Mohammad’s idea was tot have all who joined Islam become a part of the UMA MUSLIMA (the muslim community). This community broke all tribal ties, and had everyone come together. However, this isnt fully successful because sects are made (variations of the islam religion). But the Islam religion no matter which, all hold the same 5 pillars.
1: THE STATEMENT OF FAITH
There is no god but god, and Mohammed is his prophet
2: PRAYER
5 times a day, facing the Kaaba in Mecca. (Dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and evening) The finding of the direction of Mecca drives tecnhology
Prayers praise allah, not petitioning for something
Most important prayer is the noon prayer on Friday (Christians and Jews had Sunday’s and sat’s as their prayer days)
Crusaders would attack during their prayers
3: FASTING
During the month of ramadan
The time mohammed first began receiving his visions, from sunrise to sunset.
You dont have to if your health does not permit it. This includes no sex
4: ALMS
Charity for the poor. A way of redistributing wealth within the community of believers. 3% of income is given to the poor.
5: PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA(Haji)
Once in your life every Muslim must travel to Mecca if and finances permit it.
The Qu’Ran has specific instructions on how the pilgrimage takes place (prayers, rituals, no sex, no hunting)
SOMETIMES THERES A 6TH PILLAR: JIHAD
Means struggle
It refers to internal struggle to develop a complete and perfect connection with allah.
Some groups have interpreted it as an external struggle. It was first understood as a defensive struggle againts those who were persecuting muslims (pagans, those who are holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions), then later expanded to include the offence against pagans and infedels
Goal of expansion was to get Jews, christians, and zoros under Muslim control and paying taxes
Zoroastrians: A very very ancient persian religion. Good creater god and bad destroyer god. And how good god always won. It was monotheistic enough for mohammed
What was the “Umayyad Caliphate”?
CALIPH: Political leader of the Islamic Empire
Occurred from 661-750
To begin, Uthman was a member of the Umayyad tribe. When Mohammed hoped to ditch old tribal identities, he didnt fully suceed. When he first was preaching in Mecca, all the Umayyads were hostile uthman.
Ali was Mo’s son-in-law. Many thought that Uthman should have never been a caliph because he wasn’t related to Mohammed, and he and his tribe had been hostile in the past.
In 656, Uthman was assasinated. No-one knows who did it, but then Ali became the Caliph (son-in-law of Mohammed). However, people didnt believe that Ali made an effort to solve Uthman’s death, and went as far as accusing him of orchestrating the killing of Uthman.
Civil war breaks out and in 661 Ali is killed.
The next caliph is chosen from the UMAYYADS 661
The Umayyads shift the capital to Damascus in Syria, mostly due to the fact that its far from Ali’s followers. The civil war still wasnt ended. In 680, some of the Umayyad supporters kill Mohammeds grandson and the split is finally complete.
The SUNNIS support the Umayyads and believe the Caliph should be chosen based on ability, not heredity.
The SHI’ITES believe that Ali and his successors should be the Caliph, that the position should go to someone with Mohammeds blood. hey calle their religious leaders IMAMS. And consider the Sunni Caliph an USURPER.
Sunnis see Shi’ites as heretics. To Sunnis the Qur’an has all the revelations, it is done and perfect.
THE SUFIES are a third group. They are mystics, and they are close to monks as Islam will get.
Follow trances and mysticism and dances for a personal connection with god. Starts in 1100 and is popularized by a poet named Rumi
Rumi got the idea when he heard a goldsmith hammering away. And in the rythm he heard the islamic creed (There is no god but got and mohammed is his prophet).
Define “Norse Mythology”
“What he wants”
Thor: Protects humans. Pursues foes at all costs.
Odin: One eyed,fights with spear. Pursues knowledge at all costs. Hangs himself to learn futhark (Norse alphabet) Valhalla
Freja: Wears a cloak of feathers. Chooses the dead to return to her fields, folkvangr. Half of the dead, which were watched over on the Folkvangr field by Freja, go to Odin.
Loki: Trickster god, sort of evil. Creates problems.
Afterlife is “Valhalla”
This info comes from the 2 eddas, written down in the 13th century in ice land.
What is the “Great Mosque of Damascus”?
The construction of the Great Mosque in Damascus by the Umayyads was completed in 715
The mosque was a place where Mohammad preached, and where jesus was suspected of returning
They built their own religious building on the land of a former religious building when they conquered. They built the mosque over the Shrine of John the Baptist
Who were the Four Right Caliphs?
The main split between the Sunni and Shi’ites is due to the disputes about who Mohammad’s successor should be
Mohommed dies in 632 (Only had daughters)
Most muslims are sunnis - their numbers make them the orthodox branch (Believe that the power should be granted to the strongest leader)
Shi’ites are 10% today (Believe in hereditary power)
The first 4 Caliphs (Were Mohammad’s closest companions)
ABU BAKR (Related by marriage)
UMAR (Related by marriage)
UTHMAN (Not related to Mo, was just friends)
ALI (Son in law)
To begin, Uthman was a member of the Umayyad tribe. When Mohammed hoped to ditch old tribal identities, he didnt fully suceed. When he first was preaching in Mecca, all the Umayyads were hostile uthman.
Ali was Mo’s son-in-law. Many thought that Uthman should have never been a caliph because he wasn’t related to Mohammed, and he and his tribe had been hostile in the past. (Shi’ite beliefs)
In 656, Uthman was assasinated. No-one knows who did it, but then Ali became the Caliph (son-in-law of Mohammed). However, people didnt believe that Ali made an effort to solve Uthman’s death, and went as far as accusing him of orchestrating the killing of Uthman.
Civil war breaks out and in 661 Ali is killed.
The next caliph is chosen from the UMAYYADS 661
The Umayyads shift the capital to Damascus in Syria, mostly due to the fact that its far from Ali’s followers. The civil war still wasnt ended. In 680, some of the Umayyad supporters kill Mohammeds grandson and the split is finally complete.
The SUNNIS support the Umayyads and believe the Caliph should be chosen based on ability, not heredity.
The SHI’ITES believe that Ali and his successors should be the Caliph, that the position should go to someone with Mohammeds blood. hey calle their religious leaders IMAMS. And consider the Sunni Caliph an USURPER.
What were the Carolingian Reforms?
Charles Martel (The Hammer c685-714) was the mayor of the Franks, he essentially had all of the power as the king got weaker
When Charles Martel died his son, Pepin the Short, (C714-768) inherited mayorship from his father and controlled the army and palace. And gained permission and approval from the Pope to become the king because he had more power.
Pepin died shortly after gaining the kingship of the franks, and his son Charlemagne takes over and rules for 35 years (c748-814) He is the founder of the Carolingians
Big c reunites and expands Frankish territory, getting control of modern day france, Germany, Italy, and peices of Eastern Europe. He did not have a capital, he practiced ITINERANT KINGSHIP.
On Dec 25th, 800 AD after defeating the Lombards in Rome, the pope crowns him the first Holy Roman Emperor in 300 years.
The great C takes his role seriously as the New Holy ROman Emperor, and institutes the CAROLINGIAN REFORMS
He fixed handwriting so its readable, he encourages monks to go re-learn latin because theyre making mistakes. He develops a closer relationship with rome, improves schools, and standardizes music notation to conform with that of rome.
Not everything was perfect. He was very christian. When he entered Saxony he gave them a choice of converting or to die. About 2,000 Saxons refused to convert and were killed
Define “Mamluks”
Mamluk Caliphate
1260-1517
1259: Baghdad and Abbasid caliphate all to the Mongols Cairo was still the capital of the muslim world The abbasids completely are done at this point 1260: the Mamluks reestablish the caliphate What is a Mamluk? - Non-muslim slave (Turkik slaves, came from an area in central asia) - Bought by the islamic state to be used as warriors - Raised to convert to Islam - Mamlukes children were ineligible for army - Mamlukes were bought as children - Raised with the idea that they would convert eventually - Reason why they are to CONVERT LATER, is because Muslims cant have muslim slaves - To not convert, they can progress in the military - The Mamlukes ultimately, did stage a Coup. - They founded their own dynasty. Mamluke Culture - in 1260, they had one of the pre-modern military victories - A group of 120,000 mamluke soldieers, defeated 10,000 mongol warriors. (This is big because they had never beaten them) - Mamlukes came from central asia - So mamlukes were skilled with archers like the mongols because they had the same skill set - After the fall of baghdad (when mongols got it), bagdad became a refuge, people were fleeing - Cairo ended up gettin gthose people and had half a million people - The city of Cairo was accepting for the culture that was fleeing from Baghdad, essentially cairo became a haven - They built these mosques, CURP APPEAL, they gave them curved architecture. The "defenders of islam" - They fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1517, and that is the end of the Mamlukes Madrasa: the name of the schools, and academys that were developed
Define “Dhimmi”
(638-1683)
DHIMMI was the name applied by the Arab-Muslim conquerors to indigenous non-Muslim populations who surrendered by a treaty (dhimma) to Muslim domination. Islamic conquests expanded over vast territories in Africa, Europe and Asia, for over a millennium
“People of the Book” people of the protected status
Dhimmi Laws: They govern the people of the book (People of the protected status) Jews, Christians, Zoros can practice their own religions and don’t have to convert to Islam
A jew, however, could not have a higher governmental position over a muslim
A jewish or christian could not marry a Muslim woman
A Muslim man HOWEVER, could marry a a women of the opposite religion. (This may be because Muslim men were more powerful, so he could convert her to Islam)
Some people would convert JUST to get a better position in the government etc
Christianity didnt think of Islam as its own religion
UNIVERSALIZING: Christianity is a universalizing religion (Islam in their point of view, were christian heretics)
The muslims in spain were not that interested in converting people bc they people that were NOT muslim had to pay SPECIAL TAX. SO if they converted, THEY DIDNT have to pay tax. But since they were not muslim, they DID
What is the significance of “Mecca and Medina” ?
Islam arises in what is called today Saudia Arabia, in Mecca
Empires collided over this area, but never really settled here. Only used it for trade and travel. It was a vital link between Asian, and European & Africa.
Mecca was a major trading centre primarily fueled by CARAVANS (Groups of traders traveling together for protection)
According to tradition, Mecca was founded by Abraham (he of the Od Testament). Mecca was also a pilgramage site, and the ancient shrine called the KAABAA (CUBE) was located in MECCA. At this time there were 361 gods in the Cube including Allah (Polytheistic)
Meccas governing structure consisted of tribes. There was no ruling tribe, but there was a dominant tribe (The Quraysh tribe)
Mohammad (570-632) was Quraysh. He was born into a poor branch of his tribe and was raised to become a trader.
He became the financial advisor for a wealthy widow named, Khadija. Then eventually married her and had 7 kids, which only 3 survived.
610, Mohammad would retreat to caves a lot, during ramadan he began to hear a voice, this voice was an angel sent by Allah to speak with Mohammad named Gabriel. Mohamad had (Aural Visions)
Gabriel told Mohammad that he is gods chosen one to be the next prophet.
He is sent to purify the religion in Arabia. And instead of 361 gods, there is only one god.
Mohammads first convert is his wife Khadija, and he only gained 14 followers in the first 3 years of preaching this new religion.
In 619 Mohammads wife and uncle die so he no longer has rich connections, he is then stoned but not killed.
North of Mecca is a small trading centree called Yathrem (ENDS UP BEING MEDINA)
Yathreb was falling apart due to the religious disputes between the jews, christians, and various pagans.
Mohommed in 622 went up to Yathrib with his followers, this is called the HIJRA (THE FLIGHT) YEAR ONE OF THE MUSLIM CALENDAR
Yathreb is Mohammeds first big success, people drop their allegiences to the tribal leaders, and unite under Mohammed.
Yathreb is named Medina - the city of the prophet
Eventually armed conflict erupts between Medina and Mecca. In 630 Mohommed takes over mecca. And he leaves the Quraysh in charge, keeps the Kaaba, but dedicates it to one god, Allah, alone.
Mohommed died 10 years after in 632 after the Hijra
