Post Classical Politics

Question 1

Arabian peninsula political situation before Muhammad

Answer 1

No actual government. Separated into bedouin clans; family and kinship were strong. Warred over water/feuds and traded at Mecca. Were polytheistic and believed in idols.

Question 2

How did Islam fill the political void in Arabia?

Answer 2

Muhammad underwent his spiritual transformation at the age of 40; moved to Mecca and established community; Umayyad [Abu Bakr, conquering dynasty] formed; Abbasid later. Caliphs were absolute rulers- spread Islam and enforced Sharia.

Question 3

How was China chaotic before dynastic rule?

Answer 3

Long period of chaos following collapse of Han dynasty. Individual states fought over territory.

Question 4

How did Chinese dynasties restore order?

Answer 4

Sui took advantage of political vacuum and established centralized rule using regional administrators and made conquests to new lands. Had meritocracy.

Question 5

Describe Chinese political/economic innovations

Answer 5

Equal field system; meritocracy.

Question 6

Describe Tang and Song weaknesses

Answer 6

Nomadic Uighur peoples became de facto rulers; large bureaucracy; weak armies; peasant rebellion; = field system collapse.

Question 7

Describe political situation in India before Harsha

Answer 7

Vacuum in the north; regional Hindu kingdoms; no centralized government.

Question 8

How was political order restored in India?

Answer 8

Harsha temp. restored order with his army; Mahmud of Ghazni came from Afghanistan and conquered using military force; he enforced Islam as a state religion. Sultanate of Delhi formed from his successors. Ruled with army, relig. toleration, veneer of Islam, relied on Hindu kingdoms.

Question 9

Describe rule in S India

Answer 9

Chola and Vijayanagar kingdoms built decentralized states; temples had political influence; profited from Indian Ocean basin trade.

Question 10

How did Rome fall?

Answer 10

Germanic peoples invaded; agriculture declined; black plague; government factions.

Question 11

Byzantine government

Answer 11

Founded by Constantine; Justinian tried to take back West; ruled using theme system to regain Muslim territory; Caesaropapism.

Question 12

Western Europe government

Answer 12

Decentralized; feudal system and missi domicci; Charlemagne and Clovis used force and faith to gain power.

Question 13

Similarities between Islamic caliphs and Byzantine emperors

Answer 13

• Had religious power but not divine
• Absolute rulers- judges; military
• Expanded using military conquest
• Spread faith with military and religious means

Question 14

Similarities between re-est of power in China and Western Europe

Answer 14

• Force/military
• Local rulers
• Allotment of agricultural land

Question 15

Byzantine economy

Answer 15

Constantinople was clearinghouse of long distance trade network; silk and manufactured goods in cities; agriculture from theme system; wealth defined by the Bezant; overland and sea trade routes.

Question 16

East-Asia economy

Answer 16

Metallurgy; agriculture innovations (fast-ripening rice, = field system); urbanization; gunpowder; Grand Canal. Wealth defined by bronze and silk goods. Traded in sea using larger ships; overland trade with nomads.

Question 17

Describe Chinese innovations

Answer 17

Astrolabe; triangular sail; = field system; meritocracy; gunpowder; Grand Canal

Question 18

Describe Arab innovations

Answer 18

Plants; paper; cities; trade; banks.

Question 19

Islamic empire economy

Answer 19

Mecca was a centre of exchange for many cultures; built extensive road and maritime trade networks. Banks facilitated the organization of money.

Question 20

Indian economy

Answer 20

Monsoon system; maritime trade network with SE Asia & Indian Ocean Basin; emporia were trade centres
South: Hindu temples; self sufficient in staple crops.

Question 21

Western Europe economy

Answer 21

Feudal system with manors; monsters provided growth; small towns were self-sufficient; no long distance trade; small exchange in villages and med. basin.

Question 22

Describe Medieval feudal system

Answer 22

Lords had large manors which serfs cultivated in exchange for military service.

Question 23

Byzantine religion

Answer 23

Leader was the patriarch; Leo practiced iconoclasm; monasteries and monks spread Christianity.
Unified people; led to split between E and W (Schism)
Justified war; unified allies.

Question 24

Islamic religion

Answer 24

Muhammad founded religion at 40; was the seal of the prophets; religion split into Shia and Sunni due to beliefs about succession; Islam became the government; caused social threats

Question 25

Islamic beliefs

Answer 25

Muslims submit to only god: Allah; idolatry was forbidden

Question 26

East Asia religion

Answer 26

Buddhism spread to China through trade and monks; accepted due to salvation and metaphysical themes; neo-confucinaism was formed; rejected due to monasteries’ land holdings and asceticism. Used Confucianism in gov’t (meritocracy).

Question 27

Indian religion

Answer 27

Hinduism was a religion of salvation; relied on intense rituals; Islam bought by Mahmud of Ghazni- iconoclast- and Delhi Sultanates. Tolerated other religions.

Question 28

Western Europe religion

Answer 28

Christianity; split from east; holy roman empire; adopted by rulers to validate rule; united people; monastic communities were cultural centres.

Question 29

Byzantine social structures

Answer 29

Theme system relationships; classes of peasants and crafts workers; urban lifestyles

Question 30

Islam social structures

Answer 30

Everyone equal in Islamic faith; patriarchal; women subject to Sharia law; women’s lives controlled by men; Quran advocated women’s rights by outlawing infanticide.

Question 31

India social structures

Answer 31

Caste system remained intact; merchants gained power by being economically strong; Sati; some social mobility by converting to Islam

Question 32

East Asia social structures

Answer 32

Confucian filial piety (5 relationships); patriarchal- foot binding; ancestor veneration.

Question 33

Western Europe social structures

Answer 33

Feudal system relationships; manor was basic economic unit; little social mobility