WORLD HISTORY REVIEWER

Trade routes
Trade- the act of exchanging one thing for another.
Trade route- a long-distance route along which commercial goods are
transported.
INCENSE ROUTE
 one of the earliest known routes
 linked the Mediterranean world with the South and East
 the route stretched from the Mediterranean ports across Egypt and Levant
through the Northeastern parts of Africa and Arabia to India
 developed to transport frankincense and myrrh found in Arabian Peninsula
(modern Yemen and Oman)
SILK ROAD
 the most famous trade route in the world
 linking China with West
 carried goods and ideas between the two great civilizations of Rome and
China
 silk went westward, and wools, gold, and silver went east
 Silk was often used

OVERLAND SILK ROUTES VS. MARITIME SILK ROUTES

The Silk Road Economic Belt is primarily land-based to connect China with Central
Asia, Eastern Europe and Western Europe.
Maritime Silk Road is sea-based, connecting China’s southern coast to the
Mediterranean, Africa, South-East Asia and Central Asia.

SPICE ROUTE

 brought flavor from East to West

 unlike most of the other trade routes, it is a maritime route
 Europeans took the seas to forge direct trading relationships with Indonesia,
China, and Japan
 the spices include pepper, cloves,cinnamon and nutmeg
 fueled the development of faster boats, encouraged the discovery of new
lands, and fostered new diplomatic relationships
AMBER ROAD

 traded amber beads from the Baltic having reached as far as Egypt
 it is a road developed by the Romans that links the Baltic with the rest of the
Europe
 valued the stone as both a decorative item and for medicinal purposes
 Today, traces of the old Amber Road can be found in Poland, where one of
the major routes is known as the "Amber Highway"

TEA HORSE ROAD

 the route stretches through the Hengduan Mountains through Tibet and on to
India
 it also crosses numerous rivers, making it one of the most dangerous ancient
trade routes
 The main goods traveling the route were Chinese tea and Tibetan warhorses

SALT ROUTE

 also known as the “Roman Via Salaria”

 ran from Ostia, near Rome, across Italy to the Adriatic coast
 another important salt route across Europe was the “Old Salt Road- one of the
most plentiful salt sources in northern Europe”
 during the Middle Ages this route became vital for providing salt for the fishing
fleets that left Germany for Scandinavia

TRANS- SAHARAN TRADE ROUTE

 from North Africa to West Africa provides a criss-cross of trading links across
the vast expanse of desert
 Gold, slaves, salt, and cloth were the most important commodities on this
route
 instrumental in the spread of Islam from the Berbers in North Africa into West
Africa
 encouraged the development of monetary systems and state-building

STRAIT OF MALACCA

 waterway connecting Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean

 shortest sea route between India and China and is one of the most heavily
traveled shipping channels in the world
 it helped determine the direction of major Asian migrations of peoples through
the Malay Archipelago
 vital waterway for hydrocarbon, container and bulk cargo shipment
ROYAL ROAD

 built by the Persian Emperor Darius I in order for the merchants coming from
the city of Ephesus to the city of Persepolis to arrive faster
 dubbed as “Persian King Road” by historians
 Romans used this route to bring amber from the northern and Baltic seas to
be used for decorative and medicinal purposes, to the Mediterranean

THE SPREAD OF ISLAM

Geography of Middle East

 The Middle East Region is comprised of areas known as Persia (Iran),

Mesopotamia (Iraq), the
 Levant, Asia Minor, and the Arabian Peninsula Straddles three continents,
including Asia, Africa,
 and Europe.
 Its geography promoted cultural diffusion by facilitating the spread of peoples,
ideas, and
 goods along overland and maritime routes.
 Climate influenced the region's settlement patterns. Larger settlements are
found in river valleys and well-watered areas along the littoral.

RISE OF ISLAM

Muhammad- born in the city of Mecca, empathetic and honest

Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib-
 Muhammad’s Father
 Member of Hashimite Clan
 died prior to his son’s birth
Aminah bint Wahb-
 Muhammad’s Mother
 passed away when he was just six years old
Khadija-
 wealthy merchant
 fifteen years older than Muhammad
 afforded Muhammad a financial security
Angel Gabriel
 appeared to Muhammad at a cave nearby to Mecca in 610, during the holy
month of Ramadan
 instructed him to “recite,” and then he spoke the divine word of God
Muhammad accepted his role as God’s vehicle. His wife became the first convert
to Islam, with Abu
Thalib’s son ‘Ali converting soon afterwards.

 It means “submission” or “surrender” - ISLAM

 Holiest City of Islam- MECCA
 Islamic Sacred Book- QURAN
 An Arabic word, means God, in the monotheistic sense- ALLAH
 A holy month of worship, study of the Quran, prayer, and fasting- RAMADAN

RELIGION OF ISLAM

 holds much common with Judaism and Christianity

monotheistic
 Quran - Islamic sacred book
 Hadith - sayings of Prophet Muhammad
 Sunna - teachings of the Prophet, helped guide and
 inform Muslims on proper behavior
 Islam means submission in Arabic

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM- essential, obligatory that serves as the foundation of

faith
 Shahada - “There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His messenger.”
 Salat - faithful Muslims to pray five times a day, kneeling towards Mecca, at
dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening
 Zakat - to contribute a proportion of their wealth to the upkeep of the Islamic
community
 Sawm - to remind them of what it is like to be poor and go hungry
 Haji - to make a journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime

The Expansion of Islam from Mecca to Global Force

The expansion of Islam began in the 7th century CE.

 The critical events that led to the transformation of Islam from a nascent
faith into a global force.

THE EARLY YEARS: Preaching in Mecca (613 - 622 CE)

 Publicly preaching of Prophet Muhammad
 Prophet Muhammad challenged the Umayyad Clan’s leadership through his
message emphasizing caring for the weak
 Rise of tensions, leading to conflicts between the Muslim community and the
Umayyad Clan.
The Hijra and the Rise of Medina (622 CE)
 Muhammad together with his followers migrated to Medina
 Muhammad was invited by the leaders of Medina to mediate tribal conflicts
 Muhammad assumed multiple roles in Medina: religious, political, judicial,
legislative, and military leadership.

The Battle of Badr and the Consolidation of Power (624 CE)

During this time, several key events occured:
 The Battle of Uhud and the Battle of Trench, which led to mixed
outcomes.
 The establishment of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

The Conquest of Mecca and the Spread of Islam (630 CE)

 The cleansing of Ka’ba of its traditional religious images by Muhammad and
his army as they conquer Mecca.
 This marked a significant moment in the expansion of Islam, as tribes across
the Arabian Peninsula followed Muhammad's lead, both politically and
religiously.

The Unity of Ummah and Sharia Law

 Muhammad's leadership aimed at uniting Muslims both religiously and
politically, fostering a sense of social solidarity (Asabiyah).
 Over time, Sharia law became the basis for regulating various aspects of daily
life, including economics, politics, family life, and society.

The Mongol Empire

 GEOGRAPHY- In the late 13th century, it spanned from the Pacific Ocean in
the east to the Danube River and the shores of the Persian Gulf in the west.
RELIGION-
 a mix of animism, ancestor worship, and shamanism.
 Nestorian Christianity
 Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism)
 Principal two deities: the Earth or Mother goddess, known as Etugen
(Itugen), who represented fertility, and Tengri (Gok Monggke Tenggeri), the
'Blue Sky or 'Eternal Heaven.
 ACHIEVEMENTS-
 Most successful army of their time
 Enabled peace, stability, trade, protected travel under a period of “Pax
Mongolica”
 Stirrup
POLITICS-
 ruled by khans (elected by kurultai)
 assisted by prime minister called beqlare-beq (prince of princes)
 several ministers known vizers (burden-bearers)
 baskak- administer the conquered territories
 Yassa (decree or order)- secret laws by Genghis Khan
ECONOMY-
 Mongols relied heavily on trade
 Khubi- traditional shares by Genghis Khan
 Developed vast system of roads, canals, and postal stations
 Yam System-postal system sort of medieval pony express

SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Class system- Southerners, Hans, Semu, Mongolians

THE RISE OF FALL OF THE MONGOL EMPIRE

Emergence of the Mongol Empire

GENGHIS KHAN-
 also known as Chingis Khan
 His father was a member of the royal Borjigin clan
 Between 1195 and 1205, Temüjin managed to gain control over all of the
clans in the region.
 In 1206, Temüjin was crowned emperor of the Great Mongol State and
assumed the title Genghis Khan – something like ‘the universal leader’.
 Restructured the army into highly organised units and created laws.

Invasion in Western Xia

 raided the area in 1205, returning in 1207 and launching a full-scale invasion
that was completed by 1211
 a tribute-paying vassal state and control over a portion of the Silk Roads that
increased their income
 the Mongols looked further east, to the lands of the more powerful Jin
Dynasty, overlords of northern China and the Mongol tribes for centuries.
 Jin forces initially fortified their position behind the Great Wall, but they were
betrayed by one of their own and at the Battle of Yehuling
 the Mongols were reported – perhaps with some exaggeration – to have
slain hundreds of thousands.
 When Genghis’ forces took Qara Khitailands to the west, his domain came
into direct contact with the Muslim Khwarazmia lands which touched the
Caspian Sea in the west and the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea to the south.
 He sent an embassy with gold,silver, pelts and textiles to initiate trade,
but when it reached the city of Otrar, the caravan was attacked. Genghis
next sent three ambassadors to the Shah, two Mongols and one Muslim. The
Shahhad all three men shaved and sent the head of the Muslim ambassador
back to Genghis.
  Genghis prepared his largest invasion to date, leading around 100,000
men over the Tien Shan mountains. The famed ancient and scholarly city of
Samark and,in what is now Uzbekistan, fell, despite elephants being used
toprotect the city. Herat, Nishapur,and Merv, three of the largestcities in the
world, were also destroyed.
 Ögedei Khan, Genghis Khan’s third son
 Tolui Khan, Genghis Khan’s son
 Ögedei Khan continued his father’s policy of aggressive expansion.
 Mongols had a reputation for brutal tactics. Target cities were offered a stark
choice: surrender and pay tribute, but otherwise be left alone,or resist, and
face wholesales laughter if defeated.
 Ögedei gave permission for his men to press on to the Great Sea,the Atlantic.
Mongol forces attacked Poland, Croatia, Serbia,Austria, and the Byzantine
Empire

THE COLLAPSE OF THE MONGOL EMPIRE

 Möngke was succeeded by his brother Kublai Khan.

 Over the next two decades- Mongol Empire completed the unification of
China and moved the empire’s capital from
Karakorum in Mongolia to what is now Beijing.
 Kublai Khan died in 1294, the empire fractured into four smaller ‘khanates’.
The portion known as the Golden Horde maintained its grip on the Rus lands
in Eastern Europe until the 15th century.

MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATION

Introduction to the Medieval Period

 Also known as Middle Ages (covers from the fall of Rome to the fall of
Constantinople)
 Europe was in chaos and less developed area than Asia,
 where Arab Mongol and Islamic Turk empires flourished

EARLY MIDDLE AGES (476-800 A.D.)

 Dark Ages because it focused on the problems
- Lack of central government
- Barbarian invasion
- Lack of technological or cultural development
- Widespread disease (plague)
- Long religious wars
TWO GREATEST INFLUENCE
- Roman Catholic Church
- Barbarian Invasions
-
The Barbarian Invasions in Europe
 German tribes invaded the Western Region of the Roman Empire
 Attracted to the rich cities and farms of the roman empire
 German belonged to different tribes (Goths, Vandals, Huns, Angles,
Saxon, Franks, etc.
- Alaric of Visigoth
- Attila the Hun

Positive Effects
- Founding of new communities in Europe
- Blending of Germanic blood with the Christian religion and Greco-
Roman culture
- The idea of an elected king
- Trial by ordeal
- Legends, stories, literature
Negative Effects
- They killed, looted, hurt, burned, and destroyed
- Closed and emptied churches, library, school
- Scared away trade and business

The Roman Catholic Church

- Savior of western civilization
- Converted barbarians to Christianity and preserved Western Civilization
in the monasteries
- Church- became center of dignity and authority
- Pope-representative of God

GEOGRAPHY-
 High mountain range which formed a natural barrier
 Borders several seas includes Mediterranean and Baltic
 Waterways (major rivers like Danube and Rhine)
RELIGION
 Christianity
 Monotheistic religion (life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
 Jesus Christ is the Son of God
 Began in Judea (present-day Middle East)
 Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Protestantism
ACHIEVEMENTS
 Achievements and Cathedrals (Chartres Cathedral in France and Hagia
Sophia in Constantinople modern-day Istanbul)
 Medieval Schools (University of Bologna, Paris, Oxford)
  Literature (poems like Beowulf, The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri)
 Military Technology (medieval weaponry, armor, fortifications, such as
castles and siege engines
 Legal Systems
 Medieval Exploration (Silk road and spice trade routes)
POLITICS
 Feudalism- system of where people in power divided land into pieces (fiefs)
and gave them to other (vassals) exchange for loyalty and payment, creating
a social hierarchy.
ECONOMICS
 Lords, Peasant and Serfs,
 Manors
 Farms
 Feudalism
CURRENCY
 Metal coins

TRADE
 Guilds
 Ships
SOCIAL STRUCTURE brought by FEUDAL SYSTEM
 Peasants (Serf), Knights (Vassal to Lords), Lords (Vassals to King, KING

CHURCH AND CHARMELAGNE

GEOGRAPHY-
 1. Charlemagne’s birthplace (747) and deathplace (814) .
 2. The lands conquered by Charlemagne.
 3. Charlemagne’s coronation as Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III.
 Crown of Charlemagne is exhibited in the Hofburg in Vienna.
An identical copy is in Aachen in Germany in the Krönungssaal.
RELIGION
 The Franks were the first barbarians to convert to Orthodox
 Christianity, and the Frankish tales of Clovis' conversion
are very romantic and remembered well

ACHIEVEMENTS
Carolingian Renaissance
 issued orders defining royal cultural policy objectives, aiming to improve Latin literacy
and enable administrators and pastors to understand their responsibilities effectively.
 expanding the educational system and new schools
 established a royal library and a scriptorium; new writing system

POLITICS
 Frankish custom of inheritance - dividing the inheritance between the sons
 Charlemagne's reign was marked by his extensive activities, which led to his
coronation as Roman emperor.
 “Imperium Christianum”
 "Emperor of the Romans." crowned by Pope Leo III
 “King of the Franks and of the Lombards.”

ECONOMICS

Livre Carolinienne (Libra) a former French unit of money of account, equal to 1 pound of
silver

 economically harmonized and unified the diverse array of currencies, simplifying

trade and commerce
 influencing the development of the English pound and penny
 CHARLEMAGNE

CLOVIS I- United the Frankish kingdom under one rule, one religion
Merovingians- Royal Blood, Frankish Kings
Carolingians- Lineage of Bastard, Mayors of the Palace

CHARLES MARTEL-

 Bastard of Pepin II
 Mayor of the Palace
  Military leader

BATLLE OF TOURS

 A battle between Umayyad Caliphate against Frankish forces.

PEPIN III- The first Carolingian King of the Franks.

CARLOMAN I- pursued monastic habit
ROYAL HEIRS OF THE FRANKING THRONE (768)
 Charlemagne
 Carloman II
 They both threatened the unity of Frankish Kingdom
 Charlemagne formed an alliance with his mother, duke of Bavaria, and
the King of the Lombards to support his claim.
 Carloman died at 711
 On 772, Charlemagne married Hildegard, he had impressive military
reputation like his grandfather (Charles Martel)
 In 774, Charlemagne aided Pope Hadrian I in besieging Pavia, the capital of
the Lombards.

 Charlemagne was then held as the King of the Franks, and the Lombards
 He continued the campaign of his grandfather against Saxons for 33 years.
 Charlemagne ordered to execute 4500 Saxons who resisted conversion to
Christianity.
 Charlemagne attempted to conquer Spain from the Umayyad caliphate.
 A cultural development started to make an intellectual movement which was
later called as the Carolingian Renaissance.
 In 799, Pope Leo III was attacked and banished to a monastery due to envy
and criticism to the Byzantine Empress Irene.
 Christmas day year 800, Charlemagne was crowned as the Holy Roman
Emperor by Pope Leo III
 In 813, Charlemagne bestowed the Imperial crown to his surviving son Louis,
later known as Louis the Pious
 In 814, Charlemagne died of lung disease and was buried at Aachen
Cathedral
 Louis inherited the entire kingdom from year 813 - 840
 CHARLEMAGNE considered as the Father of modern Europe and
responsible for restoring the Western Roman empire

FEUDALISM

FEUDALISM, called as “feudal system” or“feudality”.

 Derived from the Latin words “feodum” or “feudum”
 A type of socio-economic and political system in medieval Europe where a
lord grants a piece of land called a “fief” to his vassal.
  A fief is given in exchange for military service and loyalty. A person
became a vassal by paying homage to his lord.

has four distinct social classes.

 The King, own all the land, often relied the vassals,
 The Nobles, vassals of the king, lords and ladies, divided into greater or
lesser lords
 The Knights, leaves home at the age of 7 with the lord,
 The Peasants, majority could be free or unfree (serfs) an were tied to the land

RISE OF FEUDALISM

 Fall of the Roman Empire

 Collage of Trade
 Decentralization or Weak Central Authority
 Europe becomes a more rural society

DECLINE OF FEUDALISM
 Crusades, Nobles spent much on crusades and many lords never returned from the
war.
 Growth of trades and towns, many peasants and some serfs abandoned feudal
manors and moved to town and cities, seeking better opportunities.
 Magna carta, contributed to ideas about individual rights, liberties and limited King’s
power.
King John- sealed Magna Carta on June 15 1215
Hundred Years of War (1337-1453), Shifted power away from feudal lords and knights and
towards monarch and common people.
 Changes in Warfare
 Joan of Arc

 Black Death (1347-1351), Significant drop of population because massive numbers

of deaths caused a labor shortage that helped end serfdom.
 Peasant Rebellion, dispute regarding wages led to the peasants triumph over the
manorial economic system.
 John Ball
 Watt Tyler
 August Decrees (Aug 4 1789)- Set of 19 articles by the National Constituent
Assembly during the French Revolution which abolished feudalism entirely
EFFECT OF FEUDALISM

 Discouraged Unified Government

 Discouraged Trade and Economic Growth
 RISE OF TOWNS AND CITIES

 Town life was well established in ancient world, but DECLINED after the fall of
the ROMAN EMPIRE
 High Middle Ages- towns were growing due to improvements in agriculture and
revival of trade
 AGRICULTURE- resulted to surplus crops and production
 Improved plow made it possible to cultivate more lands
 REVIVAL OF TRADE, the Crusades and the reopening of trade routes with East
Europe- growth of town as hubs of commerce
 Merchants and tradespeople settle leads to specialization in certain goods and
services
-GUILDS- A trade organization or a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants
-MERCHANT GUILDS & CRAFT GUILDS- main kinds of guilds
-Primary function to restrict competition; set standards, prices for products
-Apprentice (12-16), Trainee, Unpaid, (Master) Required, Cannot Own
-Journeymen (19-older), Skilled Worker, paid by the day, Not Required, can own
 Towns get wealthier and sought independence from feudal lords
 Some towns became independent; bought royal charters
 Trade and Commerce- main drivers of town growth
 Merchant- became wealthier and powerful, dominated business life of town/cities
 Home and Households-
-Medieval towns- small and crowded, houses being made of wood with four stories
high
-crowded, dirty, noisy. Diseases spread rapidly (can’t be cured with medical
knowledge)
-Crime- is a problem and punished harshly (they need to buy their own food).
Different houses- for rich and poor
People in Middle Ages- believe in an orderly society which everyone knew their
place
 Opportunities Expand for Women and Serf
-Women had more opportunities in towns than in country
-Serf fled from the manor (large private house in the country) hoping to hide
safely in crowded towns and entitled freedom.
 Middle Class Develops
-made up of master artisans, merchants, their families
-life of the people in middle class is different from that of clergy and nobles
-no obligations to the Lord
-Active in town and business activities brough wealth to Town

HIGH MEDIEVAL
Medieval Age Timeline

500-1000 CE- Early Medieval

1000-1300 CE- High Medieval
1300=1500 CE- Late Medieval

High Medieval-
 usually begin with 11th- 13th century (1100-1300 CE)
  “flowering or flourishing of medieval society”
 What we think about medieval culture
LITERATURE- courtly love aka Amour Courtois

 Elevated the position of women in the society and established the motifs of the
romance genre (even at present).
 Featured a lady, usually married in some way inaccessible, who became the object
of a noble knight’s devotion, service and self-sacrifice
 An idealized and ten unattainable forms of love, characterized by devotion, chivalry,
poetic longing.
 Can be traced back to the troubadours
-Poet-musicians
-Created songs and poems about romantic love outside the bounds of marriage
-Portrayed a passionate and consuming affair between knight & married
noblewoman
 COMMON THEMES
- Admiration of the lady
- Obedience and humility
- Secrecy & discretion
- Courtly gestures & etiquette
- Unrequited love Example: Marie de France Lanval
-

 ARCHITECTURE
- Prominence of Gothic structures
- have huge stained-glass windows, pointed vaults, pointed arches, spires & flying
buttresses

- COMPONENTS
- Pointed arches
- Flying buttresses
- Tri-portal west facades
- Rib vaults
- Rose windows
-
Abbey Church Of Sant-Denis In France
- Building began in 1137 by Abbot Suger
- Complete in 13th century
- UNESCO heritage site

Notre Dame de Paris

- Building begun in 1163
- Completed circa 1345
- Got burned in 2019

CATHOLIC FAITH
- St. Francis of Assisi
- a man who abandoned life in luxury after imprisonment
- founded the Franciscan order (simple living)
 EDUCATION
- curriculum was tailored fit of the Seven Liberal Arts to the Catholic faith
- Seven Liberal Arts: Trivium & Quadrivium
- Trivium: Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic
- Quadrivium: Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, Music
- Medieval Univ: University of Paris, University of Oxford
-

THE CRUSADES

Background: The Crusades:

 A series of military campaigns initiated by the Pope and Christians of the

Western-Christian world
 8 major crusades were launched between 1095-1270, many were unofficial
 Seen as a form of redemption and atonement for their sins
Why it was initiated?

 Seljuk Turk wrested political authority from Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad and
further expansion.
 Originally Seljuk Turk vs. Fatimid of Egypt, but diverted to Turkman raids in
Anatolia and Byzantine
 After defeat of Byzantine army, Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes was captured
at Manzikert (1071)
 Alexius Comnenus- seek aid from West and it was ready to respond at 1095.
Clermont Council

 Held in November 1095 at a town in Cermont, Central France

 Participated by Bishops of Southern France, few representatives of Northern
France
 Promised all the participants a remission of their sins
AZTEC CIVILIZATION
GEOGRAPHY

 The Aztees settled in the Valley of Mexico on a small island in Lake Texcoco.
 They built the city of Tenochtitlan, now present-day Mexico City.
 Built chinampas or raised garden beds
RELIGION

 Polytheism- believe in 1,000 gods

 MAIN GODS-
- Huitzilopochtli (War)
- Tonatiuh (God of Sun)
- Tlaloc (Rain)
- Quetzalcoatl (Wind/Serpent/Bird)
 Practiced Human Sacrifice
ACHIEVEMENTS

 Canals and Aqueducts

 Bridges and Causeways
 Temple Mayor
 Pictograms
 Aztec Calendar

POLITICS

 By 1500’s, the Aztecs had great empire, ruled 6-12 million people
 They demanded tribute (taxes)
MONTEZUMA II- most famous Aztec emperor

- Father of Aztec Empire

- Empire into various provinces
- Military expansion

ECONOMICS

- Trading
- Cacao Beans as money

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

- Ruler/Emperors
- Government Officials, Priests, Military Leaders
- Commoners
- Peasants
- Slaves

RISE OF FALL OF THE AZTEC CIVILIZATION

Aztec- Tenocha or Mexica
 - Northern tribe of hunter-gatherers whose name came from their homeland
“Aztlan or White Land” in the Aztec language of Nahuatl.
- They saw an eagle perched on a cactus on the marshy land (southwest border of
Lake Texcoco, they took a sign to build their settlement.
- Sophisticated system of agriculture & military tradition allowed them to build a
successful empire
- 16th century- rule over up 500 small states

European Invasion and Fall of Aztec Civilization

Franisco Hernandez de Corboda-

- First European to visit Mexican Territory

- He prompted the Spanish governor, Diego Velasquez to send a larger force
back to Mexico under the command of Hernan Cortes
- Nov 1519, Cortes arrived in Tenochtitlan
- Believed to be God by Montezuma
- Conqueror of Aztec

WHY THE AZTEC CIVILIZATION FALL?

- Cortes founded the city of Veracruz on the southeastern Mexican coast, trained
his army into a disciplined fighting force
- Able to take Montezuma (entourage of lords hostage) gaining control of
Tenochtitlan
- Spaniards murdered Aztec nobles during ritual dance ceremony
- Montezuma died in custody (uncertain circumstances)
- Montezuma II, the ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, who was famous for his
confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes.
- European diseases like smallpox, mumps, and measles- powerful
weapons against local population
- Cuauhtemoc, Montezuma’s young nephew, took over as emperor, and Aztecs
drove the Spaniards from the city
- Aug 13, 1521- with the help of Aztecs native, Cortes mounted an offensive
against Tenochtitlan, finally defeating Cuauhtemoc’s resistance
- 240, 000 people died
- Cortes destroyed Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City on its ruins, become
premier European center the New World
MAYA CIVILIZATION

 Was a Mesoamerican civilization that existed from antiquity to the early

modern period
 Began 2000 BCE persisted until the arrival the Spanish in the 6th century
CE.
 Skilled in math, education, astronomy, astrology, agriculture, architecture
The Classic era spanned around 250 CE- 900 CE.

Where they LIVED?

 - Northwestern part of the isthmus of Central America , from Chiapas and
Yucatan, now part of Southern Mexico (thru Guatemala, Honduras, Belize,
El Salvador to Nicaragua.
RELIGION- polytheistic which they worshipped many gods
- Itzam Na (Creator God)
- Kinich Ahau (Sun God)
- An Puch (one of the several death gods)
- Buluc Chabtan (War God)
Animism- belief that all things, includes inanimate objects had a soul

ACHIEVEMENTS
- Astronomy
- Mathematics
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Writing
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Hieroglyphics
- Calendar
- Astronomy
- Mathematics
- Mica
- Ball Court
- Rubber (ball)
- Chicha Itzen Pyramid

POLITICS

- Hierarchical government ruled by kings and priests.

- Lived in Independent city states consist of rural and large urban
ceremonial centers
- Warfare- important role in religion power, prestiges
Strict laws
- Crimes such murder, arson, and acts against the god- punished with
death
- If crime was an accident- appear in court where local leaders/nobles
served as judge
ECONOMY- based on agriculture
- Crops like cassava (manioc), squash, beans, corn (maize)- staple crop
- The land of the Mayan culture- mountainous hillsides, swamps, rainforest,
Two kinds of GOODS
- Prestige items like jade, gold, copper, pottery, ritual items or other
practical items- can be used status symbol by Upper class maya
- Subsistence Items- daily basis such as good, clothing, tools, basic
pottery, salt, etc
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
- Highest class made up of nobility.
- Kings, Nobles, priests, scribbles, gov officials, elite warriors
 - Middle class- craftmens, traders, weavers, potters, other warriors
- Bottom part- farmers, workers, slaves
WHY DID IT FALL?
- Overpopulation
- Environmental Degredation
- Warfare, Shifting Trade Routes
- Extended Drought

INCAS CIVILIZATION (12th to 15 cen)

 Incas were indigenous people who lived in South America, near modern-day
Peru, next to Andres Mountains
 Developed in the Andes region of South America
 Grew larger military strength and diplomacy of emperors
INCA EMPIRE- kingdom that developed in the Andes region of South America and gradually
grew larger through military strength and diplomacy of their emperors
 Quipu- method of recording and communicating information using string and
knots
 Respected complementary gender roles
 Ayni- great communal concept
 Never had to worry about starvation
 Imperialists

GEOGRAPHY:
- Modern-day Peru, Ecuador, and part of Colombia

Four territories
- Chinchaysuyo (NORTH)
- Antisuyo (EAST)
- Collasuyo (SOUTH)
- Contisuyo (center of the empire)
RELIGION
- Polytheism and worshipped multiple gods
GODS:
- Inti- Sun
- Viracocha- Creator
- Ekkeko- Wealth
- Mama Killa- Moon, wife of Inti
- Illapa- Weather, Thunder, War
- Mama Cocha: Mother Sea
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- System of road and bridges
- Centralized economy
- Medicine
- Fortification and buildings
- Quipus
- Aqueducts and agricultural terraces
POLITICS:
- Monarchical and theocratic government- Inca emperor was maximum
figure because he symbolized the son of Sun God
- Tawantinsuyu- Inca government
- Sapa Inca- monarchy ruled by single leader

ECONOMY
- HIGHER POINTS- Grew crops like potatoes and
- lower points – Grew corn and raise llamas
- government controlled the economy and maintained trade
- Traded bronze, animals, crops, different tools
- Money or crops- had to pay taxes

INCA SOCIAL PYRAMID

Sapa Inca - King

Auqyi - son of Sapa
Coya - wife of Sapa
Nobility - members of theroyal blood
Hatun Runa - generalpublic or known as Ayllus
Yanaconas - prisoners
- The Fall of Inca Civilization
The collapse of the Inca Empire started when the Spaniards arrived in
Central America and transmitted their diseases to locals who spread
them to other parts of the continent including South America.
- The Incas resisted the conquerors for four decades until 1572 when
Tupac Amaru, son of Manco Inca and the last Inca ruler, was executed
along with his family and advisers, leaving no successor.