World History: Middle East and Global Interactions

Introduction to Islam and Its Geography

• Dominance of Islam: By 1200, Islam becomes the dominant culture in the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain.
• Trade Influence: Islam controls crucial trade crossroads, notably the Silk Road and Indian Ocean.
• Muslim Merchants: Often minorities, living in small urban diasporic communities along trade routes in China, South Asia, Southeast Asia.

Political Systems

• Diverse Muslim States: Various Muslim states often conflicted despite shared religion.
• Caliph Claims: Many leaders claim the title of Caliph, considered the head of all Muslims.
• Empires and Conflicts: Conflicts arise between various Muslim groups building empires.
• Example: Abbasid Caliphate—a model of a Muslim empire tolerant of non-Muslims if they paid the Jizya tax.

Islamic Economics

• Trade Prowess: Muslim groups engage extensively in global trade on the Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan routes.
• Economic Centers: Muslim-controlled cities develop along trade routes.
• Merchant Honor: Merchants and artisans are highly respected professions.

Religion and Social Aspects

• Islam's Foundation: Founded by Muhammad in the 7th century, Islam is monotheistic and the world’s second-largest religion.
• 5 Pillars of Islam: Faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and alms.
• Cultural Traits: Alcohol and pork forbidden, depictions of Muhammad and Allah forbidden.
• Diversity: Missionary religion with diverse ethnic and linguistic followers spreading Arabic.

Islamic Innovations

• Trade Enhancements: Innovations aimed at boosting trade, e.g., caravanserais.
• Mathematics: Advances include algebra and trigonometry credited to Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.

Arts and Architecture

• Design Elements: Known for domes, arches, and intricate patterns in architecture.

Important Historical Dates

• Key Assessments: Upcoming assessments include short-answer questions and a period test.

East Asia

• Geographical Isolation: South Asia is geographically isolated due to mountains and oceans.
• Political Structure: Characterized by smaller kingdoms and rare emergence of empires like the Delhi Sultanate.

Economics and Religion in South Asia

• Trade: Involved in long-distance trade, focusing on luxury goods like textiles and spices.
• Religions: Dominated by Hinduism, with Buddhism declining but spreading elsewhere. Islam spreads via conquest and trade.
• Sufism: A significant mystical movement in spreading Islam.

African Influence and Trade

• Geography: East and West Africa are central to regional trade with distinct political structures.
• Economic Relations: Engaged in the Indian Ocean trade, exporting gold, salt, lumber, etc.
• Religion: Islam spreads via trade routes, with a unique blend of Islamic and native practices.

Historical Thinking Skills

• Comparison: Evaluating historical developments across regions and times.
• Continuity and Change: Analyzing patterns over time and their larger implications.
• Causation: Examining cause and effect relationships in history.

Indian Ocean Trading Route

• Connectivity: Connects various regions, facilitating the trade of heavier goods by ship.
• Spread of Culture: Promotes the exchange of luxury goods, culture, and technology.
• Monsoon Winds: Critical in enabling predictable maritime trade.

Mongol Empire

• Genghis Khan’s Empire: Largest empire in history, noted for its significant influence on Eurasian trade and culture.
• Political Structure: Utilized existing systems of governance, promoting tolerance and self-rule.
• Economic Impact: Enhanced Silk Road trade, introducing Chinese currency for trade.
• Cultural Assimilation: Mongols adopted religions of conquered areas and facilitated widespread cultural exchanges.

The Black Plague

• Spread by Mongols: Conquests helped disseminate the plague across Eurasia.

Europe (1200-1450)

• Economic Systems: Predominantly subsistence farming with minimal trade.
• Religious Practices: Dominated by Christianity, with Islam present in Spain.
• Social Structure: Defined by feudal systems and rigid hierarchies.
• Crusades: European interactions with advanced societies led to an influx of new ideas and technologies.

South America: The Incas

• Political and Economic Systems: Complex administrative systems with significant trade and agricultural practices.
• Cultural Traits: Polytheistic religion, significant monumental architecture facilitated by the Mita system.

Exploration and Expansion (1450-1750)

• European Maritime Empires: Driven by exploration, leading to global empires by Portugal, Spain, and others.
• Trading Post Empires: Controlled trade routes and taxed merchants, contrasting with earlier open trade.

Global Labor Systems

• Chattel Slavery and Encomienda: Systems exploiting labor for economic gain in the New World.
• Mita System: Adapted by the Spanish from indigenous practices for forced labor.

American Revolution

• Causes: Economic pressures, Enlightenment ideals, and conflicts like the Seven Years War.
• Outcome: Establishment of a republic based on Enlightenment principles.

French and Haitian Revolutions

• French Revolution: Driven by economic distress, political strife, and Enlightenment ideals.
• Haitian Revolution: Successful slave rebellion leading to independence, inspired by earlier revolutions.

Latin American Independence

• Influences: Inspired by Enlightenment and other revolutions, leading to independence from colonial powers.
• Key Figures: Simon Bolivar's efforts in South America.

Ideological Shifts and Imperialism

• Imperialism Justifications: Driven by ideologies like Social Darwinism and the Civilizing Mission.
• American and Japanese Imperialism: Expansion of global influence through territorial acquisitions and economic control.