Diverse interpretations

600 C.E.–1450

1. Diverse interpretations
   1. What are the issues involved in using cultural areas rather than states as units of analysis?
      1. Political boundaries
         1. Yes, they might have centralized government, but…different people forced to live together
         2. More centralized you get, the more organized you are, but…cultures oftentimes keep people united more than government
         3. Political boundaries oftentimes based on convenient geographic factors, but don’t take cultural differences into account
      2. Cultural Boundaries
         1. During post-classical era – easier to write about regions in terms of cultural areas
            1. Muslim World
            2. Jewish Community
         2. Religion a good way to divide
            1. Christian sphere, Islamic sphere, Hindu sphere, Buddhist sphere
            2. but…some overlap (Confucianism and Buddhism)
            3. and…some are quite different (Eastern Europe vs. Western Europe)
         3. Consider grouping the world into cultures that interacted vs. cultures that didn’t
   2. What are the sources of change: nomadic migrations versus urban growth?
      1. Nomadic Migrations
      2. Urban Growth
         1. As populations grew, people needed to spread out
            1. Made more crowded conditions on manor/in cities
         2. Creation of guilds – labor groups that maintain monopoly
            1. Restricted membership, established prices/quality standards
         3. Cities become larger, more opportunities
            1. Pulled more from the countryside
            2. Cities also grew because they were established as centers of civilization
               1. Constantinople – built to be city center
            3. Capitals created to create aura of rising empire
               1. Islamic Empire moves to Baghdad
               2. Japan moves to Heian
               3. Mongols built Smarkand
            4. Location of universities
            5. Leads to more cultural diffusion
               1. People who would have never interacted, now interact
         4. Pilgrimages – constantly on move
            1. Rome/Constantinople attracted to huge cathedrals
            2. Islamic trip to Mecca most significant
               1. From vast reaches of Islamic empire to Mecca
               2. Think of Mansa Musa
         5. Growth of cities due to increased trade
            1. Towns located near rivers/waterways
            2. Became marketplaces where goods could be sold
         6. But…overcrowded, polluted, people lived in abject poverty
         7. Benefit – immunity from feudal obligations
            1. Year and a day rule
         8. Urbanization in high Middle Ages
            1. service providers/craftspeople set up businesses in towns – stimulates growth
               1. barbers, blacksmiths, coopers (barrels), jewelers, tanners, innkeepers, wine/beer merchants
            2. Cities had to plan growth, regulate business, collect taxes
            3. Wealthy towns in Italy invested in new buildings/statuary for beautification
   3. Was there a world economic network in this period?
      1. By 1200 CE, the world was very interconnected
         1. Europe trading with Islamic world and Russia
         2. Islamic world trading with Africa, India, China
         3. India trading with China, East Africa
         4. China trading with Japan/S. East Europe
         5. So….goods could go from England to Persia to India to Japan or
            1. Muscovy to Mali
         6. not controlled by one entity/one trading organization
            1. Web of interconnected parts
            2. Lots of managers at each site
      2. But…is it direct/indirect trade
         1. Many intermediaries
         2. Europe dependent on Silk Road/nomadic leaders
            1. Can be shut down easily due to ruling parties
         3. The Americas? Australia? Southern Africa? If 3 of 7 continents not involved…?
   4. Were there common patterns in the new opportunities available to and constraints placed on elite women in this period?
      Overview – could play key political, social, economic roles, but conduct strictly regulated
      1. Europe
         1. Negatives
            1. Chivalry – idea that women are delicate, beautiful, need to be protected
            2. Traditional roles of homemaker/childcare provider
            3. Code of chivalry reinforced women as weak/subordinate
         2. Positives
            1. Could exert great deal of political and cultural influence
               1. Aristocratic heir to rich property/kingdom > extremely important
            2. Managed estates and accounts in men’s absence
            3. Mothers of young kings whose father’s died served as regents/advisors
            4. Some non Germanic kingdoms could see women take throne
            5. Eleanor of Aquitaine – richest heiress of France
               1. Married to Louis VII of France
               2. Henry II of medieval England
            6. Convents offered women opportunities
               1. Service in communities
            7. Women in towns a bit more freedom
               1. Allowed to participate in trade/craft guilds
      2. China
         1. Negatives
            1. Subject to restrictions
            2. Women needed to produce dowry
            3. Marriages made to benefit groom
            4. Foot-binding – crippling to look tiny/dainty
         2. Positives
            1. Inheritance and property rights
            2. Retained control of dowry after divorce/husband’s death