Eurasian Crisis Of The 13th And 14th Centuries

Question 1

There were many technological advancements for various societies, such as the Chinese, between 1000 and 1300. The advancement was to help them deal with the isolation issues. The Chinese invented the needle compass, which was essential during sea navigation. The intervention facilitated the long-distance trade through the use of the sea routes. Moreover, the isolated farmers in 1000 developed ships with a high carrying capacity to transport surplus cotton, linen, and rice via the sea. North Africa was geographically isolated during the 1000 period. The isolation suppressed the interregional trade. Therefore, the intraregional trade commenced during that period among the societies in Sub-Sahara Africa. The separation led to the invention of the societies. Also, new trade routes emerged during that period. However, isolation deterred communities from accessing the unique cultures and wealth. Greenland was economically isolated as a result of the decline in the demand for ivory. The foreign merchants during that period stopped visiting Greenland, which also contributed to their isolation. Maintenance of their culture and life was difficult, and they had to survive on one diet. Also, they engage in warfare with the surrounding community. The Norse colony disappeared because of monotonous life and diet. There is a high similarity between Mesoamerican cultures and Cahokia. For instance, the settlement of Mesoamerica is the same as that of Cahokia (Pauketat, T. R., & Emerson, T. E, 2000). The elaborated burials are another similarity between Cahokia and Mesoamerica. The Mesoamericans were involved in the Anasazi trade. The trade involved pottery, ornaments, and macaw feathers. North American agriculture techniques, crops, and religious customs are based on Mesoamerica. Europe and Japan adopted various technologies that enabled them to engage in long-distance trade. For example, Japan used Western mannerisms and encouraged its citizens to follow suit.

Question 4

The first crusade was initiated in 1096 to 1099 by the Pope Urban II. The crusade aimed to create a common enemy for the European nobles and the Christian rulers. The common enemy (Muslims) was the rulers of the Holy Land. Europe was more affected by the crusade than any other country (McGonigle, T. C., & Quigley, J. F, 1988). The demand for Asian products among the Europeans increases as a result of the Crusade. Egypt and the Syria sultan called Saladin emerged due to the Crusade hero. The Christian was freed in Jerusalem in 1187. The psychological impacts are the major effect of the Crusade on the Islamic world. The Islam were worried about the rapid invasion of the Mongol Empire. The major concern was on the suspension of the Baghdad. However, during the Ayn Jalut Battle, the Mamluks defeated the Mongols (Amitai-Preiss, 2014). Christianity spread faster in Spain despite the obstacles because they were treated better than expected. The origin of the Muslims to West Africa is ascribed to commerce and trade between the Mediterranean and West Africa.

Assignment: Part 2

Question 1

Genghis Khan’s Empire was the largest in world history. The empire ruled Indochina, Mongolia, the Middle East, Iran, Russia, China, and Japan. The effort and brilliance of Genghis Khan’s Grandson and sons contributed to the expansion of the empire (Craughwell, 2010). The spread of the Mongolian Empire was at a high rate between 1206 and 1368. The expansion of the Mongol empire has both negative and positive impacts. The Mongol Empire confiscated livestock and crops during the invasion of the empire into the countries of Europe. Also, the majority of people were murdered when they tried to resist. Lastly, the bubonic plague spread to Eastern Europe and Central Asia as a result of the restoration of the new trading routes by the Mongol Empire. On the positive side, the new trade routes opened. For instance, the Silk Route that connects Europe and China led to the exchange of wealth and cultures. The explorers, missionaries, and monks were allowed by Pax Mongolica to use the road. The most important legacy left behind by Genghis was to make a landlocked country powerful and, hence, regarded as a hero. However, the way he enslaved individuals was one of his negative legacies. Genghis was the only non-Russian leader that controlled them during winter. The incompetence of leadership and conflict between the generals and princess weakens the Mongol powers. The tactics and weapons used by Mongolia were being adopted by the rivals, which further weakened the empire. North India’s power balance changed due to the Mongol invasion (Roux, J.-P., & Ballas, T., 2003). The political structure of South Asia and Japan shifted to a social hierarchy that was closed as a result of the Mongol expansion.

Question 2

The encroachment of the deadly plague during medieval times is attributed to changes in climate patterns. The infected flea acted as a vector for the disease. The causative agent was Yersinia pestis. Europe was severely affected by the Black Death. Approximately a third of the people in Europe lost their lives from the Black Death. However, the United States gained from the plague since mercantilism emerged during that period. It is a form of capitalism where the majority of one party wins more from trade. England established 13 colonies for America that perpetuated capitalism. The effect of the plague on the Jews was minimal compared to other individuals. Therefore, Europeans blamed them. Europe thought the Jews had intentionally poisoned wells with the disease. Generations during medieval times dealt with the plague in different ways. Some of the contemporaries turned to religion for protection, while others, specifically Christians, killed Jews since they thought they were the ones responsible for the epidemic. The social structure of Europe changed due to the Black Death calamity. The Catholic Church was adversely affected during this period. The population of China and the Middle East has drastically reduced.

Question 4

Medieval science: Europe did not have the best doctors and scientists during the medieval period. The south and east of the Islamic Empire were the hub for the professions during the Middle Ages. The medicine and science knowledge in Europe was outsourced from Islamic doctors and scientists. People considered scientific observation as an integral aspect of medieval Europe. Both astronomy and plants were studied (Byrne, 2004). The Europeans acquired knowledge of the astrolabe, which was the Spanish astronomer. Moreover, understand the science of the compass and the air balloon from Mongolia. Mongolia gained the knowledge from the Chinese. Alchemy is the root of today’s chemistry learned in Europe. The primary research among the alchemist is to obtain gold from lead and find out the mechanism that will make a person live forever. The same concept is used to research the agents that reduce ageing (Janin, 2005).

Medieval art: Medieval art is a mixture of Islamic, German, and Roman art that occurred in Europe during the Middle Ages. Gothic art, Romanesque, and Early Medieval are the divisions of medieval art according to art historians. South Europe experience the Gothic and Romanesque earlier than southern Europe. The Roman church’s styles were based on the Early Medieval art. Today, Catholic churches in Europe have the same artistic future.

References

Amitai-Preiss, R. (2014). Mongols and Mamluks: : The Mamluk-Īlkhānid war. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Byrne, J. P. (2004). The black death. Westport. Conn: Greenwood Press.

Craughwell, T. J. (2010). The rise and fall of the second largest empire in history: How Genghis Khan’s Mongols almost conquered the world. Beverly, Mass: Fair Winds Press.

Janin, H. (2005). The pursuit of learning in the Islamic world, 610-2003. Jefferson, N.C.(Estados Unidos). London: McFarland & Company.

McGonigle, T. C., & Quigley, J. F. (1988). A history of the Christian tradition. New York: Paulist Press.

Pauketat, T. R., & Emerson, T. E. (2000). Cahokia: Domination and ideology in the Mississippian world. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Roux, J.-P., & Ballas, T. (2003). Genghis Khan and the Mongol empire. New York: Harry N. Abrams.