Postclassical+Unit+Overview

=Overview of Postclassical Unit: 600 CE - 1450 CE=

__Unit Snapshot:__
Classical Mayan city-states Polynesian migrations to Central Mexico Decline of Teotihuacan in Central Mexico Early inter-regional trade routes, Interactions: Indian Ocean, Transaharan Africa, Silk Roads Early Ghana Empire- first west African advanced/urban culture Early Anasazi culture in SW N. America Sui Dynasty- China (Tang Dynasty soon to follow) Polytheistic and animist N. Africa and SW Asia Byzantine Empire- former E. Roman Empire, continues many Roman Cultural characteristics Early Feudalistic, Christian Western Europe after fall of W. Roman Empire; cultural and technological Empire

__Key Events and Patterns:__
Origins and Diffusion of Islam Turkic conquest of India (creating Muslim, Delhi Sultanate) Networks, population growth, and agricultural improvements led to new regional states in W. Europe, Americas, smaller states in Polynesia Russian Tsars convert to Christianity Diffusion of Indian mathematics to Arabs Mongol conquests of Song China, much of Eurasia (Russia & Ukraine) Crusades Papal/European Monarch conflict, "investiture controversy" Nomadic Turkic gradual conquest of fragmented Abbassid (first Muslim) caliphate Rise and decline of Mali Travels of Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo Swahili dominance of E. African trade Viking dispersed settlements and intermarriage Black Death, Bubonic Plague diffuses from Asia to Europe and Africa

__Continuities:__
European and Japanese Feudalism Mixture of African agricultural, nomadic, and urban cultures Slavery Patriarchy Nomadic conflict with settled, advanced, urban cultures (civilizations) Minimal environmental change, except some deforestation in Europe Chinese cultural paterns and dynastic cycles Major city centers of trade and culture

__Changes:__
Increase in long distance trade, interactions if Indian Ocean and trans-Saharan trade routes, creating new trade Revival of earlier Silk Roads trade and interactions (under Mongol protection) Expanding religious, cultural, and political influence of Arab Islam continues Eurasian and African shift from polytheism to monotheism Bantu Migrations Diffusion and expansion of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism Song restrictions on women's legal rights; footbinding Early European Renaissance Long-distance trade from Mesoamerica to N. America