1. Unit II: 600-1450 The Travelers

3. Marco Polo (1254-1324), is probably the most famous Westerner traveled on the Silk Road. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. His journey through Asia lasted 24 years. He reached further than any of his predecessors, beyond Mongolia to China. He became a confidant of Kublai Khan (1214-1294). He traveled the whole of China and returned to tell the tale, which became the greatest travelogue.

5. Ibn Battuta was born at Tangier, Morocco, in 1304 C.E. He began to travel when he was twenty one years of age. His travels lasted for about 30 years, after which he returned to Fez, Morocco at the court of the Sultan and dictated accounts of his journeys, the famous Travels of Ibn Battuta. He died in 1369. Ibn Battuta was the only medieval traveler who is known to have visited the lands of every Muslim ruler of his time. He also traveled in Ceylon, China, Byzantium and South Russia. The mere extent of his travels is estimated at no less than 75,000 miles, a figure which is not likely to have been surpassed before the age of steam.

6. This is a map of the Muslim World about 1300. Ibn Battuta mainly traveled in the area surrounded by the green line - countries with Muslim governments. Beyond that, Muslim traders had already ventured out into China, Indonesia and further, and had established small Muslim communities in more regions of the world. Ibn Battuta would seldom be far from fellow Muslims on his travels, and he would greatly benefit from the charity and hospitality offered to Muslim travelers and pilgrims. The Travels of Ibn Battuta

8. He was a Franciscan missionary, traveler and statesman, founder of the earliest Roman Catholic missions in India and China, and archbishop of Peking. He was born in 1246 at Montecorvino, Southern Italy and died at Peking, in 1328. In 1289 John revisited the Papal Court and was sent out to meet with the Great Khan, the Ilkhan of Persia and other leading leaders of the Mongol world. He translated the New Testament into Turkish and built several churches in China. He claimed to have baptized six thousand people.

9. A Nestorian Christian priest born in the Mongol Capital of Khanbaliq but of Turkish ancestry. He was sent by the Mongol Ilkhan of Persia as an envoy to the pope and European leaders. In 1287, the Mongols were planning to invade the Muslim held lands of southwest Asia, capture Jerusalem, and crush the Islamic Empire. He met with the kings of France and England, the pope, and other high officials. He enjoyed a fine reception but could not gain an alliance with them. In 1295, Ghazan, the new Ilkhan of Persia, converted to Islam.

10. Reasons: Commercial, political, militaristic, diplomatic, or Missionary Cultural Diffusion : Songs, stories, religious ideas, philosophical views, and technological and scientific knowledge. (Compass) Spread of Crops : Muslims introduced Citrus fruits, rice, and cotton to west and Sub-Saharan Africa. They also brought sugarcane to southwest Asia and north Africa. Europeans brought sugarcane to Mediterranean islands of Sicily, Cyprus, and Crete. (Led to use of slave labor)

11. Spread and development of gunpowder: Mongol invaders learned about gunpowder in China and by 1214, they had an artillery unit in their army. They used catapults to lob powder bombs into cities. Muslim armies soon developed similar weapons. By 1258, gunpowder had reached Europe, who began making gunpowder-fueled rockets and cannons. Result: Cultural Diffusion led to increased population, promoted economic development, enabled mariners and explorers to travel more safely and efficiently, and changed the nature of warfare.

13. Ming China Political Development Mongols collapsed in 1368. Hongwu established the Ming Dynasty. Erase memory of Mongol occupation. Strict centralized government – eliminated chief minister position. Confucian education and civil service reinstated. Private merchants traded and manufactured porcelain, silk, and cotton. Ming “Brilliant” Dynasty lasted until 1644. Mandarins and Eunuchs Mandarins were a special class of powerful officials sent out as emissaries to ensure that local officials follow imperial policies. Eunuchs were relied on for government services and enhanced the authority of the central government.

14. Intellectual Development Neo-Confucianism promoted Yongle Encyclopedia promoted Chinese traditions. Jesuit missionaries (Mateo Ricci) introduce European technology and beliefs. Wider production of printed materials. Novels written in Chinese. Economic Development Conscripted workers to rebuild irrigation systems to increase agricultural production Promoted manufacturing of porcelain, lacquerware, silk and cotton textiles. Domestic trade increased. Chinese cultural revival – promoted cultural traditions and discouraged Mongol names and dress

15. Exploration “ Comeback Back” Tours (7 between 1405 -1433). Massive naval and trade fleet headed by Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim eunuch. Established tributary relations with regions throughout the eastern hemisphere. Voyages ended in 1433 as Confucian bureaucrats claimed foreign interests had no value to China and military resources should be directed towards protecting northern frontier from attack. Recovery in China Ming China

17. Zheng He (1371-1435), or Cheng Ho, is arguably China's most famous navigator. Starting from the beginning of the 15th Century, he traveled to the West seven times. For 28 years, he traveled more than 50,000km and visited over 30 countries, including Singapore. Zheng He died in 1435. In all, Zheng He made seven wondrous voyages of discovery between 1405 and 1433. His achievements show that China had the ships and navigational skills to explore the world. Mysteriously, China did not follow up on these voyages. The Chinese destroyed their ocean going ships and halted further expeditions. Thus, a century later, Europeans would "discover" China, instead of the Chinese "discovering" Europe.

18. The flagship of the fleet was a nine-masted vessel measuring 440 feet. In comparison, Columbus’ St. Maria was eighty-five feet.

19. Trade Fairs and the Growth of Cities Most trade took place in towns. Peasants from nearby manors traveled to town on fair days, hauling items to trade. Cloth was the most common trade item. Other items included bacon, salt, honey, cheese, wine, leather, dyes, knives and ropes. Such local fairs met all the needs of daily life for a small community. No longer was everything being produced on a self-sufficient manor. Great fairs were made possible by the guilds which controlled the crafts and trade. A guild was an association of people who worked at the same occupation. In medieval towns, guilds controlled all the wages and prices in their craft. By the later Middle Ages, trade was the very lifeblood of the new towns which sprang up at ports, at crossroads and along rivers. People were no longer content with their old feudal existence. Even though they were legally bound to their lord’s manor, many serfs ran away to live within the growing towns and cities. Some of the largest trading cities to develop included Flanders, Genoa, Lisbon, Florence, Venice and Constantinople. Economic Recovery in Europe

21. The Crusades had the affect of reopening some of the trade routes. During the crusades both men and supplies were carried back and forth from Europe to Palestine. The Italian cities of Venice, Genoa and Pisa carried on most of this trade. The Italian ships traveled across the Mediterranean Sea to the Near East and carried back goods that came from as far away as India and China. From Italy, other European traders took the goods and traded them all over Europe. Italian Trade Of course, the Italians needed something worth while to trade. At first they only had raw materials to trade. Soon though, they learned to make products to trade. They made woolen and silk cloth, metal ware, glassware and leather goods. The Italian traders not only traded with Europe but they sent their ships around to England and northern Europe from which the Italian ships brought back furs, wood, grain, copper and fish. Key centers of trade developed in the city-states of Milan, Florence and Venice. Economic Recovery in Europe

22. What was the focus of the Venetian Economy?

23. In the High Middle Ages, Venice became extremely wealthy through its control of trade between Europe and the Levant (Mediterranean lands east of Italy) and began to expand into the Adriatic Sea and beyond.

24. What would be a good mascot or symbol for the Venetian city-state?

25. Why does a maritime city like Venice have a Winged Lion as its sacred symbol? How about a Winged Lion?

26. St. Mark Venetian Merchants wanted to put Venice on the map! They decided to go to Alexandria and take the remains of St.Mark. They covered the remains with pork so the Ottoman officials would not take it! Then they sailed home, presented the remains to the Doge, and St. Mark became the Patron Saint of Venice.

27. Map of Venice, c. 1000 AD. Republic is in dark red, land borders in light red, approximated sea borders in dotted light red.

28. During the sixteenth century, the manufacture of silk and woolen textiles developed rapidly in the Republic. Venice exported silk and wool textiles, dyed by a special method, throughout Europe. Venetian glass was particularly famous. A special high quality type of glass and a unique range of colors were developed at the glassworks of Murano , near Venice. Chemical industries were also developed, producing sugar and soap, and the city was famous both for its metalwork and as a center of printing.

29. How does this paining reflect how the Venetians thought of themselves?

30. What symbols do you see in this painting Neptune and Mars helping to protect Venice. Winged Lion of St.Mark also watches over the city-state. The Campanile, Bell Tower in St. Mark’s Square, has become a famous landmark of Venice. .

31. Who do you suppose had an influence on Venetian art and architecture? Venetian art and architecture is inspired by Gothic Cathedrals, Byzantine mosaics and domes, Renaissance and Baroque ideals, and Muslim influences.

32. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Venice was the capital of the independent Venetian Republic. It was ruled by the Doge and a council with ten members (dieci), who helped to manage the state's affairs. The Doge was elected by the council of state, which was made up of representatives of rich and noble families. The Venetian Rublica, La Serenissima

33. La Serenissima What do you think was the purpose of this bridge and relief sculpture?

35. The Hanseatic League In the 1100’s group of traders and merchants in medieval North German towns joined together to form an association. The league formed because central governments of the medieval period were weak, so there were no navies and no international law regulating trade. As a result, merchants in trading towns needed a way to protect their interests, and banded A depiction of Hamburg, a Hanseatic trading city. together. In order to obtain security, exclusive trading rights, and possibly a monopoly on trades, the towns drew closer together. By the mid-1300’s, many northern German towns, including Lubeck and Hanburg, were members of the Hanseatic League. Eventually the league was able to monopolize (control) trade in the Baltic and North Seas. It worked to make navigation safer by controlling piracy, building lighthouses, and training sailors. Economic Recovery in Europe

37. The Portuguese Spice Trade During the Middle Ages, spices such as pepper and cinnamon were extremely valuable. Spices could be used for many things; such as to preserve and favor meat, in perfumes, and in medicines. Their value prompted many people to risk their lives traveling to Asia to obtain them. When the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire and blocked traders from crossing Eastern Europe and the Middle East into Asia, Europeans looked for new sea routes to the East. In the early 1400’s, Portugal began to explore Africa to find a direct sea route to Asia and its riches. Prince Henry the Navigator founded a school for navigational studies and expedition planning. From the late 15th century, the Portuguese dominated trade with the Arabs on Africa's east coast. Portuguese explorers eventually rounded the tip of Africa, and established trading posts in Africa, India, Japan, and China. Trade, especially the spice trade, brought great wealth to Portugal. Portuguese trade in China Economic Recovery in Europe

38. Portuguese Spice Trade The map above shows the voyages of Vasco Da Gama, who was able to reach India by sea and gain access to the Spice Islands.