32. In the Middle Ages the Arabs made known throughout Muslim Spain a material which was to replace all its predecessors. This was paper, whose manufacture they imported from far distant and mysterious realm of China. The first paper appeared in China about 200 BC. Its name is derived from papyrus. Silk was transformed into paper by a process of pasting, but because silk was expensive, wool and cotton came to be used instead. This invention was attributed to Ts'ai Lun. In the picture above, the manufacturing process used by the Chinese. They steeped mulberry or bamboo bark in water, then kneaded it to produce a paste from which they obtained smooth thin sheets of paper.
87. What were the basic characteristics of the Olmec? Large wave of humans traveled from Siberia to Alaska around 13,000 B.C.E. By 9500 B.C.E., humans reached the southernmost part of South America Early agriculture: beans, squashes, chilis; later, maize became the staple (5000 B.C.E.) Agricultural villages appeared after 3000 B.C.E. Olmecs, the "rubber people,"lived near the Gulf of Mexico (1200 B.C.E. ) Elaborate complexes built The colossal human heads--possibly likenesses of rulers Rulers' power shown in construction of huge pyramids Trade in jade and obsidian Influence of Olmec: maize, ceremonial centers, calendar, human sacrifice, ball game
88. What were the characteristics of the Tang and Song Dynasties? See Sarah and Linda’s documentary.
89. What was the role of women in the Tang and Sang Dynasties? Strengthened patriarchy authority explained the popularity of foot binding which spread among privileged classes during the Song era. Like the practice of veiling women in the Islamic world, foot binding placed women of privileged classes under tight supervision of their husbands or other male guardians, who managed the women’s affairs in the interests of the larger family.
90.
91. Describe Japan during the Heian era. 794-1185 C.E. Japanese emperors served as ceremonial figureheads and symbols of authority. Effective power in the hands of the Fujiwara family. Emperor did not rule, which explains the longevity of the imperial house . Chinese learning dominated Japanese education and political thought. The Tale of Genji was written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu .
92. How was Genghis Khan able to build one of history’s largest empires? He formed an alliance with a prominent Mongol clan leader in the late 12 th century. He mastered the art of steppe diplomacy which called for displays of personal courage in battle, combined with intense loyalty to allies, as well as a willingness to betray allies to improve one’s position. He mistrusted the tribes and broke up the tribal organization. He forced men of fighting age to join new military units with no tribal affiliations. He chose high military and political officials not on the basis of kinship or tribal status, but rather because of their talents or their loyalty to him. He establish a capital at Karakorum, present-day Har Horin and built a luxurious palace. The early Mongol armies were large. They were also talented cavalrymen and archers. They were also quick to adopt military technology.
93. What was the impact of Mongol conquest? By Genghis Khan’s death in 1227, the Mongols controlled a large state encompassing present-day Mongolia, much of Central Asia, and northern and Western China. From 1237-1240, the Mongols conquered most of Russia and Ukraine. The Mongols invaded the Middle East in the 1250’s, toppling the Abbasid Caiphate in 1258 and advancing until 1260. Mongols imposed a single political authority, encouraged economic exchange, made travel conditions safer, and imposed legal order. The Silk Road flourished, and cities like Samarkand became crucial economic centers, with merchants, missionaries, and travelers of all professions and ethnicities passing through. Many historians refer to this brief semi-unification of Eurasia as the Pax Mongolica, or Mongol Peace.
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