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Period: 330 to 1453
Byzantine Empire
Location: Eastern Mediterranean, Asia Minor
Eastern Roman Empire
Founded Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Constantinople: strategic location; Religious, political, trade capital
Important Rulers: Constantine, Justinian -
Period: 618 to 1279
Tang and Song Dynasties
Location: China
Golden Ages of Chinese History
Porcelain chinaware, poetry become popular
Confucianism was the foundation of government
Tang built Great Canal
Song developed magnetic compass, paper money, military gunpowder
Participated in international trade networks -
Period: 661 to 750
Umayyad Dynasty
Location: Middle East, Northern Africa, Iberian Penninsula
Capital: Mecca-> Syria
Developed centralized Islamic political state
Imperial government controlled by Caliph
Social Heirarchy: Arabs>nonArabs -
Period: 700 to 1240
Kingdom of Ghana
Location: Northwest Africa
Traded gold and salt
Relied on Berber Caravans for trade and prosperity -
Period: 750 to 1258
Abbasid Dynasty
Location:
Capital: Syria-> Baghdad
Overthrew Umayyad Caliphate
Dynastic, centralized government
More inclusive social hierarchy: Arabs=non Arabs
Influenced by Persians -
Period: 750 to 887
Carolingian Kingdom
Location: Western Europe
Frankish Kingdom
Charlemagne extended Frankish rule over Gaul, Germany, Italy
Allied with Roman Catholic Papacy -
Period: 1206 to 1368
Mongol Empire
Location: SE Asia, Central Europe
Largest continuous empire
Founded by Chinggis Khan
Powerful military: used horses and archery
Brought peace, stability, and unity to region despite violent tactics
Helped reestablish Silk Road trade
Empire divided into 4 Khanates when Chinggis died: The Ilkhanate of Persia, the Chagatai Khanate, the Yuan Dynasty, and the Golden Horde -
Period: 1206 to 1526
Delhi Sultanate
Location: Indian Subcontinent
A Muslim Kingdom
Ruled by Sultans
Turks protected India from Mongol Invasion
Blended Hindu and Muslim culture
Ended by cruel Tamerlane -
Period: 1230 to
Mali Empire
Location: West Africa
Very large and wealthy empire
Monarchy ruled by a Mansa
Consisted of many small kingdoms that offered tribute
Empire prospered because it controlled and taxed trade
Mansa Musa made pilgrimage to Mecca, gave so much gold along the way that the price dropped -
Period: 1345 to 1521
Aztec Empire
Location: Mexico
Tenochtitlán: Religious, political, trading capital
Religion: Native mytholgy inspired by nature
Ritual human sacrifice
Large powerful army due to required male conscription
Built water canals that irrigated chinampas -
Period: 1400 to 1532
Inca Empire
Location: West Coast of South America
Cuzco: religious, political capital
Impressive building: Inca Road Network, terraces, Machu Pichu
Used quipo counting system of knots and strings for record keeping