-founded by Kubilai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan)

-The Yuan Dynasty introduced Mongol customs

-This dynasty expanded trade along the Silk road

• Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

-Emerged after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty

-Led by Zhu Yuanzhang

-The Ming dynasty focused on re-establishing Chinese rule and were less open to foreign influence

-Promoted Confucianism 

• Trade networks continued to flourish across East Asia during this time period. The silk road remained a vital trading channel for culture, goods, and ideas between China, Central Asia, and Europe. 

• The religion of Buddhism remained influential, particulary in Korea, Japan, and China. 

• Founded in 1501 and spread through the Middle East with the goal of spreading Shia Islam

• Abbas the Great was known for his religious tolerance and for strengthening the Safavids by kicking out Ottomans from their territory in Persia.

• Isfahan was the capital of the Safavid empire and was known for its economic center and cultural architecture in its mosques.

Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire, located in Modern Turkey today, was known as the successor to the Byzantine Empire due to its immensense rule over the Middle East and power over Constantinople.

• Mehmed II was known for his leadership in conquering Constantinople and ending the Byzantines.

• Janissaries were soldiers of the Ottoman Empire and acted as the backbone of the empire, allowing the Ottomans to expand further.

• Under control of Europe (including many empires like the Aztecs and Incas)

• Did not have their own political organization as they were controlled by Europeans

Empire Belief Systems

• Catholicism - spread through the European expansion (through Spain and Portugal)

• Present almost everywhere in America during 1450-1750

Technological Innovations

• Inspired by European technological innovations (compass and ships)

Exploration

• America opened up to many other civilizations in the world - Europe, Africa, and Asia

• Allowed for more trade to occur, also causing diseases to travel as well

Internal and External Challenges to Power

• Harsh treatment of peasants and slaves - led to rebellions

• Diseases spread with the Columbian Exchange and increase in trade, leading to population decline and the need for the slave trade

• 1492: Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas

• Spain and Portugal expanded as well

  
  

Empire Administration

• Mercantilism; more exports than imports so empires make the most profit

• Absolute monarchy and centralized bureaucracy in empires

Empire Belief Systems

• Roman Catholicism

• Lutherism: only the Bible is the authoritative source for the Christian faith; initiated by Martin Luther

• Calvinism: God and only God has full power over everything
  

Technological Innovations

• Navigation instruments and advanced ship-building

• Printing press

  
  

Exploration

• Renaissance (1490s - 1520s): Non-religious art - more secular art type

• Protestant Reformation (1517 - 1648): Reform to pull churches back from abusing their power

• Scientific Revolution (1500 - 1700): New philosophers and scientists advanced science

• Enlightenment (1685 - 1815): Relationship between government and state, more reason-based thinking, and individualism

Internal and External Challenges to Power

• Religious issues due to the Protestant Reformation

• Merchant class rising - social hierarchy challenges

• Harsh living conditions and high taxes lead to peasant rebellions

• Outside forces (Safavids, Mughals, and Ottoman Empire) - all forces against Europe

Replaced mayan empire, ends in 1150 used obsidian mines and traded with mississippians. 

• Aztec Empire 1428-1521

  • Nomadic people that rose to power after the fall of the Toltecs

  • Used military power and alliances to rise to power, controlled the valley of mexico 1430s

  • 1434 Tenochtitlan allies with two other city states to control the central plateau

  • capital Tenochtitlan in lake, massive city that was the center of aztec power founded 1325

  • Very militaristic and driven by religion, regular human sacrifice, required war for victims

  • Economy based on tribute of conquered states, used chinampas to increase agriculture

• Inca empire 1438-1532

  • 1438 Inca in cuzco defeated hostile neighbors, under pachacuti begin military campaign

  • Twantinsuyu 1493-1527 successor of pachacuti (1438-1471), controlled  from columbia to chile. 

  • Very expansive empire, used an expansive road network and bead communication system with messenger runners with many rest stops along the way.

  • Loose leadership, relied heavily on local authorities to control the people in their empire

  • Mita system of forced labor rather than financial tribute, very socialist empire with all people contributing to the wellbeing of the whole

-During this time period, across most of the South and Southeast Asia, cultural exchanges were prominent during this time, such as indian art, literature, and religious practices influenced by neighboring regions. 

• Dehli Sultanate (1206)

-An empire that was based in Dehli that stretched over large parts of the indian subcontinent, ruled for 320 years.

-The Dehli Sultanate brought significant changes to the cultural landscape of South Asia by introducing islamic governance, but still balancing their exisiting Hindu traditions. 

-The interaction between these two cultures led to a blend of ideas, such as artistic expression, development of architecture, and new social practices. 

-1258- Mongol invasion of Baghdad, the captial of the Abbasid Caphilate, ending the islamic golden age and marking the fall of one of the most influential islamic empires. 

-Mongol invasions were destructive, but during the process they faciliated trade and culture exchange between the islamic world, Europe, and Asia. 

• Rise of the Timurid Empire (1370-1507)

-The Mongol Empire broke up into several smaller states, and this empire was on of them. 

-Founded by Tamerlane (Timur)

-The Timurid Empire conquered vast regions of Central Asia, Persia, and some of the Middle east.

-Timur promoted the spread of Islam and had the goal of making his empire become a powerful islamic empire, although after his death, his empire went through a decline.

• America became connected to other areas like Europe, Asia, and Africa

• Many animals and plants (like corn and potatoes) traveled through the increase of trade, supporting other civilizations

• Along with other animals and plants diseases also spread greatly, one of them being smallpox

• Sahel states

  • Pilgrimage of Mansa Musa (1324) shows the wealth of the African states with surplus gold, as well as the importance of Islam in Northern Africa. 

  • Ghana, Mali, and Songhay were all conquest states relying on taxes and tribute to sustain their large military and control their territory

  • There is a strong influence of Islam in the Sahel states, using islamic trade networks and interaction with sudanic states in order to thrive

  • Sundiata “the lion prince”(1217-1260)  Founder of mali, model Islamic African 

  • Sahel states were very wealthy, creating urban cities based around trade

  • Sunni Ali (1464-1492) expanded the Songhay empire and reformed it’s government

• Swahili coast states

  • Very trade based with much interaction with other sailors in the Indian ocean

  • Created a language mixing bantu and Arabic to create Swahili

  • Great mix of cultures, being heavily influenced by Islam in higher social statuses while also placing much importance on African ideals for everyone else, unaffected by islam

• Forest and plains communities

  • Many different african societies with little Islamic influence, developed unique cultures

  • Yoruba, oyo, benin: many artistic achievements in these city states

  • Kongo formed 1390  had an emphasis on blacksmithing, weaving, pottery, and other advanced skills, being particularly good at ironworking and producing salt

  • Great Zimbabwe: Great confederation (1000s-1400s) with great stone structures with a strong centralized state, trade having access to the Indian Ocean, and having great religious significance in Africa

  • Mwene Mutapa: Developed from Great Zimbabwe in the 1400s  that controlled parts of Southeast Africa, had a flourishing economy with gold production and coastal trade