Blog Post #15 - Chapter 15

This chapter discusses what the world was like during the 15th century. There was many important events that shaped the 15th century. Such as Columbus's voyage, The growth of European Civilization during the Renaissance and Russia leaving two centuries of Mongol rule. Within the 15th Century there was many different human societies. Hunters and Gatherers societies still persistent in Australia even after the arrival of the Europeans in the 18th century. There were also hunter and gatherers groups along the northwest coast of North America. Even though these societies still existed, they were still outnumbered by the amount of people and civilizations who practiced agriculture. The numbers of species who lived by hunting and gathering dwindled as Russian, European and Chinese empires took their land. Along with hunter and gatherer societies was agricultural village societies in tropical lowlands of south America and the Caribbean; in parts of the Amazon River Basin and Southeast Asia etc. One particular group known as Igbo that was East of the Niger River in West Africa; had neighbors known as the Yoruba and Bini that in the 15th century developed small states and urban centers. But the Igbo refused to follow suit. Pastoral societies were prevalent in the 15th century. The Mongols were a pastoral people who developed their own empire through destruction and conquering land but it was brief. After it’s fall there was an attempt made by Timur, a Turkic warrior to restore the empire in the late 14th, early 15th century. Then there was the major Civilizations in China and Europe. During the Ming Dynasty, China was rebuilding itself after being under Mongol rule and a plague that caused a decline in their population. During this period of rebuilding Confucianism was being promoted and the examination system was put back into place. An Encyclopedia was written by 2,000 scholars to compile China’s previous writings on history, ethics, government etc. Rebuilding after escaping from Mongol rule and growing its population after the plague. But rebuilding for China meant a unitary state while for Europe that meant a fragmented system with many different states. The Renaissance in Europe reclaimed a classical Greco-Roman traditions that had been lost. The Renaissance is when many famous painters created famous paintings. Artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo Da Vinci. Both the Chinese and Europe had launched maritime voyages. China stopped its voyages because their had no need to convert other people to its religion or culture. They didn't need military allies in the Indian Ocean and required little of what those regions produced but Europeans continued to voyages after China stopped. In the 15th Century there were transformations in the Islamic world There was the new Ottoman Empire that lasted until early 20th century. The empire was also had a very diverse population and it was very economical and cultural sophisticated.

Blog Post #14 - Chapter 11

This chapter focuses on the history of pastoral societies, like the Mongols. These societies differed from the societies around them because they had a nomadic lifestyle where they relied on animals to live. These societies also differed because they offered women much more freedom compared to other societies. Such as the ability to participate in military affairs and be political advisers. Even though they lived very differently pastoral people still interacted with their agricultural neighbors They also tried and become familiar with different world religions that each found their home among the pastoral people. This chapter also discusses the achievements of a few groups of pastoral people. One group that is focused on is the Turks. This group was able to gain control of the rich trade routes in Arabia. After a camel saddle was invented that allowed them fight effectively on top of these animals. The Turks were the third major carrier of Islam. Another group that is focused on is the Mongols. The Mongols had the largest land based all of human history and with population of about 700,000 people. The Mongol people did not force their beliefs on the people they conquered. Even though they did have their own religions beliefs that focused on contact with their ancestors. The Mongol tribe were unified by Chinggis Khan and from there was the rise of the Mongol Empire. They first set out to conquer China. Through destruction the Mongol Empire was able to build itself containing China, Korea, Central Asia, Russia, much of Islamic Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe.