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| Romanesque Church (Tum Collegiate Church in Poland)
Growing wealth in the Roman Catholic church and a change in spirits allowed for the new architectural Gothic influence in their churches to be built during the 1100's. Gothic Cathedrals were built several feet higher than Romanesque Cathedrals as well. Arts from the Medieval world were present in their large stained glass windows and the way their cathedrals reached up to the sky. These new architectural ideas were done in order to further influence the people about the holy significance of god but perhaps into a more visual perspective.
(Cathedral of Notre Dame at night)
The Crusades
The beginning of the crusaders started in 1093, when the Byzantine emperor in Constantinople asked for help against the Muslims who wanted to take over Constantinople. Pope Urban II was fairly interested in the "holy land" (Palestine) and so he launched a series of crusades to take it over. Crusaders had they're religion as a motive for war and their goals were to bring success for their economy, society, and politicians. Pope Urban II influenced the crusaders by telling them that they'd be serving their religion well and if they happened to die, they would still end up in heaven. I believe this is the second Theocratic strategy! Red crosses would be sewed on and common men under the "God wills it" belief would become crusaders. The crusaders made four attempts in conquering the holy land but failed all.
Pope Urban II
 The "Black Plague"
The Bubonic Plague, often referred to as the "Black Plague" began in the 1300's and is said to have originated in Asia. Theories suggest it came from the Mongols. After conquering a territory or completely wiping out a population, the decaying bodies would be left there until passing travelers would come across them in their travels, thus carrying with them the beginning of the Bubonic plague. One third of the population died in Europe as a result of the epidemic. People were left baffled and frightened because of the fast growing disease that had no cure at the time and no knowledge of the originating cause for it. In Western Europe, over 20-25 million people died and 25 million people died in China and India. Societies were destroyed as a result of the disease; the population of people decreased, trade became short which made prices rise, the church lost followers and priests when the prayers weren't answered to stop the Bubonic plague, and many Jews were blamed for the spread of the disease. Many people were superstitious and blamed the cause of the Bubonic Plague as a punishment from god or a devil for their sins. People would spend their entire days at church praying and confessing their sins to god in hope that they'd be saved. Many also blamed the Jews for the plague and they were forced to leave their homes and sometimes even killed. Funny ideas were brought up of how one should avoid the Bubonic Plague like; avoid opening windows in a northward direction, and hard work and sleeping during the day should not be done because it would only advance the spread of the disease. Needless to say, the disease was able to spread very quickly because of rats. Because both the streets and people were often unsanitary, it became much easier for someone to come in contact and catch the disease.
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Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Middle Ages
The Mongols
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| Genghis Khan (1162?-1227) For many centuries, the Mongolian peoples traveled around the Middle Eastern grasslands in small clans. It wasn't until around 1200, that an authoritative leader stepped in to unite those small clans into a dominating Empire. His name was Genghis Khan. Khan was nine years old when his father was poisoned by the Tatar enemies and he and his family were abandoned by their clan and left to live in extreme hardship. He sought revenge years later on his enemies and began his long years of conquest over massive territories. He accepted the title of "Genghis Khan" meaning "Universal Ruler" of the Mongol clans in 1206. His great skill on organization, strategy, and cruelty allowed him to successfully destroy many ruled lands and conquer all of Central Asia by 1225. Over the course of 25 years, The Mongols had conquered territory beginning from China all the way Poland; the largest united empire in history. Even after Khan's death, his sons and grandsons continued to take over more territories. They invaded Northern China, Korea, Russia and Persia. By 1260, they divided their empire into four regions (Khanates). The Khanate of the Great Khan was Mongolia and China, the Khanate of Chagatai was Central Asia, the Ilkhanate was Persia and the Khanate of the Golden Horde was Russia. Each Khanate was ruled by a different descent of Khan. |
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| )Mongol Empire Rule of Central Asia Map) |
Mongol Ruling in India and China
In India, the Mongols were angered by the murder of Mongol traders and ambassadors, as well as the Hindus because of their opposite Ideology than Islam (after they converted), the Mongols slaughtered massive amounts of Muslims (before they converted). After they converted, they destroyed the sacred temples of the Hindus and killed many Hindus as well. Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, became the emperor of the entire Mongol Empire in 1260. Though he only controlled his own Khanate, that included Mongolia, Korea, Tibet, and Northern China. However, he first began by conquering all of China. In 1279, Kublai's army finally took over China. But the effect they had on China was more promising than expected. Under his rule, Kublai was able to restore and unite China in over 300 years. He enabled international trade that brought new foreign inventions and contacts into trade. Kublai left the Mongolian ruling to settle in China instead and establish himself as a great emperor. However, Kublai did face major difficulties; like using Korea to take over Japan but was defeated. Kublai faced an even greater challenge when trying to rule China.Because Mongols were not as civilized as the Chinese, and because China had an even greater population than those of the Mongols, both peoples lived separately and followed different laws. Kublai didn't allow the Chinese to achieve a high government job but did acquire their help for his governing. Higher government jobs went to the Mongols or foreigners (because they did not have any local loyalties). Apart from his difficulties, Kublai was able to restore and extend the Grand Canal 135 miles north to Beijing. He built a paved highway along its banks that ran 1,100 miles from Hangzhou to Beijing. The land and water routes supplied a steady supply of grain and other goods.
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| Kublai Khan (1215-1294) |
Mongolian Influence On The Silk Road
After the Mongols took over a territory, long distance trade in the Silk Road became faster, cheaper, and safer. Because the Mongols were open to new ideas and foreign goods, they allowed merchants to set up trade "centers" along the Silk Road. The Mongols provided protection for the merchants in order for them to actually thrive in their trade. From 1250-1300, the Mongols established a law across much of Central Asia called the "Mongol Peace" or "Pax Mongolica which guaranteed safe passage for trade caravans travelers, and missionaries from one empire to another; allowing the Silk Road to thrive. Foreign trade increased under the rule of Kublai Khan. Chinese silk and porcelain were greatly valued in Europe and western Asia. Traders also traded printing, paper currency, gun powder, playing cards, and a compass.
During the Yuan Dynasty, a merchant association known as the Ortogh was established from merchants traveling and trading throughout the Silk Road. Under the Mongol rulers, they received better protection from bandit groups near the border of the Mongol Empire and the Abasid Empire. Merchants had lower taxes and were also able to gain respectable higher social statuses among the people as well.
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| (Silk Road Map Under The Mongol Rule) |
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