BIG ERA 5

Big Era 5:
Compare and contrast major empires this era: Ghana, Mongols, Aztecs, Japan and Europe.
Compare: Mongols and Aztecs were both great empires, and cultural "power houses". Both had rich culture, and many citizens.
Contrast: Mongols were in central Asia, the Aztecs were in Mexico. Mongol Empire fell from the inside, because the ruling generations after Genghis Khan divided the lands of the empire between sons. These sons fought, and soon the empire fell. The Aztecs fell because of an outside intruder. They conquered much their land. The Aztec Empire a more peaceful society. The Mongols sprang from nomadic groups.

Deforestation: In particular, deforestation increased, provoking long-term soil erosion and frequent flooding.

Migrations: The one that hit the Mediterranean region in the sixth century is known as Justinian's Plague after the famous Roman emperor of that period. Economic recession and epidemics disrupted established empires and states across Afroeurasia, and this helped open agrarian societies to recurring invasions and migrations of pastoral nomadic peoples from the Inner Eurasian steppes. Arab Muslim Empire:
800: North Africa falls under the rule of the Aghlabi dynasty of Tunis, which would last until 909. 800 - 1200: Jews experience a "golden age" of creativity and toleration in Spain under Moorish (Muslim) rule. 800: Ambassadors of Caliph Harunu r-Rashid give keys to the Holy Sepulcher to the Frankish king, thus acknowledging some Frankish control over the interests of Christians in Jerusalem.
What were the two largest empires in Big Era Five, and when did they appear? The largest of these were the Arab Muslim empire of the eighth century and the Mongol empire of the thirteenth century. The Mongol state at its height around 1260 controlled a territory of close to 7 million square miles, making it the largest empire in human history.
Genghis Khan: Genghis Khan, born Temujin, was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his demise. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia.

Pax Mongolica: Pax Mongolica is a Latin phrase that means 'Mongol Peace.' It described how the Mongol Empire was able to stabilize the life of the people that they conquered in the Eurasian territory. Following the conquest by the Mongol Empire, commerce and communication was made easier less than one administration. It also resulted to peace in the areas conquered by the Mongols.

Kublai Khan: Kublai Khan is famous for being the founder of the Yuan or Mongol Dynasty of China. He centralized improved agriculture, taxes and administration, and established a famously splendid court at Cambaluc, currently known as Beigin.

Marco Polo: Marco Polo was an Italian merchant traveller from Venice whose travels are recorded in Livres des merveilles du monde, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China.

How did Genghis Khan create the largest empire ever? Mongol leader Genghis Khan (1162-1227) rose from humble beginnings to establish the largest land empire in history. After uniting the nomadic tribes of the Mongolian plateau, he conquered huge chunks of central Asia and China. His descendents expanded the empire even further, advancing to such far-off places as Poland, Vietnam, Syria and Korea. At their peak, the Mongols controlled between 11 and 12 million contiguous square miles, an area about the size of Africa. Many people were slaughtered in the course of Genghis Khan’s invasions, but he also granted religious freedom to his subjects, abolished torture, encouraged trade and created the first international postal system. Genghis Khan died in 1227 during a military campaign against the Chinese kingdom of Xi Xia. His final resting place remains unknown.

Describe Mongol rule in China: Describe China under Mongol rule.
Once conquest was completed, the Mongols were not oppressive rulers. Allowed conquered people to live as they had before if they regularly paid tribute to Mongols. Conquered lands had tolerance and justice/respect for scholars, artists, artisans, and religions. "Pax Mongolica" or "Mongol Peace"

Samurai: a member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, esp. a member of the class of military retainers of the daimyos.

Lord: someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.

Feif: an estate of land, esp. one held on condition of feudal service.

Vassal: a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.

Serfs: an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.

Manor: a large country house with lands; the principal house of a landed estate.

Tithe: one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the church and clergy.

Age of Faith: The age of faith is used rarely to describe the common state of the world. It is also used to describe times when a region is ruled by a religious power.

Cannon Law: Ecclesiastical law, esp. (in the Roman Catholic Church) that laid down by papal pronouncements.

Simony: The buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges, for example pardons or benefices

First and Second Crusade: The first of the Crusades began in 1095, when armies of Christians from Western Europe responded to Pope Urban II's plea to go to war against Muslim forces in the Holy Land. After the First Crusade achieved its goal with the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, the invading Christians set up several Latin Christian states, even as Muslims in the region vowed to wage holy war (jihad) to regain control over the region. Deteriorating relations between the Crusaders and their Christian allies in the Byzantine Empire culminated in the sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Third Crusade. Near the end of the 13th century, the rising Mamluk dynasty in Egypt provided the final reckoning for the Crusaders, toppling the coastal stronghold of Acre and driving the European invaders out of Palestine and Syria in 1291.

Bubonic Plague: The most common form of plague in humans, characterized by fever, delirium, and the formation of buboes.