Download The Ancient to the modern world

Year 8 History
The Ancient to the Modern World
The Ancient to the modern world:
o The period between about 650 CE and 1750CE marked the end of
the ancient world and the beginning of the modern world. It was
a time of great change.
o Civilizations and new religions spread. New inventions emerged,
as well as new ideas about art, politics, literature, religion and
science.
o The Indian Ocean provided major sea routes between East Asia,
Africa, Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
o China and India changed in major ways. Some changes were
driven by the spread of religions and shifting economic and social
values. Others were the result of migration and battles or fights
over power, land and resources.
o Powerful cities began to flourish as economic resources
improved. Products were introduced to regions never available
before. Gold, iron, ivory were sold to places like China, Asia
and India in exchange for Silk, cotton and porcelain.
o With migration and increased exploration came the spread of a
disease known as the Black Death.
o The more powerful societies of this period competed to
increase their power, wealth and territory causing many violent
conflicts. Many chose to explore the seas in search of new
lands and riches
 The 1100-year period between the end of the ancient world and the
dawn of modern world (c. 650–1750 CE) was often marked by
instability.
 There were a number of reasons for this. Many migrating peoples
were on the move. This brought them into contact with other
societies, often resulting in conflict.
 Religions such as Buddhism, Christianity and Islam were spreading
their influence.
 Trade grew rapidly in many regions, particularly towards the end
of this period. This prompted a rapid growth of towns and cities.
 Trade also played a deadlier role: it helped to spread a pandemic
that killed millions.
 Changing political and economic ideas shaped how some societies
at this time were organised. The world was being changed, too, by
voyages of discovery, new inventions and new ways of thinking
about science and the arts.
BIG PICTURE
o 476 Ancient Rome’s Eastern Empire collapses, starting a period in
Europe known as the Middle Ages
o 590 Medieval Europe
o 610 Muhammad begins to record the most important religious text
in Islam- the Qur’an(Koran); he died 22 years later in 632
o 768 Emperor Charlemagne founds the Holy Roman Empire: he was
the greatest ruler of Western Europe during the Middle Ages
o 793-1066 Vikings first attack England starting a 200 year regime of
terror for England and Europe
o 794-1867 Shogunate Japan
o 1095 European Christians begin the first Crusade- to reclaim
Jerusalem from Muslims- another seven Crusades follow over next
200 years.
o 1100 Inca civilisation emerges in South America
o 1299
The Ottoman Empire founded under the rule of Osman 1
o 1347-1400
First evidence in Europe of outbreak of Black Death
o 1400 - 1600 Renaissance Italy
o 1427
Aztec Empire founded in central Mexico
o 1492
Italian explorer Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas
o 1521 Spanish forces destroy the Aztec Empire in central America
o 1526 The Moghul Empire is established in India
The Collapse of ancient societies
Societies collapse for a range of reasons including wars, natural disasters invasions,
disease, poor leaderships. Mostly a mixture of these reasons is involved as was the case in
ancient Rome.
The ancient Roman Empire reached its peak around 117 CE. At that time it stretched from
the northernmost part of Africa in the south; from as far west as modern Portugal to as far
east as modern day Iraq.
Over the next 60 years it
began to weaken. One
reason was the huge
pressure placed on its
army through war. Also
significant was the arrival
at its borders of waves of
migrating peoples. By
284CE, the empire had
become very unstable.
o Diocletian was emperor and was a very strong leader. He decided to split the
empire in two to make it easier to manage. Rome would remain the capital
of the Western Empire with its emperor being the more senior of the two
emperors.
o
Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople, would become the capital of the
Eastern Empire. Today, it is the city of Istanbul.
o Unfortunately by 310CE there were six emperors competing for power. The
‘winner’ was Constantine, in 321.
Diocletian
o Constantine died in 337CE and the empire was in turmoil again.
Civil wars broke out. Thousands of Roman soldiers died.
o The leaders of the army recruited people from outside the empire
known as barbarians. They were also put to work on farms all
over the empire. The increased numbers of non-Romans mixing
with the rest of the population caused tensions.
o In 476, the Ostrogoths attacked the city of Rome.
for the Western Empire.
It was all over
o The eastern (or Byzantine Empire continued until 1453.
Constantine
CHRISTIANITY -ISLAM
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH :CHRISTIANITY
Christianity was introduced after the fall of the Roman Empire
offering hope in difficult times. Missionaries travelled to different
regions promoting Christianity.
The Roman Catholic Church dominated European Society during this
period of time with teachings dictating how people should live their
lives. By 10th Century Christianity also provided some educations,
care for the sick, community and legal services.
ISLAMIC EMPIRE
Islam founded by the Prophet Muhummad. His teachings quickly
spread through the Arabian Peninsula which was already an Islamic
region. Spiritual leaders or Caliphs continued to spread teachings
after his death spreading and extending the Islamic Empire. This
eventually included most of Asia Minor, Northern Africa and Spain.
Islamic missionaries and traders spread further eastwards to India
and then Indonesia
Ottoman Empire
o The fall of Constantinople 1453CE by Ottoman leader Sultan
Mehmed II resulted in the Christian Byzantine Emperor calling for
assistance from the west.
o The Christian Crusades began. The Ottoman Empire and the
Islamic faith spread from Asia to Africa and Europe challenging
the Christian belief system of medieval Europe.
o Islam encouraged all learning so writings on astronomy,
mathematics and medicine were translated into Arabic and taken
to the rest of medieval World. This led to a revival of learning in
medieval Europe especially in Italy.
Renaissance Italy
o During this time the Roman Catholic church controlled every
citizen through an imposed belief system which imposed
creationist ideals as well as family values and social
expectations and rituals within the region and the Pope acted
as its spiritual leader.
o Italia city states and their powerful merchant class were
focused on money and trade.
o Although people were very religious at this time the
established church and its teachings began to be questions
and lost some relevance for people.
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment movement began in Italy with Francesco Peterch
1304-1374CE promoting ideas and trends of scientific revolution. It
became popular during the 18th Century where supporters argued
that reason- not superstition and ignorance should drive societies.
Humanism movement disagreed with the notion that the Christian
Church directed what people should believe. Humanism developed a
new way to think about the world and people in it. More emphasis
was placed on human actions, feelings, achievements and
responsibilities.
The Reformation- began with Martin Luther a devout Christian but
also a Humanist thinker 1466-1536CE. He and other supporters
studied the Bible in the original languages it was written in.
o He wanted to go back to the source of information not simply
follow what someone told Christians.
o He disagreed with the church view of purgatory and listed 95
objections to church teachings and practices.
o He was eventually excommunicated by the Pope for refusing to
withdraw his remarks.
o Supporters of Luther protested and became known as
Protestants.
o By 1550 Christians in Europe divided into two groups- Catholic
and Protestant. A century of wars between them began.
Scientific Revolution
During 16th -17th Century renewed interest in learning and
knowledge led to the development of scientific method. This
Scientific Method combined with advances in technology saw new
theories emerge in areas of medicine, biology and astronomy.
Gutenbergs invention of the printing press in 1436 greatly assisted
the spread of ideas. Soon after colleges and academics were set up
to focus on scientific research.
Up until this time the church taught that the earth was the centre of
the universe.
Gallileo 1564-1642 CE discovered this was untrue causing great
controversy. During this time Newton and Kepler discovered that
orbits of the planets are not a perfect circle and that the Earth’s
gravity keeps the planets on course.
Western and Islamic worlds stretched from Scandinavian countries in
the North across Europe and as far east as Turkey.
From their homelands Vikings hungry for new land and trading
opportunities set sail in their long ships.
Medieval Europe, including Renaissance Italy grew out of the ruins of
the Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire developed into one of
the largest and longest lasting empires of the world.
The Vikings
Traditionally believed in many Gods but Charlemagne (Holy Roman
Emperor and King of the Franks) regarded such beliefs as Pagan.
Charlemagne ordered Vikings to become Christians. Over time some
Viking settlements in Greenland and Iceland became Christian.
Churches were built and Vikings abandoned more traditional burials like
the burning of the long ships in favour of Christian burial.
Medieval Europe
Medieval Europe church was based on Christian beliefs and was highly
organised and powerful
Holy Wars known as the Crusades were fought against Muswlimes and
Christianity became focused on saving souls and fighting for what was
considered ‘right; and Christian.
The Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, The Renaissance and
eventually the Reformation changed and reduced the power and
influence of the Church.