Chapter 14: The West End of Eurasia and West Africa

The fate of the Greenland Norse differed from those of Vikings in other regions. Identify the factors that contributed to the disappearance of the Norse population on Greenland by the 1420s.

Economic connections to the Old World web weakened. A cooling climate left fewer farming opportunities. Demand for walrus ivory in Europe declined.

Sort the following locations and geographic features by whether they figured predominantly in the First Crusade or the Fourth Crusade.

First crusade - Thessalonika cologne jerusalem anatolia Fourth Crusade - Adriatic sea mediterranean sea

European universities began to open in the twelfth century. Originally, they all taught with and operated under the authority of the Pope. Their influence on European society was significant in part because of their methods of teaching. Universities established a principle of which sometimes led to clashes with official positions of the church. Yet this freedom of thought nurtured by universities contributed to an increased sophistication in science and art that had previously been the reserve of other lands, particularly centers of learning.

Latin. debate and dispute. islamic

The map below tells the story of the movement of the plague between 1346 and 1351. Using the map, what inferences can one make about the spread of the plague and its consequences?

Massacres of Jewish populations took place primarily in Christian lands more than Muslim lands, indicating that Christians blamed Jews for the plague. The movement of the plague largely followed trade and caravan routes.

Place the following events related to the rise and fall of the Crusades in order as they unfolded in and around the Mediterranean world.

Migration of Seljuk Turks into Anatolia threatens Christian Byzantium. Christian warriors sack Jerusalem, massacring thousands of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian inhabitants. Saladin conquers Egypt and launches a holy war against Crusader kingdoms. The last of Crusader kingdoms falls to Mongol and Mamluk forces.

Historians utilize different forms of data to help inform their historical interpretations. What conclusions can one infer using this map alongside the estimated populations of cities in the West African Sahel?

Trade of resources such as salt and gold led to the growth of populations in important trade cities. River trade ports as well as desert trade ports were important to West African long-distance trade. Urban life flourished along the Niger River valley.

Fracturing empires and relentless invaders contributed to the economic collapse of the Old World web between 800 and 1400.

false

Refer to the primary source document from the chapter, titled "Religion and Diplomacy in Khazaria." This source discusses how the king of Khazaria came to favor Judaism over Islam or Christianity. Place the following statements in order in relation to how the events in the document excerpt unfold.

byzantines and arabs send their convoys to meet with king bulan the king sends for a wise israelite the three sages argue with one another, unsuccessfully over which is the best religion. The Christian priest and muslim qadi agree that judaism is the preferred religion relatively speaking

The table below demonstrates a declining population rate in Western Eurasia and North Africa between the years 1000 and 1300.

false

Vikings were driven from their farmsteads in Scandinavia by both religious zeal and adverse climate change

false

A key factor in the rise of ancient Ghana was the acquisition of Mastery of the use of these animals allowed people to cross the linking West Africa to the Old World web. Eventually, heads of kin groups in an effort to better defend themselves against raiders using these animals. These alliances helped the lineage heads monopolize trade and increase their wealth.

camels. sahara. united.

What factor contributed to ruined harvests and mass starvation in the western region of the Old World web during the early fourteenth century?

catastrophic flooding

Imagine you are a merchant operating between 700 and 1200, when settled agrarian states came under pressure from highly mobile warrior bands. Place the migrating or conquering groups in the order you will encounter them as you make the following stops by land: Cairo, to Constantinople, through Hungary, and finally to Spain.

fatimids. seljuk turks. magyars. almoravids

In order for an empire to survive in the Old World web, rulers needed to maintain consistent access to as a formidable cavalry was needed to build and keep power. This power often lasted only a few decades because most empires lacked durable necessary to administer an empire. Once plundered goods and other spoils from began to dwindle, leaders found it difficult to keep the loyalty of their followers.

horses. institutions. conquests

Which of the following factors contributed to economic growth between 800 and 1400?

increased supply of silver and gold technological changes in agriculture new trade and commerce financial innovations

In the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, what significant agricultural changes after 800 contributed to population growth?

irrigation systems new crops slave labor

The Mongols were known for their ability to sow terror through siege warfare. What specific tactics did they use?

killing all the men from cities that refused to surrender demanding that cities surrender and assaulting those that refused collecting horses, young women, and other treasures from cities that surrendered non-violently

Which of the following could be described as indirect consequences of the devastation brought by the plague in fourteenth-century western Eurasia and North Africa?

massacres of Jews higher wages and lower rents in Europe increased demand for slaves

Which of the following choices accurately describe the life and reign of Charles the Great, or Charlemagne?

presided over a long reign after conquering much of central Europe and Italy built a somewhat fragile empire that did not remain intact long after his death

Which of the following choices describe the roles that kinship and lineage played in society in the Sahel?

provided a social safety net in an unstable environment protected during times of drought and hunger provided a network for exchange

Throughout the western regions of the Old World web, high culture flourished despite all the violence and destruction of this period. A great deal of it took place because migrations, commerce, or refugee flows exposed thinkers to new ideas and practices. Which of the following are examples of this cultural flowering in Baghdad under the Abbasids?

rise in scientific and mathematical knowledge translation of philosophical texts from many languages the use of paper from China

By 1300, the extension and tightening of networks of transport, trade, and communications across the Old World web led to a flourishing of high culture. Match each item below to the way in which it illustrates or contributed to this cultural growth.

silk road - connected China to Baghdad, helping bring Tang-dynasty products such as porcelain to the Arab world Cordoba - a city in southern Spain where intellectuals gathered from far and wide to study and record diverse philosophical traditions Al-farabi - great Muslim scholar who wrote over a hundred treatises seeking to reconcile the logic, science, sociology, and philosophy of other cultures with Islamic principles universities - The relative freedom of these institutions led to an intellectual and artistic awakening in thirteenth-century Western Europe.

In the eighth century, Vikings learned that could bring good prices in distant markets. They soon organized a kidnapping network based upon abducting women from Genomic evidence in where Vikings settled, reveals that early generations of Viking females came from the British Isles, which suggests that mass abductions were part of a settlement scheme.

slaves. britain and ireland. iceland

of the black death confronted a difficult aftermath. The expressions and posture of the figures evoke a sense of loss, weariness, and The villagers faced practical including labor and food shortages, caring for orphans, and burying the large numbers of dead.

survivors. grief. difficulties.

Analyze the following map, which depicts the activities of mobile warrior bands between 700 and 1200. According to the arrows and various shadings on the map, place the following migrations into chronological order.

vikings leave scandinavia and sail to the northern scotland, england, and ireland. viking migration extends into france, spain, and mediterranean, as well as across the atlantic to iceland. viking migrate to greenland. Almoravids take control of the southern half of ibera

Evidence from these sources allows us to plausibly claim that common people faced many dangers that could lead to illness, and death. These sources show that safety, and security could be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances such as the assault on Baghdad in Source 2 and the epidemic of the Black Death in Source 3. Both of these events were recorded in texts with illustrations because of their .

violence. peace. historical significance

Place the following major developments in the order in which they occurred in the Old World web during the period under review in this chapter, 800-1400.

waves of invadersfrom deserts, steppes, and the far north repeatedly assaulted population centers. the plague arrived unleashing the worst demographic disaster in world history The old world web extended its connections globally, including faraway lands such as Greenland and japan

The map shows the spread of the plague between 1351 and 1346. Select the area last infected by the plague.

Poland

Which of the following best describes the political elite of the Abbasid caliphate?

The political elite was raised in a multicultural, multilingual, and multireligious environment. The political elite often had wives and concubines who were not necessarily Muslim.

Refer to the primary source document from the chapter, titled "Religion and Diplomacy in Khazaria," which focuses on a letter from 960 CE from King Joseph of Khazaria in which the king explains the decision of his ancestor (King Bulan) to reject the entreaties of Muslim Arabs and Christian Byzantines in favor of Judaism. Click here to review the full excerpt from the chapter. According to the introduction to the document and the document itself, why, beyond faith, might King Bulan have chosen Judaism over Islam or Christianity?

The possibility of peaceful coexistence could mean an increase in commerce and trade. The sages of Islam and Christianity agreed that Judaism was preferable to the other religions.

During this period, so-called Turkification occurred across Central Asia and into the eastern Mediterranean. Identify the ways in which Turkic-speakers arrived en masse from Central Asia, eventually dominating local populations and taking control of large swaths of land in the Mediterranean region.

through raids through mass migration through the promotion of former slave soldiers

While women in Viking society enjoyed few political rights, they nonetheless wielded significant power in the domestic sphere.

true

By 1260, following the Mongol western campaigns, Mongol rule stretched from Russia and the Black Sea to Mongolia. But the Mongols were not able to hold their empire together for long. Identify the reasons that contributed to the fracturing of the empire.

As generations passed, Mongol warriors largely assimilated to local culture. Neighboring khanates were frequently at war with one another. Succession crises were common.

In what ways were the agricultural revolutions in northern Europe different from the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia?

Agricultural revolution in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia was tied more closely to slavery than in northern Europe. Agricultural revolution in northern Europe generated more population growth than in Arab and Persian lands. Between 900 and 1300 weather was wetter in northern Europe than the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia.

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the information provided by the map?

All three empires depicted on this map shrank in size during the illustrated time period. At its height, the Abbasid caliphate occupied huge swaths of North Africa, modern-day Saudi Arabia, and Iran, but that power shrank significantly.

Match each of the following descriptors to either the state of ancient Ghana or ancient Mali. Note that some descriptors may be used more than once.

Ancient Ghana - Slavery and slave trading played an important role in the economy. infiltration—or perhaps attack—by the Almoravids led to the eventual decline of this state formed after heads of local kin groups united to repel camel-riding raiders from the Sahara Ancient Mali - Slavery and slave trading played an important role in the economy. reached its apex of power under its more renowned king, Mansa Musa built and maintained with a powerful cavalry of large, imported horses

The last stronghold of the Abbasid caliphate centered around The late Byzantine Empire held strength in the Mediterranean Sea and in whereas the Córdoba emirate shrunk to cover only the area around .

Baghdad. Constantinople. granada

King Bulan] was a wise and God-fearing man...[who] expelled the wizards and idolaters from the land....The kings of Byzantines[,] and the Arabs...sent their envoys and ambassadors with great riches and many great presents to the King as well as some of their wise men with the object of converting him to their own religion. But the King... [also] sent for a learned Israelite.... [He] called all the sages together and said to them: "Speak and argue with one another and make clear to me which is the best religion." They began to dispute with one another without arriving at any results until the King said to the Christian priest: "What do you think? Of the religion of the Jews and the Moslims, which is to be preferred?" The priest answered: "The religion of the Israelites is better than that of the Moslims." The King then asked the [Muslim qadi]: "What do you say? Is the religion of the Israelites, or that of the Christians preferable?" The kadi answered: "The Religion of the Israelites is preferable." Upon this the King said: "If this is so, you both have admitted with your own mouths that the religion of the Israelites is better. Wherefore, trusting in the mercies of God and the power of the Almight

But the King... [also] sent for a learned Israelite.... "If this is so, you both have admitted with your own mouths that the religion of the Israelites is better. choose the religion of Israel, that is, the religion of Abraham

Based on the map, what can be said about how Charlemagne's grandsons ruled his empire?

Charlemagne's grandson divided the empire into three sections

Based on the map, which of the following statements are true, and which are false?

Ghana and Mali overlapped in territory between the Senegal and Niger Rivers. Caravans traveled extensively through the Sahara and up to the Mediterranean coastline.

Read and analyze the story of King Bulan from Source 1. Consider the lesson in the story and the possible outcomes of his choice of religion. Identify the claims that are supported by the evidence.

It was important for rulers to maintain at least the pretense of religious unity. Rulers determined which religions were acceptable and which were not. King Bulan showed diplomatic skill and wisdom by encouraging both Christians and Muslims to see the value in Judaism. Gifts were an important part of diplomacy among kingdoms in the western end of the Old World web.

What does the following image depict about the Sufi movement in Islam?

Sufis incorporated expressive dances into their rituals.

Deteriorating climate, religious fervor, and opportunism drove various peoples of the Moroccan Sahara to become conquerors. Match each of the following groups below to the appropriate description.

The Almoravids - took control of the southern half of Iberia after helping Muslim kings in Spain battle Christian armies The Almohads - Berber tribesmen who, believing the existing ruling class had succumbed to lives of sinful luxury, became conquerors The Fatimids - grew from a small tribe of exiled Shi'a Muslims into a sprawling imperial dynasty stretching from Arabia to Morocco

Consider the context and elements in Source 2. Identify the claims that are supported by evidence from the source.

The Mongol army was skilled and well organized. Mongols valued military technology and creativity.

[King Bulan] was a wise and God-fearing man . . . [who] expelled the wizards and idolaters from the land. . . . The kings of the Byzantines[,] and the Arabs . . . sent their envoys and ambassadors with great riches and many great presents to the King as well as some of their wise men with the object of converting him to their own religion. But the King . . . [also] sent for a learned Israelite. . . . [H]e called all the sages together and said to them: "Speak and argue with one another and make clear to me which is the best religion." They began to dispute with one another without arriving at any results until the King said to the Christian priest: "What do you think? Of the religion of the Jews and the Moslims, which is to be preferred?" The priest answered: "The religion of the Israelites is better than that of the Moslims." The King then asked the [Muslim qadi]: "What do you say? Is the religion of the Israelites, or that of the Christians preferable?" The qadi answered: "The religion of the Israelites is preferable." Upon this the King said: "If this is so, you both have admitted with your own mouths that the religion of the Israelites is better. Wherefore, trusting in the mercies of

The kings of the Byzantines[,] and the Arabs . . . sent their envoys and ambassadors with great riches and many great presents to the King as well as some of their wise men with the object of converting him to their own religion. As for you all, go now in peace to your land."

What can be learned from the map about the Vikings?

The viking predominantly used ships and waterways to invade new places.

Despite the violence and destruction of the period, western regions of the Old World web saw a blossoming of high culture. This was especially so in urban areas, where people amassed enough wealth to sponsor explorations of art and science. Using the images below, what inferences can one make about the ways science and art flourished during this period?

There was some place for literate women in society. There was a rise in university-based learning. Many cultures placed high value on intellectual exchange.

What can the map tell us about Timur's empire?

Timur's empire covered ground formerly in control of the chagatai, kipchak, and il-knanates

What are the two developments, above all, that contributed to religious tumult between 800 and 1400?

the friction of ideas resulting from cross-cultural encounters economic vitality allowing for institutions such as universities

Historical maps illustrate important information about the past, yet there are always details that must be left out. What information does the map below omit regarding the spread of the plague?

the living conditions of those killed by the plague the number of people killed by the plague

Which of the following choices accurately describes the development that Spaniards call the Reconquista?

the push from christians of northwestern spain to restore Christiaan rule in the region