Post Classical Empires

Continuity and Innovations

State formation in this era demonstrated remarkable continuity, innovation, and diversity In Afro Eurasia, some states attempted to preserve or revive imperial structures  - eastern Roman Empires and Chinese Empires  Challenges : expansion of Islam introduced the caliphate to Afro Eurasia  In the Americas, powerful states developed in both mesoamerica and Andean region - Aztec and Inca

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Post Classical China

China experiences  its second Golden Age during Post Classical period  After centuries of decentralized rule, Sui Dynasty emerge China hadn't been united since fall of Han dynasty in 220 CE  Reunited empire Built Grand Canal  Short lived Sui Dynasty gave way to greatest dynasty, Tang dynasty 

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Imperial China

Many important technological advances created Post Classical Era - Gunpowder, compass, and movement  Alchemists were trying to make a portion of immortality  - Expanded, failed Used it for fireworks, then weapons Originally invented in Tang Dynasty, fisrt written record in Song Dynasty

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Civil Service Exam

 Examination used to select people to work in state bureaucracy Bureaucracy : People who work in government who implement laws    - Early forms in Han Dynasty , institutionalized during Tang Dynasty   - Very important for for Chinese politics, allows for merit based testing  - Standardized Chinese language due to test (Unintended consequence)  - Changed Chinese  society from a military from a military aristocracy to a gentry class of scholars  - Used until 1905

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Byzantine Empire

A part of Roman Empire until western half fell in the 5th century    - Peak of Byzantine Civilization achieved under Justinian was reached in late 500's  While a constant state of decline throughout era, continued to be an important empire during Post Classical Era  Decline due to Muslim pressure  Major religions rift between Roman and Constantine, in 1054, called Great Schism 

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Great Schism

Great Schism (AKA East west Schism, maybe on AP) in 1054          - Pope Leo IX in Rome           - Patriarch Michael I in Consantine  - Lead very different churches with different rules and official languages - Both leaders excommunicate (to exclude someone from a participation in sacraments and services of Christian Church) each other - Problem of Schism was about powers of Pope in Rome  Pope believed he had authority over Christians and that Patriarchs did not  Fall of Constantinople in 1453 marks the end of direct Roman legacy in Eurasia  Hagia Sophia, built in 837 From 537 to 1453, it served as a Greek orthodox Cathedral           - Converted to Mosque in 1453, after fall of Constantine          - Example of cultural diffusion in Eurasia  - Massive construction during Byzantine height - Shows political as well as religious legitimacy