rowth and Decline of the
Byzantine Empire
The Eastern Roman Empire became known as
the Byzantine Empire. It outlasted the Western
Empire by nearly 1000 years.
II
_
1- -
The Byzantine Empire had many enemies.
Islamic empires, led by Arabs and Turks,
conquered much of Byzantine territory.
-
I·
Western Europeans
_
!!!! Constantinople. the capital, was a major
trade center. Wealth from trade was spent
to keep the army strong.
After 400 years of fighting, Turkish
invaders conquered the Empire.
>-A.O.
500
._
,.ilOOO'
Byzantine Wars, 395-1453
The Byzantine Empire was constantly threatened with invasion
'W Religious differences and competition for land were the main
reasons for these attacks.
395-565 Byzantines conquer
former Western Empire lands.
See page 40, map B.
Challenge to the
Byzantine Empire
540 Plague spreads
through Empire.
395-1453
Byzantine Empire
o
o
Lands lost, 565-1025
SAHARA
Lands lost, 1025-1360
Empire in 1360
Byzantine Empire, 565
Invasion
Plague outbreak, 540
Per"lan" Culture group
300
,
46
300
600
, miles
600 kilometers
At its greatest extent, the Byzantine Empire ruled much of the territory of
the former Roman Empire. Deadly disease and military challenges made it
difficult to hold on to land gains.
I
ang and Sung Dynasties
Empires and Cultures of Asia UNIT 4
of China
During the Tang and Sung dynasties, trade as well
as conflict between China and neighboring cultures
ncreased.
_
Under the control of the Tang dynasty, trade
along the Silk Road flourished.
_
Like the Byzantine emperors, Tang and Sung
rulers defended their realm against many
invasions by neighbors.
_
By the end of the Sung dynasty, the Mongols
had conquered all of China.
Many Tang dynasty
such as
this one, show horses.
The Tang traded with
Central Asia for strong,
fast horses, which gave
them an advantage
in war.
\:1 sculptures,
660 Tang dynasty
controls Silk Road east
of the Caspian Sea.
7005-8005 Chinese
population shifts south
to better farmland.
/
, Arabian
"/
Sea
I
bQ",
INDIA
Tang and Sung China
.
OCEA
.....------- 5 '\
I
o
o
Tang lands lost, 660-960
Sung lands lost by 1127
D Sung Empire, 1127-1279
Chinese migration
Invasion
Silk Road
® Tang capital
Sung capital
TIBET Culture region
- - China's boundary today
1000
Bay of
Bengal
618-1279
o
I
D
I !
j
I
r'O"E
Ii' Although China's boundaries shrank during the Tang and Sung dynasties,
farming advances helped its population grow.
2000 miles
I
I
1000
2000 kilometers
47
he Mongol Empire
Spans Eurasia
Mongol tribes swept across Asia and Europe, creating
one of the largest empires in world history.
The Mongols were nomads who originally lived
in the dry grasslands of Central Asia. They were
excellent horsemen and ruthless warriors.
The Mongols conquered Muslim and Chinese
empires and destroyed major cities along the
Silk Road.
_
During Mongol rule, trade and cultural exchange
in Europe and Asia increased.
!!! Mongol rulers spread Islamic and Chinese
culture throughout their kingdoms.
Area shown in,
'iIt1
maps The Mongols rapidly
expanded their territory.
Their speed of travel and
military skill made them
difficult to defeat.
,
/':\ This illustration shows a Mongol attack on a
kingdom. Mongol battles often
ended in destruction and brutal massacres.
\:1 neighboring
Mongol Empire
1206-1219
Mongol lands, 1206
Conquests under Genghis Khan,
1206-1227
Later Mongol conquests, 1227-1279
Mongol invasions
City devastated by Mongols
Mongol capital
0;-"0
miles
500
48
1000 k.Iometers
D
INDIANloCEAN
I
Empires and Cultures of Asia UNIT 4
\:1
How Big Was the Mongol Empire?
Genghis was the khan, or ruler, who
united the Mongol tribes. Although
he is best known for his brutality, he
also introduced law and written
language into Mongol culture.
Mongol Empire
i:\ The Mongol
Empire
stretched from the
Pacific Ocean to
Eastern Europe.
Mongol Kingdoms
1260-1405
@
*
«:
Khanate capital
Provincial capital
Main Religions
9
-
Timur's conquests
D
Timur's empire, 1405
INDIA Culture region
Islam
Christianity
Buddhism
500
1000 lies
A
After 1259 the Mongol Empire was divided into four regional
\;J' khanates, or kingdoms. Many Mongol rulers adopted the cultures
of the regions they had conquered.
49
iIM.
ing Dynasty of China
After almost 100 years of foreign rule in China. the Ming dynasty
restored Chinese control. Ming rulers brought political and
economic growth to China.
II
!!! Ming emperors ended Mongol rule. They rebuilt regions
of the empire damaged from years of war.
-
To rebuild northern China. Ming rulers moved the
capital to Beijing and encouraged people to move
back north.
!!!!! In the 1600s rebellions and war weakened the Ming
dynasty. Northern invaders then conquered China.
1':.\ Porcelain,
also known as china, was
invented during the Tang dynasty.
This porcelain vase shows the unique
Ming style.
INDIA
Bay of
Bengal
Ming China and Trade
1368-1644
Ming Empire, 1600
®
Capital
o
Trade center
Major import
Major export
Great Wall
r.
INDIAN
OCEAN
---i---
BURMA Culture region
China's boundary today
90 I
50
.....
500
1Oo()kilometers
/ : \ Early Ming rulers allowed merchants to trade freely. Later, only the governmen
=_....",=-=.............==-=",g \:1 could legally trade outside China. What were China's main exports?
.....
I
Empires and Cultures of Asia UNIT 4
ingdoms of Southeast Asia
IIIIIIII
Unlike its neighbors India and China, Southeast
la did not develop large empires. The region was
ruled by many small kingdoms.
Many culture groups lived in Southeast Asia.
Their kingdoms were often at war.
!!! Kingdoms were influenced by Indian and
Chinese cultures. Hinduism and Buddhism
spread through the region.
!!! The Khmer kingdom of Angkor developed one
of the region's longest-lasting civilizations.
Angkor Wat, built in the 11005, is located in the
This religious monument is
part of the region's largest temple complex, which
includes more than 100 temples.
\.:;1 ancient city of Angkor.
2
'<-'
Guangzhou .
\!I kingdoms emerged by
Kingdoms and Their Core Areas
®
Sea
\/7 .'
fl·
_)f0
? I.
800-1200
'.
China
Sea
<)
Srivijaya
East
China
PACIFIC
I
OCEAN
Angkor and Southeast Asia
Pagan
0 N·
I
the 8005, Surrounding
areas were loosely
controlled and often had
more than one ruler.
Angkor
_l,o'_
Hangzhou _
I
1:\ Core areas of major
o'
JAPAN'
Capital
II
0
Celebes
Sea
Thai Culture group
- - Major trade route
Philippine
I
Islands I
Hindu temple complex
Buddhist temple complex
400
800 mil",
I
860 k,lometers
INDIAN
OCEAN
'0
51
rom Imperial to Feudal Japan
mperor
Ruler III
name only
Unlike mainland Asian civilizations, Japan was rarely threatened by
invaders. However, it was influenced by neighboring cultures.
II
Shogun Daimyo
Military
Warlord
leader
Samurai
Warriors serving
shogun and daimyo
!!!! Japan's religion, written language, and government
were based on ideas from China and Korea.
!! Strong emperors ruled early Japan. Over time, civil
wars divided Japan into tiny kingdoms with their
own rulers.
Merchants and Artisans
Low status, although
!! As internal conflict decreased, a more unified Japan
some were wealthy
increased trade with neighboring regions.
Peasants
Largest and poorest group
Japanese Feudal Structure, 1467-1867
After years of civil war, a new social structure
,.., emerged in Japan. Local military leaders, called
daimyo, challenged the power of the shoguns.
1:\ Conflicts between
land-owning
"-6Jfamilies weakened the emperor's
political power. By 1192 shoguns
(military commanders) took over
as the true rulers of Japan.
Ruling Families of Japan
552-1300
Main Land-owning Families. 1183
o
o
o
@
®
Fujiwara
Taira
Minamoto
Emperor's capital
Shogun's capital
q
\
I
/, 1\
I)tf'.
Oetller.
.
101)
-Sea of
(East Sea)
Of 811ef,.
I
dh,sm 552
---+
OCEAN
()
I
- --
0° 1 l( t
52
-
I
L.,...-_
-
N
\
1185 Minamoto destroy Taira
and become first shoguns
(military commanders).
• ",
o_J
\
_..--1--
0
_---,1I 0 E
-I-
\
115
_lilt-!
I
Empires and Cultures of Asia UNIT 4
,
Top 10 Cities, 900
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
City (Modern Country)
Baghdad (Iraq)
Changan (China)
Constantinople (Turkey)
Kyoto (Japan)
Cordoba (Spain)
Alexandria (Egypt)
Luoyang (China)
Fustat (Egypt)
Manyakheta (India)
Kairwan (Tunisia)
Population
900,000
500,000
300,000
200,000
200,000
175,000
150,000
150,000
100,000
100,000
Ii' Samurai followed a strict honor
\:I code called
bushido, or "way of
the warrior." They valued honesty,
courage, and fighting skills.
Kyoto was the imperial, or the emperor's, capital.
power made Kyoto one of the
world's great cities.
\:1 Strong imperial
1641 Japan bans all
but Chinese, Korean, .
and Dutch trade.
MONGOLIA
4l
, .. In the late 1500s legal and illegal
Japanese trade increased in East
and Southeast Asia. About ten
thousand Japanese lived outside
of Japan, some as traders.
Japanese Trade
1550-1567 Piracy
increases during
Chinese trade ban.
PACIFIC
OCEAN
1550-1641
- - Major trade route
Japanese pirate activity,
1550-1567
® Japanese capital
500
560
1000 miles
10'00 kilometers
53