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MA.a-ttlpgs. qxp 3/31/04 10:01 AM Page 1 Almanac MA.a-ttlpgs. qxp 3/31/04 10:01 AM Page 3 Almanac JUDSON KNIGHT Edited by Judy Galens Judson Knight Judy Galens, Editor Staff Diane Sawinski, U•X•L Senior Editor Carol DeKane Nagel, U•X•L Managing Editor Thomas L. Romig, U•X•L Publisher Margaret Chamberlain, Permissions Associate (Pictures) Maria Franklin, Permissions Manager Randy Bassett, Imaging Database Supervisor Daniel Newell, Imaging Specialist Pamela A. Reed, Image Coordinator Robyn V. Young, Senior Image Editor Rita Wimberley, Senior Buyer Evi Seoud, Assistant Production Manager Dorothy Maki, Manufacturing Manager Pamela A. E. Galbreath, Senior Art Director Middle Ages: Almanac Kenn Zorn, Product Design Manager Marco Di Vita, the Graphix Group, Typesetting Cover photograph of crusaders disembarking in Egypt reproduced by permis- sion of the Corbis Corporation. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Knight, Judson Middle ages. Almanac / Judson Knight ; Judy Galens, editor. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7876-4856-6 1. Middle Ages—History. 2. World history. 3. Civilization, Medieval. I. Galens, Judy, 1968- II. Title. D117.A2 K65 2000 909.07–dc21 00-059442 CIP This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. The author and editors of this work have added value to the underlying factual material herein through one or more of the follow- ing: unique and original selection, coordination, expression, arrangement, and classification of the information. All rights to the publication will be vig- orously defended. Copyright © 2001 U•X•L, An imprint of the Gale Group All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Reader’s Guide.....................ix Timeline of Events in the Middle Ages ..........xi Words to Know ...................xxxi Research and Activity Ideas...............xli Chapter 1: The Middle Ages ...............1 Understanding Medieval Times..........4 Chapter 2: The Fall of the Roman Empire.........7 The Decline of the Roman Empire (A.D. 180–c. 350) ...............8 The Fall of Rome (c. 350–476) ..........13 Chapter 3: The Merovingian Age ............19 Dividing Up Western Europe (400s–500s) ....19 The Church ..................23 The Merovingians (481–751) ..........29 v Chapter 4: The Carolingian Age ............33 The Carolingian Age (751–987) .........33 Feudalism ...................37 The Vikings (793–c. 1000) ...........39 The End of the Early Middle Ages (843–c. 1000) ................42 Chapter 5: Eastern Europe ...............47 The Byzantine Empire .............47 Byzantine Culture ...............51 The Slavic Peoples ...............54 The Turning Point for Eastern Europe ......58 Chapter 6: The Islamic World..............61 Preparing the Way for Islam (300s–632) .....61 The Islamic Faith................66 Islamic Empires ................68 Muslim Civilization ..............72 The Splintering of the Islamic World (c. 875–1258) ................75 Chapter 7: The Turks..................77 Early Turkish Empires (500s–900s) ........77 The Seljuks (900s–1243) ............79 The Mamluks (1252–1517) ...........81 The Ottomans .................82 Chapter 8: The Jewish World ..............85 Jews, Judaism, and Anti-Semitism ........85 Jews in the Middle East and North Africa ....87 Jews in Spain .................88 Jews in Europe .................90 Chapter 9: The Eleventh Century ............93 Europe on the Eve of the Crusades........93 The Recovery of the Church ..........99 The First Crusade (1095–99) ..........102 vi Middle Ages: Almanac Chapter 10: The Twelfth Century ...........107 A Changing World ..............107 The Cross and the Sword ...........113 The Age of Chivalry ..............116 Chapter 11: The Thirteenth Century ..........121 The End of the Crusades............121 The New Europe ...............126 Chapter 12: The Mongols ...............133 Genghis Khan (c. 1162–1227) .........133 Conquests in Eastern Europe (1227–41).....134 A Shift to Southwest Asia (1241–60) ......136 Kublai Khan (1215–1294) ...........136 Tamerlane and the End of the Mongols (1294–c. 1500) ...............137 Chapter 13: India...................141 A Land of Divisions ..............141 Muslim Empires and Hindu Kingdoms .....145 Chapter 14: Southeast Asia ..............151 Indochina ..................151 The Malay Peninsula and Archipelago .....155 Chapter 15: China ..................161 New Religions, New Ideas ...........161 The Sui Dynasty (589–618) ..........163 The T’ang Dynasty (618–907) .........164 The Sung Dynasty (960–1279) .........169 Yüan Dynasty (1279–1368) ..........171 Glory Days of the Ming Dynasty (1368–c. 1500) ...............172 Contents vii Chapter 16: Japan ..................175 From the Kofun to the Nara Period (250–794) .................175 The Heian Period (794–1185) .........180 The Kamakura and Muromachi Periods (1185–1573) ................181 Chapter 17: The Americas...............185 The Maya ..................185 The Aztecs ..................190 The Incas...................194 Chapter 18: Africa ..................201 Ethiopia ...................201 The Sudan ..................203 Bantu Kingdoms and Cities ..........207 Chapter 19: The Late Middle Ages...........213 Pestilence and War ..............213 The People and the Powers ..........220 Where to Learn More ................xlvii Index ........................xlix viii Middle Ages: Almanac Reader’s Guide he Middle Ages was an era of great changes in civilization, Ta transition between ancient times and the modern world. Lasting roughly from A.D. 500 to 1500, the period saw the growth of the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe and the spread of the Islamic faith in the Middle East. Around the world, empires—the Byzantine, Mongol, and Incan—rose and fell, and the first nation-states emerged in France, Eng- land, and Spain. Despite the beauty of illuminated manu- scripts, soaring Gothic cathedrals, and the literary classics of Augustine and Dante, Europe’s civilization lagged far behind that of the technologically advanced, administratively orga- nized, and economically wealthy realms of the Arab world, West Africa, India, and China. Middle Ages: Almanac offers a comprehensive overview of this period, these empires, and the societies they created. Several of its nineteen chapters are devoted to specific eras, such as the Carolingian Age (about 750–1000) and the late Middle Ages (1300–1500), while others focus on geographical regions, including China, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Americas. Distinct ethnic and religious groups, among them ix the Jewish people; the Mongols; the Arabs, Turks, and other Middle Eastern peoples; the Ghanaians, Songhai, and Malians of West Africa; and the Maya and Aztecs of Central America are extensively covered as well. Additional features Nearly one hundred illustrations and maps and dozens of sidebar boxes exploring high-interest topics bring the text to life. Definitions of unfamiliar terms and a list of books and Web sites to consult for more information are in- cluded in each chapter. The volume also contains a timeline of events, a general glossary, research and activity ideas, and an index offering easy access to the people, places, and sub- jects discussed throughout Middle Ages: Almanac. Dedication To Margaret, my mother; to Deidre, my wife; and to Tyler, my daughter. Comments and suggestions We welcome your comments on this work as well as your suggestions for topics to be featured in future editions of Middle Ages: Almanac. Please write: Editors, Middle Ages: Al- manac, U•X•L, 27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48331- 3535; call toll-free: 1-800-877-4253; fax: 248-699-8097; or send e-mail via www.galegroup.com. x Middle Ages: Almanac Timeline of Events in the Middle Ages 122 Roman forces begin building Hadrian’s Wall, a barrier intended to protect Roman citizens from Picts, or na- tive Scots, on the isle of Britain. The wall is a sign that the Roman Empire has ceased to expand and will begin to shrink in coming years. 135 Banished from Jerusalem by the Romans, Jews begin to spread throughout the Mediterranean. 180 The death of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius marks the end of the “Pax Romana,” or Roman peace. Years of instability follow, and although Rome recovers nu- merous times, this is the beginning of Rome’s three- century decline. 220 The Han dynasty of China comes to an end, plunging the country into three centuries of turmoil. c. 300 Mayan culture enters the Classic Period, which lasts until 925, during which time the Maya undertake the vast majority of their most important building pro- jects. xi 300s Buddhism, which originated in India, begins to take hold in China. 312 Roman emperor Constantine converts to Christianity. As a result, the empire that once persecuted Chris- tians will embrace their religion and eventually will begin to persecute other religions. 325 Constantine calls the Council of Nicaea, first of many ecumenical councils at which gatherings of bishops determine official church policy. 325 King Ezana of Aksum accepts Christianity. Eventually most of Ethiopia will become Christianized as a re- sult. 330 Constantine establishes Byzantium as eastern capital of the Roman Empire. 372 Headed westward, the Huns cross the Volga River, dis- placing the Ostrogoths and setting in motion a chain reaction that