Exam 13: B: The Worlds of the Fifteenth Century

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•Webs of empire,large-scale political systems that brought together a variety of culturally different people
•Webs of religion that linked far-flung peoples through shared belief
•Trade networks among peoples occupying different environments and producing different goods

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•Gathering and hunting societies
oAbsence of agriculture
oMastered environment sufficiently to obtain necessary resources
oExamples of practices of societies in Australia and the northwest coast of North America
•Agricultural village societies
oFully agricultural but not part of empires or civilizations
oLack of cities and states
oKinship relations important
oNo significant political oppression,class inequalities,seclusion of women
oExamples: Igbo and Iroquois
•Pastoral societies
oSteppe pastoralists who herded animals
oExamples: Timur's empire,the Fulbe

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•Similarities
oBoth looked to the past for inspiration and models: China to the Han,Tang,and Song dynasties;Europe to classical Greece and Rome.
oBoth produced art and literature representative of the period.
•Differences
oIn China,the Confucian revival was based on the belief that perfection had already been achieved in the past.The goal was to recapture that perfection in the present.In this regard,it was a conservative movement that affirmed past tradition and did not challenge prevailing ideas.
oIn Europe,the Renaissance imitation of Greco-Roman models was an attempt to surpass them.Although the Renaissance did not challenge religion,the humanism that marked Renaissance creativity contributed to an increasing secularism.
oAlthough both movements mostly involved and benefited wealthy male elites,women did participate.In China,two empresses wrote instructions for women,emphasizing traditional expectations.In Europe,however,Christine de Pizan in her City of Ladies challenged notions of female inferiority and called for equal education for women.
oIn China,the Confucian revival was in reaction to foreign influence.
oIn Europe,Renaissance artists and scholars sought inspiration from outside,in particular the Islamic world.