This document discusses nomadic peoples and settled societies in the Islamic world, Byzantium, and China between 1000-1200 CE. It analyzes how each region incorporated or reacted to nomadic groups. The Islamic Empire readily absorbed Turkic invaders due to its universal religion of Islam, history of cultural diversity, and need for military support. Byzantium viewed outsiders as barbarians and failed to adapt. Europe expanded outward, while China considered others barbarians but some groups adopted Chinese culture. The most insular societies like Byzantium declined the most, while flexible empires like the Islamic Empire thrived.

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Chapter 12Chapter 12
The Nomadic Frontiers:The Nomadic Frontiers:
The Islamic World, Byzantium,The Islamic World, Byzantium,
and China ca. 1000-1200and China ca. 1000-1200

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Focus QuestionsFocus Questions
 HOW DID the Islamic world deal with its steppeland
neighbors?
 WHAT STRENGTHS did the Turks bring to the
Islamic world?
 HOW DID Byzantine civilization combine religious and
secular values?
 HOW DID Byzantium survive? How far can it be said
to have “declined”?
 HOW DID the crusades affect the Islamic world and
Byzantium?
 HOW DID Song China deal with the northern
barbarians?
 WHY DO nomads and settled peoples tend to be
enemies?

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Why did the Islamic Empire succeed inWhy did the Islamic Empire succeed in
readily incorporating Turkic invaders into itsreadily incorporating Turkic invaders into its
fold, while others in Europe and Asia failed?fold, while others in Europe and Asia failed?
 Character of the empireCharacter of the empire
 Islam, a universal religionIslam, a universal religion
 Jihad appealing to warrior culturesJihad appealing to warrior cultures
 Empire had always been a melting pot of cultures.Empire had always been a melting pot of cultures.
 Arabs were a minority early in the history of the empire.Arabs were a minority early in the history of the empire.
 Well-practiced tolerance for new convertsWell-practiced tolerance for new converts
 The military abilities of the Turkic peoples were needed by theThe military abilities of the Turkic peoples were needed by the
Abbasid caliphs.Abbasid caliphs.
 Wars against other factions within the empireWars against other factions within the empire
 Wars against Byzantines and others on their frontiersWars against Byzantines and others on their frontiers

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Reaction of ByzantinesReaction of Byzantines
 Military defeat: Bulgars by Basil IIMilitary defeat: Bulgars by Basil II
 Bribery: payments to Russian princesBribery: payments to Russian princes
 Culture was insular: conversion of other peoplesCulture was insular: conversion of other peoples
was desirable, but Greeks tended to viewwas desirable, but Greeks tended to view
outsiders as barbarians.outsiders as barbarians.
 As the political and military fortunes of theAs the political and military fortunes of the
empire failed there was no ready mechanism forempire failed there was no ready mechanism for
a new, dynamic people to step in and provide ana new, dynamic people to step in and provide an
impetus forward (as the Turks did for theimpetus forward (as the Turks did for the
Islamic Empire).Islamic Empire).

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Reaction of EuropeReaction of Europe
 Long isolated from the rest of Eurasia, WesternLong isolated from the rest of Eurasia, Western
Europe had developed a siege mentality.Europe had developed a siege mentality.
 It did incorporate two groups of nomadicIt did incorporate two groups of nomadic
raiders by the tenth century: Magyars andraiders by the tenth century: Magyars and
Vikings.Vikings.
 Otherwise, it was focused on outward expansionOtherwise, it was focused on outward expansion
and conquest, especially into the Islamic worldand conquest, especially into the Islamic world
and into Slavic lands in Eastern Europe.and into Slavic lands in Eastern Europe.

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Reaction of Song ChinaReaction of Song China
 A conservative and ancient culture that had achievedA conservative and ancient culture that had achieved
great success in the past, China was like Byzantium ingreat success in the past, China was like Byzantium in
considering other cultures to be “barbarians.”considering other cultures to be “barbarians.”
 Unlike Byzantium, there was a long history of ChineseUnlike Byzantium, there was a long history of Chinese
culture being adopted by foreign invaders.culture being adopted by foreign invaders.
 The tenth to eleventh centuries were no different withThe tenth to eleventh centuries were no different with
many of the northern “barbarian” kingdoms andmany of the northern “barbarian” kingdoms and
empires adopting the Chinese language, Confucianempires adopting the Chinese language, Confucian
ideology, etc. as part of their ruling cultures.ideology, etc. as part of their ruling cultures.

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Reasons for FailuresReasons for Failures
and Successesand Successes
 The most insular (Byzantines) were the biggest failures.The most insular (Byzantines) were the biggest failures.
 Song China, though not Chinese culture andSong China, though not Chinese culture and
civilization, would similarly succumb to foreigncivilization, would similarly succumb to foreign
invaders. Western Europe nearly did so, though thatinvaders. Western Europe nearly did so, though that
will be discussed more in the next chapter.will be discussed more in the next chapter.
 The Islamic Empire showed itself a great melting pot ofThe Islamic Empire showed itself a great melting pot of
cultures and Islam a religion that was simple andcultures and Islam a religion that was simple and
flexible enough to incorporate new peoples with littleflexible enough to incorporate new peoples with little
difficulty.difficulty.

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A Closer LookA Closer Look
A Cordovan Ivory JarA Cordovan Ivory Jar
Click on link to open PDFClick on link to open PDF

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Today’s QuestionToday’s Question
What will China do next?What will China do next?
ConsiderConsider
 The precocious economic development of Song ChinaThe precocious economic development of Song China
 The historical weight China has always had in world historyThe historical weight China has always had in world history
 The illusion created by the last two centuries, during which badThe illusion created by the last two centuries, during which bad
government and Western industrialization eclipsed China’s traditionalgovernment and Western industrialization eclipsed China’s traditional
placeplace
 That China still has a preponderance in the most basic commodity ofThat China still has a preponderance in the most basic commodity of
global influence, numbers of people who share a homogenous cultureglobal influence, numbers of people who share a homogenous culture
 Have the last two centuries been an aberration?Have the last two centuries been an aberration?
 Will China again reemerge as the global superpower, as it has timeWill China again reemerge as the global superpower, as it has time
and again, sometime in this century?and again, sometime in this century?
 What would be the implications of such a development ?What would be the implications of such a development ?

10. © 2007 Pearson
Education, Inc.
Today’s QuestionToday’s Question
What will China do next?What will China do next?
ConsiderConsider
 The precocious economic development of Song ChinaThe precocious economic development of Song China
 The historical weight China has always had in world historyThe historical weight China has always had in world history
 The illusion created by the last two centuries, during which badThe illusion created by the last two centuries, during which bad
government and Western industrialization eclipsed China’s traditionalgovernment and Western industrialization eclipsed China’s traditional
placeplace
 That China still has a preponderance in the most basic commodity ofThat China still has a preponderance in the most basic commodity of
global influence, numbers of people who share a homogenous cultureglobal influence, numbers of people who share a homogenous culture
 Have the last two centuries been an aberration?Have the last two centuries been an aberration?
 Will China again reemerge as the global superpower, as it has timeWill China again reemerge as the global superpower, as it has time
and again, sometime in this century?and again, sometime in this century?
 What would be the implications of such a development ?What would be the implications of such a development ?