- What range of years is John Green talking about when he refers to the Middle Ages or “Dark Ages”?
- How long was the life expectancy for Europeans during the Middle Ages, and how long was it during the Roman Empire. What is one reason that John Green cites as a possible cause of this?
- What is the name of the system of obligations involving Peasants, Knights, Vassals, Lords, and Kings?
- John Green uses the phrase Eurocentrism to describe the disparity between the terms, “Feudal Lords” and “Warlords.” Look up this term online and provide a definition here.
The Islamic World
- After a series of struggles between Arab Muslims and Persian Muslims, the Abbasids took power in 750 and no one could defeat them until 12:58 when they were conqured by what group?
- In case you become an emperor, what strategy does John Green cite as working, “exactly zero times?”
- John Green adds a correction that it did work one time – for what group?
- Name one Greek Philosopher whose works were translated and preserved by Muslim Scholars
- Name one mathematical concept did Muslim scholars adapt from India?
- What do we call the base ten number system and the symbols we use to denote it?
- Give one example of how science and religion worked together in the Abbasid Empire
- Give one reason why “everyone wanted to live in Spain” during this time.
China
- How many people did the Tong Dynasty rule over?
- Tong art often depicts figures who are distinctly not Chinese. What does John Green suggest we can learn from this fact?
- How long would it take Europe to catch up to 8th century Chinese steel production?
- Describe two goods or innovations created by China during this time?
