Societal Comparison

Abbasid Empire v. Byzantium

Time period: 500-1450
Characteristics of Time period: Middle East controls trade; Dark Ages
Society #1: Abbasid Empire
Society #2: Byzantium

Abbasid Empire

Political: Caliphate

Economic: Controls world trade, held many trade hubs

Religious: Islam

Technological: Advanced for the period

Military: Large, well organized

Geographic: Controlled most of the Middle East

Byzantium

Imperial

Major world trade hub

Orthodox Christianity

Advanced for the time period

Large, well organized

Controlled most of Eastern Europe, including Greece and a small part of Africa

Similarities: Large, well organized armies; advanced technology for the period
Differences: Abassids use caliphate, while Byzantines use Imperial political system; Abbasid=Islam and Byzantine=Christian

Byzantium v. Russia

Time period: 500-1450
Characteristics of Time period: Middle East controls trade; Dark Ages in W. Europe
Society #1: Byzantium
Society #2: Russia

Byzantium

Political: Imperial

Economic: Imports a lot, but also exports heavily

Religious: Orthodox Christianity

Technological: Slightly behind Muslims but advanced for time period

Military: large, well organized

Geographic: Greece, most of Eastern Europe, small part of Africa

Russia

Aristocratic

Dependant, mostly imports items

Orthodox Christianity

Some technological level as late W. Roman Empire


Large, but unorganized and divided

Small part of present Russia, mostly between Kiev and Moscow

Similarities: Large armies, Orthodox christianity, rely on 1 leader
Differences: Byzantine army organized, Russia is economic dependant

Mongols v. Russia

Time period: 500-1450
Characteristics of Time period:
Society #1: Mongols
Soceity #2: Russia

Mongols

Political: Elective monarchy

Economic: Controlled most trade routes (1206-1370)

Religious: Animistic

Technological: Level of Hellinistic Greece, but adopted technology from conquered societies

Military: large, well organized. Relied heavily on horsemanship and calvary

Geographic: Mongolic, later controlled from E. Turkey to China, Korea to S. Russia

Russia

Aristocracy

Economic dependant

Orthodox Christianity

same basic level as late W. Roman Empire


large, but unorganized and divided


small part of modern Russia, mostly between Kiev and Moscow

Similarites: large armies
Differences: Religion different; Mongols rely on organized calvary; Mongols controlled trade routes

Michael D. 1/26/11