Post-classical history

Quick Facts: Who was Post-classical history?

Subject:

Post-classical history

Known for:

The historical period spanning from roughly 500 CE to 1500 CE, bridging antiquity and modernity.

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Origins & Early Life

In world history, post-classical history refers to the period from about 500 CE to about 1450 or 1500 CE, roughly corresponding to the European Middle Ages following the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The post-classical period is characterized by the expansion of certain civilizations geographically, by ongoing wars fought over land, resources, and religion, and by the development of trade networks between often-distant civilizations. This period is also called—with various implications and emphases—the medieval era, the post-antiquity era, the post-ancient era, or the pre-modern era. In Asia and the Middle East during this time, the spread of Islam helped produce a series of caliphates which fostered the Islamic Golden Age, leading to advances in science and greater trade between those in the Asian, African, and European continents. East Asia experienced the entrenchment of the power of a unitary and Imperial China, the dynastic governance and culture of which influenced Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Career & Major Achievements

Religions such as Buddhism and neo-Confucianism spread in the region, while Christianity became entrenched in Europe and increasingly elsewhere. Gunpowder was developed in China during the post-classical era. The Mongol Empire conquered and controlled much of Europe and Asia, permitting more trade and cultural and intellectual exchange between the two regions. In total, the population of the world broadly doubled in this period of history: from approximately 210 million in 500 CE to some 461 million in 1500 CE. The population generally grew slowly throughout the period, with mortality generally high and rapid major declines due to events including the Plague of Justinian, the Mongol invasions, and the Black Death.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Post-classical history is a periodization used by historians employing a world history approach to history, specifically the school developed during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Outside of world history, the term is also sometimes used to avoid erroneous preconceptions around the terms Middle Ages, Medieval Period, and the Dark Ages (see medievalism), though the application of the term post-classical on a global scale is also problematic, and it may likewise be Eurocentric. Academic publications sometimes use the terms post-classical and late antiquity synonymously to describe the history of Western Eurasia between 250 and 800 CE. The post-classical period corresponds roughly to the period from 500 CE to 1450 CE. Beginning and ending dates might vary depending on the region, with the period beginning at the end of the previous classical period: Han China (ending in 220 CE), the Western Roman Empire (in 476 CE), the Gupta Empire (in 543 CE), and the Sasanian Empire (in 651 CE).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1450: 1450 Milestone — In world history, post-classical history refers to the period from about 500 CE to about 1450 or 1500 CE, roughly corresponding to the European Middle Ages following the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
2. 1500: 1500 Milestone — In total, the population of the world broadly doubled in this period of history: from approximately 210 million in 500 CE to some 461 million in 1500 CE.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Post-classical history

True or False: “Did the post-classical period see a global population decline due to continuous warfare?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The world population broadly doubled during this time, rising from approximately 210 million in 500 CE to about 461 million by 1500 CE.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd al-Samad — Historical peer (Born in 1500) (1500): Founding master of Mughal miniature painting, active in the 16th century.
• Atahualpa — Historical peer (Born in 1500) (1500): The last effective Inca Emperor, whose reign marked the end of the great Andean civilization.
• Agnès Sorel — Historical peer (Died in 1450) (1450): The celebrated and first officially recognized royal mistress of Charles VII of France.
• Ahuitzotl — Historical peer (Born in 1450) (1450): Eighth Aztec ruler and Huey Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, key to Aztec expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions about Post-classical history