Thursday, February 9, 2012

First Post Instructions

First Post Instructions
Post an article or informational review on an important event from 500 - 850 A.D. Once you have posted it. Respond to your post and answer in a full well-written paragraph how this event/person changed history from that point forward.

How to Post:: Reply to this post with your event information. Then reply to your own post with one paragraph describing why the event was important and how it changed history. Third, you will reply in one paragraph to two other student's original posts.

43 comments:

  1. In 622 AD, the prophet Muhammad completes his Hegira, or "flight," from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution. In Medina, Muhammad set about building the followers of his
    religion--Islam--into an organized community and Arabian power. The Hegira would later mark the beginning (year 1) of the Muslim calendar.

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    1. This date is extremely important due to the fact that the actual Muslim Calendar had been created in a great "flight" from one city to the other in order to escape prosecution.

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    2. This is a good fact and important date because Muhammad is an extremely influential prophet that made the base for the muslim religion.

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    3. Muhammad was one of the most political and influential religous leaders in history. The completion of the Heriga from Mecca to Medina marked the beginning of the Muslim calendar. Muhammad was the founder of the religion Islam. Muhammad is thought to be a prophet and messenger sent to earth by God.

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    4. This is a nice fact. Muhammad was influental to islam.

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  2. Charles the Great: AD 768-814

    The only empire which has ever united France and Germany (apart from a few years under Napoleon) is the one established in the 8th century by Charlemagne, the grandson of Charles Martel and son of Pepin III.

    On the death of his father in 768, Charles - whose name Charlemagne is a version of the Latin Carolus Magnus (Charles the Great) - inherits the western part of the Frankish empire, a coastal strip from southwest France up through the Netherlands into northern Germany. Three years later his brother Carloman dies. Charlemagne annexes Carloman's inheritance - central France and southwest Germany. By the time of his own death, in 814, he rules much of the rest of Germany together with northern Italy.









    King of the Lombards: AD 774

    Charlemagne's campaign in northern Italy, in the first years of his reign, is carried out in alliance with the pope. From his boyhood his family has maintained a strong link with Rome. Charlemagne is twelve when he is annointed by the pope (Stephen II), together with his father and brother, at St Denis in 754 - an event which prompts his father to undertake two Italian campaigns against the Lombards.

    Now in 772 another pope, Adrian I, asks for a repeat of the same favour. Charlemagne, like his father, invades the Lombards twice, in 773 and 774. The result is a major extension of his empire and a new title for himself - king of the Lombards.











    Read more: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa20#ixzz1ltgwa3V2

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    1. I like this post because it seems very factual and extremely Validated

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    2. This is important because Charles the Great had the only empire to unite France and Germany, a huge feat. This is also important because of all the influence charlamagne made in Italy and many other countries.

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  3. Greek Fire was the secret weapon of the Eastern Roman Emperors. It is said to have been invented by a Syrian Engineer, one Callinicus, a refugee from Maalbek, in the seventh century (673 AD). The "liquid fire" was hurled on to the ships of their enemies from siphons and burst into flames on contact. As it was reputed to be inextinguishable and burned even on water, it caused panic and dread. Its introducation into warfare of its time was comparable in its demoralizing influence to the introducation of nuclear weapons in our time. Both Arab and Greek sources agree that it surpassed all incendiary weapons in destruction. The secret behind the Greek fire was handed down from one emperor to the next for centuries. Rumors about its composition include such chemicals as liquid petroleum, naphtha, burning pitch, sulphur, resin, quicklimeand bitumen, along with some other "secret ingredient". The exact composition, however, remains unknown. For a thorough investigation of the weapon one can refer to Professor J.R. Partington's book, "A history of the Greek Fire and Gunpowder", Heffer, 1960. This volume quotes the ancient authorities extensively, with an excellent commentary. It also examines ancient and modern theories on the composition of the chemicals used in the Greek Fire. This is considered the most up to date source on the subject.

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    1. I think that fire is very important. It was used in many different ways at this time. Different countries used fire as a weapon against each other. Mainly used to burn down ships, or harm people on them, Greek fire was very effective. The fact that the composition of fire is unknown is rather frightening, though maybe useful to the different sides.

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    2. The inventation of the "Greek Fire" is very important to the modern world. Today it is used in many wars and other military missions. Maybe this invenation isn't also used in the right way but it is and was a very important invenation that many peopl used and use today

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    3. I think the Greek fire was very effective, demonstrated by not only the Greek, but other civilizations that it was handed down to. Without this "liquid fire", history would be different. Civilizations that had the composition to this secret weapon had help defeating their enemies. Without the Greek fire, they might have not defeated their enemies, changing history.

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  4. Plague was a key factor in the waning of Antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. Eight centuries before the Black Death, a pandemic of plague engulfed the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and eventually extended as far east as Persia and as far north as the British Isles. Its persisted sporadically from 541 to 750, the same period that witnessed the distinctive shaping of the Byzantine Empire, a new prominence of the Roman papacy and of monasticism, the beginnings of Islam and the meteoric expansion of the Arabic Empire, the ascent of the Carolingian dynasty in Frankish Gaul and, not coincidentally, the beginnings of a positive work ethic in the Latin West. In this volume, the first on the subject, twelve scholars from a variety of disciplines-history, archaeology, epidemiology, and molecular biology- have produced a comprehensive account of the pandemic's origins, spread, and mortality, as well as its economic, social, political, and religious effects. The historians examine written sources in a range of languages, including Arabic, Syriac, Greek, Latin, and Old Irish. Archaeologists analyze burial pits, abandoned villages, and aborted building projects. The epidemiologists use the written sources to track the disease's means and speed of transmission, the mix of vulnerability and resistance it encountered, and the patterns of reappearence over time. Finally, molecular biologists, newcomers to this kind of investigation, have become pioneers of paleopathology, seeking ways to identity pathogens in human remains from the remote past.

    http://books.google.com/books/about/Plague_and_the_end_of_antiquity.html?id=DKhLOd6gGlAC

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    1. I agree the plague was very very very very very very very very very very baddddddd!!!!!
      YAYAAYAYAY

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    2. the plague was one of the greatest plagues in history. It killed two out of the three infected people every four days. It started the beginning of the middle ages.The plague was a key factor in the history of the middle ages.

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    4. Any event such as the bubonic plague has an immense impact on the society in which it occurs. Such a dramatic change in population results in social and economic changes. It is probably the most well-known plague in the world, a sign of the dramatic impact it had.

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  5. Though not a very popular pope, Leo III had the support of the powerful Frankish ruler Charlemagne. In A.D. 799, a group of armed men (probably hired by the pope's enemies) attacked Leo during a public appearance. After Pope Leo sought Charlemagne's protection in 800, Charlemagne came to Rome to help Leo win an acquittal from charges leveled against him by the church. In a historic move, Pope Leo crowned Charlemagne emperor on Christmas Day of that year. Whether the coronation was a surprise to Charlemagne or not has been debated by historians for years. What is clear, however, is that this event is recognized as the unofficial establishment of the Holy Roman Empire - a European territory in which the pope had the authority to grant or withhold an imperial title. In this unprecedented alliance, the Church granted the right to rule to Charlemagne in exchange for the protection of its clergy. The Holy Roman Empire itself lasted for over 1,000 years.

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    1. I think that this is important because Leo III did a lot to help out Rome. Charlemagne supported Leo III because he agreed with Leo's ideas. It was very important for Leo III to have support from Charlemagne because Charlemagne had become a respected ruler, and supporting Leo III, means that Leo III was more respected by the people and treated better.

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    2. Leo wasnt popular but he did help rome. he was respected though in the end.

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    3. This is very important because both Leo III and Charlemagne founded the Holy Roman Empire which paved the way for future empires to take root in Western Europe.

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  6. This invention was important in the 7th century because it helped the Roman Emperor. Before Napalm, it was considered the most deadly incendiary weapon. It was thrown from ships and burst into flame on contact.

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  7. but not on kinship. Of the above, Childe thought that invention of writing is the most important. It is because of this, many Western scholars believe the city only emerged in China since the middle of the Shang Dynasty (see Fig. 1.1), i.e. when evidence of writing in the form of scripts on oracle bones can be identified. Childe’s archaeological efforts and interests focued mainly on the Middle East and also touched sites in North and South America and some Pacific islands. However, he has never mentioned the case of China. Braidwood (1986) believed that

    Sit, Victor F.S.. Chinese City and Urbanism : Evolution and Development.
    River Edge, NJ, USA: World Scientific Publishing Co., 2010. p 284.
    http://site.ebrary.com/lib/canterburyfl/Doc?id=10422009&ppg=307
    Copyright © 2010. World Scientific Publishing Co.. All rights reserved.

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    1. The invention of writing was very important, not only to the Chinese culture, but eventually to other cultures. The invention of writing helped communication between groups. The more the groups could communicate, the more likely they were to trade with each other and improve their economy. Communication is very key and trade was very important to economy and society in China.

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    2. Writing is one of the most important inventions of human society. It allows for the easy distribution of knowledge, alongside its effectiveness for communication. Once something is written, the ideas of a person can be understood and known, even for a long time after their death. It allows for easy record keeping, and thus is essential to our understanding of many ancient civilizations.

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  8. The numbering system used today in the western world was first developed around 500 A.D. by the Indian mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata I. His system was improved upon around 600 by Arab mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who introduced the "positional zero" -- that is, zeros used to indicate multiples of 10. This system soon replaced the cumbersome Latin system of Roman numerals for most applications. Once scholars could easily distinguish between 1, 100, and 10,000, modern math and science advanced by leaps and bounds.

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    1. I believe that because of these men our world has been changed dramatically. Our math would have never been able to be so advanced if these men hadn't taken their time to find out an easier numbering system than roman numerals. I still struggle with learning roman numerals now, but when I was in the 1st grade I remember using yellow blocks that symbolized 10s, 100s, and 1,000s. These men found out a way that was so easy that 1st graders could use it. These men without a doubt left a huge impact on who we as students are today.

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    2. The invention of the number system used today by the western world created a huge advancement in technology. Without the work of these men math today would not be the same. This invention made it easier for architecture and technology. This had to be one of the greatest achievements in history.

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    3. The inventationn of the number system that is used in the western world is a huge achievement that these men thought of. This invenation has revolutionized the modern world. It has created many advancments in technology and other fields of work. This is one of the greatest achievements that the world will be affected by forever.

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    4. The Arabic Numeral System is one of the key factors to how our civilization got to where it is today. Today, most countries still use this system.

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  9. The Sui Dynasty lasted from 581 to 618 A.D. This was a period of great upheaval, innovation and considerable hardship for the Chinese people. Under the rule of Emperor Wen, China was unified for the first time in four centuries, the government was centralized, weights and measurements were standardized and a new, more efficient system of coinage was introduced.



    Wen's son, Yang Sui, succeeded his father upon his death in 604. Yang Sui's rule was marked by massive building projects, forced labor, high taxes and conflict at home and abroad. His reconstruction of the Great Wall of China and the construction of the Grand Canal cost the lives of millions. Riven by popular revolts, the dynasty collapsed. But it left behind a legacy of governmental reform, engineering accomplishments and some very important inventions.

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    1. Read more: Inventions in the Sui Dynasty | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8108998_inventions-sui-dynasty.html#ixzz1mI8HDkkV

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    2. I believe that this dynasty was very important and left behind many things we use today. When Emperor Wen was ruling she brought about such things like the weights and measurements that were standardized, this method is still used today along with the idea of the centralized government and more. After Wen, her son, Yang Sui left his own mark such as the Great Wall of China, which with its reconstruction still stands today. Not only did he leave behind the Great Wall but his legacy pf governmental reforms, accomplishments and inventions that we still use today.

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  10. Although movable type, as well as paper, first appeared in China, it was in Europe that printing first became mechanized. The earliest mention of a printing press is in a lawsuit in Strasbourg in 1439 revealing construction of a press for Johannes Gutenberg and his associates. (Scant evidence exists to support claims of Laurens Janszoon Coster as the inventor of printing.) The invention of the printing press itself obviously owed much to the medieval paper press, in turn modeled after the ancient wine-and-olive press of the Mediterranean area. A long handle was used to turn a heavy wooden screw, exerting downward pressure against the paper, which was laid over the type mounted on a wooden platen. In its essentials, the wooden press reigned supreme for more than 300 years, with a hardly varying rate of 250 sheets per hour printed on one side.

    Caroline Skidmore

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  11. The inventing of the printing press has lead to the world developing and growing. The printing press lead to the formation of letters, books, newspapers and other things which are all very important. This machine has made it easy to write and record history and important events.

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  12. The Sui dynasty were around at this time. They ended many rivalries between neighboring regimes. This means they brought China together. They were very tyrannical. This scared the people straight. It worked at first, but then they got carried away with taxes. The people revolted and overthrew the dynasty, leading into the new Tang dynasty.

    peace,
    Zack

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    1. The sui were important. They brought China together for another era of togetherness. Together, China became a force to be reckoned with.

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  13. China is one of the longest lasting civilizations in the world. The Chinese invented many things to keep their nation economically wealthy. However, some inventions, like gunpowder, were used to stop invasions that ended other empires.

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    1. China currently shares borders with 14 other countries. Ever since China was united as one empire 221 B.C, China was bordered by other nations. Once an alchemist in the Tang dynasty invented gunpowder around 850 A.D., China used this invention in weaponry to defeat enemies. Without this invention, China would not have had the edge in weaponry, over their enemies, to keep their nation standing today.

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  14. In 642 AD, the Muslim Caliph Omar ordered the books in the library of Alexandria to be destroyed because he stated "they will either contradict the Koran, in which case they are heresy, or they will agree with it, so they are superfluous". There were so many books that they fueled the bathhouses of Alexandria for SIX MONTHS.

    http://earth-history.com/Europe/medieval.htm

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  15. Between 536 and 551 AD tree ring growth was very low throughout Europe. Writers in southern Europe described what modern climate scientists call a ‘dust veil event.' This change causes a sharply reduced solar radiation amount to reach the earth’s surface. These lowered temperatures and disrupted weather patterns would reduced productivity, such as food crops. The dwindling amount of food crops resulted in famine during the 6th century, and affected many areas of the world. In Britain, the period 535—555 experienced the worst weather of the 6th century.

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  16. The Bubonic plague, also known as "the Black Death" was named because of the black spots that formed on the skin of infected people. The sickness began in Central Asia, first appearing in 1347. The plague first emerged from Italian merchant ships when they returned for trading, from a trade route between Europe and China. The merchant ships were filled with rats, who helped transmit the disease. The fleas would cause much worse by carrying the blood of infected rats to the people on the ships. By the time they reached port, many sailors were dying because of this. Within days of their arrival, the plague would spread from the port cities to the surrounding countryside.

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  17. A Muslim army, in a crusading search for land and the end of Christianity, after the conquest of Syria, Egypt, and North Africa, began to invade Western Europe under the leadership of Abd-er Rahman, governor of Spain. Abd-er Rahman led an infantry of 60,000 to 400,000 soldiers across the Western Pyrenees and toward the Loire River, but they were met just outside the city of Tours by Charles Martel, known as the Hammer, and the Frankish Army.

    Martel gathered his forces directly in the path of the oncoming Muslim army and prepared to defend themselves by using a phalanx style of combat. The invading Muslims rushed forward, relying on the slashing tactics and overwhelming number of horsemen that had brought them victories in the past. However, the French Army, composed of foot soldiers armed only with swords, shields, axes, javelins, and daggers, was well trained. Despite the effectiveness of the Muslim army in previous battles, the terrain caused them a disadvantage. Their strength lay within their cavalry, armed with large swords and lances, which along with their baggage mules, limited their mobility. The French army displayed great ardency in withstanding the ferocious attack. It was one of the rare times in the Middle Ages when infantry held its ground against a mounted attack. The exact length of the battle is undetermined; Arab sources claim that it was a two day battle whereas Christian sources hold that the fighting clamored on for seven days. In either case, the battle ended when the French captured and killed Abd-er Rahman. The Muslim army withdrew peacefully overnight and even though Martel expected a surprise retaliation, there was none. For the Muslims, the death of their leader caused a sharp setback and they had no choice but to retreat back across the Pyrenees, never to return again.

    http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Tours.html

    This was a major historical event for several reasons. Its most immediate impact was that it allowed Charlemagne to take power, as the Franks had not been conquered. Even more than this, the dominant religion of a society has an immense impact on the culture. Due to the Battle of Tours, European culture continued to grow from its past traditions instead of following an Islamic influence.

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