Unit 1 AP World - 1200-1450 C.E

Manors

What: Manors were self-sufficient estates that provided food, protection, and work, forming the backbone of feudal life
When: 9th–15th centuries CE
Where: Western Europe (England, France, Germany, etc.)
Who: Lords, knights, peasants, and serfs in feudal society
Why: Manorialism was the economic system that supported feudalism, showing how land, labor, and protection were exchanged in medieval Europe.

Decentralized Government

What: A political system where power is spread among local rulers or regions instead of being concentrated in a central authority
When: Common throughout history, especially in the Middle Ages (c. 500–1500 CE)
Where: Feudal Europe, early Japan (shogun/daimyo system), and other regions without strong central states
Who: Local lords, nobles, military leaders, and regional rulers held power instead of kings/emperors
Why: It developed because central governments were weak, leading to fragmented authority but also local autonomy and stability in times of chaos

Three-Field System

What: An agricultural method where farmland was divided into three parts — one planted with a winter crop, one with a spring crop, and one left fallow — to increase food production and soil fertility
When: Began spreading in Europe around the 8th–9th centuries CE and became common in the High Middle Ages (c. 1000–1300 CE)
Where: Medieval Europe, especially Western and Northern Europe
Who: European peasants/serfs working under lords on manors
Why: It boosted crop yields, supported population growth, and helped fuel the economic revival of Europe during the Middle Ages.

Magna Carta

What: A charter of rights that limited the power of the English king and established the principle that rulers must follow the law
When: 1215 CE but took fruition in 1400s
Where: England, signed at Runnymede
Who: King John of England and rebellious English nobles
Why: It set the foundation for constitutional government, influenced later democratic ideas, and checked absolute monarchy

Chivalry

What: A code of conduct for knights emphasizing loyalty, honor, military service, and protection of the weak (especially women and the Church)
When: Developed during the High Middle Ages (c. 11th–15th centuries CE)
Where: Feudal Europe, especially in France and England
Who: Medieval knights, nobles, and the Christian Church promoting ideals of behavior
Why: It reinforced feudal and religious values, shaping medieval European culture and influencing later ideas of honor and gentlemanly conduct

Bubonic Plague

What: A devastating pandemic caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, spread by fleas on rats, leading to massive population loss
When: Peaked in Europe between 1347–1351 CE, with recurring outbreaks for centuries after
Where: Originated in Central Asia, spread along trade routes through the Middle East, and devastated Europe
Who: Tens of millions of people across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; merchants and travelers spread it unknowingly
Why: It caused the death of 1/3–1/2 of Europe’s population, weakened feudalism, disrupted economies, and shifted social structures, paving the way for change in Europe

Dar-al-Islam

What: A term meaning “House of Islam,” referring to the regions under Muslim rule where Islamic law, culture, and trade flourished
When: 7th century CE onward, especially strong during the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE)
Where: Spanned the Middle East, North Africa, Spain (al-Andalus), parts of India, and later West Africa and Southeast Asia
Who: Muslim rulers, scholars, traders, and diverse populations living under Islamic governance
Why: It unified vast areas through religion, law, and trade networks, promoting cultural diffusion, scientific advancements, and economic prosperity

Dhimmi

What: Non-Muslims (mainly Jews and Christians, sometimes Zoroastrians) living under Muslim rule who were granted protected status in exchange for paying a special tax (jizya)
When: From the early Islamic Caliphates (7th century CE) onward
Where: Across Dar al-Islam, including the Middle East, North Africa, Spain (al-Andalus), and South Asia
Who: Muslim rulers and non-Muslim communities such as Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians
Why: The dhimmi system allowed religious diversity within Muslim states while reinforcing Islamic authority and providing economic benefits through taxation

Shari’a Law

What: An Islamic legal system derived from the Qur’an, Hadith (sayings of Muhammad), and scholarly interpretation, covering both religious and daily life matters
When: Developed from the 7th century CE onward, especially formalized during the Abbasid Caliphate (8th–13th centuries)
Where: Practiced across Dar al-Islam — the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and later parts of West Africa and Southeast Asia
Who: Muslim rulers, religious scholars (ulama), and Muslim communities
Why: It unified Muslim societies under a common legal and moral code, influencing governance, social order, and culture in Islamic civilizations

Dhows

What: Traditional sailing vessels with lateen (triangular) sails that made them highly maneuverable and effective for long-distance trade
When: Used as early as the 600s CE and became especially important during the Indian Ocean trade boom (c. 800–1500 CE)
Where: Indian Ocean basin — East Africa, Arabia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
Who: Muslim, Indian, and East African traders and sailors
Why: Dhow ships expanded maritime trade, spread goods (like spices, textiles, and ivory), and facilitated cultural diffusion across the Indian Ocean world

Sufis

What: Muslim messengers/missionaries who emphasized spiritual closeness to God through meditation, prayer, poetry, and missionary work rather than strict legalism
When: Emerged in the 8th–9th centuries CE and grew influential during the Golden Age of Islam and beyond
Where: Originated in the Middle East but spread widely across Dar al-Islam, including South Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia
Who: Sufi mystics, teachers, and missionary orders such as the Whirling Dervishes (Mevlevi Order)
Why: Sufis played a major role in spreading Islam to new regions through their adaptability and focus on personal devotion, helping Islam become a global religion

Sikhism

What: A monotheistic religion blending elements of Islam (belief in one God) and Hinduism (reincarnation, karma), emphasizing devotion, equality, and community service
When: Founded in the late 15th century CE (c. 1469)
Where: Originated in the Punjab region of South Asia (modern-day India/Pakistan)
Who: Founded by Guru Nanak and developed by later Sikh Gurus and their communities
Why: Sikhism challenged existing religious divisions, promoted social equality, and became an important cultural and political force in South Asia

Terrace Farming

What: An agricultural technique where sloped land is cut into step-like terraces to create flat areas for farming and reduce soil erosion
When: Practiced since ancient times; in the AP World era, especially important during the classical to post-classical periods (c. 200 CE–1500s CE)
Where: Used in mountainous regions such as the Andes (Inca Empire in South America), East Asia (China, Japan, Philippines), and Mesoamerica
Who: Farmers and civilizations like the Inca, Chinese, and other mountain-based societies
Why: Allowed societies in difficult terrain to grow surplus food, support population growth, and sustain complex civilizations

Neo-Confucianism

What: A revival and reinterpretation of Confucian thought that blended Confucian ethics with elements of Buddhism and Daoism, focusing on morality, order, and rationalism
When: Emerged during the Song Dynasty (c. 9th–12th centuries CE) and spread widely in East Asia afterward
Where: Originated in China and influenced Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
Who: Chinese scholars like Zhu Xi and later East Asian elites and governments who adopted it
Why: It reinforced traditional Confucian social hierarchies (filial piety, patriarchy), strengthened state authority, and shaped education and governance across East Asia

Jongs

What: Large, sturdy wooden ships developed under the Song Dynasty, equipped with multiple decks, watertight bulkheads, and sternpost rudders, making them advanced for long-distance maritime trade
When: Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE), with use continuing into later dynasties
Where: Built in China, used across the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and East Asia’s maritime trade networks
Who: Chinese merchants, sailors, and state-sponsored traders under the Song Dynasty
Why: Song jongs (junks) revolutionized seafaring, expanded China’s role in Indian Ocean trade, and demonstrated Chinese technological innovation in shipbuilding

Scholarly Gentry

What: A social class in China made up of educated landowners who passed the civil service exams and served as bureaucrats, combining social prestige with political influence
When: Prominent during the Tang (618–907 CE) and Song (960–1279 CE) dynasties and continued in later dynasties
Where: China, throughout the imperial bureaucracy and rural landholdings
Who: Educated landowning elites who became government officials and scholars
Why: The scholarly gentry reinforced Confucian values, maintained social order, and formed the backbone of China’s imperial administration

Civil Service Exams

What: A system of exams in imperial China used to select government officials based on knowledge of Confucian classics, merit, and administrative ability
When: Established during the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE), expanded during the Tang (618–907 CE) and Song (960–1279 CE) dynasties
Where: China, across the imperial bureaucracy
Who: Aspiring bureaucrats, scholars, and members of the gentry class
Why: The exams promoted meritocracy, reinforced Confucian values, limited aristocratic influence, and created a professional, educated government

Champa Rice

What: A fast-ripening, drought-resistant strain of rice that allowed for multiple harvests per year
When: Introduced to China during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE)
Where: Originated in the Champa Kingdom (modern-day Vietnam) and spread to southern China
Who: Farmers and the Song Dynasty government that encouraged its cultivation
Why: Champa rice increased agricultural productivity, supported population growth, and contributed to economic and urban expansion in Song China

Angkor Wat

What: A massive Hindu temple complex later converted to Buddhism, known for its intricate architecture, bas-reliefs, and symbolic representation of Mount Meru
When: Built in the early 12th century CE
Where: Angkor, in the Khmer Empire (modern-day Cambodia)
Who: King Suryavarman II and the Khmer civilization
Why: Angkor Wat reflected the Khmer Empire’s political power, religious devotion, and advanced engineering/architectural skills, serving as both a spiritual center and a symbol of imperial authority

Zimbabwe

What: A Bantu-speaking kingdom in southeastern Africa known for its gold trade, cattle economy, and stone city structures
When: Flourished c. 11th–15th centuries CE
Where: Southeastern Africa, primarily in modern-day Zimbabwe
Who: Bantu-speaking peoples, including ruling elites, traders, and farmers
Why: Zimbabwe was a major political and economic center in southern Africa, connecting inland resources like gold and ivory to the Indian Ocean trade network, and showcasing complex social and political organization

Swahili

What: A cultural and linguistic blend of Bantu, Arab, Persian, and later Indian influences, forming city-states engaged in Indian Ocean trade
When: Flourished c. 9th–15th centuries CE
Where: East African coast — modern-day Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and nearby islands
Who: Bantu-speaking Africans, Arab and Persian traders, and local city-state elites
Why: The Swahili coast was a hub of maritime trade, cultural exchange, and Islamization, connecting Africa to the broader Indian Ocean world

Slash and Burn

What: An agricultural method where forests or vegetation are cut and burned to clear land for farming, enriching the soil with ash nutrients
When: Used since prehistoric times and continued in various regions through the classical and post-classical eras (c. 500 CE onward)
Where: Practiced in Africa, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and parts of Oceania
Who: Small-scale farmers and subsistence agricultural communities
Why: Allowed communities to farm in dense forests or nutrient-poor soils, supporting subsistence living, but required rotation as soil fertility declined

Ge’ez

What: An ancient Semitic language used in Ethiopia, originally spoken but later becoming the liturgical language of Ethiopian Christianity
When: Spoken from around the 5th century BCE; became primarily a written/liturgical language by the early centuries CE
Where: Ethiopia and Eritrea
Who: Aksumite rulers, Ethiopian Christian clergy, and scholars
Why: Ge’ez preserved religious texts, helped unify the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and contributed to the cultural and literary heritage of Ethiopia

Stelae

What: Tall, carved stone monuments often used to commemorate rulers, mark graves, or celebrate achievements
When: Prominent in the Aksumite Empire (c. 4th–6th centuries CE) and earlier civilizations
Where: Aksum (modern-day Ethiopia) and other parts of Africa and Mesoamerica
Who: Aksumite kings, elites, and artisans
Why: Stelae demonstrated political power, architectural skill, and religious or cultural significance, serving as symbols of state authority and commemoration

Bet Giyorgis (Chruch of St. George)

What: A rock-hewn church carved entirely out of solid rock, dedicated to Saint George, and a masterpiece of Ethiopian Christian architecture
When: Built in the 12th–13th centuries CE during the Zagwe Dynasty
Where: Lalibela, Ethiopia
Who: Ethiopian Christian rulers of the Zagwe Dynasty, architects, and laborers
Why: Bet Giyorgis exemplifies the fusion of religion, politics, and architecture, serving as a center for worship and pilgrimage and demonstrating Ethiopia’s Christian heritage and engineering skill

Mansa Musa

What: Emperor of the Mali Empire, famous for his immense wealth, pilgrimage to Mecca, and promotion of Islam, education, and trade
When: Ruled c. 1312–1337 CE
Where: Mali Empire, West Africa, with travels to Mecca (Hajj)
Who: Mansa Musa, Mali’s elites, Muslim scholars, and merchants
Why: His pilgrimage showcased Mali’s wealth, strengthened Islamic influence in West Africa, boosted trade and scholarship (especially in Timbuktu), and left a lasting cultural and economic legacy

Griots

What: West African storytellers, poets, and musicians who preserved oral history, genealogy, and cultural traditions
When: Practiced from ancient times through the post-classical era and still present today
Where: West Africa, particularly in Mali, Senegal, and surrounding regions
Who: Griots (specialized oral historians) serving kings, nobles, and communities
Why: Griots maintained historical memory, reinforced social and political structures, and transmitted culture in societies without widespread written records

Juula

What: West African merchant class known for long-distance trade, especially in gold, salt, and kola nuts, often operating within the trans-Saharan trade network
When: Flourished c. 11th–16th centuries CE
Where: West Africa — Mali, Ghana, and surrounding regions, linking to North Africa
Who: Juula merchants, local rulers, and trading partners across the Sahara
Why: Juula facilitated commerce, spread Islam, and connected inland African economies to the broader trans-Saharan trade network

Great Mosque of D’jenne

What: A large adobe (mudbrick) mosque, famous for its Sudano-Sahelian architecture and annual maintenance festival
When: Originally built in the 13th century CE; rebuilt in 1907 CE
Where: Djenné, Mali, West Africa
Who: Mali rulers, Muslim communities, architects, and laborers
Why: Served as a center of Islamic worship, education, and trade, showcasing the spread of Islam and the cultural achievements of West African societies

Great Serpent Mound

What: A large prehistoric earthen effigy mound shaped like a serpent, likely used for ceremonial or astronomical purposes
When: Built c. 1070 CE (Late Woodland period)
Where: Southern Ohio, North America
Who: Indigenous peoples of the region, possibly Adena or Fort Ancient cultures
Why: The mound reflects complex social organization, religious practices, and astronomical knowledge of pre-Columbian North American societies

Animism

What: A belief system in which natural objects, animals, and the environment are thought to have spiritual essence or souls
When: Practiced since prehistoric times and continues in some regions today
Where: Africa, the Americas, Australia, and parts of Asia
Who: Indigenous peoples, tribal communities, and early societies
Why: Animism shaped cultural practices, rituals, and social organization, influencing how communities interacted with the environment and passed down traditions