Packet 2: Key Words, Key Connections: A Review of Global History I

Tang Dynasty

China experienced a golden age
reunited China and brought peace and prosperity
great advances in architecture, sculpture, painting and porcelain
developed block printing
China benefited from trade

Song Dynasty

continued to build upon the achievements of the Tang Dynasty
increased trade

Achievements of Tang+ Song Dynasties

invented paper money, the crossbow, gunpowder, the abacus (a counting device)
invented the compass; an invention used for traveling
perfected the art of making porcelain and painting with black ink on silk paper

Japan's Heian Period

In 794, the Japanese emperor moved his capital to Heian (Kyoto)
all land belonged to the emperor
Golden Age
art and literature flourished
Lady Murasaki wrote The Tale of the Genji
(one of the earliest novels)

Trans-Saharan Trade

a trade across the Sahara desert
North African nomads crossed the Sahara and exchanged North African salt for gold in West Africa
led to cultural diffusion: example-Islam in West Africa

West African Kingdom of Ghana

founded in 750 AD
ability to make iron
profited from Trans-Saharan trade
Kings taxed all trade passing through the kingdom
1076, invaded by Muslims from North Africa

West African Kingdom of Mali

founded in 1240 AD (conquered old capital of Ghana)
brought gold and salt mines under their direct control
rulers converted to Islam

Mansa Musa

most famous ruler of Mali
expanded kingdom
Muslim
made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca
empire declined after his death due to incompetent rulers
built a center of learning at Timbuktu

Kingdom of Songhai

founded in 1464
last great West African kingdom to control the Trans-Saharan trade
most famous ruler: Sunni Ali
eventually, defeated by Moroccans with gunpowder and muskets

Ibn Battuta

Arab traveler
visited Mali
wrote about his many travels

Benin

developed in rain forests of West Africa
famous for bronze sculptures
16th century-involved in slave trade
captured members of other tribes and sold to Europeans

Great Zimbabwe

southern African kingdom
one of the best known African trading kingdoms
traded gold, copper, and ivory from African interior to Africa's east coast

Ethiopia

continuation of kingdom of Axum
a Christian state in 4th century
with rise of Islam, cut off from Christian world until 1400s

Steppes

treeless grasslands
stretch across Eurasia, from Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe to Manchuria
allowed nomadic peoples to excel at horsemanship
Huns were from Central Asia-contributed to collapse of Roman Empire
Seljuk Turks and Mongols also from area

Genghis Khan

1162-1227
united Mongols in 1206
built a vast empire - one of the largest in history
empire stretched from Black Sea to Pacific Ocean
led an army of skilled warriors on horseback

Kubali Khan

Chinggis Khan's grandson
1215-1294
emperor of China
used Chinese name of Yuan for his dynasty
encouraged Mongols to adopt Chinese ways

Marco Polo

merchant from Venice, visited China
wrote of Kublai Khan's court and Chinese Inventions

Mongols in Russia

conquered most of Russia
many Mongol words, customs, and clothing in Russian culture
limited Russia's contact with other parts of Europe

Ivan the Great

declared Muscovy's (Moscow and its surrounding territories) independence from the Mongols in 1480
proclaimed himself Tsar (or Czar, Russian word for "Caesar" or emperor)
conquered neighboring lands

Tamerlane

also known as Timur
a Turkish-Mongol ruler in Central Asia
known for conquests and massacres of civilian populations

Japanese Feudalism

developed by late 1100s.
Japanese emperor's power had weakened
control of government by noble landlords (Daimyo) who owed loyalty to the Shogun or military leader of feudal Japan

Feudal Japan's Social Classes

Shogun (Military leader)
Daimyo (Landlords)
Samurai (Skilled Warriors on
horseback)
Farmers/Merchants/Artisans

Samurai

a skilled warrior during Japan's feudal period
loyal to Daimyo (landlord) and/or Shogun (military leader)
followed the Code of Bushido or code of honor
committed suicide to regain honor
similar to knights in feudal Europe

Black Death

a disease that entered Europe in the mid-1300s
rats with infected fleas carried the disease
also called the Bubonic plaque
about a third of Europe's population died from the disease

Effects of the Black Death

created a labor shortage in Europe
allowing peasants to escape from serfdom when landowners offered them freedom in exchange for work
marked the beginning of the end of the feudal order

Renaissance

a French word that means "rebirth"
rediscovery of ideas of ancient Greeks and Romans
began in northern Italy
spread to northern Europe
time of great creativity

Humanism

Renaissance idea
human ideas and actions are important
the individual is unique

Secularism

using observation and experience to explain the world
not looking to religion to explain the world

Niccolo Machiavelli

wrote The Prince
encouraged rulers to do anything necessary to maintain and increase power
an Italian philosopher during the Renaissance

Leonardo DaVinci

painter, sculptor, designer, and inventor
represented the "Renaissance Man"
paintings include "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper"

Michelangelo

great Renaissance artist
painting on ceiling of Sistine Chapel
sculptures include "David", "Moses", and the "Pieta"

Shakespeare

great English playwright of the Northern Renaissance
Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet

Johann Gutenberg

invented a printing press with moveable type
produced books faster and cheaper spread ideas faster

Nicholas Copernicus

claimed that the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun
went against Catholic Church teachings
scientist

Galileo Galilei

supported Copernicus' theory
used careful observation and experimentation
in conflict with the Catholic Church
Italian scientist

Francis Bacon

like Galileo, developed the scientific method
emphasized careful observation, measurement, and experimentation

Martin Luther

posted his Ninety-Five Theses on a church door in Germany
criticized Catholic Church's sale of indulgences
believed faith alone saved people
excommunicated
led the Protestant Reformation

Protestant Reformation

a movement against the teachings of the Catholic Church
questioned the Church's authority
led by Martin Luther
led to the formation of Protestant (non-Catholic) churches
ended the dominance of the Catholic Church in Western Europe
led to warfare between Catholics and Protestants

John Calvin

Protestant
believed God had predestined those who would go to Heaven
strict moral code

Catholic Counter Reformation

an attempt by the Catholic Church to stop the spread of Protestantism
the Catholic Church made limited reforms and stopped certain abuses at the Council of Trent
established the Inquisition to punish people suspected of denying Church teachings

Olmecs

lived in the rain forest along the Gulf of Mexico
developed a civilization
cultivated maize (corn)
developed a calendar
constructed public buildings and temples
pre-Columbian (existed long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492)

Mayas

developed a complex civilization in southern Mexico and Guatemala
built pyramids
developed writing, complex number system with the use of zero, and calendar

Aztecs

1200 -1521 AD
developed a complex civilization in Mexico
engaged in frequent warfare to conquer land. gain tribute, and acquire people for human sacrifice
worshipped the Sun God
practiced human sacrifice to provide human blood to the Sun God
conquered by Hernando Cortes (Spaniard)

Inca

1200 -1535 AD
developed a complex civilization on Andes Mountains of South America
built extensive road system
used knotted ropes (quipu) to count, keep records, and send messages
built vast stone buildings without cement
Machu Picchu, ancient fortress
provided for all members of empire
conquered by Francisco Pizarro

Motives for European Overseas Exploration

Europeans developed better navigation skills and instruments like the compass and moveable rudder
allowed Europeans to sail farther
desire for products from East Asia
desire to spread Christianity
control trade and acquire wealth

Reconquista

Ferdinand and Isabella (Catholic monarchs of Spain) led the reconquest of Spain by reuniting Spain under Christian rule in
1492 and expelling the Muslims

Christopher Columbus

European explorer
tried to reach Asia by sailing westward
arrived in Americas
opened trade routes between Europe and the Americas

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer
discovered an all-water route to India
circumnavigated (sailed around) Africa

Ferdinand Magellan

Portuguese explorer
led the first expedition to circumnavigate (circle) the world in 1519
confirmed the world was round

Hernando Cortes

In 1519, conquered the Aztecs of Mexico
Spanish conquistador (conqueror)
led a smaller force but had guns, horses and cannons
many Aztecs died from smallpox, a European disease to which they had no immunities

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador (conqueror)
conquered Incas in 1530
Incas were recovering from a civil war
Spaniards were more technologically advanced

Columbian Exchange

Columbus' opening the Americas to the Europeans led to increased cultural diffusion
Europe received corn, chocolate, tomatoes, and potatoes
Americas received horses, cattle, rats, and wheat

Treaty of Tordesillas

Pope divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal
Portugal received Brazil

Encomienda System

Spaniards forced Native American Indians to farm and work the mines
converted Native Americans to Catholicism

Social Classes of Colonial Latin America

peninsulares (born in Spain or Portugal) govern colonies
creoles (born in Americas of European ancestry) own land but denied top government jobs
mestizos (mixed European and Indian ancestry)
mulattos (mixed European and African ancestry)
Native Americans and Africans - forced labor

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

need for labor on plantations of Americas
captured Africans and forcibly brought to Americas
many died during the "Middle Passage" or journey to Americas
lasted 300 years
slaves worked long hours without pay growing sugar, tobacco, and cotton

Effects of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

increased African warfare (ethnic groups fought each other for slaves-profits).
disrupted African culture
destroyed Trans-Saharan trade
increased violence and bitterness
increased cultural diffusion

Commercial Revolution

change in the way business was conducted in Europe
goods were produced and exchanged on a world-wide basis
increased trade
led to the formation of joint-stock companies where investors purchased stocks or partial ownership of companies in hopes of making money

Mercantilism

European rulers tried to increase their supply of gold and silver
tried to export more expensive items and import cheaper items from their colonies
exported expensive finished goods for cheaper raw materials

Capitalism

economic system
business owners risk their money as well as the money of investors in order to make more money
described by Adam Smith his book, The Wealth of Nations
individuals are free to make all economic decisions

Absolutism

European monarch's complete control over his subjects and the government
Louis XIV of France was an absolute monarch. His word was law.
the monarch completely controlled the government

Henry VIII

British monarch
left the Catholic Church in order to divorce his wife and started the Anglican Church in England
Protestant monarch

Peter the Great

Russian tsar (czar)
modernized and westernized Russia
moved capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg in order to have a "window on the west"

Catherine the Great

Russian tsarina (czarina)
continued Peter's policies of modernization and westernization
enacted limited reforms

Constitutional Monarchy

power shared between monarch and Parliament
England developed a constitutional monarchy
the Magna Carta and the English Parliament limited the king's power
subjects enjoyed basic rights

John Locke

English writer
believed governments obtain their authority from the consent of the people they govern
opposed to Divine Right of Kings

Scientific Revolution

began during the European Renaissance
rejected traditional authority and church teachings in favor of the direct observation of nature
based on the scientific method

Sir Isaac Newton

most influential thinker of the Scientific Revolution
law of gravity
raised hopes that the universe acted according to certain fixed and fundamental laws

The Enlightenment

also called the Age of Reason
18th century European movement
thinkers believed that scientific reasoning could be applied to understanding people and society

Ottoman Empire

originally nomadic group of Turkish people from Central Asia
rulers of the Islamic world in the 13th century
captured Constantinople
for a time, cut off European trade with Asia
Suleiman the Magnificent - greatest ruler

Safavids

created an Islamic Empire in Persia in early 1500s
Shi'ite Muslims
hostile to Ottomans (Sunni Muslims)
rulers known as shahs

Mughal Empire

founded by Babur (descendant of Tamerlane and Chinggis Khan)
Muslim rulers of India
Akbar the Great - most famous ruler

Akbar the Great

grandson of Babur
most famous Mughal ruler
conquered all of northern India
followed a policy of religious toleration
allowed Hindus to work in his government

Shah Jahan

Akbar's grandson
Mughal ruler of India (Muslim)
less sympathy for Hindus
ordered the destruction of many Hindu temples
had Taj Mahal constructed for his deceased wife

British East India Company

British trading company
established trading posts in India
laid the foundation for British conquest of India

Ming Dynasty

1368-1644
Chinese Dynasty
constructed Forbidden City, home to all later Chinese Emperors
initially, encouraged overseas exploration but then halted exploration
Zheng Ho famous Chinese explorer

Qing (Manchu) Dynasty

conquered Ming
nomadic invaders from Manchuria
adopted many Chinese ways
forced men to wear pigtail (queue) at back as a symbol of submission to Manchu rule
last Chinese dynasty
harmed by European technological superiority

Middle East Geography

southwest Asia
'crossroads of three continents"
connects Africa, Asia, and Europe
desert - arid and difficult to farm
population density along coasts and rivers - water for farming
hot
lacks plentiful water oil

Geography of Russia

long, cold winters and short, mild summers
need for a warm-water port - led to expansion south and west
northernmost tundra - ground frozen most of the year
influenced by Byzantines and Mongols

Geography of China

southern and western China borders Himalayas, Kunlun, and Tiajin Mountains
east China borders the Pacific Ocean
vast plains and fertile river valleys in the East where most people live (greatest population density)
mountains often protected and isolated China
developed a unique culture
Gobi Desert in the north

Geography of South Asia

Himalayas (highest mountains) separate Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia
passes in Himalayas allow for cultural diffusion
Indus and Ganges rivers - important for farming
monsoons - winds that bring rains for farming

Geography of Europe

Pyrenees and Alps (mountains) separate peoples allowing for different cultures and languages
proximity to North Africa and Middle East allowed for cultural diffusion
much of the continent consists of broad, fertile plain - good for farming but few defensible frontiers and frequent warfare

Geography of South America

located near the equator
most important river - Amazon
Amazon rain forest and Andes mountains are difficult to farm
slash and burn farming occurs in the rain forests
terrace farming occurs on the mountains

Geography of Japan

a series of islands - an archipelago
Jacks natural resources
must import raw materials to make finished or manufactured goods
mountainous - less arable or fertile land
short, swift rivers

Code of Hammurabi

first written law code
developed in Mesopotamia
social divisions
rich people could pay instead of being punished