Global Tapestry (Parm/Phillips)

Song Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty (960-1279) was known for economic prosperity, urbanization, and technological innovation. This can be found in east Asia

Neo-Confucianism

Revival of Confucian philosophy blended with Buddhist and Daoist ideas during the Song era. This can be found in east Asia

Filial Piety

The Confucian idea emphasizes respect and obedience toward one's parents and elders, with particular respect to the eldest male head of the household. This can be found in east Asia

Civil Service Exam

The Confucian-based examination system was used to recruit bureaucrats in imperial China. This can be found in east Asia.

Sinification

The process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture.

Champa (Wet field) Rice

Fast-ripening rice from Vietnam that increased agricultural output in China. This originated in southeast Asia

Tribute System

When a more powerful states extracts taxes and other goods and resources from a less powerful state to demonstrate dominance of an area.

Grand Canal

A man-made massive canal network linking northern and southern China, boosting internal trade. This can be found in east Asia

Foot Binding

The Chinese practice of tightly binding girls' feet to keep them small as a sign of beauty and status, which subordinated them to the male head of the household. This can be found in east Asia

Woodblock Printing

Early printing technology, where text/images were carved into wooden blocks for mass copying. This can be found in east Asia

Emperor

The supreme male ruler of an empire.

Dynastic Rule

Government where power is passed down through a ruling family line.

Mandate of Heaven

Chinese belief that rulers ruled with divine approval, which could be lost if they governed poorly. This can be found in east Asia

Scholar Gentry

Educated land-owning elite who held most bureaucratic positions in China, rank was achieved through the Civil Service Exam. This can be found in east Asia

Eunuch

Castrated officials who worked in an imperial court and often held great political influence.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (1368-1644) that restored native rule after the Mongols, emphasized Confucian traditions, and expanded trade and culture. This can be found in east Asia

Koryo

Korean dynasty (918-1392) heavily influenced by Chinese culture. This can be found in east Asia

Heian Period

Japanese era (794-1185) known for aristocratic culture and the rise of courtly traditions. This can be found in east Asia

Fujiura

A powerful Japanese aristocratic family that controlled politics during the Heian period by dominating the imperial court. This can be found in east Asia

Shogun

Military commander who held actual political power in Japan during Japan's feudal era that stretched all the way into the 1800's. This can be found in east Asia

Samurai

Warrior class in feudal Japan who served the shogun and followed the bushido code. This can be found in east Asia

Dar al-Islam

Translates to "House of Islam", referring to all territory controlled by Islamic states. Originating in the Middle East

Five Pillars

Core duties of Islam: faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. Originating in the Middle East

Umma

The global community of Muslim believers.

Dhimmi

Group of people also known as the "People of the Book". Non-Muslim communities living under Islamic rule and protected after paying tax. Originating in the Middle East

Sunni

Largest branch of Islam, believing the caliph should be chosen by the Muslim community. Originating in the Middle East

Shia

Branch of Islam believing leadership should remain in Muhammad's family. Originating in the Middle East

Sharia Law

Islamic law code derived from the Qur'an and the Hadith. Originating in the Middle East

Jizya

Special tax paid by non-Muslims living in Islamic states. Originating in the Middle East

Qu'ran

The Holy book of Islam believed to be the word of God revealed to Muhammad. Originating in the Middle East

Ulama

Scholars and religious leaders in Islam who interpret the Qur'an and Islamic law. Originating in the Middle East

Seljuk Empire

Turkic empire ruled by sultans in Persia and modern-day

Iraq (11th and 12th centuries); Established Turks as major ethnic group carrying Islam across Eurasia. Originating in the Middle East

Mamluk Sultanate

Military slave dynasty that ruled Egypt and defeated the Mongols in the 13th century. Originating in the Middle East

Umayyad Caliphate

The first major Islamic caliphate centered in Damascus which spread Islam into North Africa and Spain. Originating in the Middle East

Abbasid Caliphate

The Islamic caliphate (750-1258) is known for its cultural and scientific Golden Age in Baghdad. Originating in the Middle East

House of Wisdom

The center of learning in Baghdad was where scholars translated and preserved classical texts. Originating in the Middle East

Sufis

Islamic mystics who spread Islam through personal devotion and missionary work. Originating in the Middle East

Battle of Talas

751 CE battle where the Abbasid Caliphate halted Chinese westward expansion and introduced paper to the Islamic world. Located in Central Asia.

Battle of Tours

732 CE battle where Frankish forces stopped the advance of Muslim Umayyad forces into Western Europe. Located in Europe

Cordoba

Cosmopolitan Muslim capital in Spain, notable for its wealth and scholarly culture. Located in Europe

Viziers

High-ranking political advisors or ministers in Islamic governments. Originating in the Middle East

Madrasa

Islamic school or college where students studied the Qur'an and other subjects. Originating in the Middle East

Ibn Battuta

Muslim traveler and scholar who documented his journeys throughout the Islamic world in the 14th century. Originally from North Africa.

Hinduism

Major Indian religious tradition based on dharma, caste, and reincarnation. Originating in South Asia

Buddhism

Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama that teaches the path to enlightenment, that evolved out of the ideas of Hinduism. Originating in South Asia.

Caste System

Hindu social hierarchy that divides people into hereditary classes. Originating in South Asia

Sati

Ritual in which a widow would throw herself on her husband's funeral pyre. Originating in South Asia

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim government that ruled northern India and spread Islam in South Asia. Originating in South Asia

Khmer Empire

Powerful Southeast Asian empire (802-1431) centered in present-day Cambodia, known for its Hindu-Buddhist culture, advanced irrigation systems, and the temple complex of Angkor Wat. Originating in Southeast Asia

Bhakti Movement

Indian devotional movement emphasizing personal devotion to Hindu gods. Originating in South Asia

Buddhist Monasticism

Religious practice in which monks and nuns live in isolated communities devoted to meditation, study, and spreading the teachings of the Buddha. Originating in South Asia

Mahayana Buddhism

Buddhist branch that worships the Buddha and bodhisattvas as divine beings. Most influential in east Asia

Theravada Buddhism

Oldest Buddhist tradition stressing individual enlightenment and monastic life. Most influential in Southeast Asia

Angkor Wat

Massive Hindu temple complex built in the Khmer Empire (modern Cambodia). Located in Southeast Asia

Malacca

A strategic trading port that connected China and India on the Indian trade network. They became a major center for commerce and the spread of Islam. Located in Southeast Asia.

Rajput

Hindu warrior clans in northern India who resisted Muslim invasions. Located in South Asia

Sultan

Muslim ruler or king, especially in Islamic states in India and the Middle East.

Purdah

Practice of secluding women from public observation in Hindu and Islamic cultures.

Maya city-states

Independent and competing city-kingdoms known for astronomy and writing. Located in Central America.

Mexica

Indigenous people who founded the Aztec Empire. Located in Central America.

Inca

Andean empire that built extensive road systems and terraced agriculture. Located in Latin America.

Andes Mountains

Mountain range that influenced development of states in South America.

Mesa Verde

Pueblo capital of cliff-dwellings in the American Southwest. Located in North America.

Cahokia

Largest Mississippian mound-building city near present-day St. Louis. Located in North America.

Cuzco

Capital city of the Inca Empire. Located in Latin America.

Pachacuti

Inca emperor who expanded the empire across the Andes. Located in Latin America.

Mita System

Incan labor tax that required subjects to work for the state. Located in Latin America.

Waru-waru

Andean agricultural technique using raised fields and canals to prevent flooding. Located in Latin America.

Machu Picchu

Mountain-top Incan city and royal retreat. Located in Latin America.

Quipu

Incan record-keeping device made from rope and string that used knots and colors to denote meaning. Located in Latin America.

Aztecs

Mesoamerican empire known for human sacrifice and tribute collection. Located in Central America.

Terrace Farming

Agricultural method of cutting flat areas into hillsides to grow crops.

Lake Texcoco

Lake in central Mexico where the Aztecs built the capital city of Tenochtitlan. Located in Central America

Yucatan Peninsula

Peninsula in southeastern Mexico home to many Maya city-states. Located in Central America

Tenochtitlan

Capital city of the Aztec Empire, built on a lake island. Located in Central America

Chinampas

Artificial farming islands used by the Aztecs for agriculture. Located in Central America

Inti

Sun god of the Inca and principal deity of the empire. Located in Latin America

Carpa nan

Massive roadway system built by the utilization of the Mita system in the Inca empire. Located in Latin America

Ghana

The first African trading kingdom known for gold-salt trade. Located in West Africa.

Mali

The most profitable empire that replaced Ghana and grew rich from trans-Saharan trade. Located in West Africa

Sundiata

Founder of the Mali Empire, celebrated for uniting the region and establishing a prosperous and influential kingdom. Becomes the inspiration for the literary work "The Lion King". Located in West Africa

Mansa Musa

Mali's famous Muslim ruler who made his wealth from taxing the Gold-Salt Trade. His known for his lavish Hajj and spread wealth across North Africa. Is the richest man in world history. Originated in West Africa

Berbers

Indigenous people who played key roles as traders, pastoralists, and intermediaries across the Sahara, especially in trans-Saharan trade networks. Located in North Africa

Bantu Migrations

Movement of Bantu-speaking peoples across sub-Saharan Africa spreading iron and agriculture. Located in West Africa

Griots

African storytellers and historians who preserved tradition orally.

Swahili

The culture and language that developed from a blend of Bantu, Arab, and Persian influences, flourishing through Indian Ocean trade. Located in East Africa

Swahili City-States

Trading states in the Indian Ocean Trade Network that blended African and Islamic cultures. Located in East Africa

Matrilineal descent

A system of tracing family lineage and inheritance through the mother's line rather than the father's.

Malaria

Mosquito-borne disease that affected populations in tropical zones.

Hausa Kingdoms

Collection of decentralized city-states in northern Nigeria involved in regional trade.

Feudalism

Decentralized political system where nobles held land and provided military service in return for protection.

Roman Catholicism

Branch of Christianity centered in Rome and led by the pope. Located in Europe

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Christian tradition centered in Constantinople after the 1054 schism led by the patriarch. Located in Europe

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire that preserved Roman law and Christian culture into the 15th century. Located in Europe

Manorial System

Economic system where peasants worked the lord's estate in return for protection and land use. Located in Europe

Peasants

Common people who worked the land and made up the majority of feudal society.

Knights

Mounted warriors who served lords and followed the code of chivalry. Located in Europe

Code of Chivalry

Ethical code of conduct followed by medieval European knights. Located in Europe

Guilds

Associations of craftsmen or merchants who regulated trade and labor in medieval towns. Located in Europe

Vassals

Nobles who pledged loyalty and service to a higher lord in exchange for land. Located in Europe