APWORLD UNIT 1

What was the main theme of Unit 1 Topic 5?

Governance.

What time period does the study of state building in Africa focus on in this unit?

1200-1450.

What region is referred to as Sub-Saharan Africa?

The region located below the Saharan Desert.

What civilization emerged on the east coast of Africa around the 8th century?

Swahili Civilization.

What type of political structure did the Swahili city-states have?

Each city-state was ruled by its own king.

What was the main source of wealth for the Swahili city-states?

Trade.

What goods were in demand from merchants arriving on the Swahili coast?

Gold, ivory, timber, and to a limited degree, enslaved people.

What dominant belief system emerged in the Swahili Civilization?

Islam.

How did the conversion to Islam occur among the Swahili people?

It took place voluntarily.

What language was spoken across the Swahili Civilization?

A hybrid language between Bantu and Arabic.

What was a significant factor that connected the Swahili elite to the wider world?

Their conversion to Islam connected them to the world of Dar-al-Islam.

What type of merchants were most prominent in the Indian Ocean trade?

Muslim merchants.

What was the economic foundation of Great Zimbabwe?

Exporting gold, farming, and cattle herding.

How did the Swahili states compare to China in terms of wealth generation?

Both generated wealth by participating in trade beyond their borders.

What type of social structure did both the Swahili states and China feature?

A hierarchical class structure.

What was the political structure of China compared to the Swahili states?

China had a centralized political structure with an emperor, while the Swahili states lacked a unified political structure.

What were the main exports of Great Zimbabwe?

Gold, along with farming and cattle herding.

What was the significance of trade for the Swahili city-states?

It was the primary source of wealth and competition among the city-states.

What type of competition existed among the Swahili city-states?

International competition for trade.

What role did the Indian Ocean play in the development of the Swahili Civilization?

It provided access to trade routes that were crucial for their economic prosperity.

What were the Swahili city-states primarily composed of?

A collection of independent city-states.

What significant structures did Zimbabwe rulers construct with their wealth?

Massive cities that were among the largest structures in Africa after the pyramids in Egypt.

What was the role of the massive city constructed by Zimbabwe rulers?

It housed the members of the court and represented the seat of royal power.

What were the major empires that rose and fell in West Africa?

Ghana, Mali, and Songhay.

What characterized the Hausa Kingdoms in West Africa?

They were a collection of independent city-states that gained power and wealth through trade.

What trade network facilitated the wealth of the Hausa Kingdoms?

The Trans-Saharan Trade Network.

How did the Hausa states function in terms of trade?

They acted as middlemen for goods grown in the interior and integrated them into trade patterns with other states.

What was a significant religious change that occurred in the Hausa Kingdoms?

The rulers eventually converted to Islam, facilitating trade with Muslim merchants.

What was the exception to the general trend of Islamic adoption in African states?

Ethiopia, which remained predominantly Christian.

What notable architectural achievement did Ethiopian rulers commission?

The construction of massive stone churches.

How did Ethiopia's trade contribute to its wealth?

Through trade in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean Network, particularly in valuable commodities like salt.

What type of political structure did Ethiopia have?

A centralized power structure with a king at the top and a stratified class hierarchy below.

In what ways did Ethiopia resemble other power structures across the world?

It had a centralized authority and a social hierarchy similar to other states.

What were the characteristics of the city-states in West Africa?

They were politically independent and gained wealth through trade.

What is a key feature of the Swahili Civilization on the east coast of Africa?

It resembled the Hausa Kingdoms in its urbanization and trade practices.

What was the impact of Islam on African states during this period?

It helped organize societies and facilitate trade with the larger Islamic network.

What does the term 'Dar-al-Islam' refer to?

The larger network of Islamic states and societies.

What was a significant factor in the rise of wealth for Ethiopian rulers?

Their control over trade routes and valuable commodities.

How did the political structure of the Hausa Kingdoms influence their trade?

Each state was ruled by a king who imposed social hierarchies, affecting trade dynamics.

What was a common trait among African states during the period discussed?

The adoption of Islam to facilitate trade and social organization.

What is the significance of the phrase 'politically independent city-states' in the context of West Africa?

It highlights the decentralized nature of governance in the region, contrasting with centralized empires.

What role did trade play in the development of states in Africa?

Trade was crucial for wealth accumulation, political power, and social organization.

What was the predominant religion in Europe during the period of 1200 to 1450?

Christianity dominated Europe.

Who made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire?

Emperor Constantine.

What happened to the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE?

It fell apart politically.

What was the Eastern half of the Roman Empire known as?

The Byzantine Empire.

What form of Christianity was practiced in the Byzantine Empire?

Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

How did Eastern Orthodox Christianity affect Byzantine rulers?

It helped justify and consolidate their power structure.

What happened to the Byzantine Empire by 1200?

It experienced significant territorial losses due to assaults by neighboring powers.

What was the name of the Muslim power that sacked Constantinople in 1453?

The Ottoman Empire.

What was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire?

Constantinople.

What name was given to Constantinople after it was captured by the Ottomans?

Istanbul.

What happened to Eastern Orthodox Christianity after the fall of the Byzantine Empire?

It was embraced by the Kievan Rus.

What was the political structure of Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

It became decentralized, breaking into many entities.

What was the influence of Christianity in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?

Christianity maintained a powerful presence through Roman Catholic Christianity.

What significant cultural development occurred in Europe from 1200 to 1450?

The interaction and influence of Christianity on European society.

What were the themes of the developments in Europe during this period?

Cultural Developments and Interactions, Governance and Social Interactions and Organization.

What was one consequence of political decentralization in Europe from c. 1200 to c. 1450?

Fragmentation into many political entities.

What role did agriculture play in social organization in Europe during this period?

Agriculture significantly influenced social structures and organization.

What was the status of the Byzantine Empire's influence by the end of the period?

It still wielded significant influence in the eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Europe before its fall.

What was the impact of Islamic powers on the Byzantine Empire by 1200?

The Byzantine Empire lost significant territory to Islamic powers.

What was the relationship between Christianity and governance in the Byzantine Empire?

Christianity was intertwined with governance, providing legitimacy to rulers.

How did the Kievan Rus adopt Eastern Orthodoxy?

They adopted it before the fall of Constantinople and became its main embodiment afterward.

What was the significance of the year 1453 in the context of the Byzantine Empire?

It marked the end of the Byzantine Empire with the fall of Constantinople.

What architectural influences did the Byzantine people have on European states?

They borrowed styles, structures, and the idea of using church organization to structure the state.

What was the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe?

It provided a common structure among various states and occasions for European Christians to unite for the Crusades.

What were the Crusades?

Occasions when European Christians were mobilized to fight Muslims in distant lands, often resulting in defeats for Europeans.

What was the dominant belief system in Europe during this period?

Christianity was the dominant belief system, although Islam and Judaism also held significant positions.

What impact did Muslims have on the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century?

Muslims invaded and controlled the region during that time.

What was the status of Jews in Europe during this period?

Jews were scattered throughout Europe, facilitated trade, but faced anti-Semitism and persecution.

What was the political situation in Europe around the time of the noted period?

Political decentralization and fragmentation were the norms, with no large empires like in other regions.

What system characterized the social, political, and economic order in Western Europe?

Feudalism was the system that organized society.

What does feudalism entail?

It was a system of allegiances between powerful lords, monarchs, and knights, where land was exchanged for loyalty.

How did lords and kings maintain their power in the feudal system?

They gained allegiance from lesser lords and kings in exchange for land.

What was the relationship between greater and lesser lords in the feudal system?

Greater lords provided land and protection in exchange for loyalty from lesser lords.

What was a significant consequence of the political fragmentation in Europe?

It led to a lack of centralized power compared to other regions like the Americas and Asia.

How did the church hierarchy contribute to the structure of Western Europe?

The church hierarchy of popes, bishops, and cardinals provided some level of organization among the states.

What were the effects of anti-Semitism on Jewish communities in Europe?

It led to waves of persecution and marginalization, keeping Jews on the edges of society.

What was the significance of trade during this period?

Trade was facilitated by Jews, who played a crucial role in the economic interactions of Europe.

What was the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Crusades?

The Church incited European Christians to participate in the Crusades against Muslims.

What was the impact of the Byzantine influence on European governance?

It introduced the concept of using church organization to help structure the state.

What was the commonality among states in Western Europe despite their isolation?

They shared a common religious structure through the Roman Catholic Church.

What characterized the political landscape of Europe compared to other regions during this time?

Europe was marked by political decentralization, unlike the centralized empires in the Americas and Asia.

What was the role of the church in fostering unity among European Christians?

The church provided occasions for collective action, such as the Crusades, to unite Christians.

How did the feudal system affect land ownership in Europe?

Land was owned and ruled by various lords and kings, creating a patchwork of control.

What was the significance of the term 'political decentralization' in the context of Europe?

It refers to the fragmentation of power and lack of centralized authority in European states.

What was the relationship between serfs and the land in the manorial system?

Serfs were bound to the land and worked it in exchange for protection from the lord.

How did serfs differ from slaves in the manorial system?

Serfs were not owned by the lords but were bound to the land.

What significant political change occurred in Europe around 1200?

Monarchs began to gain power and centralize their states.

Who held most of the power in Europe before the rise of monarchs?

The European nobility.

What were the consequences of increasing centralization by monarchs?

Monarchs began competing with one another for influence and territory, leading to wars.

What were the two main structures that monarchs introduced to gain power?

Large militaries and bureaucracies.

What was the primary focus of monarchs during the period of centralization?

To consolidate power and authority under themselves.

What were the learning objectives related to European society from c. 1200 to c. 1450?

1. Explain how predominant religions affected European society. 2. Explain the causes and consequences of political decentralization. 3. Explain the effects of agriculture on social organization.

What term describes the political fragmentation that existed in Europe before the rise of monarchs?

Political decentralization.

What was a major consequence of the rise of powerful monarchs in Europe?

Increased competition among monarchs for territory and influence.

What does the term 'manorialism' refer to?

A system where peasants worked the land in exchange for protection from lords.

What role did the military play in the manorial system?

Lords provided military protection to serfs in exchange for their labor.

What was the status of peasants in the manorial system?

They were known as serfs and had limited freedoms compared to free peasants.

How did the political landscape of Europe begin to change around 1200?

Monarchs started to centralize power, diminishing the influence of the nobility.