Period 1200–1450: State-Building Across the World

Vocabulary flashcards on how states borrowed ideas, innovated on them, and differed in structure and governance during 1200–1450.

Song Dynasty (China)

Borrowed Confucianism and the imperial bureaucracy to legitimize and organize rule; promoted expansion of the Silk Road trade.

Confucianism

Philosophical system used to justify centralized rule and merit-based civil service, especially in East Asia like the Song Dynasty.

Imperial Bureaucracy

Administrative system run by trained officials selected via examinations; centralizes authority and sustains governance.

Islam in Turkic successor states

Islam used to legitimize and consolidate power after replacing Abbasid authority, shaping governance across Turkic empires.

Silk Road expansion under Song

Song rulers fostered trade networks across Eurasia, integrating economies and boosting state revenue.

Srivijaya (Southeast Asia)

Maritime empire that linked Hindu-Buddhist cultural influence with control of straits trade routes.

Majapahit (Southeast Asia)

Javanese empire that synchronized Hindu and Buddhist temple architecture and state ideology.

Hindu–Buddhist architectural syncretism

Blending Hindu and Buddhist motifs and symbolism in royal and religious architecture to express legitimacy.

Inca Empire

Highly centralized administration with centralized governance and systems like mita labor.

Aztec Empire

More decentralized provincial rule and tribute-based networks, with strong leadership but looser local administration than Inca.

State-building comparison (1200–1450)

Analytical approach comparing borrowed methods, innovations, and differences across major empires.