Unit 1

State

A territory that is politically organized under a single government.

Neo-Confucianism

A revival of Confucianism during the Song Dynasty that sought to rid Confucian thought of Buddhist influence.

Filial Piety

A Confucian principle emphasizing the necessity of children obeying and honoring their parents and ancestors.

Bureaucracy

A government entity arranged in a hierarchical fashion that carries out the will of the emperor.

Civil Service Examination

A test based on Confucian classics that men had to take to gain bureaucratic jobs in the Song Dynasty.

Foot Binding

A practice in which young girls' feet were bound to restrict their growth, considered a status symbol in elite circles.

Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism that encourages broader participation in its practices, emphasizing helping others toward enlightenment.

Theravada Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism that confined practice mainly to monks and monasteries, focusing on individual enlightenment.

Champa Rice

A quick-maturing rice strain introduced to China from the Champa kingdom, leading to significant agricultural growth.

Dar al-Islam

The house of Islam; refers to all places in the world where Islamic faith was predominant.

Abbassid Caliphate

A major Islamic empire based in Baghdad that was ethnically Arab and an important center of power before 1200.

Seljuk Empire

A Turkic empire that emerged from the Abbasid Caliphate and gained power through military strength.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief system emphasizing personal experience and adaptation to local beliefs, aiding in the spread of Islam.

Bhakti Movement

A reform movement within Hinduism emphasizing devotion to a single deity and accessibility to the average believer.

Aztec Empire

A powerful Mesoamerican empire founded in 1345, known for its tribute system and human sacrifice practices.

Inca Empire

An extensive Andean civilization known for its centralized bureaucracy and labor requirements for state projects.

Swahili Civilization

An East African trading civilization that developed around commerce, influenced by Muslim traders and cultures.

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful state in southern Africa known for its gold trade and maintenance of indigenous religions.

Christianity in Ethiopia

Ethiopia was a Christian state in a predominantly Islamic region, maintaining a hierarchical power structure.

Feudalism

A political system where lords gained allegiance from lesser lords in exchange for land and military service.

Manorialism

An economic system in medieval Europe centered around a manor, where serfs worked land owned by lords.