Unit 1: The Global Tapestry

Confucianism

A philosophical and ethical system from ancient China focused on social harmony, moral integrity, and respect for authority.

Song Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty that utilized Confucianism and imperial bureaucracy to maintain and justify their rule.

Daoism

A philosophical system founded by Laozi in China, emphasizing withdrawal into contemplation of nature and simple living.

Buddhism

A religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) emphasizing that suffering is caused by desire and achieving enlightenment through moral living and meditation.

Dar al-Islam

Refers to regions where Islam is practiced, including the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

Sufism

An emerging form of Islam that emphasizes personal spiritual experiences and disregards social class or gender distinctions.

Malis Empire

An empire in West Africa that adopted Islam to gain access to trade networks within the Dar al-Islam.

Aztec Empire

A decentralized Mesoamerican civilization known for its tributary system and religious motivations for expansion.

Inca Empire

A centralized power in the Andes known for its bureaucratic governance and the Mita system requiring labor from conquered peoples.

Feudalism

A decentralized political system in medieval Europe characterized by alliances between lords and vassals based on land ownership.

Manorialism

An economic arrangement in feudal Europe where peasants worked the land in exchange for protection from local lords.

Swahili Civilization

An independent collection of city-states along the East African coast, known for their strategic position in Indian Ocean trade and integration of Islamic culture.

Caste System

A social structure in India that categorizes people into different hierarchical groups, often based on their occupation.

Tributary System

A system where a dominant state requires tribute from smaller states as a show of power, common in the Khmer Empire.

Silk Road

An ancient trade route that connected Asia with Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture.

Abbasid Caliphate

An Islamic empire founded in the 8th century, known for its cultural advancements and later decline.

Seljuk Empire

A Turkish Muslim state established in the 11th century that played a significant role in the expansion of Islam.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

A branch of Christianity that developed in the Byzantine Empire, characterized by its continuity and influence after the fall of Constantinople.

Kievan Rus

A group of Slavic states in Eastern Europe that adopted Eastern Orthodox Christianity and borrowed cultural elements from the Byzantine Empire.

Hinduism

A major religion of India characterized by its polytheism and the pursuit of Dharma (moral duty) and Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu reform movement that emphasized devotion to a single god and rejected traditional hierarchies among various deities.

Mito System

A labor system used by the Incas to require periodic labor from those conquered as a form of taxation.

Mississippian Culture

A mound-building Native American culture known for complex urban centers and social hierarchies, existing around the 8th to 9th century in North America.

Great Sun

The title for the supreme chief in the Mississippian culture, overseeing towns and extending power over smaller settlements.

Chaco and Mesa Verde Societies

Ancient Native American cultures known for their architectural innovations in drought-prone areas of the southwestern United States.

Khmer Empire

A significant empire in Southeast Asia that started as a Hindu state but incorporated Buddhism, known for its impressive temple complex of Angkor Wat.