Period 1 –The Global Tapestry 1200-1450 CE

Islam

A major monotheistic religion founded in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula by the Prophet Muhammad.

Caliphates

Islamic states led by a caliph, who is considered a political and religious successor to Muhammad.

Feudalism

A social and political organization based on land ownership and personal allegiance, prevalent in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Silk Roads

A network of trade routes connecting East and West, facilitating trade and cultural exchange across Asia.

Swahili

A syncretic language combining Bantu and Arabic, developed along the East African coast due to Islamic influence.

Crusades

Military campaigns initiated by Western European Christians to reclaim the Holy Lands from Muslim control, beginning in the 12th century.

Mongols

Central Asian pastoral tribes that created a vast empire in the 13th century, known for their significant impact on trade and cultural exchange.

Aztec

An indigenous culture that developed a powerful empire in Mesoamerica by the 14th century, centered in Tenochtitlan.

Inca

A powerful empire that rose in the Andes of South America known for its extensive network of roads and centralized administration.

Pax Mongola

A period of stability and peace established by the Mongol Empire, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges across Eurasia.

Bubonic Plague

A devastating pandemic that swept across Eurasia in the 14th century, resulting in massive population loss.

Renaissance

A cultural revival in Western Europe that began in the 14th century, characterized by a renewed interest in classical art and learning influenced by earlier Greco-Roman ideas.

Trans-Saharan Routes

Trade routes across the Sahara Desert that facilitated the exchange of goods such as gold and salt between West Africa and the Mediterranean.

Champa Rice

A fast-growing rice species that contributed to agricultural surpluses and population growth in East Asia.

Caravanserai

Rest stops built along trade routes in the Middle East to provide accommodation and safety for traveling merchants.

Hanseatic League

A commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe.

Mit'a System

An Incan labor tax system requiring a certain number of days of labor from each family for public works.

Neoconfucianism

A philosophical syncretism of Confucianism and Buddhism that became prominent in China during the Song Dynasty.

Diasporic Communities

Communities formed by people who have settled away from their original homeland, often retaining their cultural identity.

Cahokia

A significant pre-Columbian Native American city located near the Mississippi River, known for its large earthen mounds.

Tenochtitlan

The Aztec capital city, known for its advanced architecture and as a major economic and political hub in Mesoamerica.

Silk, Sand, & Sea

Key trade routes in the Post-Classical Period, representing long-distance trade networks involving land (Silk Roads), desert (Trans-Saharan), and sea (Indian Ocean and Mediterranean).

Sufi Mystics

Islamic missionaries who promoted a personal relationship with Allah, often attracting followers through inclusive practices.