1200 - 1450 CE Must Knows

Samarkand

Powerful trade city on Asian Steppe (in Uzbekistan).

New Artisan Jobs

New artisan jobs were formed in China, Persia, and India.

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful state in the African interior that apparently emerged from the growing trade in gold to the East African coast; flourished between 1250 and 1350 C.E.

Kingdom of Ethiopia

Long standing presence of Christianity. Longest ruling Christian Kingdom in all of world history. Ethiopians practiced Orthodox Christianity because Catholicism did not exist when they converted.

Hausa Kingdoms

Network of city-states in West Africa. Converted to Islam to strengthen their ties with Muslim merchants. Hausa are very independent, each village had a ruler (Emir) understood to have been given power by Allah.

Igbo Confederations

Large ethnic group native to modern day Nigeria in West Africa. Notable for successful agriculture based on yam farming. Unaffected by spread of Islam in Africa and practiced own belief system until British colonization during the 19th century.

Empire of Mali

West African kingdom that obtained wealth through the gold trade, was ruled by a mansa, and made Timbuktu into a prosperous West African city, 13th-14th centuries AD

Berbers

North Africans, primarily Muslim people living in settled or nomadic tribes from Morocco to Egypt

Steppes

Dry Grasslands that stretched north of the Caucasus Mountains

Pope

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church

Swamp Drain

Swamps were drained in low countries to create more usable farmland.

Three Field System

A system of rotating crops, so the soil doesn't get overused.

Marco Polo

A Venetian (from the Italian City-State of Venice) served Kublai Khan in China and wrote a book that made Europeans very intrigued about China and East Asia.

Margery Kempe

A Christian mystic from England. Made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and wrote a book about her life experiences. Considered to be the first autobiography written in English and the book provides insight into the life of a middle-class woman in medieval Europe.

Monotheism

Belief in one god.

Judaism

The monotheistic religion where Jewish people from Mesopotamia believe that they are the chosen people of the one true God (Yahweh).

Christianity

A religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus that was formed when Jesus's followers believed that he rose from the dead and that he is the savior of all people.

Missionaries

People who go to another place to spread their religion.

Quran

The message that God gives Mohammed, was later written down and became the holy book of Islam.

Muslim

A follower of Mohammed/Islam.

Islam

A religion based on the teachings of Mohammed and the world Islam means "a person who submits to the one true God".

Spread of Islam

The armies of Mohammed were able to spread Islam very fast throughout the middle east, as both the Byzantines and Persians were weak from fighting each other.

Sunni Islam

90% of all Muslims. Believe that anyone who is the most qualified should be the leader of Dar al-Islam.

Shia Islam

10% of all Muslims. Most are located in Persia (Iran). Believe that there was something special in the bloodline of Mohammed and that only a relative of Mohammed should lead.

Caliph

The political and spiritual leader of all Muslims

Abbasid Caliphate

Was Islam's greatest Empire (750 - 1258 CE). At their height (850 CE) they had surpassed ancient China and had become the most advanced civilization.

House of Wisdom

A library in the capital of Baghdad, it held the accumulation of human knowledge.

Islamic Medicine

Expanded knowledge and practices of medicine. Invented the use of alcohol as an antiseptic.

Cultural Transfer

Abbasid Caliphates took knowledge from the east and west and spread it in other directions.

Zanj Rebellion

The Zanj Rebellion was started by Ali ibn Muhammed and was an uprising against the Caliphates by enslaved East Africans (Zanj people). Zanj rebels controlled southern Iraq for 15 years before being defeated. Death estimates range from 200,000 to 2 million.

Pastoralists

nomads who kept herds of livestock on which they depended for most of their food

Prophet Mohammed

Founder of religion of Islam. Seen as the final prophet sent from God to the Muslims. Was given the message from God that is now known as the Quran.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

Was a brilliant architect, mathematician, and astronomer. He charted the movement of all the plants. Europeans would later use his work to finally prove that the Earth revolves around the sun.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns for traverlers

Camel Domestication

Domesticated the camel for long desert trade. The camel was used to carry goods and people along the trade route.

Saddle

A seat for the rider of a camel or horse.

Banking

The creation of a banking system where loans were given and you could store your money and gain interest.

Joint Stock Companies

Businesses formed by groups of people who jointly make an investment and share in the profits and losses. Used to mitigate losses if the venture were to fail, as the financial loss was shared over multiple investors.

Checks

A written vow to pay, Dar al-Islam.

Bills of Exchange

A written order to a person requiring the person to make a specified payment to the signatory or to a named payee; a promissory note on a fixed date.

Paper Money

A legal form of money issued in the form of paper and was lighter and easier to transport and carry than coinage.

Hangzhou

Chinas capital during the Song dynasty and a powerful trade city that was located at the end of China's Grand Canal and marked the end of the Silk Road.

Indian Ocean Trade

Connected the East Coast of Africa to Indonesia. More bulk goods were traded along these routes. Bulk goods were easier to transport on ship than camel. Luxury goods were also traded.

Lateen Sail

A triangular sail that made it possible to sail into the wind if needed.

Junk Ship

A very large flat-bottom sailing ship produced in the Tang and Song Empires, specially designed for long-distance commercial travel and participation in the tribute system

Treasure Fleet

A large fleet of large transport/cargo ships accompanying Zheng He and his attempt/success to circumnavigate and trade.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Connected North Africa with the kingdoms of West Africa. The main contributor to the widespread practice of Islam in West Africa.

Timbuktu

Mali trading city that became a center of wealth and learning located in North Western Africa.

Zheng He

The greatest explorer of the India Ocean. Sailed a giant treasure fleet from China all the way to the coast of Africa and spread Chinese technology and culture as he went.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Islamic lands from China to Spain and the western Sudan.

Mansa Musa

Ruler of Mali (r. 1312-1337). His extravagant pilgrimage through Egypt to Mecca in 1324-1325 established the empire's reputation for wealth in the Mediterranean world. Renowned for his extravagant wealth. Mali was an important center of trade in the Trans-Saharan trade network.

Mayans

(Greeks of the Americas) Lived in city states and had an extremely accurate calendar and used corvee labor to build public works.

Political Confederation

A group of City-States connected politically

Corvee Labor

Unpaid labor required for a few days at a time by the government to build public works.

Mexicas

Another name for the Aztecs

Human Sacrifice

a person who is killed as part of a religious ritual

Cahokia

The largest civilization in North America and was the center of trade that linked the Great Lakes, Southwest, and the Gulf of Mexico. Cahokians built ceremonial mounds.

Incas

Ancient civilization (1200-1500AD) that was located in the Andes in Peru

Incan Road System

A large road system that spanned the Incan empire in the Andes Mountains and connected all major cities to keep communication flowing.

Bantu Migration

The movement of the Bantu peoples southward throughout Africa, spreading their language and culture, over several centuries.

Ethiopian Orthodox

Ethiopians practiced Orthodox Christianity because Catholicism did not exist when they converted.

Spread of Islam

Islam spread through Africa along trade routes. Slowly making its way more into the interior of Africa.

Swahili Coast

region along east coast of Africa, part of Indian Ocean trade route, Islam influenced

Trans-Saharan Trade

Connected North Africa with the kingdoms of West Africa. Salt from North Africa and Gold from West Africa were the most notable products. Largely responsible for the widespread practice of Islam in West Africa.

Arabic

the Semitic (denoting a family of languages) language of the Arabs

Sundiata

the founder of Mali empire. He crushed his enemies and won control of the gold trade routes

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Islamic lands from China to Spain and the western Sudan. Were recorded in his book Rihla.

Mongol Horses

Fast, durable horses that could also serve as nourishment (blood from the horse).

Khanates

Four regions/kingdoms that the Mongol Empire was divided into after Genghis Khan died and his descendants couldn't keep the peace.

Pax Mongolica

Times of peace where an enormous free-trade zone, where merchants could travel safely and quickly over routes protected by Mongol soldiers. Led to a great exchange of trade goods, cultural ideas, and technology.

Bubonic Plauge

a deadly disease that spread across Asia and Europe in the mid-14th century, killing millions of people. Killed 30-60% of the population wherever it reached.

Yuan Dynasty

Was a dynasty set up by the Mongols. Established in China by Kublai Khan and survived for less than 100 years before being overthrown. Rulers had become too Chinese for the liking of other Mongols and the Chinese saw the rulers as barbaric foreigners.

Genghis Khan

Also known as Temujin; he united the Mongol tribes into an unstoppable fighting force; created largest single land empire in history. Took over much of Asia and part of the Middle East.

Kublai Khan

Mongolian emperor of China, started the Yuan Dynasty and the grandson of Genghis Khan. He completed conquering the rest of China.

Sorghaghtani Beki

Was a Keraite princess and daughter-in-law of Genghis Khan. Married to Tolui, Genghis' youngest son, Sorghaghtani Beki became one of the most powerful and competent people in the Mongol Empire.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

May have helped Mongols take over the Muslim city he was living in. Believed Mongols were the best hope for the future of science. Given the most advanced observatory at the time and helped to discover more about the motions of planets.

Confucianism

The most significant cultural belief in China. Focused on proper living in the world.

Filial Piety

Respect people older than you. Grandfather is the most important person in the family. Grand father will respect you, but you must respect him.

Patriarchy

A society where men have more decision making power than women.

Daoism

Daoism claimed that there must be a balance in all things (yin and yang). Was the base for all Chinese art and heavily influenced architectural styles of China. Focused on the perfection of nature. Became the scientists, etc... of early China.

Mandate of Heaven

The idea that someone had earned the right to rule because they practiced perfect values and had the blessing of the gods.

Imperial Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Civil Service Exam

A test based on Confucianism that made sure only the best and the brightest got government jobs.

Song Dynasty

960 - 1279 CE. Continued to use cultural beliefs to maintain and justify their rule.

Nomadic Pastoralists

Domesticated animals, but didn't settle down to farm. Moved around a lot.

Tribute System

China would "allow" other civilizations to trade with them as long as foreigners came to the Chinese Emperor's court and paid official tribute and bowed before the emperor. The Chinese would often give gifts to the visitors.

Grand Canal

A giant canal that connects the two major rivers, since all major rivers in China run east to west. Was used for trade, to move armies, and to collect taxes.

Champa Rice

A special rice from Vietnam that has two planting seasons.

Surplus

Extra of a resource.

Division of Labor

Allowing people to specialize in one specific task to increase production.

Porcelain, Silk, Textiles

Manufactured for trade export which made China very wealthy.

Subsistence Farming

Farming only enough to feed one's family.

Artisan

A worker skilled in a trade

Commercial Activity

Buying and selling to make a profit.

Hangzhou

The capital of the Song Dynasty, located at the southern end of the Grand Canal. Was the largest city in the world.

Neo-Confucianism

A reaction to the rise of Buddhism in the Song Dynasty. Overemphasized that men are more important than women and women should stay in the home and be silent.

Foot Binding

A Neo-Confucianist practice. Little girl's feet were broken and then wrapped tight so that would grow disfigured. Small feet became s symbol of "culture" and not man would want to marry a women with large/normal feet. Is an extreme form of patriarchy that keeps women crippled and dependent on men.

Korea/Japan cultural borrowing

Korea and Japan borrowed Chinese culture and language.

Confucius

An ancient teacher and the creater of Confucianism. Taught people to act proper.

Hinduism

The worlds oldest religion. Both Polytheistic and Monotheistic. Originated in India.