The Global Tapestry - Chapter 1 Review Guide

Song Dynasty

• major Chinese imperial state

• primary example of government using confucianism

• they had a merit-based bureaucracy

  • officials selected based on performance of tests, not birth

• had a booming economy

Grand Canal

• longest manmade waterway

• connects China’s Yellow River to the Yangtze River

  • connects North to South

• demonstrated the power of imperial China

• internal waterway that allowed for regional stability and economic opportunities

Champa Rice

• drought-resistant, fast ripening rice

• came from Vietnam and spread to Song China

• led to agricultural surpluses that in turn led to population and economic growth

Civil Service Examination

• Song China’s standardized test system used to select government officials based on merit and knowledge of Confucian texts

  • no more birthright to rule

• those who passed the test were part of the elite class in society

• people studied for decades and sometimes never passed

  • very challenging

Scholar-Gentry

• elite social class in Song China

• gained status and political power from passing the Civil Service Examination

• earned this place in society through merit

Neo-Confucianism

• updated version of traditional Confucianism that emerged in Song China

• blended classic Confucian beliefs with the spiritual ideas of Buddhism and Daoism

Foot Binding

• Chinese custom where they would tightly wrap their feet with cloth bandages to break the bones and prevent normal growth

• they wanted very tiny feet

  • served as a status symbol for the elite

• wanted “golden lotus” feet

  • 3 inches

• demonstrated patriarchal norms as women couldn’t function with broken feet

Sinicization

• process where non-Chinese societies adopted the culture and political systems of China

• EX: spread of Confucian beliefs, writings, political structures, etc.

Dar al-Islam

• translates to “House of Islam”

• refers to all regions where Muslims represent the majority

• places where Islam shaped public life, law, and trade

Abbasid Caliphate

• major Islamic empire that ruled from its capital Baghdad

• anchored the Islamic Golden Age

  • advances in math, science, medicine, and literature

• Baghdad was a massive center for trade and intellectual developments

  • led to the Abbasid Caliphate prospering

Baghdad

• this was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate

• major intellectual, commercial, and cultural hub of Dar al-Islam

• major crossroad for trade

House of Wisdom

• massive library and public academy in Baghdad

• people studied religion and science

• scholars gathered here to translate, preserve, and expand upon Greek, Persian, and Indian texts

  • translate into Arabic

• sponsored intellectual growth

Sharia

• Islamic law based on the Quran

• legal and moral system of Islam

• unified Dar al-Islam with shared legal and cultural traditions

• regulated daily life within each empire

Sufism

• new form of Islam that emphasized “mystical” and “personal” experience of God rather than a strict one

• open to every class and gender

• appealed more to Hindus than orthodox Islam

  • spread Islam to Delhi Sultanate in India

Ulama

• Islamic scholars who interpreted Sharia

• served as the moral compass of Dar al-Islam

  • acted as judges (qadis) and leaders

• helped to maintain cultural and social unity across Muslim community

Delhi Sultanate

• series of five Turkic and Afghan Muslim dynasties that ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent

• Muslim minority elite ruling over a massive Hindu majority population

• demonstrates the spread of Islam through Sufi’s and trade

Hinduism

• belief system built around karma, dharma (duty), samsara (rebirth), and moksha

• reinforced India’s rigid social hierarchy

• mechanism for political and social order

Saladin

• Muslim military leader and ruler

• first sultan of Egypt and Syria

• he united and developed Dar al-Islam

• centralized Islamic political forces

Swahili City-States

• network of independent, merchant ruled trading centers along the East African coast

• never a single unified empire

  • each city governed itself independently and competed for trade

• exported gold, ivory, iron, and people

• tied together by commerce

Mali Empire

• powerful west African state that achieved massive wealth and regional dominance

• controlled the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade networks

• Ruled by Mansa Musa

  • Islamic empire

Sundiata

• AKA “Lion King”

• Ruler / founder of Mali Empire in West Africa

• Came before Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa

• Emperor of the Mali Empire

• He made a famous hajj to Mecca with a massive entourage

  • Carried with him tons of gold

• he spent lavishly while heading towards Mecca causing severe inflation and a crash in the gold market for Egypt

• used Islam to legitimize his rule

Great Zimbabwe

• massive stone city in southeastern Africa

• served as the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe

• had advanced architecture

• sat in the middle of a major trade network

Aztec Empire

• powerful Mesoamerican state in central Mexico

• it expanded through military conquest and a tribute system

• mexica = aztec people

• Tenochtitlan → capital and center of the empire

• emperor at the top of hierarchy

• warriors had a chance for social mobility

  • conquered other city-states and their leaders

Tribute System

• neighboring states acknowledged Chinese superiority through gifts and rituals in exchange for trade access and protection

• sign of respect to the emperor → emperor gave back even more lavish gifts

Chinampas

• Small farming plots built by the Aztecs that floated above the water

• prime example of agricultural innovation

• the massive food surpluses allowed the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan to support a huge population

Inca Empire

• centralized city-state in South America

• based around a substance economy

  • goods for the population not a market economy

  • little trade outside of the empire

• ruled by a divine emperor

• implemented the Mit’a System

Mit’a System

• mandatory public labor as a form of tax used by the Inca Empire

• worked on public projects

Pachacuti

• 9th Incan Emperor

• he centralized the government of Inca

• enforced the sun worship

• he organized labor systems such as the Mit’a System

Feudalism

• this was a decentralized political and social system in medieval Europe

  • power split among many regional lords

• kings and the nobles granted land (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty

Manorialism

• each manor had a church

  • provided order and stability

• manors were controlled by lords and peasants / serfs worked on it

• economic deal between landowners and agricultural workers

• hope of salvation kept peasants loyal to the church and manor

Roman Catholic Church

• unifying institution in Western Europe

  • there was no single centralized empire

• pope-led branch of Christianity

• provided a shared religious identity

Serfdom

• coerced labor system where peasants are legally bound to a plot of land and are working for a noble landowner

• in return they get a small plot of land to feed their families

• economic base of the manorial system

Byzantine Empire

• this was the surviving Eastern half of the Roman Empire

• major centralized state and the hub for the Silk Road trade

• center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity

• centered in Constantinople

Eastern Orthodox Church

• branch of Christianity that developed in the Byzantine Empire

• split from the Roman Catholic Church during the Great Schism

Great Schism

• this was the break in the Christian Church that divided it into the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

Crusades

• series of religious military campaigns launched by Western European Christians

• caused for the decline of feudalism

  • lords were spending too much and had to sell their manors

  • gave more power to centralized monarchs

• they introduced Europe to new trade with Asia and the Middle East

Samurai

• they were the nobility and warrior class in feudal Japan who served regional lords (daimyo) and the military government (shogunate)

Shogunate

• the military government in Japan

  • dictatorship

• the supreme military commander (shogun) held actual military and political power

• the emperor was just a ceremonial figure

  • Shogunate had the power

Daimyo

• these were regional feudal lords in Japan who controlled large areas of land, collected taxes from the peasants, and commanded Samurais

• sat right below the shogunate and above the samurais in hierarchy

How did the Song Dynasty use Confucianism and the civil service system to strengthen and maintain its government?

The Song Dynasty used Confucianism to promote loyalty, respect for authority, and social order, which helped strengthen the government. It also expanded the civil service examination system, choosing educated officials based on their knowledge of Confucian teachings to help run the government and maintain control.

What economic and technological developments contributed to the prosperity and population growth of Song China?

New farming techniques, such as Champa rice and improved irrigation, increased the food supply and allowed the population to grow. Advances in printing, paper money, shipbuilding, and manufacturing also increased trade and economic growth, making Song China more prosperous.

How did Neo-Confucianism shape social hierarchy, family life, and the roles of women in Song China?

Neo-Confucianism reinforced a strict social hierarchy, emphasizing respect for elders, parents, and authority. It promoted strong family roles and placed women mainly in the home, where they were expected to obey their husbands and focus on raising children and managing the household.

How did Chinese political and cultural traditions influence neighboring societies throughout East and Southeast Asia?

Chinese political and cultural traditions influenced neighboring societies by spreading Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese writing, and government practices. Korea and Vietnam adopted many Chinese-style political systems, while Japan borrowed Chinese ideas but adapted them to its own traditions. These influences spread through trade, scholars, monks, and diplomatic relationships across East and Southeast Asia.

What beliefs, institutions, and cultural traditions helped unite the diverse societies of the Dar al-Islam?

Islam provided a shared religion and belief system that united diverse peoples across the Dar al-Islam. Institutions such as Islamic law, mosques, schools, and caliphates helped connect communities and create a sense of unity. The Arabic language, trade networks, pilgrimage to Mecca, and shared cultural traditions also connected Muslims across different regions.

How did new Islamic states maintain political authority following the decline and fragmentation of the Abbasid Caliphate?

New Islamic states maintained political authority by creating hereditary dynasties, strong armies, and centralized governments. Rulers such as the Seljuk Turks and Fatimids used Islam to legitimize their authority and gain support from their subjects. They also collected taxes and controlled important trade routes to strengthen their states and economies.

Why did Baghdad and the Islamic world become major centers of learning, science, and culture?

Baghdad became a major center of learning because it was located along important trade routes, bringing together people and ideas from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Abbasid rulers supported scholars and established institutions like the House of Wisdom, where scholars translated and studied works from Greek, Persian, Indian, and other cultures. Advances in paper-making, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and philosophy helped the Islamic world make important contributions to science and culture.

How did Islam spread into South Asia, and how did it interact with existing Hindu traditions and societies?

Islam spread into South Asia through trade, military conquest, and missionaries, especially Muslim merchants along the Indian Ocean and later Muslim rulers such as the Delhi Sultanate. Islam interacted with Hindu traditions through both conflict and cultural exchange, with Sufi and Hindu devotional traditions influencing one another. Over time, this interaction created blended forms of art, literature, language, and culture.

How did Sufism contribute to the spread and adaptation of Islam throughout Africa and Asia?

Sufism helped spread Islam through missionaries, merchants, and Sufi brotherhoods that traveled across Africa and Asia. Sufis emphasized a personal and spiritual connection with God, which made Islam more accessible to local populations. They also adapted Islamic teachings to local cultures and traditions, helping Islam develop diverse forms in places such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.

How did geography and expanding trade contribute to the growth of powerful states in West Africa?

West Africa’s geography, especially the Sahara Desert and major rivers like the Niger, helped shape important trade routes. The growth of trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt brought great wealth to kingdoms such as Ghana and Mali. These states used taxes on trade to build strong armies, governments, and cities, allowing them to expand and become powerful.

How did Mansa Musa use his wealth, religion, and pilgrimage to strength Mali and its international connections?

Mansa Musa used Mali’s gold wealth to strengthen the empire by supporting cities, mosques, schools, and trade. As a devoted Muslim, he made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) in 1324, which showed Mali’s wealth and strengthened its connections with the wider Muslim world. His pilgrimage also increased Mali’s international reputation and helped connect the empire to scholars, merchants, and rulers across North Africa and the Middle East.

How did trade and cultural exchange contribute to the development of the Swahili city-states and Great Zimbabwe?

Trade helped the Swahili city-states grow wealthy by connecting East Africa to Arabia, India, and Asia through the Indian Ocean trade. They traded goods such as gold, ivory, and iron for items like textiles and porcelain. Cultural exchange between African, Arab, and Persian peoples led to the development of Swahili language, Islam, and unique architecture. Similarly, Great Zimbabwe became wealthy by controlling the trade of gold and ivory from the interior to the coast.

How did the Aztec Empire use warfare, tribute, and agriculture to support and expand its power?

The Aztec Empire used warfare to conquer neighboring city-states and expand its territory. Conquered peoples had to pay tribute, such as food, goods, and labor, which provided wealth and resources for the empire. The Aztecs also used chinampas (floating gardens) and irrigation to produce large amounts of food, supporting their growing population and powerful army.

How did the Inca use government, the Mit’a System, and infrastructure to administer their vast empire?

The Inca used a centralized government led by the emperor and divided their empire into regions with local officials who collected taxes and managed communities. The Mit’a System required people to provide labor for farming, building roads, and serving the military, which supported the empire. A huge road system connected different parts of the empire, allowing the Inca to move armies, goods, and messages efficiently.

How were the political, economic, and social structures of the Aztec and Inca Empires similar and different?

The Aztec and Inca Empires were both highly organized societies with powerful rulers, social hierarchies, and systems that required conquered peoples to support the empire. However, the Aztecs relied more on tribute and trade, while the Inca used the Mit’a labor system and state-controlled redistribution. The Inca also had a more centralized government, while the Aztecs often allowed conquered regions to keep their local rulers.

How did feudalism develop in medieval Europe, and how did it shape relationships between different social classes?

Feudalism developed in medieval Europe as central governments weakened, so people relied on local lords for protection in exchange for loyalty and service. It created a social hierarchy where kings gave land to nobles, nobles gave land to knights, and peasants worked the land in exchange for protection. This system connected different social classes through duties and obligations.

How did manorialism organize economic and everyday life for nobles and peasants in medieval Europe?

Manorialism organized medieval European life around manors, where nobles controlled land and provided protection to peasants. In return, peasants, especially serfs, worked the lord’s fields, paid taxes, and provided services while farming some land for themselves. This system created a self-sufficient rural economy where everyone had specific economic and social responsibilities.

How did the Roman Catholic Church influence government, culture, education, and everyday life in medieval Europe?

The Roman Catholic Church influenced government by working closely with kings and rulers and holding political power. It influenced education and culture by running schools, preserving knowledge, and inspiring art and architecture. In everyday life, the Church shaped beliefs, holidays, laws, and social values, making religion a central part of medieval European society.

What caused the Great Schism, and how did Christianity differ between Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire?

The Great Schism of 1054 was caused by disagreements over religious beliefs, Church authority, and practices, especially the Pope’s authority and the use of the Filioque in the Nicene Creed. Christianity in Western Europe became centered on the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope, while Christianity in the Byzantine Empire became Eastern Orthodox and was led by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

What political and religious factors motivated the Crusades, and what were their most important consequences?

The Crusades were motivated by religious goals, such as reclaiming Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as well as political and economic interests, including helping the Byzantine Empire and gaining wealth and trade opportunities. Their consequences included increased trade and cultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East, the creation of Crusader states, and increased tensions between Christians and Muslims.

How did decentralized government develop in medieval Japan, and what roles did shoguns, daimyo, and samurai play?

Decentralized government developed in medieval Japan as local samurai warriors gained power while the emperor and central government became weaker. The shogun was the military ruler, daimyo were powerful landholding lords who controlled regions, and samurai were warriors who served the daimyo in exchange for land, protection, and loyalty.

How were the decentralized political and social systems of medieval Europe and Japan similar and different?

Medieval Europe and Japan were both decentralized societies where powerful local leaders controlled land and relied on warriors for protection and military service. In Europe, kings, nobles, knights, and peasants formed a feudal hierarchy, while in Japan, the shogun, daimyo, samurai, and peasants filled similar roles. However, Japan had a stronger central military authority under the shogun, while Europe was more politically fragmented among many competing lords and kingdoms.

How did rulers across different societies use religion and belief systems to legitimize and maintain political authority?

Rulers used religion and belief systems to make their authority seem legitimate and gain loyalty from their people. For example, Chinese rulers used Confucianism, while European kings worked closely with the Catholic Church, and Muslim rulers connected their governments to Islamic beliefs. Religious institutions also helped rulers maintain order by providing education, laws, and government officials.

What advantages and disadvantages did centralized and decentralized governments experience between 1200-1450?

Centralized governments had the advantage of strong leadership, organized armies, and efficient tax collection, but they could be difficult to manage across large territories. Decentralized governments allowed local rulers to respond quickly to local needs and threats, but they often faced conflicts between leaders and weaker central authority.

What major similarities and differences existed among states and societies throughout the world from c. 1200-1450?

From c. 1200–1450, many societies had hierarchical social classes, powerful rulers, organized governments, and religions that helped support political authority. Trade, agriculture, and new technologies helped many states grow economically and expand their populations. However, governments differed: some were centralized, like the Inca and Song China, while others were more decentralized, like feudal Europe and medieval Japan. Trade and cultural exchange also connected many regions, especially across Afro-Eurasia.