ap world unit 2

silk roads

the most famous network of exchange that linked the various people and civilizations of the Eurasian landmass from China to Europe. carried mostly luxury products for the elite and wealthy

bodhisattvas

fully enlightened beings who assisted a suffering humanity (chooses to stay on Earth to help others reach enlightenment)

flying cash

a Chinese innovation that later became known as paper money; originates from paper's tendency to fly away in the wind

bills of exchanage

a contract which promises payment of whatever is being traded; introduced by Europeans

Chinese Buddhism

put an emphasis on salvation by faith, without rigorous practice and study or intensive meditation; Pure Land Buddhism was an aspect of Chinese Buddhism, where repeating the name of the previous Buddha, Amitabha, ensured rebirth in heaven; Buddha was a deity, like God in Christianity

Neo-Confucianism

Confucian's response on Buddhist philosophies-- rejected the religious aspects of both Buddhism and Daoism but appreciated the high moral standard of Buddhist teachings, while returning to classical texts of Confucianism (new return of Confucianism)

Zen Buddhism

originally known as the Chinese Chan School of Buddhism, it became Zen (creating the Japanese version of Buddhism) and was popular among the samurai warrior class

Sea Roads

sea-based trade routes that connected distant peoples all across the Indian Ocean basin

monsoons

alternating wind currents that blew predictably northeast during the summer months and southwest during the winter

Chinese junk

a new technological innovation (ship from China) that facilitated trade in the Indian Ocean network

Arab Dhow

Arab ships used in the Indian Ocean trade; long triangular sail

Srivijaya

a Malay kingdom that dominated the Straits of Malacca, or the choke point of Indian Ocean trade

Strait of Malacca

narrow waterway that connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans and allowed for an all-sea route between India and China

Saliendra Kingdom

an agriculturally rich region in central Java that was closely allied with Srivijaya; featured collection of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments (diffusion of Indian culture)

Khmer Kingdom

prosperous and powerful kingdom that constructed the most stunning architectural expression of Hinduism in the Angkor War temple; commercially exported exotic forest products in exchange for Chinese and Indian handicrafts

Angkor Wat

largest religious structure in the premodern world that sought to express a Hindu understanding of the cosmos centered on the home of the Gods, Mount Meru

City of Malacca

transformed from a small fishing village to a major port city that became the capital of a Malay Muslim Sultante; showcased Islam growth and commerce/state building of the Indian Ocean

Swahili Civilization

civilization of commercial city-states all along the East African coast

Mombasa-Kilwa-Sofala

thoroughly urban politically independent cities that were government by their own king and competed with neighboring cities; lack of unity amongst these cities

Ibn Battuta

a widely traveled Arab scholar, merchant, and public official who found African Muslim societies where religious leaders spoke Arabic

Great Zimbabwe

a powerful state in the African interior that grew their trade from gold and wealth from cattle (power of Indian Ocean commerce)

Emperor Yongle

ruler of the Ming Dynasty that commissioned an enormous fleet that launched in 1405 and was used for another 28 years

Zheng He

a Muslim eunuch that sought to enroll distant peoples and states in the Chinese tributary system

Sand Roads

long distance trade that covered the Sahara and linked North African and the Mediterranean world with the land and peoples of interior West Africa

Arabian Camel

a major turning point in African commercial life within North Africa and Sahara; capable of going 10 days without water and made treks across the Sahara possible

West African Civilizations

the formation of large states or empires like Ghana, Mali, Songhay, and Kanem, as well as a number of towns and cities, like Kumbi Saleh, Jenne, Timbuktu, and Gao

Songhay Empire

Major Islamic state of West Africa that became independent from Mali; monarchy with an elaborate court life and varying degrees of admin agencies

Ghana

country known for its reputation of great riches, and the king was describes as "the wealthiest king...because of his treasures and stocks of gold"

Mali

at its high point, the monarchy monopolized the import of strategic goods, levied duties on salt and copper, and reserved large gold nugget and permit free export of gold dust

Trans-Saharan Slave Trade

between 1100 and 1400 about 5500 slaves per year made the trek across the Sahara where most were put to work in the homes of the wealth in Islamic North Africa

Timbuktu

a major trading city in Mali that was known as a center for manufacturing and commerce

Diasporic Communities

permanent settlements of foreign traders at various points along the Indian Ocean routes

Mansa Musa

Ruler of Mali who undertook the hajj (Islamic pilgrimage) accompanied by a large entourage and mass amounts of gold

Baghdad

the capital of the Abbasid Empire that was established in 756, growing into a city of half a million people, predominantly urban elites

Islamic "Green Revolution"

a spread of technology and science across the Muslim word that focused on transcontinental expansion of Islamic civilization, ecological changes as a result of agriculture, water-management practices, and irrigation technologies

House of Wisdom

an academic center for research and translation in Baghdad that was established by the Abbasid calpih al-Mamum

American Web

network of trade that centralized on the commercial activity and wider connections in the Americas at Cahokia, Chaco canyon, Mesoamerica, and the Inca Empire in the Andes

Chaco Phenomenon

five major settlements or pueblos that became a dominant center for the production or turquoise ornaments, a major item of regional commerce; present-day New Mexico

Pochteca

professional Aztec merchants who undertook large scale trading expeditions within and beyond the borders of their empire

Llamas

a method of carrying goods across the numerous roads and bridges of the Inca Empire

Temujin (Chinggis Khan)

given the title "universal ruler;" when he was younger, his family endured economic hardship, transforming into hunter gathers. Temujin built a small following and allied with a more powerful tribal leader that received a boost from Chinese patrions, giving Temujin the ability to rise within the politics of Mongolia. He ultimately reunited the Mongol tribes and became their supreme leader

Four Mongol Khanates

Golden Horde Khanate, Il-Khanate, Chagatai Khanate, and the Khanate of the Great Khan

Mongol World War

the first major attack on the settled agricultural societies south of Mongolia that caused military campaigns, massive killing, and empire building; led to the construction of the Mongol Khanate empire containing China, Central Asia, and Russia

Ogodei-Mongke-Khubilai

the sons and grandsons of Chinggis Khan, who followed him in constructing the Mongol Empire

Battle of Ain Jaluit

a major setback in the outer limits of the Mongol Empire that results in their defeat at Ain Jaluit in Palestine at the hands of the Egyptian forces

Karakorum

Capital of the Mongol Empire under Chinggis Khan that took on a centralized bureaucracy with various specialized offices

Marco Polo

an Italian traveler who admired the Mongol's rapid "relay" communicative system that fostered trade

Ortughs

state-approved associations of merchants that allowed them to pool their resources and limit their losses in the event that a particular caravan failed

Khubalai Khan

the grandson of Chinggis Khan and China's Mongol ruler from 1271 to 1294 who initiated the Yuan Dynasty

Yuan Dynasty

(1271-1294) Under Mongol ruler Khubualai Khan, he evoked the values of Confucian Chinese emperor and bettered transportation routes and roads in China while expressing his tolerance in the legal system and in religious practice

Ming Dynasty

By 1368, Chinese rebel forces had conquered the Yuan Dynasty (led by Mongols), causing thousands of Mongols to return to their homelands to be replaced by the Chinese

Beijing

During the Ming Dynasty when China recovered from the Mongols, Emperor Yongle ordered the building of a magnificent imperial residence known as the Forbidden City and constructed the Temple of Heaven

Forbidden City

a magnificent imperial residence and the largest palatial structure in the world

Hulegu

grandson of Chinggis Khan and ruler of the Il-Khanate in Persia

Il-Khanate

Mongol rule in Persia that resulted in a degree of ferocity and slaughter that accompanied a massacre of more than 200,000 people; also caused severe agricultural damage and heavy taxes followed by punishment (beatings or seized land)

Safavid Empire

established following 1500, the decision to forcibly impose a Shia version of Islam as the official religion of the state that gained popularity and defined the religious identity of Persian culture; a Shia empire

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Mongol Empire in Russia that ruled the Russians in a tributary system with the addition of more taxes; however, the Russian Orthodox Church pushed back, leaving them devastated

Moscow

emerged as the primary collector of tribute for the Mongols

Black Death (Plague)

originating in presumably China, the bacteria responsible for the disease spread across the trade routes of the Mongol Empire and erupted in 1331 in northeastern China, the Middle East and Europe by 1347, and East Africa in 1409

What facilitated the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Roads?

Buddhism spread widely throughout Central and East Asia as Indian traders and Buddhist monks brought the new religion to the trans-Eurasian trade routes of the Silk Roads. It emerged in the oasis cities of Central Asia. Because the inhabitants and rulers of these cities typically depended on distance trade, Buddhism served as a link to the more wealthy civilizations of India.

What facilitated the initial acceptance and spread of Buddhism in China?

Buddhism initially entered China (through the Silk Road) during the early centuries and had become widely accepted in the form of Mahayana.

What cultural changes occurred in Korea and Japan in response to Chinese influence?

China's cultural diffusion caused Korea to send tribute missions to China which gave legitimacy to Korean rulers, find examples of court life and administrative techniques they wished to replicate in their home countries, model their capital off the Chinese capital, and enable official and private trade. The Korean aristocracy was becoming increasingly Chinese in culture. In regards to Japan, various schools of Chinese Buddhism arose and eventually spread to Japanese society. Chinese Neo-Confucian teachings had become the official ideology of the Japanese Tokugawa Regime. The Japanese elite favored the Chinese writing system.

What was the role of the Swahili civilizations in the world of Indian Ocean commerce?

In the world of Indian Ocean commerce, the Swahili civilizations ultimately grew as local people and aspiring rulers found opportunities for wealth and power due to the high demand for East African products—these were associated with the expanding Indian Ocean commerce. Their exotic and fine handicrafts were distrusted in markets in Arabia, Persia, India, and beyond.

To what extent did the Silk Roads and Sea Roads operate in a similar fashion?

The Silk Roads and Sea Roads operated in a similar fashion due to the immense amount of territory each amassed. While the Silk Roads linked Eurasian societies by land, sea-based trade routes connected distant peoples all across the Indian Ocean basin. Further, both influenced the economic and cultural backgrounds of their respective territory.

To what extent did the Silk Roads and Sea Roads differ?

Transportation costs were lower on the Sea Roads than the Silk Roads since ships could accommodate larger and heavier cargoes than camels. Thus, the Sea Roads carried more bulk goods and products destined for a mass market (textiles, pepper, timber, rice, sugar, wheat) than the Silk Roads, which were limited to luxury goods for the few.

What impact did the Arabian camel have on long-distance trade in Eurasia and Africa?

For long-distance trade, the introduction of the Arabian Camel marked a turning point in African commercial life, since the animal could go up to 10 days without water. This meant that the long trek across the Sahara was finally possible, enhancing the trans-Saharan trade route.

What changes did trans-Saharan trade bring to West Africa?

The trans-Saharan trade, or Sand Roads, stimulated and enriched West African civilization by creating an international trade route that fostered new relationships across large distances. It provided the incentives and resources for building new and larger political structures, which later developed into the empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay.

How did the expansion of Islam lead to the spread of learning?

The monarchs of West Africa subsidized the construction of mosques, instead focusing on becoming an integral part of a larger Islamic world. Arabic became an important language of religion, education, administration, and trade, resulting in a number of cities emerging as major centers of Islamic religious and intellectual life by 1500CE. Timbuktu became a renowned center of learning that held many secondary schools, attracting students across the continent. Libraries held tens of thousands of books and scholarly manuscripts.

What was the relationship between long-distance trade networks and the religion of Islam?

The transcontinental Islamic world amassed regions ranging from Spain and West Africa across the Middle East to India and Southeast Asia, resulting in a vast trading zone. Commerce was valued positively in Islamic teaching, and laws regulating it was upheld in sharia law that many cultures followed. Further, the Islamic world rested in the center of the Afro-Eurasian world. As a result, Muslim merchant dominated all the major Afro-Eurasian trade routes, emerging the commercial colony of Canton that linked Islam with Asia's economy. Further, ecological change (in regards to agricultural products and practices) as well as technology diffused widely in this region.

What were the primary influences on the process of Mongol state building?

The primary influence on the process of Mongol state building was the value of which they followed: "Merit is more than worth." Like Confucian societies which allowed people to test into the imperial bureaucracy, the Mongols valued merit. Therefore, Chinggis Khan, who had risen out of poverty into a leadership position, gained power in the tribal politics of Mongolia, reuniting tribes and becoming the supreme ruler.

What accounts for the political and military success of the Mongols?

The key to the Mongols' political and military successes lay in their army. Chinggis Khan reorganized the social structure of the Mongols into military units that allowed for effective command and control. Further, Mongol military forces held an impressive discipline and loyalty for their rulers, as they maintained their leadership. The discipline and loyalty made possible the elaborate tactics of encirclement, retreat, and deception that proved decisive in battle.

How did Mongol rule change China?

Mongols largely ignored the traditional Chinese examination system and relied on foreigners (typically other Mongols) to serve as officials but maintaining top-decision making posts for themselves. The Mongol law discriminated against the Chinese, treating them like slaves (according to Marco Polo). However, they were forced to make accommodations if they were to control this agrarian society. Thus, Khubulai Khan evoked the values of Confucianism by improving roads, building canals, lowering some taxes, patronizing scholars and artists, limiting the death penalty, supporting peasant agriculture, and prohibiting Mongols implanting animals on farmland. Mongol rule was still harsh, exploitative, foreign, and deeply resented.

In what ways were the Mongols changed by China?

The Mongols were changed by China as they made use of China's administrative practices, techniques of taxation, and the Chinese postal system; this was due to the fact that the Mongols had no experience in operating a complex agrarian society. Further, they adopted a Chinese dynastic title, the Yuan.

What methods did the Ming Dynasty use to consolidate power and expand its influence?

The Ming Dynasty reestablished the civil service examination system that the Mongols neglected, which created a more centralized government. Power was concentrated in the hands of the emperor while a group of castrated men personally loyal to the emperor exercised great authority. The state hurried to repair the damages, resulting in the economy rebounding. This led to international and domestic trade that grew the state's population. Further, the emperor sought to extend power into the Indian Ocean, resulting in multiple fleets to maintain trade.

How was Mongol rule in Persia different from that in China?

The Mongol takeover in Persia was more abrupt than the extended process of conquest in China. The Mongols in Persia were more heinous than in China, as a massacre of more than 200,000 people followed the sacking of Baghdad. In China, while Mongols allowed peasants to maintain their land and even prohibited Mongols from allowing their animals to roam on it, in Persia, heavy taxes pushed people off these lands.

What was distinctive about the Russian experience of Mongol rule?

While the Mongols conquered Russia, they did not occupy it as they had in China and Persia. The Mongols believed Russia had nothing to offer to them as they lacked a sophisticated economy or major trade route. Thus, they dominated and exploited Russia from the steppes, raiding their settlements and turning them into slaves whenever they pleased.

Compare the decline of Mongol rule in Russia with the decline of Mongol rule in China.

The decline of Mongol rule in Russia allowed Russian princes to adopt Mongol weaponry, diplomatic rituals, court practices, taxation systems, and military drafted. Mongol policies ironically led to the rise of Moscow, which enabled the Russians to break the Mongols' hold by the end of 1400. In China, however, the decline of Mongol rule occured after growing peasant rebellions forced the Mongols out of China.

How did the Mongol Empire lead to cross-cultural interactions?

The Mongol Empire brought Afro-eurasia into a single interacting network, enabling the circulation of goods, information, disease, and styles of warfare. This was because the Mongols consistently promoted international commerce by providing caravans to merchants on the Silk Road, introducing standardized weights and measures, and giving tax breaks to merchant. This brought the two ends of the Eurasian world into closer contact than ever before.

What evidence suggests that the Mongols practiced religious toleration?

The Mongol capital at Karakorum was a cosmopolitan city with places of worship for Buddhists, Daoists, Muslims, and Christians. Further, Chinggis Khan and several Mongol rulers married Christian women. This indicated that the Mongol outlook facilitated exchange and blending of religious ideas, or toleration.

What were the long-term consequences of the spread of the plague across Eurasia?

The plague was born of the Mongol network, therefore causing people to turn on the network, leading to its demise. Populations slowed, cities declined, and the volume of trade diminished across the Mongol world. By 1350, the Mongol Empire had lost control of all its previous civilizations, and the Central Asian trade route that the Afro-Eurasian economy depended on was largely closed.