Unit 1: The Global Tapestry – Key Question & Answer Flashcards

A comprehensive set of 100 question-and-answer flashcards covering the major concepts, civilizations, religions, and terms presented in the Unit 1 lecture notes on the Global Tapestry.

What was the Vijayanagara Empire and why was it founded (1336-1646)?

A southern Indian empire founded by brothers Harihara and Bukka Raya to shield the south from northern Muslim sultanates.

In Hinduism, who is Vishnu?

The god regarded as the Preserver of the world in the Hindu trinity.

What is wood-block printing and where did it originate?

A method of pressing carved wooden blocks onto paper or cloth to reproduce text or images; first developed in China and spread across East Asia.

Who were the Xiongnu in Chinese records?

A confederation of nomadic, Turkic-speaking pastoralists in Central Asia who frequently raided China’s northern frontier.

Why did Shi Huangdi build the Great Wall?

To defend China from northern nomadic invaders.

What created the wealth and power of Great Zimbabwe?

Control of inland gold trade feeding the East African coastal markets.

Which empire reunited India after the Mauryas?

The Gupta Empire.

Which dynasty is China’s longest-running imperial house?

The Han Dynasty.

What were the Hausa Kingdoms?

A cluster of independent city-states in northern-central Africa that traded textiles, grains, and slaves.

What is contained in the Hebrew Bible?

Sacred books describing the origins, experiences, beliefs, and practices of the Israelites.

When was Japan’s Heian Period and why is it important?

794-1185 CE; era of strongest Chinese cultural influence on Japan.

What was the House of Wisdom in Baghdad?

An Abbasid research and translation center founded by Caliph al-Maʿmun.

In Chinese governance, what is an imperial bureaucracy?

A large system of appointed officials who carry out state policies across the empire.

Describe the Inca Empire at its height.

15th–16th-century Andean state, the Americas’ largest, stretching along most of South America’s Pacific coast.

What was the Indian Ocean Maritime System?

Extensive sea-lanes across the Indian Ocean and South China Sea that facilitated trade among Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia.

Within the Indian caste system, what is a jati?

A birth-based sub-group or occupational community inside the broader varna system.

What is the oldest known monotheistic religion?

Judaism.

What is karma in Hindu belief?

The cumulative effects of one’s actions that determine future rebirths.

What is a kowtow and what does it express?

Kneeling and bowing until one’s head touches the floor—an act of deep respect before Chinese emperors or elders.

Who was Lao Zi and what did he teach?

A Chinese philosopher who urged withdrawal from society and harmony with the Dao (Way) through nature.

What is Legalism in Chinese political thought?

A philosophy asserting human unruliness and justifying strong state control and harsh laws, adopted by the Qin and early Han.

How is Mahayana Buddhism distinct?

It emphasizes bodhisattva compassion and service, spreading widely in China and Korea.

What was the Majapahit Kingdom and its source of power?

A Buddhist state on Java (1293-1520) that controlled lucrative sea routes in Southeast Asia.

Why is the Mali Empire notable?

A West African trading empire (13th-16th c.) famed for vast gold wealth and cities like Timbuktu.

Who were the Mamluks originally?

Enslaved soldiers in the Abbasid era who later formed their own ruling elite.

What did the Mauryan Empire achieve?

Unified most of India, promoted Buddhism under Ashoka, and fostered internal peace and trade.

Who were the Mayans?

Mesoamerican peoples who built independent city-states noted for writing, mathematics, and astronomy.

On what was Chinese meritocracy based?

Competitive civil-service examinations that awarded bureaucratic posts.

Why is Mesa Verde famous?

Largest complex of Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) cliff dwellings in the U.S. Southwest.

Where and what was the Moche civilization?

Andean society (100-700 CE) on Peru’s coast; built irrigation, urban centers, and adobe temples.

In Hinduism, what is moksha?

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth and reunion with Brahman.

Define a monarchy.

A government where supreme authority lies with a hereditary ruler who reigns for life.

What is monastic living?

A religious lifestyle that renounces worldly pursuits to focus on spiritual work.

How did monsoons affect Indian Ocean trade?

Predictable seasonal winds enabled merchants to sail safely and on schedule across the ocean.

What are mudras in Indian tradition?

Symbolic hand gestures conveying specific meanings in art, ritual, and dance.

Who was Nasir al-Din al-Tusi?

Renowned 13th-century Persian mathematician and polymath.

In Buddhism, what is nirvana?

The state of liberation from suffering attained by following the Eightfold Path.

What is Neo-Confucianism?

Song-era revival blending Confucian ethics with Buddhist and Daoist ideas.

What is an oligarchy?

Rule by a small group of elites who make decisions for the populace.

Who were the Olmec?

The earliest known Mesoamerican civilization (c. 1200-400 BCE).

Who were the Parthians?

An Iranian dynasty (247 BCE-224 CE) that controlled Persia and parts of Mesopotamia.

Why was Pataliputra significant in ancient India?

Major political and commercial capital of several Indian empires.

What characterizes a patriarchy?

A system in which men hold primary power in family, politics, and economics.

Define polygyny.

A form of marriage in which a man has multiple wives at the same time.

What is proto-industrialization?

Rural households producing surplus goods for sale, preluding full industrialization.

What were the Qin Dynasty’s key accomplishments?

Unified China, built early Great Wall sections, standardized weights, and enforced Legalism.

What were the Rajput Kingdoms?

Numerous Hindu states that arose in northern India after Gupta decline.

What is reciprocity in tribute systems?

Subjects provide tribute and in return receive protection or trade privileges from the state.

Explain reincarnation.

Belief that souls are reborn into new bodies after death.

What is Sanskrit?

Ancient Indo-Aryan language of Hindu scriptures like the Vedas.

Who made up China’s scholar-gentry class?

Confucian-educated landowners who dominated administration and society.

What is Shinto?

Japan’s indigenous faith recognizing kami (spirits) in nature.

In Hindu belief, who is Shiva?

The Destroyer within the Hindu trinity, associated with transformation.

What characterized the Sinhala Dynasties of Sri Lanka?

Buddhist-influenced kingdoms that dominated the island’s history.

What was the Silk Road?

Network of overland trade routes linking China to the Mediterranean.

When did the Song Dynasty rule and what came next?

960-1279 CE; it preceded the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.

What was the Srivijaya Empire?

A Hindu maritime empire on Sumatra (7th-13th c.) controlling Strait of Malacca trade.

Who are Sufis and how do they practice Islam?

Mystical Muslims seeking closeness to God via prayer, fasting, and simplicity; effective missionaries.

Where and when was the Sukhothai Kingdom?

North-central Thailand, 1238-1438 CE.

What is Swahili?

A Bantu-Arabic blended language that emerged on East Africa’s coast and is still spoken today.

Define syncretism.

Blending elements of different religions into a new, distinct system.

Why is the Tang Dynasty remembered as a golden age?

It achieved lasting peace, strong central government, and great cultural accomplishments.

What was Teotihuacan?

A major pre-Aztec city in central Mexico, famed for pyramids and urban planning.

What is a theater state?

A polity that gains prestige and power through ceremonial display and cultural spectacle.

Where is Theravada Buddhism practiced and what is its focus?

Mainly Southeast Asia; emphasizes individual meditation and monastic life.

What distinguishes Tibetan Buddhism?

Form centered on rituals, chanting, and the leadership of lamas.

What were the Trans-Saharan Trade Routes?

Caravan networks linking West Africa to North Africa and the Mediterranean.

What is a universalizing religion?

A faith that actively seeks converts beyond its original cultural group; Islam is an example.

What is Urdu and how did it form?

A South Asian language combining elements of Hindi, Arabic, and Persian, developed among Indian Muslims.

In the caste hierarchy, what are the varnas?

Broad social categories—traditionally Brahmins, Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas, and Shudras.

What are the Vedas?

Ancient Sanskrit scriptures that form Hinduism’s foundational texts.

Who was ‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah?

The most prolific female Muslim writer and poet before the 20th century.

What was the Abbasid Caliphate?

Islamic dynasty (750-1258 CE) that succeeded the Umayyads and was ended by Mongols.

What are The Analects?

Collected sayings and ideas of Confucius compiled by his disciples.

What is ancestor veneration in Confucian practice?

Praying to and honoring deceased family members for guidance and support.

Who are artisans?

Skilled manual workers who create goods, often by hand.

Who was Ashoka and what religion did he promote?

Third Mauryan emperor who embraced and spread Buddhism.

What were the Bantu migrations?

Gradual spread of Bantu-speaking peoples from Nigeria/Cameroon across sub-Saharan Africa.

Describe the Bhakti movement.

A Hindu devotional trend using songs, dance, and poetry for direct union with the divine.

What is Brahman in Hinduism?

The universal spirit or energy connecting all existence; also denotes the priestly class.

What defines the caste system?

A rigid hereditary social hierarchy in India assigning people roles from birth.

Why was Champa rice significant to China?

Fast-ripening Vietnamese rice that allowed two harvests yearly, boosting Song population.

What is Chan (Zen) Buddhism?

Chinese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation and direct insight.

What was Chang’an famous for?

Capital of several Chinese dynasties and eastern terminus of the Silk Road.

What purpose did the Chinese civil-service exam serve?

Selected the most learned candidates for government bureaucracy.

For what is the Chola Dynasty remembered?

Tamil maritime empire famed for naval power and long rule in southern India.

Summarize Confucianism’s core ideals.

Ethics of humaneness, filial piety, proper conduct, and social harmony.

What is corvée labor?

Intermittent, unpaid forced labor owed to a state or lord.

What were the Crusades?

Series of medieval Christian holy wars aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and battling non-believers.

Define Daoism.

Chinese philosophy urging alignment with the natural Dao and minimal interference.

What was the Delhi Sultanate?

Muslim kingdom ruling parts of India (1206-1526) outside the caliphate structure.

In the caste system, what is dharma?

Duty and role determined by birth, governing one’s proper conduct.

What does diaspora mean?

Scattering of a people from their original homeland.

What is the Eightfold Path?

Buddha’s guideline to end suffering and reach nirvana.

Why is medieval Ethiopia notable?

Christian kingdom famed for monolithic rock-hewn churches.

Define feudalism.

Medieval land system in which kings granted land to nobles for military service, and peasants worked the land.

What is filial piety?

Confucian value of respect and care for parents and elders.

What was the Forbidden City?

Imperial palace complex in Beijing where Ming and Qing emperors lived (1421-1911).

What are the Four Noble Truths?

Buddha’s core insights that life involves suffering, caused by desire, which can cease via the Eightfold Path.

What is the Grand Canal and why is it important?

A 1,000-mile waterway linking China’s north and south, facilitating trade and integration since the Sui and Tang.