Song Empire
known for:
economic prosperity
cultural achievements
advancements in technology
divided into two periods: Northern & Southern
saw:
the rise of urban centers
the use of paper money
significant developments in art, literature, & philosophy.
faced challenges from nomadic invasions & ultimately fell to the Mongols.
neo-Confucianism
revived Confucianism of the Song period
integrated Confucian ethics with Buddhist & Taoist elements.
emphasized:
moral self-cultivation
the importance of family and social harmony
the role of education in personal & societal development
Zhu Xi
prominent Chinese philosopher of the Song Dynasty
known for:
his synthesis of Confucian thought
the development of Neo-Confucianism
emphasized:
importance of moral self-cultivation
the study of classical texts, influencing education & philosophy in East Asia.
his commentaries on the Four Books became central to the civil service examination system.
Koryo
Korean dynasty ruling from 918 to 1392
known for cultural & artistic achievements, including:
the creation of celadon pottery
the establishment of Confucianism as a state ideology.
recognized for:
significant contributions to Korean literature
development of the Korean writing system, Hangul
eventually fell to the Mongol invasions & internal strife
Stupas
a mound-like/hemispherical structure that holds sacred relics
is used for meditation and worship in Buddhism.
symbolizes the enlightened mind
is often adorned with intricate carvings & symbols representing the Buddha's teachings.
Champa rice
originally from the Champa Kingdom
significantly increased agricultural productivity in China
fast-maturing, drought-resistant rice variety
allowed for multiple harvests in a year
contributing to population growth & economic stability during the Song Dynasty.
Grand Canal
significant waterway in China
connects the Yellow River & the Yangtze River.
constructed to facilitate trade & transportation
playing a crucial role in the cultural & economic development of the regions it spans.
Janal
traditional form of storytelling that conveys moral lesson
often featured animals as characters
known for:
its concise narratives
is commonly used to teach values & ethics
often ending with a clear moral
Gunpowder
invented in the 9th century in China
played a crucial role in warfare
led to the development of cannons & firearms.
changed military tactics
contributed to the rise of powerful empires.
Dar al-Islam
means “the world of Islam”
refers to regions where Islamic law & governance prevail
encompassing countries where Muslims can practice their faith freely.
Mali
West African country known for its rich history & cultural heritage.
home to the ancient city of Timbuktu, once a center of trade & scholarship.
features the Niger River
vital for agriculture & transport.
Bilad al-sudan
historical region in West Africa known for:
its diverse cultures
trade routes
significant empires
often translated as "Land of the Blacks”
encompasses parts of modern-day countries like:
Mali
Niger
Sudan
center for trade in gold, salt, & slaves
home to powerful empires such as:
Ghana
Mali
Songhai
played a crucial role in the spread of Islam & cultural exchange across Africa.
Mansa Kankan Musa
ruler known for:
his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca
wealth that transformed Mali
promotion of trade
His pilgrimage in 1324 showcased his wealth
impacting economies along his route.
established educational institutions
expanded the empire
making Mali a center of Islamic culture & learning.
Timbuktu
Historical city known for its ancient universities & trade routes.
located in Mali
a center for learning & culture
played a significant role in the trans-Saharan trade
especially in gold & salt.
Sufism
mystical Islamic belief system
emphasizes personal experience of God through:
direct communion
spiritual practices
inner purification
often involves:
rituals
poetry
music
to foster a deep emotional connection with the divine.
Followers seek to transcend the material world & attain spiritual closeness to God
often through the guidance of a spiritual teacher/ master.
Urdu
official language of Pakistan
widely spoken in India
known for its poetic literature & script derived from Persian
Delhi Sultanate
historical period in India from the 13th to the 16th centuries.
marked by the rule of several Muslim dynasties, including:
Mamluks
Khiljis
Tughlaqs
Lodis
played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the Indian subcontinent
saw advancements in:
architecture
culture
trade
capital was established in Delhi
became a major political & cultural center.
period ended with the rise of the Mughal Empire.
Gurjarat
State in western India known for its diverse culture and rich history.
Srivijaya
ancient maritime empire that flourished from the 7th to the 13th century in Southeast Asia.
centered on the island of Sumatra
played a crucial role in trade, connecting China and India.
known for its Buddhist influence & significant cultural advancements
decline was attributed to the rise of rival powers & changing trade routes.
Borobodur
Buddhist temple complex known for its intricate carvings and stupas.
built in the 8th and 9th centuries
features a 3-tiered structure symbolizing the universe.
Anasazi
Ancient Native American culture known for impressive cliff dwellings and pottery.
Flourished in the Southwestern United States from approximately 100 AD to 1300 AD.
Known for advanced agricultural techniques, including:
irrigation
significant trade networks
decline is attributed to factors like drought & resource depletion.
Aztec
Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico from 1300 to 1521.
strong state due to:
its military power
its religion
its tribute system
tribute states system:
the people they conquered were required to:
provide labor for the Aztecs
provide regular contributions of goods like food, animals, building materials, etc
enslaved people played a huge role in their religion
many became candidates for their human sacrifices
Inca
largest empire in pre-Columbian America.
develop elaborate bureaucracy
rigid hierarchy of officials spread throughout the empire to make sure the conquered were behaving
adopted the mi’ca system
incas were highly centralized in how they ruled
aztecs werent
Altepetl
a term denoting the provincial unit/ regional state, of pre-Hispanic Nahua society.
each altepetl had:
a ruler
land base
marketplace
temple dedicated to a patron deity
Calpulli
units of commoner housing
split into kin-based/other land holding groups within Nahua city-states or altepetls.
Tenochtitlan
capital city of Aztec empire
was a large Mexican altepetl
a city of great wealth obtained through the spoils of tribute from conquered regions
Moctezuma
9th Aztec emperor of Mexico
famous for his confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés
Mita labor system
required all people under their rule to provide labor on state projects such as:
large state farms
mining
military service
state construction projects
Khipus/Quipus
recording devices fashioned from strings
historically used by a number of cultures in the central Andes Mountains of South America.
usually consisted of cotton or camelid fiber strings
contained categorized information based on three dimensions of:
color
order
number
Swahili Coast
coastal area of East Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean
inhabited by the Swahili people
site of cultural & commercial exchanges between East Africa & the outside world
particularly the Middle East, Asia, & Europe
Great Zimbabwe
capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, a Shona (Bantu) trading empire
a thriving trading empire from the 11th to the 15th centuries.
economy based on:
cattle husbandry
crop cultivation
the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean
Three-field system
a rotational system for agriculture
2 fields grew food crops & 1 was left empty/fallow
gradually replaced the 2 field system in medieval Europe
Black Death
an outbreak of bubonic plague
spread throughout Asia, North Africa, & Europe in the mid-14th century
caused mass population decline
Hanseatic League
an economic & defensive alliance of the free towns in Northern Germany
founded around 1241, but most powerful in the 14th century
traded extensively in the Baltic
including the coasts of Prussia
merchants ranged eastward to Russia to westward to London
Guilds
an association/group of men (ex. merchants, artisans, professors)
worked in a particular trade together to promote their economic & political interests
regulated business practices & set prices of the goods they obtained)
women were also allowed to join, but it was rare
Great Western Schism
a division in the Latin (Western) Christian Church
between 1378 & 1415
at the time, rival claimants to the papacy existed in Rome & Avignon
Hundred Years’ War
series of campaigns over control of the French throne
involved English & French royal families & French noble families
New Monarchies
term for the monarchies of France, England, and Spain from 1450 to 1600
centralized states with fixed “national” boundaries
stronger representative intitutions
increasing centralization of royal/monarchial power
Reconquest of Iberia
beginning of the 11th century
various military campaigns by many Iberian Christians states to recapture territory taken by Muslims
last Muslim ruler defeated in 1492
Spain & Portugal emerged as united kingdoms
Renaissance
a period of intense artistic & intellectual activity
said to be a “rebirth” of Greco-Roman culture
usually divided into an Italian Renaissance & a Northern Renaissance
Universities
degree-granting institutions of higher learning
universities that appeared in Latin Europe from 1200 onward became the model of all modern universities
Scholasticism
during the 13th century
a philosophical & theological system associated with Thomas Aquinas
devised to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy & Roman Catholic theology
Humanism
European scholars, writers, & teachers associated with the study of humanities
ex. grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, languages, & moral philosophy
influential in the 15th century and later
Printing press
a mechanical device for transferring text/graphics from a woodblock/type to paper using ink
presses using movable type
first appeared in Europe in about 1450
Holy Roman Empire