Worlds of Islam & Song China SPICE Notes (Video)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on the spread of Islam, Turkic influence, and Song China innovations and society.

Turkic speakers

Groups from Central Asia whose migrations into the Middle East introduced new languages, traditions, and military/pastoral practices.

Persian culture

Cultural influence on Islamic courts, especially in art, literature, and administration.

Sufi mystics

Islamic mystics who helped spread Islam through spiritual teaching and networks.

Islamic civilization

A blending of diverse traditions shaped by trade, learning, and urban life across the Islamic world.

Islamic trade networks

Connections linking the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Central Asia that facilitated exchange.

Urban centers

Cities that served as hubs for artisans, merchants, and scholars.

Turkic pastoralists

Nomadic or semi-nomadic groups from Central Asia who migrated into the Middle East and influenced agriculture and warfare.

Baghdad

Capital city of the Abbasid Caliphate, a major center of learning and culture.

Abbasids

Dynasty that built Baghdad and oversaw a prosperous Islamic civilization, later facing decentralization.

Seljuk Turks

Turkish group that asserted the title of sultan and held real political/military power in much of the Islamic world.

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim rule established in Northern India, representing a permanent Muslim presence there.

Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus)

Region under Muslim rule with coexistence and conflict among Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Drought-resistant rice

Rice strain adopted from Vietnam that boosted agricultural productivity in China.

Gunpowder

Chinese invention that spread widely and transformed warfare.

Woodblock printing

Printing method using carved wooden blocks to produce texts; enabled cheaper books.

Movable type

Printing method using reusable individual characters for more flexible printing.

Paper money

Currency in paper form that aided commercialization in Song China.

Coal energy (Song China)

Coal-powered energy fueling homes, industry, and urban growth; contributed to pollution.

Foot binding

Elite practice of binding women's feet to small sizes, signaling status.

Confucian ideas in China

Philosophical framework emphasizing social order and female subordination in certain contexts.

Population growth in Song China

Rapid population increase from about 60 million to around 120 million by 1200.

Industrial production in Song China

Expansion of large enterprises and backyard furnaces; rise in metallurgy and tools.

Waterways and trade

Rivers and canals enabled cheap transport, supporting commerce and specialization.

Commercialization of society (Song China)

Expansion of markets and use of money facilitating trade and economic growth.