UNIT I: The Global Tapestry from c. 1200 to c. 1450

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Unit I: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200–c. 1450).

Song Dynasty (China)

Chinese dynasty (960–1279) known for wealth, political stability, urban growth, and innovations such as an expanded bureaucracy, merit-based civil service exams, gunpowder, printing, and Champa rice.

imperial bureaucracy

A vast system of appointed officials who carry out the empire’s policies; expanded under the Song Dynasty and supported by the civil service exams.

meritocracy

A system in which government positions are filled on the basis of merit demonstrated through civil service exams, often based on Confucian texts.

Champa rice

A fast-ripening, drought-resistant rice from Champa (Vietnam) that expanded agricultural production and enabled multiple crops per year.

proto-industrialization

A phase where rural artisans produced more goods than could be sold, using home- or village-based workshops rather than factories.

Grand Canal

An inland waterway system over 30,000 miles that linked northern and southern China and boosted internal trade and urbanization.

gunpowder

Explosive powder technology developed in China; led to early firearms and later spread along the Silk Roads.

woodblock printing

A printing method (7th century) that produced multiple copies of texts and images, aiding dissemination of literature and Buddhist scriptures.

foot binding

A cultural practice in China that bound young girls’ feet to indicate status and restrict movement; banned in 1912.

Buddhism in China

Buddhism arrived from India and spread in forms such as Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan Buddhism, integrating with Daoist and Confucian ideas and aiding cultural exchange.

Chan (Zen) Buddhism

A syncretic form of Buddhism in China emphasizing meditation and direct experience, blending Daoist ideas with Buddhist practice.

Neo-Confucianism

A syncretic ethical philosophy (developed around 770–840) that blended Confucian ethics with Daoist and Buddhist ideas, widely adopted in East Asia.

Heian period (Japan)

Japanese era (794–1185) marked by Chinese cultural influence, court culture, and developments that set the stage for feudalism.

daimyo

Powerful landowning lords in feudal Japan who controlled large estates and competed for land and influence.

shogun

Military ruler in Japan who held real political power from 1192 onward, with the emperor serving mainly as a figurehead.

kowtow

A ritual bow to the Chinese emperor performed by tributary states as a sign of obeisance and recognition of imperial authority.

tributary system

A network in which surrounding states paid tribute to the Chinese emperor in exchange for trade rights and political legitimacy.

Zheng He

Ming dynasty admiral who led massive treasure voyages (early 15th century) to display imperial power and collect tribute.

Mongol Empire

Unified the Mongol tribes under Genghis Khan and expanded into the largest contiguous land empire in history, facilitating cross-continental trade and cultural exchange.

compass (maritime navigation)

Magnetic compass used for sea travel, enabling longer voyages and more efficient navigation.

paper navigation charts

Printed navigational charts that allowed sailors to navigate open seas without relying on celestial cues alone.