APWH Period 1 – Regional and Transregional Interactions, c. 600 CE to 1450 CE

A set of practice flashcards covering key concepts, terms, people, and phenomena from the Period 1 notes on Post-Classical regional and transregional interactions (c. 600 CE to 1450 CE).

What major world religion began in the 7th century and expanded to form large empires known as caliphates?

Islam.

What capital city did the Abbasid Caliphate establish after replacing the Umayyad Caliphate?

Baghdad.

What term describes the theocratic Islamic state that combines religious authority with political rule?

Caliphate.

Name the major long-distance trade networks that expanded in the Post-Classical period.

The Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan, Silk Roads, and the Mediterranean trade networks.

Which two Chinese dynasties are associated with reviving and expanding long-distance trade along the Silk Roads?

The Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty.

Which West African empire adopted Islam and became a major trading power in the Trans-Saharan network?

Mali.

What is Swahili and how did it arise?

A syncretic language blending Bantu with Arabic developed along the East African coast, linked to Indian Ocean trade.

What impact did the Crusades have on Western Europe’s connection to the broader world?

They helped reestablish links with the Byzantine world and the Muslim world, contributing to the Renaissance and increased exchange of ideas and goods.

What was Pax Mongolica?

A period of relative stability and security across Eurasia under Mongol rule that facilitated trade and cultural exchange.

What major Chinese waterway connected the Yellow River to the Yangtze River to boost internal trade?

The Grand Canal.

Name two navigational innovations essential for Indian Ocean trade.

The compass and the astrolabe.

What is a caravanserai?

A roadside inn along major trade routes where caravans could rest and resupply.

What empire-building transport project connected internal Chinese markets and supported commerce?

The Grand Canal (Sui-Tang-Song era).

What financial innovations supported long-distance commerce in the Post-Classical world?

Bills of exchange, flying cash, paper money, checks, and banking houses.

What was the role of the Hanseatic League in medieval trade?

A northern European trade league that facilitated commerce, credit, and banking.

What is the term for the practice of conquered peoples paying tribute to their conquerors, often in goods or slaves?

Tributary system.

What Inca labor tax system used to fund public works called?

Mit’a.

What agricultural innovations spurred by warmer conditions and new crops contributed to urban growth?

Champá rice (rapid rice varieties), chinampa farming, waru waru, terracing, and the horse collar.

What is champa rice and what effect did it have in China?

A fast-ripening rice variety from Vietnam that increased agricultural output and population, particularly in the Song Dynasty.

What is chinampa farming and where was it used?

Floating fields used by the Aztecs to dramatically boost agricultural productivity in the Valley of Mexico.

What is Waru Waru and where was it used?

An Andean terrace farming technique designed to prevent soil erosion and flood damage.

Why was the horse collar significant in Europe?

It allowed horses to pull heavier loads, increasing agricultural productivity.

Which two religions faced conflicts in Northern India under the Delhi Sultanates?

Islam and Hinduism.

What are diasporic communities and give two examples from the period?

Communities of people who maintain their culture abroad; examples include Muslim merchant communities in the Indian Ocean region and Chinese merchant communities in Southeast Asia.

What were the five Pillars of Islam?

Testament of faith, daily prayers, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Name three famous interregional travelers whose writings shaped perceptions of the Post-Classical world.

Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, and Xuanzang.

What two languages form Swahili, the East African lingua franca develops through contact with Islam and trade?

Bantu languages and Arabic.