AP World 1

Differences between China and India

China: Unified through a centralized government run by educated bureaucrats using Non-Confucianism

India: Politically divided into competing kingdoms, but stayed unified through the social rules of the caste system and shared relgious traditions like Hinduism

Patriarchies- where were they less restrictive? What were they?

Definition: men have more power and authority over women

Less restrictive: Sparta (women can vote, property rights)

More restrictive: Athens (expected to stay at home)

Hinduism

Oldest and most prominent religious tradition in India

Founder: none

Polytheistic (vast diversity of gods)

Religious leaders: Brahims

Holy books: Upanishads

Beliefs:

-Brahma (world soul, ultimate reality)

-Atman (individual human soul)

-Samsara (reincarnation or rebirth)

-Karma: consequences for actions

Buddhism

Indian religions

Founder: Siddhartha Gautama

No gods

Monks, nuns, etc

Beliefs:

-Four noble truths

-eightfold path

-nirvana

-karma and rebirth

Theravada vs Mahayana Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism: portrayed Buddha as a model but not divine

Mahayana Buddhism: greater accessibility beyond just monks

Bhakti movement

Hinduism’s devotion to one India’s gods or goddesses (personal love rather than strict rituals)

-led to the decline of Buddhism in India

Caste system

Social status determined at birth

Differences between Hinduism and Buddhism

Similarities:

-belief in karma

-spiritual

-meditation

Differences:

-Hinduism is polytheistic

-Buddhism doesn’t follow caste systems

Confucianism

Started in China- eventually spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam

Founder: Confucius

Founding Texts: the Analects

Major Beliefs:

-power of moral behavior

-wanted to restore order in China

-honor family and ancestors

-Chinese Examination System

Confucianism impact on government

Selected officials through system of civil service exams (valued moral character over status)

Low taxes

Daoism

Originated in China

Religious Leaders: Laozi

Major beliefs:

-disagreed with Confucius

-beleive in realm of nature

-withdrawal from society

-dao “way of nature”

Judaism and Christianity

Originated in Middle East

Major beliefs: monotheistic

Jesus Christ

Holy Bible

Islam

Founder: Muhammad

Relgious leaders: Abraham, Moses, etc

Holy books: Quran

Major Beliefs:

-Quran demanded social justice and was attractive to people of lower class

-Umma- community of believers

-ritual prayer 5 times a day

-respect for Muhammad

Sufism

Branch of Islam focused on personal direct spiritual experiences like divine love and inner self purification

Conflicts that fragmented Islam

Sunni vs Shia -Who should lead after Muhammad died?

Sunni- believed best qualified should be chosen

Shia-believed it should stay in Muhammad’s bloodline

Song Dynasty

-“Golden Age” of arts and literature

-scholars developed new forms of Confucian philosophy (neo-Confucianism)

-bureaucratic structure

Scholar Gentry

Educated, civil service officials who passed the imperial examinations and managed local and national government

Imperial Examination System

Standardized, merit based testing system based on Confucian classics used to select government officials

-shows us that China has created a bureaucratic state structure and they value Confucian values

Confucianism/Neo-Confucianism

Confucianism: ethical philosophy emphasizing social hierarchy, filial piety, respect for authority, rituals, and moral integrity

Neo-Confucianism: Song-era revival of Confucian philosophy incorporating spiritual elements from Buddhism and Daoism

Filial Piety

The core virtue of respect, obedience, and care for one’s parents and ancestors

Champa Rice

Drought resistance rice imported from Southeast Asia that allowed more food and caused population growth

Grand Canal

Waterway network connecting agricultural growth from the south to the north enabling massive internal trade

Women’s lives change during Song Dynasty

Negative:

Lost silk wearing jobs and restricted women to inner corners

Positives:

Property rights expanded and lower ranking men promoted educating woman so they could better educated sons

Foot binding

Song China

Wrap their feet so tight until they break

Beauty standard

What did the Chinese society influence onto Korea?

-Buddhism

-Confucianism

-Patriarchy

-Chinese Characters

What did Chinese society influence onto Vietnam?

-Buddhism

-Confucianism

-Chinese characters

What did Chinese Society influence onto Japan?

-Buddhism

-Confucianism

-Chinese Characters

How did Islam spread differently across regions?

Military Conquest: Anatolia, Northern India, and the Balkans (led by Turkic groups like the Selijuks and Ottomans)

Trade and Sufis: West Africa (Trans-Saharan trade) and Southeast Asia/East Africa (Indian Ocean trade)

The Seljuk Turks

Nomad fighters from Central Asia who converted to Islam

They took military and political control from the old Abbasid Caliph (the boss of the government/army)

They beat the Byzantine Empire which allowed Islam to move into Anatolia

The Ottoman Empire

A massive, powerful Turkic empire that grew out of Anatolia

They conquered Constantinople (destroyed the last piece of the ancient Roman/Byzantine Empire and made the city Islamic)

Represented Turks as dominant people

What factors encouraged conversion to Islam in India and other regions?

Avoiding the jikya tax on non Muslims

Escaping the strict Hindu caste systems

Adaptable Sufi missionaries blending local traditions

Access to valuable trade networks

What were the main features of al-Andalus (Islamic Spain)?

Relative religious tolerance among Muslims, Christians and Jews

Intellectual center with libraries and advanced infrastructure

What was the Reconquista?

Christian kingdoms to retake Spain from Muslim rule

Resulted in forced conversion of Jews and Muslims

Swahili City States

-involved Indian Ocean trade

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