Time Period 1: 1200-1450

Vocab and Historical Figures that I don't know

Mandate of Heaven

The idea that there could be only one legitimate ruler of China at a time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods

Tribute

A system where a weaker state pays tribute to a stronger power in recognition of its authority, often seen in Chinese imperial relations. AND/OR A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance, or respect.

Animism

A belief system where everything in the world, including people, animals, plants, objects, and even natural phenomena like rocks and weather, are believed to have spirits or souls

Angkor Wat

A vast temple complex in Cambodia, originally built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, later transforming into a Buddhist site.

Swahili Coast

A region along the eastern coast of Africa, known for its historical trade cities and a blend of African, Arab, and Persian influences.

Spice Islands

An archipelago in Indonesia famed for its production of valuable spices such as nutmeg, cloves, and mace, which played a significant role in global trade during the Age of Exploration.

Meritocracy

A social system where advancement and rewards are based on individual ability, talent, and effort, rather than on social class, wealth, or other external factors

Feudalism

A social system in medieval Europe characterized by the exchange of land for military service and loyalty, where nobles held land granted by the monarch and vassals worked the land in return for protection.

Chinampas

A farming technique used by the Aztecs involving small, floating islands created on lakes, allowing for intensive agriculture and efficient use of water resources.

Patrilineal and Matrilineal

Terms describing kinship systems where inheritance and lineage are traced through the father's side (patrilineal) or the mother's side (matrilineal), influencing social structures and family roles.

Bhakti Movement

A spiritual trend in medieval India focusing on devotion to a personal god, promoting love and devotion over ritual and caste distinctions.

Great Schism

The division in the Catholic Church that occurred in 1054, resulting in the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, primarily due to disputes over papal authority and theological differences.

Crusades

A series of religious wars sanctioned by the Latin Church in the medieval period, aiming to recover the Holy Land from Muslim rule and marked by significant cultural and political impacts in Europe and the Middle East.

Pax Mongolica

A period of peace and stability across Eurasia during the Mongol Empire, facilitating trade, cultural exchange, and communication along the Silk Road.

Timbuktu

A historic city in Mali, known for its role as a trading post and center of learning during the medieval period, especially in the fields of theology, mathematics, and astronomy.

Kashgar

A vital trading city located at the crossroads of the Silk Road, known for its cultural diversity and economic importance during the medieval period.

Mamluks

A political and military class in Egypt, originally composed of slave soldiers, who established a dominant sultanate and ruled from the 13th to the 16th centuries, known for their resistance against the Mongols and Crusaders.

Kublai Khan

The grandson of Genghis Khan, he was the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China and played a crucial role in the expansion of Mongol territory and influence during the 13th century.

Axum

An ancient kingdom located in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, Axum was a major trading empire known for its monumental obelisks, its role in the spread of Christianity, and as one of the first kingdoms to mint its own currency.

Al Razi

A Persian physician and philosopher, Al Razi is known for his contributions to medicine, particularly in the fields of ophthalmology and pediatrics. He wrote the influential "Kitab al-Hawi" and emphasized the importance of clinical observation.

Pachacuti

The ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco, Pachacuti transformed the Inca state into a powerful empire during the 15th century and is known for his military conquests, architectural achievements, and administrative reforms.

Montezuma

The ninth ruler of the Aztec Empire, Montezuma II was in power during the early 16th century when Spanish conquistadors arrived. He is known for his leadership during the empire's peak and for his encounters with Hernán Cortés.

Hausa Kingdoms

The Hausa Kingdoms were several independent city-states in what is now northern Nigeria, known for their trade, Islamic scholarship, and cultural achievements from the 11th century onward. They played a significant role in the trans-Saharan trade network and developed distinct local governance and social structures.

Nasir Al Din Tusi

A Persian polymath and influential figure in the development of Islamic philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy during the 13th century, known for his contributions to the creation of the Maragheh Observatory.

Sundiata

The founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita, is celebrated for his role in uniting the Malinke tribes and establishing a prosperous empire in West Africa during the 13th century.

Griots

African oral historians and storytellers who preserve and transmit history, traditions, and genealogies through performances, fostering community identity and cultural continuity.

Holy Roman Empire

A complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the early Middle Ages and culminated in its formal establishment in 962 AD, known for its elective monarchy and conflicts between church and state.