Developments in East Asia, Dar al-Islam, and Medieval Societies

world history unit 1

Song Dynasty

The dynasty that ruled China from 960-1279 CE, founded by Taizu; known for bureaucracy, Confucianism, trade, and innovation.

Imperial bureaucracy

The system of government used by Song China based on Confucian civil service exams, creating a merit-based scholar-gentry class.

SPICE-T for Song China

S: Filial piety, Confucian hierarchy; P: Imperial bureaucracy; I: Confucianism, exams; C: Confucian & Buddhist influence; E: Trading and commercial economy; T: Gunpowder, printing, paper money.

Confucianism's influence on government

Civil service exams and bureaucracy were based on Confucian texts, emphasizing merit and morality.

Confucianism's influence on society

Strengthened patriarchy and filial piety; men valued for education, women subordinate.

Buddhism's arrival in China

Spread through Silk Roads via trade from India and Central Asia.

Cultural changes from Buddhism

Led to Zen (Chan) Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism, blending Buddhist and Confucian ideas.

Key Chinese innovations

Champa rice, Grand Canal expansion, iron/steel, textiles, porcelain exports.

Effects of the Grand Canal on Song China

Boosted internal trade and population growth, making China a commercial center.

Effects of Champa rice

Drought-resistant, fast-growing; led to food surpluses and population increase.

Religions shaping Afro-Eurasia from 1200-1450

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

Core beliefs of Islam

The Five Pillars — faith, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage (Shahada central).

Core beliefs of Judaism

Monotheism; God wants justice and compassion.

Core beliefs of Christianity

Holy Trinity, Heaven and Hell, salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Causes of new Islamic states

Abbasid Caliphate fragmented, leading to new Turkic-led states like Seljuk Empire, Mamluk Sultanate, and Delhi Sultanate.

SPICE-T for Abbasid Caliphate

P: Sharia law unified legal systems; I: Universities spread knowledge; C: Shared Islamic culture; E: Controlled major trade routes; T: Adopted Chinese printing.

Seljuks

Turkic rulers of Persia and Iraq; spread Islam and weakened Abbasid authority.

Expansion of Muslim rule

Through military conquest and peaceful spread via merchants, missionaries, and Sufis.

Effects of new Islamic states

Islam expanded and fostered intellectual and cultural advancements.

Major innovations in Dar al-Islam

Math (Nasir al-Din al-Tusi), literature (A'ishah al-Ba'uniyyah), medicine, preservation of Greek philosophy.

House of Wisdom

Abbasid Baghdad's learning center for translation and innovation, spreading knowledge across Afro-Eurasia.

Religions shaping South/Southeast Asia

Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism.

Hinduism's effect on South & SE Asia

Influenced kingdoms like Vijayanagara and Rajput; promoted caste system and Bhakti movement.

Islam's effect on South & SE Asia

Spread through trade and conquest; attracted lower-caste Hindus and Buddhists; peaceful conversion through Sufis.

Buddhism's effect on South & SE Asia

Spread via monks and monasteries; declined in India but thrived in SE Asia (Majapahit, Srivijaya).

Adapted Islam

Adapted Islam to local cultures, blending beliefs to attract converts.

Role of Buddhist monasteries

Centers of learning and trade; offered simple, spiritual lifestyles for men and women.

Hindu & Buddhist states in South/SE Asia

Vijayanagara, Srivijaya, Rajput, Khmer, Majapahit, Sukhothai, Sinhala dynasties.

How did Srivijaya maintain power?

Controlled trade through ecological zones and maritime routes.

Major civilizations in the Americas (1200-1450)

Maya, Mexica (Aztec), and Inca.

SPICE-T for Maya city-states

S: 2 million people; hierarchy; P: City-state kings; I: Polytheistic religion; C: Sacrifices, math, astronomy; E: Tribute, moderate trade; T: Writing, architecture, calendar.

SPICE-T for Mexica (Aztec)

S: Emperor, nobles, peasants, slaves; P: Theocracy; wars for captives; I: Human sacrifice to repay gods; C: Religious ceremonies, textiles; E: Tribute system, trade; T: Pyramids, chinampas, aqueducts.

SPICE-T for Inca Empire

S: Polytheistic; worshipped Inti; P: Four provinces, bureaucracy; I: Quipu record system; C: Animism, temples; E: Mit'a labor system; T: Roads (Carpa Nan), terrace farming (Waru Waru).

Major African states (1200-1450)

Great Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Hausa kingdoms.

SPICE-T for Great Zimbabwe

S: Trade connections to Africa & Asia; P: Taxes on gold transport; I: Urban planning; C: Swahili blend of Bantu & Arabic; E: Agriculture, grazing, gold trade; T: Stone architecture without mortar.

SPICE-T for Ethiopia

S: Christianity blended with African traditions; P: Power through architecture; I: Religious syncretism; C: Rock-carved churches; E: Traded with India, Arabia, and Rome; T: 11 rock churches.

How did Christianity shape Europe?

The Roman Catholic Church unified Europe, controlled education, art, and politics, and filled power gaps in feudal society.

What caused political decentralization in Europe?

Fall of centralized empires led to feudalism and local lords controlling land.

Describe feudalism in Europe.

Lords gave land (fiefs) to vassals and knights for loyalty; peasants worked the land in return for protection.

What was the manorial system?

Economic system where manors were self-sufficient estates of lords and peasants.

Social hierarchy in feudal Europe

Monarch → Lords → Knights → Serfs.

Role of serfs

Peasants tied to land; not slaves but couldn't leave without lord's permission.

What ended feudalism?

Rise of monarchies, trade growth, middle class (bourgeoisie), and Renaissance.

Similarities in state formation across regions

Continuity, innovation, and diversity; reliance on religion and bureaucracy for legitimacy.

How did Islamic states show continuity?

Successors of Abbasids (like Seljuks, Delhi Sultanate) continued Islamic governance and scholarship.

Compare Song China and Europe (1200-1450)

Song China had centralized bureaucracy; Europe was decentralized with feudal lords and manorialism.

How did agriculture shape Europe socially?

Led to feudalism and rigid class systems based on land labor.

How did Islam's diffusion affect Africa?

Brought new architecture, literacy, and trade connections through merchants and scholars.

How did belief systems affect South/Southeast Asia?

Hinduism promoted caste; Islam unified; Buddhism influenced culture and politics.