Unit 1: The Global Tapestry - Study Guide

Describe Song China (include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social- People were subject to rulers, women were subject to their fathers, children subject to their fathers. Women also operated businesses and restaurants, and became entertainers and courtesans as the elite families increased in prosperity. Footbinding became a common practice that made upper class women distinct from lower class women.
Political- new bureaucracy, 6 major ministries (personnel, finance, rites, army, justice, and public works) were accompanied by the Censorate, an agency that exercised surveillance over the rest of the government
Interactions between humans and the environment-
Culture- Confucianism was prevalent. Buddhism made its way to Song China and evolved into different forms, such as Mahayana Buddhism
Economics- Song China experienced a golden age, and the textile industry grew rapidly, and men took over the work of producing textiles, a change from women in rural villages usually handweaving the silk and textiles. China's iron industry also grew rapidly, and well as Chinese commerce. Since the amount of metal used to make metal currency was limited and not able to keep up with the economy, paper money was introduced and used.

Explain the influence of Confucianism on Song China's political system.

The civil service exam (a test a person needed to pass in order to work in imperial bureaucracy) was influenced by and well versed in Confucian ideals. Confucianism predictably led to the oppression of women and created religious clashes. Apart from that, the main influence of Confucianism on Song China's political system was to keep the government leaders from becoming weak or corrupt and get educated leaders.

Explain the influence of Confucianism on Song China's society and culture.

Confucianism created a largely patriarchal society and valued educated scholars. It brought relative stability to China's people compared to the earlier warring periods (like in the Han dynasty).

How did Buddhism arrive in China?

Buddhism arrived in China through monks from India at the end of the Han Dynasty. It was less restrictive on women and the poor, so many converted from Confucianism to Buddhism. Buddhism arrived through the Silk Roads. The Han emperor Mingdi also helped introduce Buddhism to a deeply Confucian Han Dynasty.

What were the cultural impacts of the arrival of Buddhism?

Buddhism appealed to merchants because of its universal message. By the first century BCE, many of the inhabitants in the towns in Central Asia (such as Samarkand and Dunhuang) had converted to Buddhism, and foreign merchant communities soon introduced it to northern China. Buddhist merchants built monasteries along the Silk Roads that supported monks and provided rest stops for merchants traveling on the Silk Roads. Rulers dependent on long-distance trade accepted Buddhism since they thought it provided a link to the wealthy civilization of India. The nomadic peoples in northern China who controlled much of the Han dynasty earlier found Buddhism appealing despite not having a language and Buddhism being a highly literate religion. The Buddhist message of asceticism was abandoned and it became more materialistic as it spread in China. It took solid root in China's elite and popular culture. Buddhism even gained state support under the Sui dynasty, and many monasteries were opened and run by the state. Unlike the Christian Church in Europe, Buddhism was not quite independent from state authorities.

Explain the effects of The Grand Canal on Song China

During the Sui Dynasty, rulers constructed multiple canals and extended the canal system in an effort to provide unity to the people. And it linked northern China and southern China economically and contributed to the prosperity that followed in the Tang and Song Dynasties of China. The expansion of canal communications helped ancient China accomplish the tasks of the military and meet the economic demand. The Grand Canal offered enough facility to transport food and goods from south to north in the early times. And it was an excellent source of taxes for the Chinese government, which basically meant more government revenue to spend on infrastructure and a better opportunity to hire experienced and skilled people that helped expand the bureaucracy and maintain control. Peasants and farmers began producing for the market rather than for local consumption, and this canal system also facilitated the cheap movement of goods.

Explain the effects of Champa Rice on Song China

Champa rice was a unique strain of rice originally from Vietnam. What made it special was its resistance to abiotic stresses and increased rice production compared to other species of rice. The Champa kingdom from Vietnam gave the rice to the government officials from Song China. They in turn gave this rice to peasants across China, who cultivated it. This led to a massive and rapid growth of this rice in China which then led to a significant increase in crop yield that was important to feed China's population of over 100 million and counting. The Song Dynasty improved its agricultural techniques and it also led to many rice plantations across the southern region of China as opposed to the mild climate in northern China that wasn't suitable for rice cultivation. In other words, it led to the creation of a distinct region in China that was good at cultivating rice.

Explain the effects of Chinese production of textiles and porcelain.

Chinese production of textiles and porcelain led to an expansion of the domestic economy and stimulated imitation and innovation across Eurasia. Silk and porcelain found eager buyers from Japan to East Africa, and everywhere in between. It became a sign of honor from the emperor given to Buddhist monks and merchants spreading Buddhism into China. It promoted economic and cultural exchange between China and the outside world. And it influenced the traditional and cultural lifestyles of other countries, an example being Japan. In summary, silk and porcelain, mainly porcelain, improved quality of life, catalyzing industrial progress, promoting international trade, generating prosperity, and making Imperial China stronger, famous, and attractive.

List the core beliefs/practices of Islam:

The core beliefs/practices of Islam are to submit to God, working towards paradise after death, following the five pillars, daily prayers, the giving of alms, pilgrimage, fasting such as Ramadan, and attending Mosque services on Fridays.

List the core beliefs/practices of Judaism

The core beliefs/practices of Judaism are to obey God's commandments, the circumcision of boys at birth, Bar / bat mitzvahs at adulthood, observing the Sabbath (day of rest), wearing tallit and tefillin, and attending prayer services.

List the core beliefs/practices of Christianity:

The core beliefs of Christianity are that all have sinned and the only way to salvation is through faith in Christ, prayer, attending Church on Sundays, baptism, studying the Bible, and compassion towards others.

Describe the Abbasid Caliphate(include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social- At the top of the social hierarchy were the caliph and his household. The next level was made up of professionals, traders, merchants, teachers, and doctors. Then came the Dhimmis, who were the protected people (Jews, Christians, and Zoroasterists). They were protected as long as they recognized the Islamic supremacy and paid taxes. At the very bottom were slaves, who were not allowed to be classically mistreated and they could gain freedom in various ways. Slavery was not targeted to a specific race. Women didn't have free property rights like men did. They lost authority, and female infanticide was common. They were seen as tolls and status symbols rather than wives.
Political- This caliphate was a monarchy controlled by caliphs. Non Arabs were also allowed to become governors. The Shakiriya were military units from Central Asia and North Africa hired to protect and serve the Caliph. Political unity was strong at first, but it significantly weakened, causing the downfall of the caliphate, although the religious flourishing of Islam earlier caused it to survive and spread to other areas.
Interactions between the humans and environment- Advancements in agriculture were made.
Cultural- Innovations in mathematics, architecture, and literature took place. Algebra became a separate branch of math.
Economic- Gold, silver, and copper coins were used as currency. Industry, agriculture, and commerce flourished. Taxes and tributes were collected from more distant provinces, making the caliphate very wealthy. Trade and manufacturing became the main source of income, and they created a sophisticated system of banking and exchange. A coinage system made trade and commerce easier, and businessmen invested in long-distance trade. Goods were also bought on credit.

Describe the Seljuk Empire

The Seljuk Empire ruled a large portion of Central Asia and the Middle East. They were nomadic Turkish warriors who took over the weakening Abbasid Caliphate. They first served as slave soldiers under the Abbasid Caliphate but as the Caliphate declined they took greater political and military power. Many converted to Islam, and it became part of their culture. They defended the Islamic world from the Crusades and conquered large parts of the Byzantine Empire. They paved the way for the Ottoman Empire.

Describe the intellectual innovations and transfers of Muslim States

Muslim states and empires encouraged significant intellectual innovations and transfers, Interregional contacts and conflicts between states and empires, including the Mongols, encouraged significant technological and cultural transfers, including during Chinese maritime activity led by Ming Admiral Zheng He. Advancements in mathematics, literature, and medicine were made.

What effects did the innovations have in Dar al-Islam?

Innovations: Advances in mathematics (Nasir al-Din al-Tusi), Advances in literature (A'ishah al-Ba'uniyyah), Advance in Medicine (Avicenna)
Transfers: Preservation & Commentaries on Greek moral & Natural Philosophy, House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad, Scholarly & Cultural transfers in Muslim & Christian Spain (Al-Andalus)

Explain the significance of the House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad.

The House of Wisdom was an academic center for research and translation of scientific, medical, and philosophical texts from ancient Greece. Thinkers here argued that reason, as opposed to revelation, was the best way to truth. It boasted great Islamic scholarship. A to of scientific and philosophical works were found here, and it was used to verify astronomical calculations and information from scholars. It was the leading center of knowledge and one of the largest libraries in the world at the time with tons of books.

Explain how Hinduism impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia.

Hinduism reinforced a strict social hierarchy called a caste system that made it nearly impossible for people to move outside of their social station. Emperors during the Gupta empire used Hinduism as a unifying religion and focused on Hinduism as a means for personal salvation. And Hinduism was dominated by the Brahmins, which means that the people in the lower classes didn't have that many opportunities to practice Hinduism and were often frowned upon when doing so.. India's civilization and culture spread in many parts of the world through trade but struck firm roots in Southeast Asia including in dance forms. Yet India's cultural conquests were peaceful and without forced conversions. Merchants from India were also hosted in Southeast Asia, which led to the spread of many elements of Indian culture across much of Southeast Asia. Hinduism also became widely popular in Southeast Asia. An example is when the Sailendra kingdom mounted a massive building program that included building Hindu temples. Hinduism was also well established in the Champa kingdom and the Angkor kingdom, which is well reflected by the architecture there.

Explain how Islam impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia.

Islam entered forcefully into India at first, but then it was more peaceful since the Islam conquerors realized that voluntary conversion was much more successful. Turkic-speaking warrior groups from Central Asia converted to Islam and brought the faith to northern India. The Delhi Sultanate was established, and Muslim communities emerged in India. Disillusioned Buddhists, low-caste Hindus, and untouchables found Islam appealing. The tax imposed on non-Muslims also made other people convert to Islam. However, Islam never completely took hold of India since India was largely Hindu, and Hinduism was significantly different from Islam, which contributed to a cultural divide between Islam and Hinduism. Muslims largely governed parts of India but they weren't able to completely transform the country. In Southeast Asia, Muslims were known to have a commercial talent notably encouraged by Islam, as well as excellent sailing skills. Thus, they could monopolize the East-West trade of the maritime Silk Roads, connecting various major ports of eastern Asian regions together, which was prevalent in Southeast Asia.

Explain how Buddhism impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia.

Buddhism spread across Asia through networks of overland and maritime routes between India, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and China. In Southeast Asia, rulers made use of Indian political ideas and Buddhist religious concepts. They sponsored the creation of various images of Buddha. And the Srivijayan kingdom became a major center of Buddhist observance and teaching. Buddhist monuments were erected too. In South Asia, Buddhism was fading because of a reviving Hinduism. Buddhism was allowed to coexist with other religious traditions during the reign of Ashoka, and religious tolerance was encouraged. Buddhist teachings found audiences across India. Buddhism challenged the Hindu-based caste system and rejected the religious authority of the Brahmins. Women were later allowed to join because of the patriarchy present in India.

What role did Sufi missionaries play in spreading Islam?

Other than trade, military conquest, and pilgrimage, Sufi missionaries helped spread Islam by traveling great distances and convincing others to convert to Islam. They helped assimilate Islam into existing religious traditions in outside places, even in places where pagan and polytheistic philosophies were present. Sufi missionaries were responsible for widespread conversion to Islam in sub-Saharan Africa and in India and southeast Asia.

What role did Buddhist monasteries play in spreading Buddhism and promoting trade?

The Buddhist monasteries resupplied merchants and helped them get their well needed rest before traveling across the Silk Roads. This provided countless opportunities for monasteries to convert people to Buddhism. Additionally, they minted gold coins that were essential to pilgrims and to long distance trade. Buddhism appealed to many who were traveling on the Silk Roads and they helped it spread even further into China and other countries and places.

How did the Srivijaya Empire develop and maintain power?

The Srivijaya empire was a Malay kingdom that emerged when Malay sailors opened an all-sea route between India and China through the straits of Malacca, and the small ports there were hotbeds of competition as the places garnered many traders and travelers. This kingdom dominated this "choke point" of trade in the Indian Ocean trade. Srivijaya's abundant supply of gold, spices, and taxes levied on passing ships provided resources to attract supporters, fund a bureaucracy, and create the military and naval forces that brought security to the kingdom to maintain power.

.Describe the Maya city-states (include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social-
city states were neighborhood city-states and agricultural areas, elite women participated in rituals, but they did not get to exercise and hold political power, although non-elite women played an essential role in agriculture and textile production
Maya military forces fought for captives, not for territory. Elite captives were sacrificed; commoners were enslaved.
Political-
individual political states that were linked together through trade, political alliances, and tribute obligations
a hierarchical government ruled by kings and priests. They lived in independent city-states consisting of rural communities and large urban ceremonial centers.
Interactions-
experienced severe environmental pressures, including rising sea levels and intense droughts. They responded to these by turning forests into wetland field complexes to grow ancient food species, including maize
Cultural-
The Maya believed that the cosmos consisted of three layers: the heavens, the human world, and the underworld. Temple architecture reflected this cosmology, and the rulers and elites served as priests to communicate with the residents of the two supernatural worlds.
The Maya were a single culture living in modern Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and southern Mexico, but they never formed a politically unified state. Various Maya kingdoms fought each other for regional dominance.
advances in architecture, astronomy, medicine, and math
Economic-
Early Maya city-states tended to produce all of their own subsistence items. Basic agriculture — mostly production of corn, beans, and squash — was the daily task of the majority of the Maya population
Mesoamerican trade

.Describe the Inca (include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social:
-Women wove cloths and took care of household-Men=peasant and herders-Nobility expressed by attire and custom-Many arranged marriages Incan socialism (mita)
Political:
-Capital: Cuzco-Absolute rule under emperor -Inca was title and had divine status and believed to be son of Sun god-Gov't controlled the people
Interaction:-Andes Mountain-Modern day Peru to Chile-Terrace farming-Similar to Aztecs-roads comparable to Rome and China and Imperial conquests-like Abbasid dynasty studied Astronomy
Cultural:
RELIGION -
Polytheistic-Priest held a lot of power-Main god = Sun god-Human sacrifices-templesARTS -Pottery, painting, portraits, ceramics, gold work, instruments, costumes, architecture, gold work, wood carving
INTELLECTUAL:
-Irrigation system, terraces (step farming), road system-Road runners were messengers-Quipu (colorful knots) instead of writing system-Astronomy-Head surgery-Calendar
Economic:
-Farming-Trade(Gov't controlled it)-POTATOES-Taxes-Gold and Silver mines-Had markets-Agriculturally based-Incan socialism to combat famine in parts of the empire

Describe the Mexica (include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social-
military capacity developed, served as mercenaries for people, negotiated elite marriage alliances with other important people, Aztec women served as officials in palaces, priestesses in temples, traders in markets, teachers in schools, members of craftworkers organizations, but at home they underwent ritual activities and performed household duties, priests and rulers carried out more sacrifices and became mutually dependent, professional merchants (Pochteca) were wealthier than the nobility which allowed them to rise in power and become "magnates of the land"
Political-
tribute from conquered peoples, ordinary local and long-distance trade, human sacrifices were carried out in the service of politics, Aztec authorities and imperial tribute collectors oversaw the required goods and their movement to Tenochtitlan, the capital city,
Interactions-

Cultural-
patron deity Huitzilopochtli, believed that this deity was destined to lose in a constant battle against encroaching darkness, and in order to to postpone the descent into darkness, they believed the sun needed human blood, which is basically why they conducted human sacrifices
Economic-
Aztec economy was based on agriculture and trade. Agriculture provided a great variety of fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, chili peppers, pumpkins, and beans, necessary to feed the high number of inhabitants in the empire.
quantities of textiles, rubber, clothing, military supplies, jewelry, luxury items, paper, animal products, and other stuff was also produced

Describe Great Zimbabwe (include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social-
highly stratified society, farmers, livestock herders, artisans, and ordinary laborers fulfilling distinct roles
Political-
hereditary monarchy of Shona groups
great chiefs who ruled over Great Zimbabwe and gained control over remote Shona groups
mambos had power over provincial chiefs and demanded tribute, 1500s powerful centralized city-state in rainforests of Sub-Saharan Africa by the Limpopo River; dominated gold trade & commerce w/ Swahili merchants but declined due to unknown reasons
Interactions-
Varied geography (coastal, savanna, desert, rainforest acting as a mirror like image moving out from the equator) = diverse cultures, Bantu migrations, Society of small traditions
Cultural-
distinctive Shona cultures arose in Great Zimbabwe
Economic-
an economy based on cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean

Describe Ethiopia (include SPICE-T characteristics).

Social-
lone Christian kingdom in a region converting to Islam, Ethiopian rulers often wanted to legitimize their position by tracing their ancestry to Jesus, Ethiopian monks had a long-standing presence in the churches in Ethiopia
Political-
East African empire, trade network connecting Africa, India, & Mediterranean; introduced to Christianity due to location near Red Sea and Middle East; defeats Italy during the Scramble for Africa but taken over under Mussolini (doesn't last)
Interactions-
became a Christian land in a largely Muslim sea (Abbasid and Umayyad Caliphate), isolated from the Western world of Christendom and separated from Islam's influence
Cultural-
Christianity in Ethiopia; during slave trade, Portuguese missionaries introduced Christianity to places like the Kongo kingdom, people attempted to build a New Jerusalem in Ethiopia, but it failed, leaving behind many churches that are still in use today, fascination with Judaism and Jerusalem
Economic-
state of Ethiopia continued to prevail as a trading city, conducted trade throughout the Indian Ocean trading network

Explain the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on Western Europe

The Roman Catholic Church was a hierarchical organization of bishops, popes, priests, and monasteries. It took over some of the empire's political, administrative, educational, and welfare functions. Missionaries, who were people commissioned by the pope and monasteries that included even the rulers, fanned out across Western Europe to convert people to Catholic Christianity. By 1100, most of Europe embraced Christianity. The Church became wealthy and the largest landholder in Europe.

Describe the political organization of feudal Europe

Monarchs, like kings and queens, maintained control and power by the support of other powerful people called lords. Lords were always men who owned extravagant homes, called manors, and estates in the country. There were four distinct social classes, the kings, lords, vassals, and peasants (serfs).

Describe the manorial system.

The manorial system gave power to land owners and none to the serfs that came with the property. The serfs and farmers worked the land and were not paid.

Describe the social hierarchy of feudal Europe.

In feudal Europe, the kings were at the top of the social hierarchy, and they granted land to the Lords in exchange for their service and tribute. The Lords maintained peaceful relationships with the Knights, who protected the land and went to war for their respective Lords. At the bottom of the hierarchy was the peasantry or the serfs. The serfs worked the land to give produce to the Lords, in exchange for protection and accomodation.

What was the serfdom in Europe?

The serfdom in Europe was mainly a condition in which the serfs (poorest of the peasantry and and were types of slaves but weren't actually slaves) worked the land to grow crops and food for themselves and the lords who owned them. The lords let the serfs live on their lands, and serfs were also expected to pay rent.

What eventually happened to serfdom? (How did it change moving into the 1450-1750 time period)?

Serfdom disappeared in western Europe as peasants bought their freedom or ran away. Many free persons earning higher wages saved their money and bought land. Economic pressures, peasant resistance, and migration caused serfdom to disappear.