Unit 1 Ap World History: State-Building Empires 1200-1450

Which factor played the greatest role in unifying the culture of the Islamic world from 1200 to 1450?

The common use of Arabic language and shared faith practices

The defining features of the feudal system in medieval Europe included

A hierarchy of lords, vassals, and serfs based on land control

Which belief system expanded through the Silk Roads and had a significant impact on East and Central Asia by the year 1200?

Buddhism identity

How did the Confucian-based civil service exams influence Chinese society during the Song Dynasty?

They enabled individuals to rise in social status by gaining an education

The Bhakti movement in South Asia emphasized:

Personal devotion to a deity over caste or ritual

Which factor helped the spread of Islam in West Africa during this period?

Trade with North African merchants

The Inca Empire was able to unify a large territory through:

A network of roads and the mit’a labor system

Which empire is known for its use of chinampas (floating gardens) and a powerful military class?

Aztec (Mexica) Empire

Confucianism

The system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct

Filial Piety

A virtue of respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors

Imperial bureaucracy

Division of an empire into organized provinces to make it easier to control

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophy that emerged in Song dynasty China; it revived Confucian thinking while adding in Buddhist and Daoist elements

Grand Canal

Built in the 7th century during reign of Yangon during Sui dynasty; designed to link the original centers of Chinese civilization on the north China plain with the Yangtze River basin to the south; strengthened China’s internal cohesion and economic development

Mayans

A member of a major pre-Columbian civilization of Yucatán Peninsula that reached its peak in the 9th century a.d. and produced magnificent ceremonial cities with pyramids, a sophisticated mathematical and calendar system, hieroglyphic writing, and fine sculpture, painting, and ceramics (DECENTRALIZED)

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful state in the African interior that apparently emerged from the growing trade in gold to the East African coast; flourished between 1250 and 1350 C.E..

Decentralization

Degree to which decision-making authority is given to lower levels in an organization’s hierarchy

Feudalism

The dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord’s land and give him homage, labor, and a share of produce, nationally in exchange for military protection

Belief Systems

Confucianism: Social harmony, filial piety, bureaucracy in China

Buddhism: Spread through Asia, especially Mahayana and Theravada branches

Hinduism: Dominant in India, supports caste structure

Islam: Unified diverse cultures under Dar al-Islam, encouraged learning/trade

Christianity: Roman Catholic Church in the West, Eastern Orthodox in Byzantium

Technology & Innovation

China: Gunpowder, paper, printing, champa rice

Dar al-Islam: Medical texts, algebra, architecture, House of Wisdom

Inca: Terrace farming, quipu, road systems

Aztecs: Chinampas, tribute system, monumental architecture

Each region and its kingdoms/empire

China: Song Dynasty - Confucianism, bureaucracy, civil service exams, merit-based governance

Dar al-Islam: Abbasid Caliphate, Delhi Sultanate, Muslim rule in Spain (Al-Andalus)

South/Southeast Asia: Rajput kingdoms, Khmer Empire, Srivijaya, Majapahit

Africa: Mali empire (Mansa Musa), Ethiopia, Great Zimbabwe, Swahili Coast city-states

Europe: Feudalism, decentralized kingdoms, Holy Roman Empire, Catholic Church power

The Americas: Mexica (Aztecs), Inca Empire, Cahokia (Mississippian Culture)

Trade Networks & Cultural Exchange

Silk Roads: Luxury goods, Buddhism, plague

Indian Ocean: Spices, Islam, diasporic communities

Trans-Saharan: Gold, salt, Islam in West Africa

Americas: Trade between regions (not global), tribute-based systems