PERIOD ONE 1200-1450

Flashcards for key events and empires from 750-1441

Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258)

Islamic empire centered in Baghdad; major trade empire using receipts and bills; fell due to Turkic Muslim empires like the Seljuks.

Song Dynasty (960–1279)

Used Neo-Confucianism to enforce social hierarchy; expanded bureaucracy through civil service exams; economy grew with Champa rice and Grand Canal trade.

Crusades (1095–1291)

Series of Christian military campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land; increased cultural and trade connections between Europe and the Middle East.

Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

Islamic empire in India that helped spread Islam into South Asia; Hindu Rajput kingdoms resisted Islamic rule.

Genghis Khan’s Reign (1206–1227)

United Mongol tribes and launched massive expansion; known for ruthless warfare, cultural diffusion, and trade along Silk Roads.

Magna Carta Signed (1215)

English document limiting the king’s power; guaranteed rights like fair trial.

Mongols Destroy Baghdad (1258)

End of Abbasid Caliphate; cultural loss, but Mongols preserved and spread Islamic and Greek knowledge elsewhere.

Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368)

Mongol-led dynasty ruling China; established Pax Mongolica to boost trade.

Ottoman Empire Founded (1299)

Islamic empire emerging from Mongol collapse; expanded with gunpowder weapons; created Janissary elite force.

Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage (1324)

Displayed Mali’s wealth and spread Islam to North Africa and the Middle East.

Tenochtitlán Founded (1325)

Capital of the Aztec Empire; major commercial center using tribute system.

Ibn Battuta’s Travels (1325–1354)

Moroccan scholar who traveled across the Islamic world, documenting cultures.

Black Death (1346–1388)

Bubonic plague that spread via Silk Roads and Indian Ocean routes; killed millions in Eurasia.

Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)

Chinese dynasty after Mongol Yuan; expanded borders, used gunpowder, and established strong centralized government.

Zheng He’s Voyages (1405–1433)

Ming Dynasty sailor who expanded Chinese influence through Indian Ocean voyages and the tributary system.

Aztec Empire (1428–1521)

Mesoamerican empire centered in Tenochtitlán; maintained power through warfare and human sacrifice.

Inca Empire (1438–1533)

South American empire with a unified road system, Mit’a labor system, and strong centralized bureaucracy.

Swahili State-Building (1440)

Flourishing city-states on East African coast due to Indian Ocean trade.

Printing Press Invented (1440)

Gutenberg’s invention that made books affordable and boosted literacy across Europe.

Caravel Invented (1400s)

European ship innovation that allowed long-distance ocean navigation.

Start of Atlantic Slave Trade (1441)

Portuguese began capturing and transporting millions of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean.