AP World History: Unit 1 Learning Objectives

Explain the systems of government employed by Chinese dynasties and how they developed over time.

The Song Dynasty used Neo-Confucianism to govern Chins in the time period 1200-1450. They established an imperial bureaucracy to govern, employing government officials to carry out the will of the emperor. To obtain these jobs, Chinese men had to pass the Civil Service Exam, which was heavily influenced on traditional Confucian beliefs. This was a major development/change from the previous Han/Tang Dynasty because it gave the opportunity to raise your social status.

Explain the effects of Chinese cultural traditions of East Asia over time.

As Buddhism arrived in China through Emperor Ashoka’s missionaries along the Silk Roads, many people converted from Confucianism to Buddhism. Buddhism preached ideologies such as giving up worldly things, and allowing the poor to be treated better socially (unlike Confucianism, which had a social hierarchy). Buddhism was also known to be less restrictive for women (unlike Confucian China which belittled women through foot binding). People clearly liked Buddhism, which was then implemented into Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty.

Explain the effects of innovation on the Chinese economy over time.

Technological innovations such as Champa Rice and Chinese porcelain greatly impacted Chinese economy. Champa rice was introduced via Vietnam and due to being fast-ripening, drought resistant, and being able to be harvested more than once a year, population grew substantially. Porcelain, was in high demand from those in and surrounding China, giving them more work leading to economic prosperity.

Explain how systems of belief and their practices affected society in the period from c.1200-1450.

In the time period c.1200-1450, Judaism was the first of the 3 religions that shaped societies, influencing both Christianity and Islam. All three of these mono-theistic religions influenced African and Asian societies, shaping their cultures, laws, and social structures. *Islam seems to be the most prosperous of the three because of Dar-Al-Islam.

Explain the causes and effects of the rise of Islamic states over time.

As the Abbasid Caliphate started to fragment, new Islamic states emerged, most of which being controlled by Turkic people. The Seljuks continued to expand to many parts of Afro-Eurasia through military expansion, merchant activity(trade), and specifically Sufi missionaries. As a result, Islam became a universalizing religion and had a big influence on many places in both Africa and Asia. Overtime, networks of exchange were created, and agriculture contributed to the economy across Afro-Eurasia.

Explain the effects of intellectual innovation in Dar-Al-Islam.

Muslim states and empires encourage significant intellectual innovations and transfers. Advancements in mathematics, science, medicine, etc. were transferred in the House of Wisdom (Baghdad). This was a place where scholars came together to study religion and science, allowing for cultural transfers and syncretism.

Explain how the various belief systems and practices of South and Southeast Asia affected society over time.

Hinduism and Islam’s core beliefs and practices continued to shape societies in South/Southeast Asia. Both the Bhakti Movement in Hinduism and Sufism in Islam have allowed people to focus their devotion to one god, reject the hierarchal practices, and make religion equally accessible to everyone, disregarding social status.

Explain how and why various states of South/Southeast Asia developed and maintained power over time.

The Srivijaya Empire (Buddhism) developed and maintained its power since they were a sea-based empire that controlled waterways that were used by merchants, taxing anyone or anything going through. They also had a strong navy and created a bureaucratic government with a military (navy) that secured the seas.

Explain how and why states in the Americas developed and changed over time.

States in the Americas (Mexica and Maya City states) developed and changed over time because they both had decentralized governments that allowed them to keep everyone in check. Their priority was not to conquer territory but rather to form tributary states for economic benefit (***allowed them to keep their culture as long as they paid tribute). A change however was in the Inca empire where they instead had a bureaucracy and forced assimilation.

Explain how and why states in Africa developed and changed over time.

Great Zimbabwe and Ethiopia developed and changed over time they both participated in the Indian Ocean Trade Network and were heavy in the gold and salt exports, making them economically prosperous. These states changed over time as they used political structures (hierarchy) to rule and maintain power and prosperity.

Explain how the beliefs and practices of the predominant religions in Europe affected European society.

Christianity affected European society from 1200-1450 because the Roman Catholic Church brought structure to different nations through hierarchy, putting the Pope at the top. However, the Muslims were a strong minority in Europe and they (Muslims and Catholics) frequently engaged in wars, known as the Crusades.

Explain the causes and consequences of political decentralization in Europe from c.1200-1450.

Political decentralization was caused by the invasion of the Seljuk Turks and the collapse of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottomans capture of Constantinople. The consequences of this fragmentation were the development of the manorial system and feudalism in Europe, with kings and lords at the top and serfs being bound to the land at the bottom.

Explain the effects of agriculture on social organization in Europe from c.1200-1450.

Europe was built off of agriculture, and they used the serfdom system. Rather than being “owned”, serfs were bound to the land and participated in the labor it took for the demand of agriculture in Europe.

Explain the similarities and differences in the process of state formation from c.1200-1450.

State building in South/Southeast Asia and the Americas was similar in that the Srivijaya Empire and the Maya city-states used to tax foreigners. In the Srivijaya, they taxed anything and everything that went though their waterways and the Maya used tribute tax. However, the Srivijaya Empire used a centralized government (bureaucracy) while the Maya was decentralized.