1.1 - AP World History

AMSCO and Duiker

Song Dynasty time period

960-1279 CE

imperial bureacracy

organization where appointed officials carried out the emperor’s policies. This had been a feature since the Qin Dystany (c. 200 BCE)

Meritocracy

desired jobs could be obtained through the civil service examinations, heavily based upon Confucian texts

affect of meritocracy

allowed for upward mobility in the class system and made society more competent when positions and status were determined by knowledge

champa rice

rice from the Champa Kingdom (Vietnam) that could grow in lowlands, riverbanks, and hills, as well as be harvested in both the summer and winter

agricultural developments in Song China

manure in fields to enrich the soil, irrigation systems, heavy plows pulled by water buffalo or oxen

benefits of champa rice and agricultural advancements

greatly expanded agricultural production, increasing the population, promoting commercialization, and leading to more creativity in the fine arts

trade items in Song China

coal, cast iron goods, steel

steel

used for bridges, gates, ship anchors, religious items, and agricultural equipment

proto-industrialization

home-based industrialization rather than large-scale production, producing simple equipment, steel, porcelain, and silk

Grand Canal

efficient waterway than extended over 30,000 miles, becoming the most populous trading area in the world

commercialized society

Song China grew its economy from local consumption to market production of porcelains, textiles, and tea. The Grand Canal also supported vibrant internal trade

tributary states

Japan, Korea, and kingdoms throughout southeast Asia provided China with money and goods, cementing China’s power and stabilizing trade.

kowtow

ritual in which anyone greeting the Chinese emperor must bow their head until it reaches the floor

scholar gentry

those educated in Confucian philosophy who became the most influential class in China, outnumbering aristocrats

foot binding

common among aristocratic families, young girls’ feet were wrapped so tightly that their bones did not grow naturally. It resticted women participating in the public sphere and was seen as a symbol of status

because China enjoyed a well-educated populace

intellectual pursuits, including technology, literature, and visual arts, thrived

woodblock printing

developed in the 7th century, used to communicate ideas, and was used by the Song to create and distribute booklets on how to farm efficiently

Thereavada Buddhism

focused on personal spiritual growth through silent meditation and self-discipline, strongest in Southeast Asia. It didn’t spread as well because of its strict guidelines that only devout monks were able to follow

Mahayana Buddhism

strongest in China and Korea. It spread easier because it focused less on rigorous text and could blend with existing cultures

Buddhism

originating in India, this religion follows the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path

Four Noble Truths

life involves suffering, all desire causes suffering, removing desire is the only way remove suffering, and the path to enlightenment is achieved through the the precepts of the Eight-Fold Path

Eight-fold Path

the precepts of Buddhism that focused on the right speech, effort, liveliness, mindfulness, etc. that lead to enlightenment

Chan/Zen Buddhism

a syncretic religion combining Buddhist doctrines with Daoist traditions, focusing on meditation as opposed to studying text

Japan

had distance from China, allowing it to more freely choose which parts of Chinese culture to adopt, including the politics, art, and literature. They used a feudal system with limited mobility

Korea

tributary relationship, emulating culture, government, religion, and writing system, though they had a more powerful aristocracy and a civil service exam that was closed off to peasants

Vietnam

adopted Chinese writing styles and architecture, but displayed a strong resistance to Chinese power. Women had greater independence, foot binding and polygyny. Scholar-officials often led revolts against the government if it was found too oppressive

polygyny

the practice of having multiple wives

shinto

belief system in Japan that found divinity in the inanimate and stressed cleanliness and purity