State
A territory that is politically organized under a single government.
Song Dynasty
A period of significant state building in China from 960 to 1279.
Confucianism
A philosophy that defined Chinese culture, emphasizing hierarchical relationships and filial piety.
Neo-Confucianism
A revival of Confucianism during the Song Dynasty, incorporating Buddhist influences.
Imperial Bureaucracy
A hierarchical government entity that carries out the will of the emperor.
Filial Piety
The virtue of children honoring and obeying their parents and ancestors.
Foot Binding
A practice in Song China that restricted women's mobility by binding their feet.
Civil Service Examination
A test based on Confucian classics required for bureaucratic positions.
Merit-Based Employment
A system where bureaucratic jobs are awarded based on merit rather than connections.
Dar al Islam
Regions where Islamic faith was the organizing principle of civilizations.
Major Religions in Islam
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all of which are monotheistic.
Abbasid Caliphate
A major Islamic empire that presided over a cultural and scientific golden age.
Seljuk Empire
A Turkic empire established in the 11th century that initially aided the Abbasids.
Sufism
A mystical form of Islam emphasizing personal spiritual experiences.
Champa Rice
An agricultural innovation that matured early and increased food production in Song China.
Grand Canal
An expanded transportation route that facilitated trade and communication in China.
Bhakti Movement
A devotional movement in Hinduism that emphasized personal devotion to a single god.
Delhi Sultanate
An Islamic state in northern India that faced challenges in imposing Muslim rule.
Majapahit Kingdom
A powerful Buddhist kingdom in Southeast Asia that controlled trade routes.
Aztec Empire
A vast empire in Mesoamerica known for its tribute system and human sacrifice.
Inca Empire
A centralized Andean empire with a complex bureaucracy and labor requirements.
Mississippian Culture
The first large-scale civilization in North America, known for agriculture and mound-building.
Swahili Civilization
A collection of independent city-states in East Africa focused on trade.
Great Zimbabwe
An African state known for its stone structures and trade in gold.
Feudalism
A system of allegiances between lords and vassals in medieval Europe.
Manorialism
A system where peasants worked land owned by lords in exchange for protection.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
The branch of Christianity practiced in the Byzantine Empire.
Roman Catholicism
The dominant form of Christianity in Western Europe, with a hierarchical structure.
Trans-Saharan Trade
A network of trade routes connecting West Africa to North Africa.
Syncretism
The blending of two or more religions, resulting in a new form of worship.