Global Developments from 1200 to 1450

State

An organized political community under a government.

Nation

A group sharing common culture and identity.

Country

A distinct territorial body or political entity.

Loess

Fertile soil deposited by wind.

Confucianism

Philosophy emphasizing social harmony and duty.

Filial Piety

Respect and duty towards one's parents.

Legalism

Philosophy prioritizing order through strict laws.

Civil Service Exams

Tests for bureaucratic positions in China.

Daoism

Philosophy focusing on harmony with the universe.

Yin and Yang

Concept of dualism in Daoism.

Mandate of Heaven

Divine right to rule in Chinese dynasties.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for meritocracy and technology.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol dynasty in China under Kublai Khan.

Ming Dynasty

Period of Han Chinese rule and cultural revival.

Bureaucrats

Scholars who passed civil service exams.

Farmers

Class responsible for feeding the population.

Artisans

Skilled workers creating valuable goods.

Merchants

Traders viewed negatively in Chinese society.

Shogun

Military leader in feudal Japan.

Daimyo

Feudal lords controlling land in Japan.

Samurai

Warriors serving the daimyo in Japan.

Bushido

Code of conduct for samurai.

Mahayana Buddhism

Accessible form of Buddhism in East Asia.

Theravada Buddhism

Conservative form of Buddhism in Southeast Asia.

Dar al-Islam

Regions where Islam is the dominant religion.

Seljuk Empire

Turkic empire in Iran and Iraq.

Delhi Sultanate

Islamic rule in northern India.

Ottomans

Empire controlling Balkans and Turkey.

Sufism

Mystical Islamic belief emphasizing personal faith.

Ibn Battuta

Famous Muslim traveler and chronicler.

Angkor Wat

Hindu temple complex in Cambodia.

Strait of Malacca

Key trade route in Southeast Asia.

Syncretism

Blending of different cultural practices.

Syncretism

Merging of different cultures into something new.

Delhi Caliphate

Introduced Islam to the Indian subcontinent.

Theravada Buddhism

Established as a major religion in Southeast Asia.

Strait of Malacca

Key navigation route for trade in Asia.

Maya Civilization

Known for math, science, and stepped pyramids.

Inca Mit'a System

Mandatory public service for extensive road building.

Chasqui Messengers

Relay messages and interpret quipu in Inca.

Aztec Tenochtitlan

Capital city known as Venice of the Americas.

Chinampas

Floating farms used by the Aztecs.

Cahokia

Major mound-building society in North America.

Great Zimbabwe

Wealthiest city along the Swahili Coast.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade network connecting West Africa to Eurasia.

Mansa Musa

Famous ruler of Mali, known for wealth.

Timbuktu

Cultural and educational center in Mali.

Churches of Lalibela

Ethiopian churches carved from rock.

Feudalism

Social structure with kings, vassals, and serfs.

Manor System

Land organization for vassals and knights.

Gutenberg Printing Press

Revolutionized information spread in Europe, 1450.

Hanseatic Trading League

Economic alliance of Northern European cities.

Silk Roads

Network of trade routes connecting Eurasian empires.

Luxury Goods

High-value items exchanged on the Silk Roads.

Cultural Exchange

Spread of ideas and religions through trade.

Diseases Spread

Trade routes facilitated the transmission of diseases.

Merchant banks

Financial institutions facilitating trade financing.

Lombardy region

Area in Italy known for commerce.

Usury

Charging interest on loans, prohibited in some religions.

Bills of exchange

Financial instruments for transferring money.

Paper money

Currency made from paper, first used in Song China.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns for travelers in Central Asia.

Kashgar

Westernmost city in China, key trade hub.

Samarkand

Major city in Uzbekistan, important trade center.

Mongol Empire

Largest contiguous empire from 1206 to 1368.

Genghis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire, united tribes.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan, established Yuan Dynasty.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol dynasty ruling China from 1279 to 1368.

Pax Mongolica

Period of peace allowing trade expansion under Mongols.

Kamikaze

Divine wind, associated with typhoons in Japan.

Siege of Baghdad

Mongol attack resulting in over 200,000 deaths.

Bio-warfare

Use of biological agents in warfare.

Khanates

Four divisions of the Mongol Empire.

Indian Ocean trade

Major trade network for everyday goods.

Monsoon winds

Seasonal winds affecting Indian Ocean trade routes.

Swahili coast

East African coast known for trade and culture.

Astrolabe

Navigational tool for determining latitude using stars.

Diaspora

Population living outside their geographic origin.

Junk

Chinese ships with multiple sails and rudders.

Dhow

Arab ships with triangular sails for trade.

Shanga Lion

Bronze figurine with Indian design, found in Lamu.

Trade Goods Africa

Ivory, gold, timber are primary exports.

Trade Goods China

Technology, paper, and gunpowder are key exports.

Trade Goods Arabia/Persia/Subcontinent

Spices and textiles (cotton) are major trade items.

Post-1450 Trade Network

Europeans sought to access Asian trade routes.

Zheng He

Ming Dynasty admiral who explored the Indian Ocean.

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Connects North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa.

Caravans of Camels

Enabled trade across the Sahara Desert.

Astrolabe

Navigational tool used for determining latitude.

Jizyah

Tax on non-Muslims in Islamic states.

Timbuktu

Center of scholarship during the Mali Empire.

Djinguereber Mosque

Historic mosque in Timbuktu, Mali.

Syncretism

Cultural blending resulting from interaction.

Jikji

Oldest book using movable type technology (1377).

Gutenberg Bible

First European book produced with movable type (1450).

Heilongjiang Hand Cannon

Oldest extant firearm from China (1298).

100 Years' War

Earliest European use of gunpowder depicted (1326).

Marco Polo

Venetian explorer known for Silk Road travels.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan traveler who explored multiple trade networks.

Mansa Musa

Wealthy Mali emperor known for pilgrimage to Mecca.