APWORLD HISTORICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

Primary cause of European feudalism's growth

The decline of centralized political authority and increased invasions.

Relationship between feudalism and manorialism

Manorialism provided the economic foundation that supported feudal relationships.

Role of a serf in medieval Europe

A peasant legally tied to a lord's land.

Factor weakening European feudalism in 14th-15th centuries

Increased agricultural labor shortages.

Why labor shortages after the Black Death weakened feudalism

Surviving workers gained greater bargaining power.

Relationship between European knights and Japanese samurai

Similar social structures developing in different regions.

Similarity between European and Japanese feudal societies

Both relied on hierarchical relationships involving land and military service.

Factor contributing to Japan's decentralized feudal structure

The power of regional warrior elites.

Chinese political continuity through the Song Dynasty

Use of an imperial bureaucracy.

Historical significance of China's civil service examinations

They expanded merit-based access to government positions.

Factor increasing effectiveness of China's civil service exams

The expansion of education.

Chinese dynasty associated with commercialization (960-1279)

Song Dynasty.

Primary cause of Song China's population growth

The introduction of Champa rice.

Key properties of Champa rice

Fast-maturing and drought-resistant.

Sequence of Champa rice's impact on Song China

Champa rice → greater food production → population growth → economic expansion.

Primary economic function of the Grand Canal during Song period

Moving goods and agricultural products between different regions of China.

Technology strengthening Song China's maritime trade

The magnetic compass.

Developments driving Song China's economic power

Champa rice, improved transportation, manufacturing, and maritime trade.

Primary characteristic of the Song economy

It was one of the world's most highly commercialized economies.

Social group expanding during Song economic commercialization

Urban merchants.

Major Chinese exports during the Song Dynasty

Porcelain, textiles, tea, and silk.

Key indicator of Song China's manufacturing capabilities

Large-scale production of iron and porcelain.

Impact of coal usage on Song economic development

It increased the amount of iron that could be produced.

Example of technological diffusion from China to Eurasia

The spread of gunpowder westward across Eurasia.

Historical importance of the Silk Roads

Connected Afro-Eurasia, facilitating trade of goods, ideas, religions, technologies, and diseases.

Unintended consequence of interconnected trade networks

The spread of disease.

Negative consequence of increased interregional trade

The spread of the Black Death.

Primary factor in the rapid spread of the Black Death

Expanding trade and transportation networks.

Environmental factor increasing vulnerability before Black Death

The Little Ice Age and associated agricultural difficulties.

Demographic effect of the Black Death on Europe

A large portion of the population died.

Economic consequence of Black Death challenging social order

Labor shortages increased workers' bargaining power.

European political/social institution weakened by Black Death

Feudalism.

Scapegoating response during the Black Death crisis

Increased persecution of Jewish communities.

Religious institution losing authority after Black Death

The Catholic Church.

Primary origin of the Sunni-Shia split

Disagreement over who should lead the Muslim community after Muhammad's death.

Event directly contributing to the Sunni-Shia split

The death of Muhammad in 632 CE.

Historical significance of the Sunni-Shia division

It became a lasting religious and political division within Islam.

Dynasty ruling Islamic world from Damascus before Abbasids

Umayyad Caliphate.

Political and intellectual center of the Abbasid Caliphate

Baghdad.

Institution associated with Abbasid intellectual achievements

The House of Wisdom.

Major mathematical advances by medieval Islamic scholars

Major advances in algebra and trigonometry.

Significance of translating Greek and Roman texts in Islam

Allowed later scholars to access and build upon earlier knowledge.

Relationship between Indian and Islamic mathematics

Muslim scholars adopted and further developed mathematical ideas transmitted from India.

Tax policy on non-Muslim populations in Islamic states

Jizya.

Event ending Abbasid political authority in Baghdad (1258)

The Mongol conquest of Baghdad.

Factor contributing to the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate

Political fragmentation and the rise of regional powers.

Trade route facilitating the spread of Islam into West Africa

Trans-Saharan trade.

How Trans-Saharan trade encouraged Islamic expansion

Muslim merchants traveled between North and West Africa.

Primary commodity driving wealth in West African states

Gold.

Commodity traded for West African gold due to local scarcity

Salt.

Motivation for West African rulers to convert to Islam

Strengthened commercial and diplomatic relationships with Muslim merchants and states.

West African empire gaining wealth from Trans-Saharan trade

Mali Empire.

West African ruler famous for pilgrimage to Mecca

Mansa Musa.

Significance of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage

Demonstrated Mali's connection to the wider Islamic world and immense wealth.

Historical importance of Timbuktu

Became a center of trade, Islamic learning, and education.

Connection between trade and cultural change in West Africa

The spread of Islam through Muslim merchants.

African society known for stone architecture and ocean trade

Great Zimbabwe.

Historical takeaway from Great Zimbabwe's trade

African states participated in extensive regional and long-distance trade networks.

Important Swahili Coast trading city

Kilwa.

Cultural development from interaction on East African coast

The development of Swahili culture and language.

Linguistic origins of Swahili

Interaction between Arabic and Bantu-speaking peoples.

Religion spreading along Swahili Coast via trade

Islam.

Primary factor in development of Swahili Coast city-states

Indian Ocean commerce.

Environmental factor enabling predictable Indian Ocean trade

Seasonal monsoon winds.

Relationship between Indian Ocean trade and East Africa

Connected East African cities to Arabia, India, Persia, Southeast Asia, and China.

Cultural effect of Indian Ocean trade on East Africa

Spread of Islam and development of Swahili culture.

Primary characteristic of the Aztec political system

Relied heavily on conquest and tribute from conquered peoples.

Purpose of tribute in the Aztec Empire

Provided resources that supported the empire.

Capital city of the Aztec Empire

Tenochtitlan.

Significance of Tenochtitlan's environment

Located in a lake, fostering innovative agricultural and transportation techniques.

Aztec agricultural technology built on lake beds

Chinampas.

Significance of Aztec chinampas

Demonstrated adaptation to local lake environments.

Role of warfare in Aztec society

Essential for territorial expansion, tribute collection, and religious practices.

Shared characteristic of Aztec and Inca empires

Both used conquest and systems for extracting resources from conquered populations.

Key difference between Inca and Aztec state structure

The Inca developed a more centralized administrative system.

Defining feature of the Inca state organization

Strong centralized control and extensive administrative networks.

Inca agricultural technique for mountainous terrain

Terraced farming.

Purpose of Inca agricultural terraces

Created arable land on mountain slopes and reduced soil erosion.

Primary functions of the Inca road network

Facilitated communication, administration, trade, and military movement.

What was the mita system in the Inca Empire?

A system of required labor service.

Common task under the Inca mita labor system

Construction projects.

Comparison between European serfdom and Inca mita

Both were systems of labor obligation, but operated under different structures.

Function of quipus in the Inca Empire

Recording and organizing numerical and administrative data.

Gender parallelism in the Inca Empire

Men and women had separate but complementary roles.

Comparison between Aztec chinampas and Inca terraces

Both were agricultural adaptations to distinct environmental settings.

Civilization associated with Cahokia

Mississippian societies.

Foundation supporting Cahokia's development

Agricultural productivity and regional trade.

Key staple crop supporting Mississippian culture

Maize.

AP World theme demonstrated by Cahokia

American societies developed complex urban centers independently of Afro-Eurasia.

Defining characteristic of medieval Ethiopia

Christianity combined with distinctive local traditions.

Reason Ethiopian rulers sought European Christian alliances

To gain support against surrounding Muslim powers and incursions.

Major achievement of Emperor Lalibela of Ethiopia

Construction of famous rock-hewn churches.

Cultural diffusion in Song Neo-Confucianism

Incorporated Buddhist and Daoist ideas into Neo-Confucian thought.

Three intellectual traditions shaping Neo-Confucianism

Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

Reason Neo-Confucianism gained dominance in Song China

Provided an intellectual framework supporting social hierarchy, family, education, and state authority.

Evidence of ongoing Confucian influence in Song China

Continued emphasis on filial piety and social hierarchy.

Primary pathway for Buddhism's spread into China

Trade networks, particularly the Silk Roads.

Example of Sinification in East Asia

Korea adopting Chinese political and cultural practices.

Regions strongly influenced by Chinese culture (sinification)

Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Consequence of Chinese influence on neighboring East Asian states

Adoption or adaptation of Chinese government, literature, philosophy, and artistic traditions.