Comprehensive Overview of Major Civilizations and Cultural Exchanges in Afro-Eurasia

What major cultural traditions were established by 1200 in the Afro-Eurasian world?

Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Who is the founder of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama (566 ca-486 BCE).

What is the Bhakti movement in Hinduism?

A movement involving devotion to one or more of India's many gods and goddesses.

What was the significance of the Han Dynasty in China?

It reunified China and marked the elite culture with Confucianism.

What does the term 'umma' refer to in Islam?

The community of all believers as equals.

What was the initial period of Islamic expansion?

622-900 CE.

What was Bayt al-Hikma?

A state-sponsored institute that translated scientific, mathematical, and philosophical literature into Arabic.

Who was Mariam al-Astrulabi?

A Muslim woman who pioneered advancements in the astrolabe, an essential tool for navigation and astronomy.

What significant inventions and advancements came from the Islamic world?

Paper mills, universities, astrolabe, algebra, chess, modern soap formula, guns and cannons, mechanical pendulum clock, surgical instruments.

What characterized the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in China?

It was a 'golden age' of art and literature, with significant political and economic achievements.

What was the impact of foot binding in China?

It became a beauty standard for women, reflecting the patriarchal society.

How did Korea interact with Chinese culture?

Korea maintained distinct identities while adopting Confucianism and facing negative impacts on women.

What is Bushido in Japanese culture?

The code of values for a samurai, emphasizing bravery, loyalty, endurance, honor, and skill.

What was the significance of the Abbasid Caliphate?

It ruled much of Persia and was a major Islamic power until its end in 1258.

What was Al-Andalus?

The Muslim name for Spain, which was a center for cross-cultural encounters among Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

What was the role of the Ottoman Empire in the Islamic world?

It brought greater political unity to the Islamic Middle East and North Africa through conquest.

What was the Delhi Sultanate?

An Islamic dynasty in northern India that ruled from 1206 to 1526 without forcing conversions.

What are the two main sects of Islam?

Sunni and Shia.

What was the impact of the Crusades launched in 1095?

They were military campaigns initiated by the Pope against Islam.

What was the political landscape of Western Christendom by 1200?

It was characterized by Roman Catholic Christianity and a decentralized feudal system.

What was the significance of feudalism in medieval Europe?

It was a decentralized system where lords, vassals, knights, and serfs exchanged labor and protection.

What was the gradual consolidation of monarchies in Europe after 1000 CE?

Emergence of competing monarchies in France, England, Spain, and city-states in Italy.

What were the social conditions for women in China during the Song Dynasty?

Women faced restrictions, but some had property rights and were encouraged to educate their sons.

What was the impact of the Reconquista in Spain?

It resulted in the expulsion of Muslims and Jews by Catholics in 1492.

What role did the church play in Western Europe between 1200-1450?

The church was the only institution unifying all of Western Europe, hierarchical in structure, wealthy, and powerful, granting rulers legitimacy in exchange for protection.

What were the motives behind the Crusades initiated by Pope Urban II?

The motives included religious zeal, land, wealth, and adventure, primarily aimed at Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

What were some outcomes of the Crusades?

Outcomes included temporary Christian states in the Middle East, weakened Byzantium, permanent Christianization of Spain and Sicily, increased trade with the Islamic world, deepened divide with Eastern Orthodoxy, and sparked anti-Semitism.

What agricultural innovations contributed to population growth in Europe during the High Middle Ages?

Innovations included the heavy plow, horse collar, iron horseshoes, and the three-field system of crop rotation.

How did the economy and society change in Europe from 1000 to 1300?

Population grew from 35 million to 80 million, urban growth occurred in cities like London and Paris, and guilds began to regulate trade and professions.

What was the tribute system in China?

China viewed itself as the 'middle kingdom,' requiring neighboring states to pay tribute and show respect to the emperor, often through ritualized bowing called the kowtow.

What are some notable Chinese inventions during the medieval period?

Notable inventions include champa rice, printing technology, and maritime technologies such as the compass and sternpost rudder.

What was the significance of the Jurchen invasion of China?

The Jurchen, horsemen from Manchuria, invaded China, leading to the payment of tribute by the Chinese to avoid invasion.

How did Chinese culture influence Korea and Vietnam?

China influenced Korea through disapproval of marriages and women's activities, while Vietnam resisted Chinese rule, exemplified by the Trunk Sisters' revolt.

What is Shintoism in Japan?

Shintoism is a folk tradition that defines Japanese identity, emphasizing the worship of spirits called kami.

What was the social structure of feudal Japan?

Feudal Japan had a hierarchy with the shogun at the top, followed by daimyo, lesser samurai, and peasants, with intense loyalty and obligations at each level.

What characterized the Byzantine Empire?

The Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire, with the emperor as head of church and state, known for legal codification and the construction of the Hagia Sophia.

What was the significance of the Aztec Empire?

The Aztec Empire (1345-1528) was the last and largest Mesoamerican state before the Spanish conquest in the 1600s.

What were the main features of the Inca Empire?

The Inca Empire (1438-1533) was known for its agricultural practices and the construction of Machu Picchu.

What was the period known as the Middle Ages?

The Middle Ages, spanning 500-1500 CE, began with the fall of Rome in 476 and ended with the discovery of the New World in 1492.

What was the relationship between feudalism and political fragmentation in Europe?

Feudalism arose due to political fragmentation, leading to a decentralized power structure with independent cities and parliaments.

What were the environmental costs of agricultural expansion in medieval Europe?

Environmental costs included deforestation, soil depletion, river damage, and overfishing.

What was the significance of the heavy plow in medieval agriculture?

The heavy plow allowed for more efficient farming in the heavier soils of Northern Europe, contributing to increased agricultural productivity.

What is the definition of a conditional statement in logic?

A conditional statement is an 'if-then' statement that expresses a relationship between two propositions.

What is the contrapositive of a conditional statement?

The contrapositive of a conditional statement 'if A then B' is 'if not B then not A.'

What type of church is Basil's Cathedral in Moscow associated with?

Eastern Orthodox

What characterized decentralized Western Europe around 1000 CE?

Constant fighting, religious isolation, and a manor-based society.

What is a manor in the context of medieval Europe?

A large estate, often around 1,000 acres, where people lived isolated lives.

What social structure emerged from the breakdown of central government in Western Rome?

Feudalism, characterized by competing kingdoms and principalities.

What are serfs in the feudal system?

Individuals who were neither fully slave nor fully free, bound to the manor with obligations to the lord.

What rights did noblewomen have in the feudal system?

They had few rights and were often admired for their beauty.

What three key areas did Europeans borrow knowledge from during the medieval period?

Mathematics from India/Islamic world, medical knowledge from the Islamic world, and paper from China.

Who was Pope Innocent III and what was his significance?

He was the most powerful pope of his time, heavily involved in political matters and enforcing doctrine.

What was the general attitude towards religious diversity from 500-1500 CE?

There was significant religious intolerance, with persecution and scapegoating of groups like Jews.

Who was St. Louis and what was his impact?

A crusading king known for good economic leadership but also for anti-Semitic actions.

What agricultural innovation did the Aztecs develop?

Chinampas, which allowed for intensive irrigation and higher crop yields.

What was the population of the Aztec Empire around its peak?

Approximately 6-7 million people.

What was the Inca labor system called?

Mita, which required periodic labor service from every household.

What was a key feature of the Aztec and Inca governments?

Both had strong central authority and distinct social classes.

What significant event occurred in Europe around 1350?

The Black Plague, which led to labor shortages and improved wage conditions for workers.

What cultural changes occurred in Europe during the Higher Middle Ages (1000-1300s)?

Economic and social changes, expansion, and increased job opportunities for women.

What marked the beginning of the European Renaissance?

A cultural revival that began in Italy around 1300, characterized by art and urban life.

What was the significance of the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean trade routes?

They facilitated cultural and economic exchange, introducing religions like Buddhism and Islam.

What characterized the Swahili civilization in East Africa?

Commercial city-states that thrived through trade with Europeans and Arabs, becoming Islamic by the 1200s.

Who was Zheng He and what was his role in maritime exploration?

A Chinese admiral who led maritime expeditions into the Indian Ocean during the Ming Dynasty.

What was the hybrid language that developed in the Swahili city-states?

Swahili, a blend of Bantu and Arabic influences.

What was the 'Islamic Green Revolution'?

An increase in food production across the Islamic world, leading to population growth and urbanization.

What significant development occurred in West Africa around 1000 AD?

A large Muslim population began to form, linked to Muslim trading partners.

Which city in West Africa became a center of Islamic religious and intellectual life in the 16th century?

Timbuktu

What was Ibn Battuta's observation about women in the 14th century?

Women were allowed to do what they wanted.

What was the Islamic Green Revolution?

An increase in food production across parts of the Islamic world between 1200-1450.

What was the House of Wisdom?

An academic center for research and translation in Baghdad, established under Abbasid Caliph Al-Mamun around 830 AD.

What characterized the American web from 1000-1500?

Connections among civilizations like Cahokia, Chaco Canyon, Mesoamerica, and the Inca & Andes.

What is Cahokia known for?

It was the largest structure in North America, featuring pyramids, and thrived from 1100-1350.

What was the Chaco Phenomenon?

A network of 150 linked settlements covering 25,000 square miles from 860-1130, despite experiencing drought.

What role did the Maya play in seaborne commerce?

They used large dugout canoes for trade along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Who were the pochtea?

Aztec merchants active in the 15th century.

What was significant about Inca roads?

They facilitated the travel of goods by groups of about 50 people.

What is Prambanan?

A Hindu temple in Indonesia, constructed starting in 856 AD, illustrating the epic of the Ramayana.

What is Borobudur known for?

It is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, built starting in 778 AD, serving as a pilgrimage site.

What is Angkor Wat?

The biggest religious temple in the world, located in Cambodia.

What is environmental determinism in the context of Native Americans?

The belief that geography limited Native Americans' advancement compared to other civilizations.

Which pastoral peoples were prominent from 1200-1450?

Arabs, Berbers, Turks, and Mongols.

What was unique about Mongol nomadic lifestyles?

They originated from arid steppes, moved frequently for pasture, and lived in moveable houses called gers or yurts.

What were the main animals herded by the Mongols?

Goats, horses, and possibly sheep.

How did Mongol women contribute to their society?

They had equality, helped with herding, maintained yurts, and performed domestic duties.

What was the Yuan Dynasty?

The Mongol rule in China from 1271 to 1368, known for its vast land empire.

What was the military duty expectation for Mongol men?

All men over fourteen were expected to serve in the military.

What was the Mongol approach to religion?

They were animistic and tolerant, not enforcing their religion on conquered peoples.

What was the significance of the Mongol Empire in Eurasia?

It connected pastoral peoples of the Eurasian steppes with settled agricultural civilizations, creating closer relationships among Europe, China, and the Islamic world.

Who is Temujin more commonly known as?

Genghis Khan

What year was Genghis Khan recognized as the supreme leader of the Mongols?

1206

What was Genghis Khan's mission for the Mongol Empire?

Uniting the world in one empire

How did Genghis Khan's army compare to other empires?

The Mongols did not have technological superiority but outnumbered their enemies with army strength.

What was the name of the Mongolian forces in Russia?

The Golden Horde or Tartars

What significant impact did the Mongols have on the Silk Road?

They provided protection, which facilitated trade but also spread the Black Death.

What caused the spread of the Black Death according to the notes?

Bacteria from fleas that jumped from rodents to humans.

What was the duration of the Mongol conquest of China?

70 years (1209-1279)

Who was Khubilai Khan?

The Mongol ruler of China from 1271 to 1294, son of Genghis Khan.

What administrative practices did the Mongols adopt in China?

They made use of Chinese administrative practices, taxation, and established a postal system.

What was the outcome of the Mongol rule in China by 1368?

Rebel forces took over, leading to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty.