Lecture Notes: State-Building c. 1200-c. 1450

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about state-building processes between 1200 and 1450.

State-Building

The process of constructing or reconstructing a governmental structure, especially in the period of 1200-1450.

Centralized State

A state where power is concentrated in a central authority or government.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for technological and cultural progress.

Abbasid Caliphate

Islamic caliphate that fragmented due to invasions and trade shifts.

Delhi Sultanate

A land-based Muslim sultanate in northern India.

Mali Empire

West African empire known for its centralized administration, succeeding the Ghana Empire.

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican empire that relied on a strong military and a tributary system.

Inca Empire

Andean empire that used the mit'a system for state-building.

Mit'a System

A mandatory public service system in the Inca Empire used to support state-building.

Neo-Confucianism

A syncretic belief system that spread to Korea and Japan, allowing rulers to consolidate power.

Champa Rice

A fast-growing rice variety that spread from Vietnam to China, boosting the Song Dynasty's population.

House of Wisdom

An intellectual center in Baghdad that promoted advances in mathematics and medicine.

Manorial System

An economic system in Europe characterized by lords, vassals, and peasant serfs, slowly declining between 1200-1450.

The Mongols

Nomadic people from Central Asia who created a large empire through military dominance.

Seljuk Turks

A Turkish group that became dominant in the Mediterranean region.

Ottoman Turks

Another Turkish group that became a dominant force in the Mediterranean region.

Patriarchy

A social system where men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property.

Mamluk Empire

A new state that emerged in land formerly controlled by the Abbasid Caliphate.

Tributary Empire

An empire, like the Aztecs, which collected tribute from conquered peoples.

Nomadic Peoples

People who move from place to place, particularly pastoral peoples from the steppes of Central Asia.