APWH Unit 1 Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms from the lecture notes.

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophy revived during the Song Dynasty, emphasizing hierarchy in human society for harmony.

Foot Binding

The practice of tightly binding young girls' feet to modify the shape and size of their feet. In Song China, it was a status symbol.

Bureaucracy

System in which the emperor makes rules and a body of people maintain the rules. During Song China, positions were earned based on merit through a civil service exam.

Buddhism

Originated in India and later spread to China, this religion includes the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Four Noble Truths

Life is suffering, We suffer because we crave, We cease suffering when we cease craving, The Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of suffering and craving

Buddhism connections to Hinduism

Cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation. Ultimate goal: dissolve into the oneness of the universe. Nirvana

Commercialization of Economy

Manufacturers and artisans began to overproduce products (porcelain and silk). Excess products were sold in markets in China and across Eurasia

Champa Rice

A type of rice that could be harvested multiple times a year, leading to increased food production and population growth in China.

Expansion of the Grand Canal

Facilitated trade and communication among China’s various regions.

Dar-Al-Islam

Refers to all the places where Islam was the main faith

Judaism

Ethnic religion of Jews

Christianity

Established by the Jewish prophet, Jesus Christ

Islam

Founded by the prophet Muhammad

Aztec Empire

A highly centralized empire in Mesoamerica that used a tribute system.

Tribute State System

Conquered people were required to work for the Aztecs and turn in regular contributions of goods (food, animals, resources, etc)

Inca Empire

A decentralized empire in the Andes with an elaborate bureaucracy and the Mita system.

Mita System

Required all people under their rule to provide labor on state projects (farms, mining, military, construction projects, etc)

Mississippian Culture

A culture in the Mississippi River Valley that focused on agriculture and had a power structure of large towns dominating smaller settlements.

Swahili Civilization

A civilization focused on coastal commerce, politically independent with a common social hierarchy, and influenced by Muslim traders, leading to the Swahili language and increased integration into the Islamic world.

Swahili

Hybrid language demonstrates mingling of multiple cultures

Great Zimbabwe

An African state that was economically self-sufficient in farming and cattle herding, later focused on gold exports, and maintained its indigenous Shamanistic religion.

Ethiopia

A Christian African state.

Eastern Orthodox

Byzantine Empire

Roman Catholicism

Western Europe (had been split up into many small, isolated states after the fall of the Roman Empire)

Feudalism

System of allegiances between powerful lords, monarchs, and knights. Vassals received land from their lords in exchange for military service

Manorialism

Piece of land owned by a lord which was then rented out to serfs (peasants, not the lord’s property though) who worked the land