Unit 1, Part 1: 1200 - 1450 Ap World Flashcards

Which 3 Chinese dynasties dominated the Post-Classical period?

Sui, Tang, and Song

How did the Sui Dynasty reunify China?

Centralized power using harsh policies like forced labor, high taxes, and strong military authority (similar to the Qin Dynasty)

Why did the Sui Dynasty collapse so quickly?

Ended due to military campaign failures and widespread hostility against harsh imperial rule.

Who was Emperor Tang Taizong, and what made his ruler style distinct?

Second Tang emperor who seized power ruthlessly, but governed using Confucian moral principles and genuine consideration for his subjects' well-being.

What were the 3 primary policies that fueled the success of the Tang Dynasty?

1. Advanced transportation and communication networks.

2. Land redistribution through the Equal-Field System.

3. A strong bureaucracy based on merit.

How did the Equal-Field System function?

Allocated land based on a family's needs to prevent elite gentry hoarding (only 1/5 became hereditary property).

Why did the Equal-Field System eventually collapse?

Rapid population growth outpaced land availability, and untaxed Buddhist monasteries acquired large holdings.

How did the Tang Bureaucracy of Merit differ from traditional aristocratic rule?

Required civil servants to pass exams testing mastery of Confucian classics and literature, allowing commoners to hold government offices over time rather than just aristocrats.

What were the main causes of the Tang Dynasty's decline and ultimate fall?

Internal instability caused by the An Lushan Rebellion.

Inviting the Uighur Turks as military allies, which cost the Tang long-term political control.

Eventual abdication of the last emperor after losing regional power.

How did the Chinese Tributary System operate between China and surrounding foreign lands?

Neighboring lands acknowledged Chinese authority by paying tribute and performing ritual submission (kowtow). In return, they received military protection, diplomatic recognition, and valuable trading privileges.

How did Emperor Taizu (Zhao Kuangyin) change the structure of military and civilian leadership in the Song Dynasty?

Placed the military under civilian administration and rotated commanders frequently to prevent military coups, which weakened Song military power compared to the Tang.

Why was the Song Dynasty forced to relocate its capital south to Hangzhou?

Nomadic Jurchens (Jin Kingdom) overthrew the Liao Dynasty (Khitans), conquered the Yellow River basin in northern China, and forced the Song into the Southern Song Dynasty.

What internal administrative flaw plagued the Song imperial government?

The bureaucracy grew severely bloated and expensive, employing high-paid scholar-officials with insufficient meaningful work.

Why was Champa Rice critical to the demographic expansion of Post-Classical China?

Fast-ripening, drought-resistant rice imported from Vietnam allowed farmers to harvest two crops per year, causing a massive population boom.

What key technological innovations emerged during the Tang and Song eras?

Agriculture/Transport: Heavy iron plows, Grand Canal expansions, waterwheels.

Military/Industry: Gunpowder, increased iron production.

Trade/Printing: Magnetic compass for navigation, moveable type printing press.

What financial innovations supported long-distance commerce during the Song Dynasty?

Development of paper money and "flying cash" (credit letters), which allowed merchants to complete large transactions without carrying heavy metallic coinage.

How did societal expectations for women change during the Post-Classical era in China?

Patriarchal family structures strengthened via Confucian values. Foot binding expanded rapidly during the Song Dynasty as a status symbol that enforced female subordination.

Who was Empress Wu Zhao, and why is she historically unique in China?

A former royal concubine who assumed total imperial power following her husband's stroke; she remains the only female ruler in Chinese history to claim the imperial title.

Which two branches of Buddhism gained popularity in China, and among which social classes?

Mahayana (Pure Land): Popular among commoners seeking spiritual salvation during times of war and turmoil.

Zen (Chan): Popular among educated elites focused on personal meditation and escaping rebirth cycles.

Why did imperial officials stage an anti-Buddhist backlash late in the Tang Dynasty?

Buddhist monasteries acquired massive wealth and land exempt from imperial taxation, prompting Emperor Wuzong to persecute Buddhists and re-establish Confucianism as the state ideology.

What was Neo-Confucianism, and who was its most influential figure?

A Song-era revival of traditional Confucian philosophy led by Zhu Xi that blended core Confucian moral ethics with spiritual ideas borrowed from Buddhism.

In what ways did Korea undergo "Sinification" during the Silla and Koryo Dynasties?

Rebuilt its capital (Kumsong) to mirror Chang'an, adopted Confucian scholarship, promoted Mahayana Buddhism, and adapted Chinese ceramic arts.

Which Chinese practices did Japan adopt, and which major system did it explicitly fail to implement?

Adopted: Chinese writing system, tea culture, central government concepts, and Buddhism (blended with indigenous Shinto).

Failed: The civil service examination system, as hereditary aristocratic families retained firm control over political power.

What was the Heian Period in Japan best known for culturally?

Highly refined aristocratic court culture centered on poetry, art, and strict etiquette. It produced Lady Murasaki's The Tale of Genji, considered the world's first novel.

How did power shift in Japan toward the end of the Heian Period?

Central court power decayed as wealthy noble clans (like the Fujiwara) prioritized luxury over governance, leading local landowners to raise private armies and establish feudalism.

What was the role of Samurai warriors, and what code governed their actions?

Samurai were armed warriors hired by local warlords for protection. They followed Bushido ("The Way of the Warrior"), a ethical code emphasizing bravery, generosity, honor, and loyalty over life itself.

Why did Umayyad leaders in Mecca initially oppose Muhammad’s teaching?

They saw his growing following and the new monotheistic faith as a threat to their wealth, power, and the traditional pagan shrine at the Ka'ba.

What was the Hijra, and why is it significant?

Muhammad's move from Mecca to Medina to mediate civil strife; it marks the starting point of the Islamic calendar and the organization of the umma (community).

What are the primary universal elements and core practices of Islam?

Monotheism, a legal code (Sharia), egalitarianism, and the Five Pillars (faith, prayer, fasting, zakat/charity, hajj).

What core issue caused the split between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?

Disagreement over leadership after Muhammad's death; Sunnis backed the Umayyads, while Shi'a believed succession belonged to Muhammad's cousin/son-in-law, Ali, and his descendants.

How did the status of non-Muslims (dhimmi) function under the Umayyad Dynasty?

Non-Muslim "People of the Book" could keep their religion but had to pay a head tax called the jizya.

What major structural shift distinguished the Abbasid Dynasty from the Umayyads?

The Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad, built an expanded centralized bureaucracy (headed by a wazir), and fully integrated non-Arab converts (mawali)

What role did caravanserais play in the Afro-Eurasian trading network?

They provided shelter and safety for camel caravans traveling along major overland trade routes.

What intellectual contributions did Islamic scholars adopt from India and Greece?

From India: mathematics, science, and medical knowledge useful for bookkeeping and astronomy.

From Greece: philosophical traditions, particularly the rationalism of Aristotle.

How did Sufis differ from mainstream Islamic scholars (ulama) in spreading the faith?

Sufis focused on a personal, mystical union with Allah, tolerated local pre-Islamic customs, and acted as highly effective missionaries.

What caused political fragmentation in northern India after the collapse of the Gupta state in the mid-6th century?

Continuous invasions by Turkish groups from the north.

Who briefly unified northern India in the 7th century, and why did his empire collapse?

King Harsha; it collapsed after his assassination due to local rulers holding too much power.

How did Islam first spread to northern India?

Via military conquest, trade (Arab/Persian merchants), and migration of Turkic groups.

Who was Mahmud of Ghazni?

A Turkic leader in Afghanistan who launched frequent raids into northern India and attacked Hindu temples.

What was the Delhi Sultanate, and what was its major limitation?

An Islamic state established in northern India (13th century); it struggled to centralize rule and relied on regional Hindu kings to enforce policies.

What was a primary cultural contribution of the Delhi Sultanate?

The spread of Islamic art and literature, particularly in the Bengal region.

Why were southern kingdoms generally more stable than the north?

They largely escaped the political chaos and invasions affecting northern India.

Name two major southern kingdoms and their political structures.

The Chola Kingdom (ruled 417 years) and Vijayanagar (14th–16th century); neither established strong centralized structures to survive long-term invasions.

What economic and social functions did Hindu temples serve in southern India?

Organized agricultural work, provided schooling, offered banking services, and collaborated with merchant guilds.

How did seasonal monsoons shape Indian agriculture and demographics?

Monsoons required irrigation systems (dams, reservoirs, wells) for dry seasons, boosting agricultural yields and growing India's population to ~105 million by 1500.

What technological and geographic factors expanded Indian Ocean trade?

Knowledge of monsoon winds, dhows/junks, and India's central position as a hub for emporia and warehouses.

Which specialized goods saw high demand due to Indian Ocean trade?

Textiles and high-carbon steel.

How did the caste system adapt in the absence of a centralized government?

It maintained social order, absorbed new immigrants, and integrated occupational subcastes (jati) through merchant guilds.

Why did Sufis achieve higher conversion rates to Islam than foreign conquerors?

They promoted a flexible, emotional approach to Islam, appealing to low-caste Hindus seeking social mobility.

What was the main goal of the Bhakti Movement, and who was a key figure?

To bridge the gap between Hinduism and Islam; led by figures like Guru Kabir.

How did Indian culture spread to Southeast Asian states like Funan, Srivijaya, and Angkor?

Via trade routes, where local rulers adopted Indian political concepts, Hindu/Buddhist ideas of monarchy, and cultural traditions.

Which 15th-century maritime state accelerated the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia?

Melaka, which controlled trade and funded Islamic scholars, Sufis, and mosques.