Comparative Overview of East Asia, Islamic Empire, South Asia, and Southeast Asia (1200-1450)

These flashcards cover critical concepts from the lecture notes, focusing on the political, cultural, and economic developments in East Asia, the Islamic Empire, South and Southeast Asia from 1200 to 1450.

What were the key political innovations of the Song Dynasty in China?

Bureaucracy, Meritocracy, Civil Service Exam.

What agricultural advancements did the Song Dynasty China implement?

Grand Canal, Champa rice, manure, irrigation systems, heavy plows.

How did the Song Dynasty affect external trade?

Through the Silk Roads and South China Sea, trading silk, porcelain, textiles, and tea.

What was the significance of Confucianism in Song Dynasty China?

It played a central role in education, governance, and societal values.

How did Japan's political system differ from that of China during the Heian Period?

Japan had a feudal system with landowning aristocrats (daimyo) battling for control, unlike China's centralized bureaucracy.

What cultural traits did Korea adopt from China?

Centralized government, Confucian and Buddhist beliefs, and Chinese writing system.

What were the main contributions of the Islamic Empire during its Golden Age?

Advancements in mathematics, medicine, philosophy, law, and astronomy.

What role did the House of Wisdom in Baghdad play during the Islamic Golden Age?

It served as a center of learning and cultural exchange among different civilizations.

What were the economic impacts of trade during the Islamic Empire?

Spread of Islam, technology, knowledge diffusion, and cultural exchange.

How did women's status in Islamic society compare to that of Christian or Jewish women?

Women had higher status in Islamic society, being able to inherit, divorce, and testify in court.

What was the influence of Indian Ocean trade on South Asia?

Enhanced connections and trade, particularly for spices, and cultural exchanges with other regions.

What characterized the caste system in South Asia?

It was extremely strict and rigid, with little chance of changing one's social status.

What major empires thrived in Southeast Asia during the time period of 1200-1450?

Sea-based kingdoms like Srivijaya and Majapahit; land-based kingdoms like Sinhala Dynasties and Khmer Empire.

What was the primary religion in Southern India before the arrival of Islam?

Hinduism and Buddhism were predominant before Islam arrived.

What was the outcome of the Mongol invasions on the Islamic Empire?

They led to the decline and partitioning of the empire into the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires.