AP World History - Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (copy)
Review of History Within Civilizations
- What rises out of collapse of classical civilization and interactions developing between new states
- Growth of long-distance trade
Overview of World’s Major Religions in 1200
Most events are connected to religion
Key Points:
- Most belief systems still are impacting history
- Most major religions have divisions = subgroups and sects (focus more on overall religion)
- Understand theological basis of belief systems and impact of belief systems on social, political, cultural, military developments
- Origin and spread of belief systems - cultural interactions
Religious Mysticism: adherents within religions focusing on mystical experiences that bring them closer to divine - prayer, meditation
Buddhism
- Cultures: India, China, Southeast Asia, Japan
- Context:
- Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a young Hindu prince - lived in Nepal from 563-483 BCE, rejected wealth and world possessions and became Buddha (Enlightened One)
- No supreme being - 4 Noble Truth: (1) all life is suffering, (2) suffering caused by desire, (3) can be freed of desire, (4) freed of desire following a prescribed path
- Death of Buddha (483 BCE) = Buddhism split - Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism
- Theravada Buddhism: meditation, simplicity, nirvana as renunciation of consciousness and self
- Mahayana Buddhism: great ritual, spiritual comfort - more complex but with greater spread
- Impact: rejects caste system - appealed to those of lower rank
- India: reabsorbed in Hinduism
- China, Japan, Southeast Asia: Buddhism continued to thrive
- Further: spread via trade routes
Christianity
- Cultures: started as group of Jews, quickly expanded through Europe, northeastern Africa, Middle East
- Context:
- Based around Jesus of Nazareth, a figure who claimed to be Messiah the Jews had awaited - teachings of devotion to God and love for others
- Jesus was crucified by Roman and Jewish leaders in 30 CE and his followers believe he rose from dead into heaven
- Based on Bible teachings
- Believe Jesus is the Son of God - forgiveness of sins, everlasting life is achievable through him
- World was created by God, but world has fallen from God
- Believers should seek God and care for him and others
- Impact: compassion, grace through faith appealed to lower classes and women
- Became most influential religion in Mediterranean basin by 3rd century
- Became official religion of Roman Empire, then branching north and west
- Connection with Roman Empire had profound impact on global culture
Confucianism
- Cultures: China (400 BCE+)
- Context:
- Founded by Confucius, educator and political advisor - thoughts and sayings collected in the Analects
- Deals with how to restore political and social order, not with philosophical or religious topics
- 5 fundamental relations build society and make it orderly - (1) ruler and subject, (2) parent and child, (3) husband and wife, (4) older sibling and younger sibling. (5) friend and friend
- Impact:
- Compatible with other religions, causing it to flourish
- Led to distinctive Chinese culture of tight-knit communities
- Stayed within Chinese culture
Hinduism
- Cultures: India
- Context:
- Belief in one supreme force called Brahma who created everything - gods are manifestations of Brahma (Vishnu = preserver, Shiva = destroyer)
- Goal of believer is to merge with Brahma - believe it takes multiple lives to accomplish and believers live to determine who they will be in their next life
- Following the dharma (rules and obligations of your caste) will move you towards Brahma - moksha is highest stake of being (internal peace and release of soul)
- No sacred text - Vedas and Upanishads guide Hindus
- Impact:
- Religion and social caste system, which has prevented global acceptance of religion
- Recently, Hindus are rebelling caste system
- Spawned Buddhism
Islam
- Cultures: caliphates (Islamic kingdoms), North Africa, central Asia, Europe
- Context:
- 7th century - Muslims are the believers
- Allah presented words through prophet Muhammad, whose words were recorded in the Qur’an
- Salvation is won through submission to God - 5 Pillars of Islam: (1) confession, (2) prayer 5 times a day, (3) charity, (4) fasting during Ramadan, (5) pilgrimage to Mecca
- 2 groups, Shia and Sunni, who disagreed who should succeed Muhammad
- Impact:
- Rapidly spread to Middle East
Judaism
- Cultures: Hebrews
- Context
- God selected a group of holy people who should follow his laws and worship them
- Unique relationship with God
- World is for them to enjoy, free will - destiny of world is paradise
- Hebrew Bible - Torah, miracles, laws, historical chronicles, poetry, prophecies
- Impact
- First of major monotheistic faiths
Developments in the Middle East
- Abbasid Dynasty: Golden Age to Remember
- Islamic Empire from 750-1258 CE - early mid-9th century golden age
- Capital in Baghdad (modern-day Iraq)
- Centre for arts and sciences - mathematics (Nasir al-Din al Tusi), medicine, writings (House of Wisdom library)
- Built around trade - used receipt and bill system
- Decline of Islamic Caliphates: Internal Rivalries and Mongol Invasions
- Challenged by revolt of enslaved Turkish warriors, new Shia dynasty in Iran, Seljuk Turk Sunni group, Persians, Europeans, Byzantines, and most importantly Mongols
- Mongols overtook and destroyed Baghdad in 1258
- Ottoman Turks would later reunite Egypt, Syria, and Arabia in new Islamic state until 1918
- Mamluks: Egyptian group that defeated Mongols in Nazareth, helping preserve Islam in Near East
Developments in Europe
Middle Ages: fall of Rome before Renaissance - complicated time
Eastern Roman Empire became Byzantine Empire
Western Europe: collapsed entirely - Christianity remained strong
European Feudalism: Land Divided
- Feudalism: European hierarchy social system of Middle Ages
- King: power over whole kingdom
- Nobles: had power over sections of kingdom in exchange for loyalty to king and military service
- Vassals: lesser lords with sections of Noble land who could divide it further - estates were called fiefs or manors (self-sufficient)
- Founded three-field system: 3 fields for fall, spring, and empty one to replenish nutrients
- Conflict between lords was regulated with code of chivalry which condemned betrayal and promoted mutual respect
- Male dominated: women could not own land and land was passed down to eldest son (primogeniture), their education was limited to domestic skills
- Peasants or Serfs: worked the land
- Had few rights or freedoms outside of manor
- Skilled in trades, which helped them break out of feudal mode as global trade increased - led to middle class emergence of craftsmen and merchants
Emergence of Nation-States
- At end of Middle Ages, people began moving from feudal kingdom organization to linguistic and cultural organization - emergence of modern countries
- Achievement of statehood in 13th century took different paths
- Germany: reigning family of emperorship died out, entering a period of interregnum (time between kings) - merchants and tradespeople became more powerful
- England: English nobles rebelled against King John and forced him to sign the Magna Carta - reinstated the nobles, laid foundation for Parliament
- Later divided into House of Lords (nobles and clergy - legal issues) and House of Commons (knights and wealth burghers - trade and taxation)
- France: in 12th century, England began to occupy many parts of France which spurred revolts - Joan of Arc fought back English out of Orleans
- Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453): unified France, leading to England’s withdrawal
- Spain: Queen Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married to unite Spain in a single monarchy and forced all residents to convert to Christianity - Spanish Inquisition
- Russia: taken over by Tartars (group of eastern Mongols) under Genghis Kahn in 1242 until Russian prince Ivan III expanded his power in 1400s and became czar - Ivan the Terrible became a ruthless ruler utilizing secret police in 1500s
Developments in Asia
China and Nearby Regions
- Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- Confucianism justified subordination of women - foot binding: women’s feet bound after birth to keep them small
- Neo-Confucianism: Buddhist ideas about soul, filial piety, maintenance of proper roles, loyalty to superiors
- Ming Dynasty (1368-1644): after brief period of Mongol dominance
- Religion: influenced by Nestorianism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and especially Buddhism in two of its forms
- Mahayana: peaceful and quiet existence apart from worldly values
- Chan or Zen: meditation and appreciation of beauty
Japan
India
- Delhi Sultanate: Islamic invader kingdom in Delhi
- Islam took over Northern India - clash between Islam monotheism and Hinduism polytheism
- Islam rulership brought in colleges and farming improvements
- Rajput Kingdoms: several Hindu principalities that united to resist Muslim forces from 1191 until eventual takeover in 1527
Southeast Asia
Religion spread and established different states

Khmer Empire (9th-15th century): Hindu Empire in modern day Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
- Beliefs were carried through Indian Ocean trade network
- Crafted the Angor Wat temple
Developments in Africa
- Islamic Empire spread to North Africa in the 7th to 8th centuries - travelled through Sahara Desert and reached the wealthy sub-Saharan
- An explosion of trade began
- Hausa Kingdoms: off Niger River, series of state system kingdoms
- Islam region, achieved economic stability and religious influence though long trade (salt and leather) - notably city of Kano
- Political and economic downturn in 18th century due to internal wars
Developments in Americas
- 3 great civilization in Central and South America: Maya, Incas, Aztecs
- Aztecs: Trade and Sacrifice
- Arrived in Mexico in mid 1200s
- Tenochtitlan: capital city (modern Mexico City)
- Expansionist policy and professional, strict army
- Empire of 12 million people with flourishing trade, many of people enslaved
- Women were subordinate, but could inherit property
- Inca: My Land is Your Land
- Andes Mountains in Peru
- Expansionist - army, established bureaucracy, unified language, system of roads and tunnels
- Many people were peasants
- Capital of Cuzco had almost 300000 people in late 1400s
- Women were more important and could pass property to their daughters
- Polytheistic religion with human sacrifice - Sun god was most important
- People were mummified after death
- Military was very important
- Temple of the Sun and Machu Picchu architecture
- The Mayans (textbook does not go into detail)