AP WORLD SEMESTER ONE FINAL REVIEW

Buddhism

  • Reaching Nirvana: The ultimate goal is to achieve enlightenment.

  • Karma and Dharma:

    • Karma refers to the actions and their consequences.

    • Dharma relates to one's duty, particularly in the context of one's caste.

  • Meditation: A key practice in Buddhism for achieving enlightenment.

  • Eightfold Path: A guide to ethical and mental development with the aim of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions; it leads to understanding, compassion, and ultimately Nirvana.

  • Mahayana Buddhism (Great Vehicle):

    • Focuses on the concept of universal salvation.

    • Practitioners may postpone their own Nirvana to assist all beings in achieving enlightenment.

    • Spread of Mahayana Buddhism occurred through trade routes, notably reaching Indonesia.

Key Figures in Buddhism

  • Chandragupta Siddartha (The Buddha):

    • Lived circa 566-486 BCE; originally a prince who renounced noble status to seek enlightenment.

  • Bodhisattvas: Beings who have achieved enlightenment but choose to delay their Nirvana to teach others.

Indonesian Buddhism

  • Vajrayana: A sect of Mahayana Buddhism focusing on rituals and practices, sometimes seen as prioritizing rituals over personal experience and deeds.

  • Temples: Structures built for prayer and meditation central to Buddhist practice in Indonesia.

Islamic Iberia (Spain and Portugal)

  • Period of Success:

    • Marked by economic prosperity from trade and significant architectural advancements.

    • Notable structures include the Mosque of Córdoba and the Alhambra.

  • Decline: The Plague led to a weakening of this prosperity.

  • Moors: Muslims who settled in Iberia after migrating from North Africa through the Umayyad empire, which expanded due to Arabic conquests from 700 CE to 1400 CE.

  • A surviving Umayyad prince in Iberia established a powerful emirate, leading to the Golden Age of al-Andalus from the 8th to the 10th centuries characterized by trade, advanced agriculture, and stunning architectural achievements.

  • Muslim rule dramatically influenced Spanish and Portuguese cultures, lasting until the 1400s.

Bantu Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Migration Overview:

    • The Bantu represent a collection of diverse tribes speaking similar languages that migrated extensively from Sub-Saharan Africa to Northern Africa.

    • This migration was characterized as a slow and methodical search for better living conditions and new resources.

  • Cultural Impact: The movement represented a primary shift in early African cultures and the establishment of the Swahili civilization, which flourished through trade and culture exchanges.

Chinese Rice Cultivation During the Song Dynasty

  • Champa Rice: A new strain introduced during the period that permitted multiple harvests.

    • This new rice could be harvested two to three times per year, leading to significant population growth.

  • Labor Systems:

    • The emergence of paid labor and taxation systems.

    • Introduction of paper money during this period, reflecting the decline in silver usage, and initiating a commercial revolution.

  • Technological Advances: Development and use of the compass and gunpowder during this era.

Chinese Dynastic Overview

  • Order of Dynasties:

    • Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song (960-1200), Ming, Qing.

    • The Song dynasty notably increased agricultural productivity through innovations in crop cultivation.

Mughals in India

  • Cultural Tolerance: The Mughal Empire embraced religious tolerance, combining Islam with Hinduism.

  • Hindu Texts: Notably the Vedas, forming part of the state's religious identity, accompanied by a rigid caste system that defined social hierarchy.

  • Writing and Transition: The Upanishads and other sacred texts created post-Vedic literature in Sanskrit (circa 800-200 BCE), marking a transition to new religious ideas and the formation of legal documents.

The Arab/Muslim Innovation

  • The Islamic Scientific Revolution was promoted by a series of Caliphs who prioritized scientific advancement and welfare, significantly contributing to innovations in medicine and the development of the Arabic numeral system and calendars.

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

  • Established following the Mongol invasion, leading to integration with Chinese society.

  • Governed through Mandate of Heaven and adapted Confucianism to maintain order among the Mongols, implementing structured tax systems and laws.

  • Influences on Chinese art persisted during this period, reflecting a blend of Mongol and Chinese traditions.

  • The Silk Roads remained crucial for commerce, facilitating the exchange of goods between Asia and Europe.

Magna Carta

  • Considered the world's first constitution, It established the rule of law in England, limiting the powers of the crown.

Byzantine Empire

  • Also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, faced conquest by the Ottoman Turks.

Chinese Art During the Yuan Dynasty

  • Reflected influences of foreign rule emphasizing individual expression, interwoven with Confucian ideals, enhancing meritocracy.

  • This influence spread to neighboring Asian civilizations, notably Korea and Vietnam.

Comparison of Agricultural Output Across Regions

  • China: Highest output in rice and wheat facilitated by advanced irrigation systems and terrace farming.

  • India: Diverse crops including rice, wheat, cotton, spices, and sugarcane, with fertile river valleys dependent primarily on seasonal monsoons.

  • Middle East: Primarily wheat production supported by irrigation methods.

  • Europe: Cultivates wheat and rye but struggles with weaker soil, implementing the three-field system to improve productivity.

Environmental Comparisons

  • The Middle East and Europe faced environmental limitations affecting agriculture, contrasting with the flourishing agricultural conditions in China and India.

Effects of the Bubonic Plague (Europe/England)

  • The plague resulted in the death of nearly half of England’s population, creating labor shortages that transformed economic structures.

  • The economy suffered a decline in the manorial system, where life revolved around self-sufficient manors with serfs bound to land.

    • Peasants began to assert demands for better working conditions and higher wages.

  • Long-term effects included a rise in wage labor and the eventual end of serfdom.

Yuan Dynasty Specifics

  • The Yuan Dynasty followed the Mongol conquest of the Song, led by Kublai Khan. The court included diverse officials, prioritizing foreigners and non-Han Chinese to maintain control over the Han Chinese population.

  • Chinese resistance culminated as the Han Chinese were oppressed under heavy taxation and social hierarchy that placed them at the lower end, emphasizing racial purity during the ruling period.

Nomadic vs. Settled Empires

  • The Mandate of Heaven refers to the belief in divine right to govern.

  • Silk Roads: Continued to serve as essential pathways for commerce among empires.

Gunpowder Empires and Military Strategies

  • Centralized States: All Gunpowder empires maintained standardized armies utilizing gunpowder technologies in warfare.

    • Ottomans: Implemented the Devshirme process, recruiting Christian boys for military training and forming the elite Janissaries.

    • Mughals and Safavids: Relied on traditional cavalry methods for their military strategies.

  • Military Capabilities: Ottomans wielded more advanced artillery technology compared to the Mughals and Safavids with notable differences in their military tactics.

European Views on Mughal Culture

  • Positive Views: Recognized for wealth, resources, and strong infrastructure under capable rulers.

  • Negative Views: Perceived Muslims as outsiders; Indian customs viewed as peculiar. The Jesuits, a Catholic order of priests, played a pivotal role in shaping European perceptions through education and military involvement.

Tamerlane’s Legacy

  • Conquests: Known for being a ruthless conqueror, he expanded his empire predominantly through fear and military prowess.

  • Posthumously, his empire collapsed, yet he valued education and scholasticism, influencing subsequent empires including the Mughal dynasty.

  • Notably, Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane, inherited a legacy that included military strategies employing both nomadic tactics for conquest and stable governance.

Christianity's Impact in Ming/Qing China

  • Entry of Christianity: Introduced by Jesuit missionaries during the Ming Dynasty, converting primarily elites, but remained a minority religion.

  • Qing Dynasty: Perceived Christianity as a threat to Confucian order, leading to restrictions and bans on its practice.

  • Cultural Exposure: Despite its limited impact, Christianity introduced Western ideas into China, underpinning tensions with established Confucian beliefs.

  • Trade Limitations: European influence in the Far East was constrained, with trade limited mainly to coastal ports in China and the Dutch strictly allowed to trade in Japan, reflecting fears of destabilizing local customs through Christianity.

  • The Industrial Revolution during Qing rule exacerbated China's waning power against rising European influence.

Religious Tolerance and Intolerance in Spain

  • Tolerance Period: Under al-Andalus, Jews, Christians, and Muslims coexisted harmoniously.

  • Intolerance during Reconquista: Post-reconquest led by Ferdinand II and Isabella enforced Catholicism, resulting in the Spanish Inquisition, driving out Jews and non-converting Muslims.

  • Centralization of Power: Monarchs built a centralized Spanish monarchy, with rulers like Alfonso X promoting learning, while subsequent leaders enforced stringent religious conformity.

Rise of the Ming Dynasty

  • Rise marked by the collapse of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty driven by inflation and discontent.

  • The restoration of civil service exams and a renewed emphasis on Confucian values characterized the new dynasty's governance approach.

Effects of European Colonization on New World

  • Demographic Decline: Native Indigenous populations faced catastrophic declines due to diseases introduced by Europeans and escalating violence.

  • New Economic Systems: The Encomienda system instituted by the crown allowed Spanish settlers to enforce labor on Indigenous people while being responsible for their conversion to Christianity.

  • Part of the Columbian Exchange, which represented the trade of plants and livestock between the New and Old Worlds.

  • Portuguese Expansion: Led to the capture of key port cities along the West African coast, establishing colonies while North African and Eastern territories remained under Muslim/Arab control.

Development of British Colonies in North America

  • Foundation of Jamestown: Established as the first permanent British colony, economically successful yet environmentally constrained.

  • Pennsylvania: Founded by William Penn as a model for religious tolerance.

  • New England: Experienced conflicts, noted by the killing of the Indigenous leader Metacom, resulting in increased tensions and warfare.

Social Hierarchies in the Americas Post-European Arrival

  • Hierarchical structure predominated by labor roles and skin color:

    • Peninsulares: Spanish-born individuals at the top of the political hierarchy.

    • Creoles: Individuals born in the Americas of European descent, often oppressed by Peninsulares.

    • Labor Systems: Varied by European colonial nations; encomienda in Spanish territories, slavery in Portuguese regions, and indentured servitude in British colonies.

  • Caribbean Islands: Integral to early colonial endeavors, heavily reliant on plantation agriculture and Indigenous labor.

Joint Stock Companies

  • Mechanism for investors (venture capitalists) to purchase shares in companies, notably the English and Dutch East India Companies, catalyzing trade and economic expansion.