AP World Unit 2 Review

2.1 The Silk Roads

Define the Silk Roads. Location? – Trade routes connecting China to Europe across Central Asia and the Middle East.

Explain how caravanserai encouraged the growth of interregional trade in luxury goods – Caravanserai provided rest stops and services for merchants, making long-distance trade safer and easier.

Explain the importance of Kashgar or Samarkand – Kashgar was a major trading hub where goods, culture, and ideas from the East and West met.

Describe a new form of credit which encouraged growth in interregional trade – Letters of credit (like sakk) allowed merchants to travel without carrying large sums of money.

Identify 2 luxury goods and the place which produced each in this era – Silk from China; Spices from India.

2.2 The Mongol Empire

Describe the Mongol Empire (include the century they were most influential in) – A massive Eurasian empire that peaked in the 13th century, connecting and controlling trade routes.

Explain how the expansion of the Mongol Empire influenced Afro-Eurasian trade and communication – Created the Pax Mongolica, making trade safer and encouraging exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies.

Other than fear, describe one way the Mongols established authority – By adopting local administrative practices and tolerating different religions.

Other than increased trade, describe one positive impact of the Mongols – Spread of technologies and knowledge across Eurasia, such as gunpowder and papermaking.

What are the Khanates? Where were they located? who controlled them? – Divisions of the Mongol Empire: Golden Horde (Russia), Ilkhanate (Persia), Chagatai Khanate (Central Asia), Yuan Dynasty (China); each ruled by descendants of Genghis Khan.

2.3 Exchange in the Indian Ocean

Identify the (previously existing) technologies which encouraged trade in the Indian Ocean – Compass, astrolabe, lateen sail.

Describe who Admiral Zheng He was – A Chinese Muslim admiral who led massive voyages to expand Chinese trade and influence.

Explain how Admiral Zheng He encouraged significant technological and cultural transfers – His voyages connected China with new markets and facilitated the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas.

Define Swahili city-states – Coastal East African trading states that blended African, Arab, and Islamic cultures.

Define diasporic communities and explain their impact – Communities of merchants living away from their homelands; they spread culture, religion, and technology.

Explain how the environmental knowledge of monsoon winds helped expand/intensify trade in the Indian Ocean – Traders used knowledge of seasonal winds to time their voyages safely and efficiently.

2.4 Trans-Saharan Trade

Pick one of the technologies identified and explain how it encouraged interregional trade – Camel saddles made it easier to transport goods across deserts, increasing trade volume.

Describe 1 way the Mali government maintained authority – Controlled and taxed the gold-salt trade to fund a strong centralized government.

Explain how Mali facilitated trade – Built wealth through gold trade, maintained safe caravan routes, and established major cities like Timbuktu.

What goods were traded across the Sahara? – Gold, salt, slaves, and ivory.

How did Islam spread across the Sahara? – Through trade routes carried by Muslim merchants and scholars.

What was the effect of the spread of Islam on pre-existing beliefs? – Blended with local African religious practices, creating syncretic cultures.

What is Mansa Musa famous for AND in what century did he live – Famous for his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca showing Mali’s wealth; lived in the 14th century.

2.5 Cultural Consequences of Connectivity

Identify 1 of the examples of cultural traditions: influence of Buddhism in East Asia, spread of Hinduism & Buddhism into Southeast Asia, spread of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia → Explain how it diffused and what the effect was of that diffusion – Buddhism spread into East Asia via the Silk Roads and was adapted with Confucian values, leading to new sects like Zen Buddhism.

Identify 1 of the examples of scientific/technological innovations: gunpowder or paper from China → Explain how it diffused and what the effect was of that diffusion – Gunpowder spread from China through Mongol expansion, revolutionizing warfare in Europe and the Middle East.

Explain how one of these travelers is significant: Ibn Battuta, Margery Kempe, Marco Polo – Ibn Battuta’s travels documented Islamic practices across different regions, showing the vast cultural reach of Dar al-Islam.

2.6 Environmental Consequences of Connectivity

Explain the diffusion of one crop during this time: bananas in Africa, new rice in East Asia, spread of citrus in the Mediterranean – Bananas spread to Africa from Southeast Asia, allowing population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Describe some positive environmental effects of the various networks of exchange – Spread of crops and agricultural knowledge increased food supplies and populations.

Describe some negative environmental effects of the various networks of exchange – Spread of diseases like the Black Death which caused massive population declines.