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AP World History Study Guide Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

TOPIC 1.1 Developments in East Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450

CHINA

  • Significance of the Song Dynasty (960-1279)

    • Great wealth, political stability, and artistic/intellectual innovations.

    • Developed the greatest manufacturing capability in the world.

    • Shifted towards a market-based economy, becoming the most commercialized society.

    • Spread of Buddhism and Confucianism.

    • Expansion of bureaucracy through meritocracy promoting social mobility.

Economic Developments in Postclassical China

  • The Grand Canal: Enabled efficient waterway transportation, making China the most populous trading area.

  • Gunpowder: Spread through traders on the Silk Roads, influencing warfare across Eurasia.

  • Agricultural Innovations: Implementation of irrigation systems and heavy plows increased food production leading to population growth.

  • Tribute System: Other states paid tributes to honor the Chinese emperor.

Social Structures in China

  • Government aid for the poor; establishment of public hospitals.

  • Cultural norms dictated that women defer to men, exemplified through foot binding.

Religious Diversity in China

  • Buddhism: Spread from India via the Silk Roads; evolved into three forms:

    1. Theravada Buddhism - emphasis on strict adherence to the original teachings.

    2. Mahayana Buddhism - includes more diverse practices and adaptations.

    3. Tibetan Buddhism - unique practices and beliefs.

  • Neo-Confucianism (770-840): A blend of rational thought, Daoism, and Buddhism.

JAPAN

Feudalism

  • Japan's feudal society lacked a centralized government for centuries.

  • Landowning aristocrats (daimyo) vied for control, while the majority worked as rice farmers.

Government

  • In 1192, Minamoto established a shogunate, marking military rule that lasted four centuries.

  • Only in the 17th century did shoguns unify Japan.

KOREA

Connection to China

  • Korea had a tributary relationship with China, adopting centralized government models.

  • Integrated Confucian and Buddhist beliefs into society.

Aristocracy

  • Maintained a more powerful landed aristocracy than China, limiting social mobility.

VIETNAM

Social Structures

  • Vietnamese women had greater independence than their Chinese counterparts.

  • Preference for nuclear families over extended kinship structures.

  • Political centralization was weak; villages operated independently.

  • Merit-based bureaucracy where loyalty was owed more to local peasants than the emperor.

TOPIC 1.2 Developments in Dar al-Islam from c. 1200 to c. 1450

Innovations

  • Mathematics: Nasir al-Din al-Tusi's contributions led to trigonometry as a separate subject.

  • Literature: ‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah gained prominence as a female Muslim writer.

  • Medicine: Advances in hospitals and physician licensure improved urban healthcare.

Social Structures

  • Merchants held prestige; trade revival in the Silk Roads boosted economic power.

  • Muslim women enjoyed better legal rights compared to Christian and Jewish women.

    • Rights included inheritance, property ownership, remarriage, and birth control.

Transfers

  • Preservation of Greco-Islamic philosophy in educational institutions, such as the House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad.

  • Significant cultural exchanges occurred in regions such as Muslim and Christian Spain.

Islamic Rule in Spain

  • Muslims invaded in 711, establishing seven centuries of rule.

  • Emphasis on interfaith coexistence under Umayyad rulers in Córdoba enhanced trade.

TOPIC 1.3 Developments in South and Southeast Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450

SOUTH ASIA

Political Structures

  • Southern India was more stable than the north, with the Chola Dynasty reigning for over 400 years.

  • North India faced upheaval post-Gupta Empire; Rajput kingdoms began to rise.

  • The Delhi Sultanate (13th-16th centuries) heralded the introduction of Islam in India.

Religion

  • Hindus dominated prior to Islam's spread. Key differences:

    • Hindu polytheism vs. Islamic monotheism.

    • Caste system is central to Hinduism; Islam promotes equality.

Social Structures

  • The caste system maintained social rigidity; the Bhakti Movement emphasized personal devotion over ritual.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

  • Influenced by South Asia, with notable sea-based kingdoms like Srivijaya (Hindu) and Majapahit (Buddhist).

TOPIC 1.4 State Building in the Americas

The Mississippian Culture

  • First significant North American civilization emerging from the Mississippi River Valley; hierarchical and matrilineal.

Maya City-States

  • Height of civilization from 250-900 CE in southern Mexico and Central America.

  • Ruled by city-state kings claiming divine ancestry.

The Aztecs

  • Migrated from north, establishing Tenochtitlan in 1325; developed aqueduct systems and a theocratic government.

The Inca

  • Empire divided into provinces with a mandatory public service system (mit’a).

  • Important agricultural practices with elaborate terrace farming.

TOPIC 1.5 State Building in Africa

Political Structures

Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Bantu migrations shaped communities into kin-based networks and districts ruled by chiefs.

West and East Africa

  • Trade and Islam diversified the regions.

  • Mali became a dominant trading society after Ghana's decline; highly reliant on gold trade.

  • Zimbabwe thrived through agriculture and trade, especially gold.

  • Ethiopia maintained trade with various regions, flourishing through the spread of Christianity.

Social Structures

  • Organized around kinship and gender.

  • Enslavement practices existed, often increasing social status.

TOPIC 1.6 Developments in Europe from c. 1200 to c. 1450

Feudalism

  • Provided security and structured society; wealth equated to land ownership rather than currency.

Political Trends

  • Monarchies grew stronger at the expense of feudal lords; King Philip II of France established bureaucracy.

Church Influence

  • The Great Schism split Christianity into Catholic and Orthodox branches and led to the establishment of universities.

Crusades

  • Sought to reclaim the Holy Land; resulted in significant social and economic shifts across Europe.

Economic Changes

  • Middle class (bourgeoisie) emerged; urban growth spurred trade trends.

TOPIC 1.7 Comparisons in the Period from c. 1200 to c. 1450

State-Building and New Empires

  • Empires continued to evolve: Song Dynasty progressed, Abbasid fragmented, Mali centralized, while the Aztecs and Incas developed tributary systems.

Four Types of State-Building

  1. Emergence of New States: i.e., Mamluk Empire, Delhi Sultanate

  2. Revival of Former Empires: i.e., Song Dynasty, Mali Empire

  3. Synthesis of Different Traditions: i.e., Japan adapting Chinese ideas

  4. Expansion in Scope: i.e., Incas, Aztecs growing influence through conquest.

Trade and Cultural Exchange

  • Increased trade led to technological innovations and literacy growth across Eurasia.

Patriarchy and Religion

  • Societies maintained patriarchal structures; however, opportunities differed for women across cultures.