WHAP - Time Period 1

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry

Unit 1 Overview:

Understand the creation, governance, and cultural influence of states, emphasizing how various societies developed through intricate systems of power and exchange.

Key Focus Areas:

  • Examining the foundation of states and their governing processes.

  • Analyzing the impact of trade routes on cultural and environmental exchanges and the roles that states played in facilitating trade.

1.1 - East Asia

  • Song Dynasty (960-1279): Utilized Neo-Confucianism values to rationalize and support its rule, emphasizing a meritocratic government structure.

    • new: influence of Buddhist and Daoist philosophical ideas

    • revival of Confucianism demonstrated a continuity between ancient China and Song Dynasty but also illustrates innovation

  • Economic Innovations:

    • Civil Service Exam: Established a rigorous examination system to recruit bureaucrats, promoting merit over birthright.

    • Construction of the Grand Canal: Enhanced trade efficiency within China, connecting major rivers and facilitating the movement of goods.

      • 1. Perfection of magnetic compass

        • improved navigation on water

        • further facilitated sea-based trade among various regions

      • 2. New ship-building techniques

        • improved design of massive trade ships called Junks by creating water-type bulkheads and stern-mounted rudders (made navigation more accurate) —> led to more trade among regions —> more economic prosperity

    • Introduction of Champa rice: expanded agricultural productivity

      • Came from Champa Kingdom in Vietnam through tribute system

        Drought resistant, harvestable twice a year (doubled agricultural output)

      • POPULATION BOOM

  • Women’s Role: Filial Piety was emphasized, often restricting women’s roles to domestic spheres while confining their agency within family structures.

    • Confucianism justified subordination of women - foot binding: women’s feet bound after birth to keep them small (occurred in elite social circles)

    • stripped of legal rights: could not own property, could not remarry if widowed, etc.

    • limited access to education

Japan

  • Heian Japan: separated from China by a ocean, still influenced by China

    • whatever cultural traits the Japanese adopted, it was voluntary

      • unlike Korea, with the looming threat of being invaded

    • around 7th and 9th CE: organized imperial bureaucracy

    • Chinese Buddhism also took root

    • Chinese writing system

  • Relatively isolated from external influences outside Asia for many years

  • Feudal Japan (1192):

    1. Emperor

    2. Shogun (chief general)

    3. Daimyo: owners of larger pieces of land, powerful samurai (like knights)

      • Followed Code of Bushido code of conduct - loyalty, courage, honor

    4. Lesser samurai (like vassals)

    5. Peasants and artisans

  • Women had little rights and esteem

1.2 - Developments in Dar al-Islam

  • Cultural and Religious Spread: The diffusion of Islam was significantly aided by Sufi missionaries and merchants, who adapted teachings to local customs and beliefs.

    • Dar-Al-Islam = House of Islam (everywhere Islam was the majority religion)

        • 1. Judaism:

          • Ethnic religion of Jews

          • originated in Middle East

          • the soil in which the other 2 faiths grew

        • 2. Christianity:

          • established by Jewish prophet Jesus Christ

            • claimed to be the Messiah or the Savior that Jews were waiting for

            • after his death at the hands of Roman authorities: his followers spread his messages of salvation by grace

              • earliest Christians were a persecuted minority, but later on the Roman Empire adopted it (most significant influence of Christianity upon society)

        • 3. Islam:

          • founded by prophet Muhammad on the Arabian Peninsula, who claimed to be the final prophet in the line of God’s messengers

          • Islamic Doctrines: taught his followers that salvation would be found in righteous actions like almsgiving, prayer, and fasting

          • after the death of Muhammad: the faith he established started spreading rapidly throughout the Middle East, North and South sub-Saharan Africa, into Europe and South Asia (Dar-al-Islam)

            • impacted societies where it was practiced

          • Muhammad used to be a merchant:

            • Jesus’ teachings on accumulating wealth: DON’T

            • Thus, Islamic states became more prosperous than Christian states prior to 1200

            • Islamic states facilitated trade throughout Afro-Eurasia

              • facilitated rise of giant Empires

  • Role of Rulers: Turkic states leveraged Islam to legitimize their power, leading to the establishment of diverse Islamic empires that flourished in scholarship and trade.

  • Key Examples:

    • Mameluke and Delhi Sultans' kingdoms showcased the blending of local customs with Islamic governance.

    • House of Wisdom in Baghdad: A premier academic institution promoting the translation and preservation of Greek and Roman texts, stimulating intellectual development across the region.

1.3: South and Southeast Asia

  • Religious Influences: Both Buddhism and Hinduism played pivotal roles in justifying rulers' authority, often intertwining with monarchs' political agendas.

  • Architectural Marvels:

    • Hampi Complex: A landmark of the Vijayanagara Empire, illustrating the blend of devotion and governance in monumental architecture.

    • Angkor Wat: A testament to the Khmer Kingdom's religious and artistic expression, originally constructed as a Hindu temple and later repurposed as a Buddhist site.

  • Trade Control: Local leaders actively taxed trade routes, augmenting their wealth and power while fostering regional culture and commerce.

1.4: The Americas

  • State Organization: Leaders like the Mexica (Aztecs) implemented tribute lists and intricate systems of quipu in Inca administration, enhancing their governance and resource distribution.

  • Cahokia: An urban center that showcased advanced societal organization through its monumental mound constructions, reflective of ritual and burial practices.

1.5: Africa

  • Cultural Practices: African leaders integrated Orthodox Christianity and Islamic customs, as demonstrated by Hausa and Mali rulers, to bolster their ruling legitimacy and consolidate power over diverse religious communities.

1.6: Europe

  • Political Structure: Characterized by feudalism and serfdom due to the absence of centralized states, leading to a decentralized power structure that affected land distribution and social hierarchy.

  • Cultural Influence: Christianity's role in governance and society led to movements such as the Translation Movement in Spain, facilitating exchanges between Islamic and Christian scholars and fostering significant developments like the astrolabe, which advanced navigation.

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Overview

  • Key Trade Cities: Critical trading hubs such as Kashgar, Cairo, and Samarkand were confluences of cultural exchange and economic activity, shaping regional dynamics.

  • Known Exports: Key exports included Chinese porcelain renowned for its artistry, South Asian textiles sought after for their richness, and spices driving culinary trends globally.

  • Technological Innovations: The emergence of banking houses, the advent of paper money, and the establishment of credit systems facilitated trade growth, enabling merchants to engage in larger transactions and investments.

Unit 2.1 - Silk Road

  • Key Understandings: The increased demand for luxury goods spurred innovations in trade practices, including diplomatic missions and extensive caravan networks to enhance connectivity.

Unit 2.2 - Mongol Empire

  • Key Impacts: The Mongol Empire replaced older governmental systems, facilitating cross-regional trade and cultural connectivity through effective administrative practices and military prowess.

  • Notable Developments: The Pax Mongolica era promoted safety along trade routes, leading to the spread of technologies such as paper money across Eurasia.

Unit 2.3 - Exchange in Indian Ocean

  • Key Trade Dynamics: Commerce thrived as cultural connectivity increased, greatly enhanced by the understanding of monsoon winds and advancements in shipbuilding technology, including the development of junks for larger cargo capacities.

Unit 2.4 - Trans-Saharan Trade Route

  • Technological Influence: The growth of trade was propelled by the introduction of camels, which adapted well to the desert environment, and the establishment of caravansaries that facilitated trade logistics.

  • Noteworthy: Mansa Musa’s Hajj to Mecca in 1324 epitomized the wealth and Islamic devotion within Sub-Saharan Africa, significantly influencing the region's integration into the Islamic world.