Unit 1 AP World

Major World Religions: Overview

• Universalizing Religions (by 1200)

  • Christianity: Originated in the 1st century CE in the Levant region (present-day Israel and Palestine) and spread across Europe and the Mediterranean.

  • Islam: Began in the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula, primarily in Mecca and Medina, spreading rapidly throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe (e.g., Spain).

  • Buddhism: Founded in the 5th century BCE in India, spread throughout Asia, particularly to East Asia (China, Korea, Japan) and Southeast Asia.

Geographic Distribution of Religions

• Islamic Population Centers

  • Predominantly found in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South and Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population).

  • Spread into Persia (Iran) and India through trade and conquest.

• Christian Population Centers

  • Dominance in Western Europe; significant communities in Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Americas post-Columbian contact.

East Asia and Religions

• Countries Involved: China, Korea, Japan (unified Korea until 1945).

• Dominant Religion: Buddhism, which merged with Confucianism into Neo-Confucianism in China.

• Dynastic Cycle: Chinese dynasties maintained absolute control until faced with disaster, leading to new dynasties.

  • Mandate of Heaven: Justification for the rule of Chinese emperors, believed to be chosen by divine right.

• Cultural Influence: Chinese cultural and economic influences adapted in Japan and Korea.

• Trade Products: Notable exports include silk, porcelain, and jade, indicating an early form of industrialization.

Islamic Golden Age: Dar al Islam

• Hearth of Islam: Emerged in the Middle East, specifically in Mecca and Medina.

• Expansion: Spread from the Arabian Peninsula into North Africa, parts of Europe (Spain), Persia, and parts of India.

• Caliphates: Regions ruled by caliphs, successors to Muhammad, promoting trade across the Sahara, Silk Road, and Indian Ocean.

• Cultural Contributions: Innovations in astronomy, mathematics (geometry), and calligraphy. Introduced literacy and Arabic language through education of the Quran.

• Navigational Advances: Usage of instruments like the astrolabe, facilitated long-distance maritime trade.

South and Southeast Asia

• Religions Present: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam; cultural exchanges fostered by trade.

• Key Locations: Angkor Wat (Hindu temple in Cambodia).

• Muslim Influence in Indonesia: Largest Muslim population, shaped by trade rather than conquest.

• Delhi Sultanate: Islamic rulers governed Northern India until the British Raj.

The Americas Pre-Columbus

• Civilizations: Inca in the Andes, Maya in the Yucatán Peninsula, and Aztec in modern-day Mexico.

• Diverse Cultures: Thousands of languages and unique civilizations prior to European contact.

• Effects of Contact: European diseases, notably smallpox, devastated indigenous populations, leading to cultural losses.

African Kingdoms and Influences

• Major Kingdoms: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai; known for gold and trade networks across the Sahara.

• Notable Figures: Mansa Musa, famous for his wealth and pilgrimage to Mecca.

• Trade and Slavery: Internal African slave trade existed, but the European transatlantic slave trade had catastrophic effects.

European Context Prior to 1200

• Dominant Religion: Christianity, with Catholicism in the West and Orthodox Christianity in the East.

• Crusades: Military campaigns aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land, leading to cultural exchanges between Europe and the Muslim world.

• Feudalism: A system of decentralized governance where landowners provided protection in exchange for loyalty and service from vassals.

• Impact of the Black Plague: Began in the 1340s, leading to demographic changes, social upheaval, and the decline of feudalism.