AP World History Period 3 Notes (600-1450 CE)

Causes of Change (600-1450 CE)

  • Islam emergence and expansion.
  • Industrial Revolution in China (Sung Dynasty).
  • Neo-Confucianism spread (China).
  • Schism in Christianity: Roman Catholicism vs. Eastern Orthodox.
  • Camels in Sahara: boosted trade.
  • Black Death: decimated Europe.
  • Italian Renaissance: Europe's cultural dominance began.

Empires and Political Systems

  • Tang Dynasty (618-906): Merit-based bureaucracy.
  • Mongols: Established a vast empire.
  • Caliphate System: Religious and political leader combined.
  • Feudalism: King, Lords, Knights, Peasants.

Continuities and Breaks

  • Byzantine Empire: Bureaucracy similar to Tang.
  • Viking raids: Led to European feudalism.
  • Crusades: Increased desire for Eastern goods, led to exploration.
  • Mongolian empires: New invaders from Mongolia.
  • Mamluk rule in Egypt: Non-Arab slaves took over.

The Islamic World

  • Dar al-Islam: Unified Eurasia and Africa culturally and economically.
  • Caliphate: Theocracy with Sharia (Islamic Law).
  • Sultanate: Monarch.
  • Arts: Arabesque design, miniature painting, poetry, mosques.
  • Science: Earth's rotation, improved calendar & astrolabe, medical treatises, steel.
  • Math: Algebra, Arabic numerals, decimal system, zero.

Interregional Networks and Contacts

  • Trans-Sahara Trade: Gold, salt, slaves etc. between North/West Africa and Europe. Aided West African empires, spread Islam.
  • Indian Ocean Trade: East Africa and Asia trade facilitated by monsoons. Development of Swahili, spread of Islam.
  • Silk Routes: Silk, porcelain, cloth: China to Middle East, spread Buddhism and Christianity.
  • Missionary Outreach: Islam, Christianity, Buddhism.
  • Contacts between Major Religions
    • Islam and Buddhism - Trade, Peace
    • Islam and Christianity - Crusades, War

Mongol Empires

  • Largest land empire. Improved trade, paper money, banking.
  • Pax Mongolica: Peace after conquest.
  • Genghis Khan: Unified Mongols, military leader.
  • Organization: Armies of 10,000; surprise tactics.
  • Khanates: Political organizations ruled by relatives.

China's Internal and External Expansion

  • Tang and Song Economic Revolutions
    • Paper money, mass production of tea, porcelain, silk, Champa rice.
    • Canton: Major trading city.
    • Zheng He: Exploration and trade.
  • Economic Revolutions of Tang and Song Dynasties
    *Increasing agricultural production (rice)
    *Increasing population
    *Urbanization: Large cities like Xi'an and Hangzhou
    *Technological innovations: porcelain, iron, steel, gunpowder, printing, compass
    *Financial inventions: paper money, letters of credit

Chinese Influence

  • Japan: Copied Tang government and architecture, Buddhism, but no foot binding.
  • Neoconfucianism: Blend of Confucianism and Buddhism; influenced East Asia.

Developments in Europe

  • Restructuring: Church's control, feudalism, Crusades.
  • Schism: Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic Church.

Demographic and Environmental Changes

  • Nomadic Migrations: Impact of Aztecs, Mongols, Turks, Vikings, Arabs.
  • Migration of agricultural peoples: Bantu migrations and European peoples.
  • Plague Pandemics: Massive death, economic changes.
  • Growth and Role of Cities: Trade, education, cultural diffusion in Canton, Samarkand, Timbuktu, Cairo, Venice.

Major Comparisons

  • Japanese and European Feudalism: Political and social institutions.
  • Role of Cities: Centers of religion, trade, government.

Two Travelers

  • Marco Polo: Traveled to China, served Kublai Khan, wrote about his travels.
  • Ibn Battuta: Traveled throughout Islamic Empires, wrote detailed journal.