Heimler Review Notes

Definition of a State: An organized political community under one government (country, empire, nation).
Song Dynasty's Rule: Maintained through:
- Revival of Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism): Justified rule with its deep historical roots in China.
- Imperial Bureaucracy: Men had to pass the Civil Service Exam, based on Confucian classics, to enter bureaucracy.
- Social Hierarchy: Society structured hierarchically, emphasizing roles and relationships that maintained harmony.
- Filial Piety: Importance of honoring and obeying parents, grandparents, and ancestors.
Continuity and Innovation: The Song maintained traditions from the Han (202 BCE - 220 CE) and Qin Dynasties (221-206 BCE) but innovated with Neo-Confucianism.

Subordinate Position: Women had limited rights (could not own property, remarry).
Limited Education: Education opportunities were restricted, especially in elite circles (footbinding became common).

Neighboring Countries: Influence on East and Southeast Asia, primarily through adoption of:
- Civil Service Exams: Adopted in places like Korea.
- Buddhism: Spread with core tenets:
- Four Noble Truths: Suffering exists, caused by desires.
- Eightfold Path: Path to end suffering, leading to enlightenment and nirvana.
- Theravada vs. Mahayana Buddhism: Theravada was original and monastic-focused; Mahayana encouraged broader participation and reliance on bodhisattvas.

Economic Foundations: Inherited prosperity from Sui and Tang Dynasties with a doubling population (8th-10th centuries).
Trade and Goods: Commercialization, especially in silk and porcelain across Eurasia.
Agricultural Innovation: Introduction of Champa rice, drought-resistant and early-maturing, increased food supply and population growth.
Tribute System: Countries acknowledged China’s superiority for trade rights, exemplified by the arrival of Champa rice from Vietnam.

Monotheistic Religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity share belief systems with influences on society.
Decline of Abbasid Caliphate: Fragmented by 1200, ending with Baghdad’s conquest by Mongols in 1258.
New Powers: Rise of Turkic empires like the Seljuk Empire, taking over Abbasid influences.

Cultural and Intellectual Innovations: Preservation and translation of Greek philosophy in places like the House of Wisdom; inventions like trigonometry by scholars such as Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.
Military Expansion: Empires expanded through conquests (Seljuks, Mamluks) and trade (Mali Empire).
Religious Spread: Islam spread through military, trade, and missionary work, particularly by Sufis.

Dominant Religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism shaped societies.
Delhi Sultanate: Established Islam as the elite religion amid a primarily Hindu population.
Emerging States: Various kingdoms such as the Rajput kingdoms, Vijayanagara Empire, and Majapahit employed different strategies for maintaining power through religion and trade.

Aztec Civilization: Founded Tenochtitlan in Mesoamerica; decentralized rule where tribute was enforced from conquered peoples.
Inca Empire: Highly centralized control with extensive bureaucracy; utilized the mit’a system for labor in state projects.

Swahili Civilization: Power due to Indian Ocean trade; influenced by Arabic merchants but maintained political independence.
West African Empires: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay gained wealth through trans-Saharan trade, with the Hausa Kingdom functioning differently as decentralized.

Great Zimbabwe: Wealth from trade and agriculture; maintained indigenous faith despite external influences.
Ethiopia: Served as a Christian kingdom amidst Islamic neighbors, sustaining distinct religious practices while engaging in trade.

Belief Systems: Predominantly Christianity, with divided practices between Catholicism in the West and Orthodox Christianity in the East; significant anti-Semitism faced by Jews.
Feudalism and Manorialism: Decentralized political structure where loyalty was exchanged for land. Peasants bound to land (serfs) could not leave without permission, contributing to an agrarian economy.