World History Study Guide: 1250 CE to Present

The Global Tapestry (1250–1450 CE)

China's Dominance: China is described as the "top dog" in East Asia during this period. * Imperial Bureaucracy: Sustained through the Civil Service Exam. * Cultural Influence: China spread its cultural influence across East Asia. * Commercialization: The economy became increasingly commercialized. * Dynasty: The Song Dynasty reigned from $960 - 1279$ .
The Abbasid Caliphate: A central Arab and Persian focus during the rise and fall of states. * Cultural Continuity: Maintenance of knowledge through the translation of Greek texts. * House of Wisdom: Located in Baghdad; served as a center for intellectual activity.
Christendom in Europe: * Political Structure: Europe was politically decentralized. * Religious Unity: Despite political division, the region was united by a shared Christian religion. * Great Schism: This event marked the division of the Catholic Church into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. * Crusades ( $1095 - 1291$ ): Religious wars focused on Jerusalem that resulted in the transfer of culture from the Middle East to Europe.

Networks of Exchange (1250–1450 CE)

The Silk Road: * Trade Goods: Specialized in luxury goods. * Religious Impact: Facilitated the spread of Buddhism. * Infrastructure: Utilized Caravanserai (inns for travelers).
Indian Ocean Trade: * Participants: Driven largely by Muslim Merchants. * Trade Goods: Included both luxury and bulk goods. * Religious Impact: Facilitated the spread of Islam.
Sub-Saharan Trade: * Key Commodity: Gold. * Transportation: Enabled by the use of the Arabian Camel.
The Mongol Empire: * Unified Leadership: United by Temujin, who later became known as Genghis Khan. * Impact on Existing States: Helped facilitate the decline of various states established in the earlier Global Tapestry period. * Effects on Eurasia: * Safety: Created safe trade and travel routes. * Markets: Expanded global markets. * Diffusion: Led to cultural diffusion and the spread of communication. * Epidemic: Facilitated the spread of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague), which killed $1/3$ of the population in Europe.

Land-Based and Maritime Empires (1450–1750)

Expansion and Gunpowder: Empires expanded through the use of gunpowder weaponry. * Ottoman Empire: Capture of Constantinople in $1453$ CE by Mehmed II. * Major Empires: Qing, Russia (ruled by Tsars), Safavid, Mughal, and Tokugawa.
Administration and Legitimacy: * Taxation: Systems such as Ottoman and Mughal tax farming (Zamindar). * Religious Legitimacy: Use of the "Divine Right of Kings" in Europe and the "Mandate of Heaven" in Asia. * Art and Architecture: Used to showcase power, including the Mughal Taj Mahal and Qing Imperial Portraits.
Religious Developments: * Protestant Reformation: Initiated by Martin Luther and his "99 Theses" (Note: Transcript specifies 99) in opposition to Catholic Church corruption, specifically simony. * Counter-Reformation: Included the Council of Trent and the rise of the Jesuits focused on conversion.
Maritime Rivalries and Empires: * Trading Post Empires: Established by Portugal in Africa and South Asia, stretching from the Americas to the Philippines. * Conflict: Portugal vs. Spain and France vs. Britain. * Seven Years' War ( $1754 - 1763$ ): A major global conflict between France and Britain. * Treaty of Tordesillas: A treaty between Spain and Portugal regarding land claims. * Fur Trade: Significant economic activity in Canada.

The Columbian Exchange and Coerced Labor

Definition: The transfer of biological material between the Old World and the New World.
Consequences: * Demographic Shift: Resulted in a population boom in Eurasia but led to widespread death and famine for Native Americans due to disease. * Labor Systems: * Encomienda System: A system of labor and land grants. * Hacienda System: Large estate systems. * Chattel Based Slavery: Coerced labor based on ownership of individuals.
Resistance to State Power: * Ana Nzinga ( $1583 - 1663$ ): Resisted Portuguese incursions in Africa. * Pueblo Revolt ( $1680$ ): Native American tribes in the American Southwest rose up and killed Spanish colonizers. * Metacom's War ( $1676$ ): An Indian War fought in New England.

Enlightenment, Revolution, and Industrialization (1750–1900)

The Enlightenment: * Core Principles: Use of Reason and Empiricism to challenge established religion, society, and the monarchy. * Social Change: Emergence of Middle Class Consumerism and Leisure Culture.
Political Revolutions: * Major Revolutions: American Revolution, French Revolution, and Haiti Revolution. * Key Documents: Declaration of Independence, "Common Sense," and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
Industrial Revolution: * First Revolution: Centered on textiles and steam power during the $18^{th}$ and early $19^{th}$ centuries. * Second Revolution: Centered on steel, chemicals, and machinery during the late $19^{th}$ and early $20^{th}$ centuries. * Social Impact: Rise of tenements for the lower class and harsh working conditions.

Imperialism and Resistance (1750–1900)

Rationales for Imperialism: Based on Nationalism, Cultural Ideologies, Phrenology, Social Darwinism, Scientific Racism, and Religious Missionaries.
Global Imperialist Actions: * Scramble for Africa: Colonization driven by the need for natural resources for factories. * Berlin Conference ( $1884$ ): Held in Germany to divide Africa among European powers. * Imperialism in East Asia: Opium Wars ( $1839$ ) involving British sale of opium to China. * Spheres of Influence: Areas where European nations held exclusive trading rights.
Resistance to Imperialism: * Boer Wars: Conflict in South Africa. * Xhosa Cattle Killing Movement: A resistance movement in Africa. * Boxer Rebellion ( $1899$ ): An anti-foreign, anti-Westerner movement resulting in the defeat of the Qing Dynasty.

Global Conflict and the World Wars (1900–Present)

World War I: Characterized by Self-Determination and Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points.
Interwar Period: Rise of Fascism, Nazism, and Militarism. * Global Economies: Industrialization of Soviet Russia via the Year Plan; US New Deal based on Keynesian Economics (encouraging spending).
World War II: Key term is "Total War," defined as war that mobilizes all levels of a society (economic, social, political, and domestic) to contribute to the war effort. * Causes: Treaty of Versailles, Appeasement, and the invasion of Poland. * Tactics: Blitzkrieg (Lightning War). * American Involvement: Lend-Lease and the Atlantic Charter. * Nuclear Legacy: The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Cold War and Decolonization (1900–Present)

Cold War Dynamics: * Arms Race: Governed by MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). * Space Race: Competition for technological superiority in space. * Crisis Points: Berlin Crisis, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. * Post-War Communication: Use of TV and Radio for global communication.
Competing Ideologies: Communism vs. Capitalism and Authoritarianism vs. Democracy.
Alliances: NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact.
Decolonization and New States: * Zionist Movement: Goal of creating a Jewish homeland; Balfour Declaration; Creation of Israel and Palestine. * Nonviolence as Resistance: Mohandas Gandhi (India), Martin Luther King Jr. (USA), and Nelson Mandela (South Africa).
Revolutions: * Communist China ( $1949$ ): Led by Mao Zedong; included the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. * Iranian Revolution ( $1979$ ): Brought a theocracy into power.

Globalization (1900–Present)

Technological and Scientific Advancements: * Information: Faster spread through Social Media. * Agriculture: The Green Revolution. * Medicine: Development of Antibiotics, Birth Control, and Vaccines (Polio, Measles, Smallpox).
Global Economics: * Organizations and Deals: NAFTA, World Trade Organization (WTO). * Theories: Reaganomics.
Social Reform Movements: Focus on Feminism, the end of Apartheid, and the Civil Rights movement.