AP World History Notes and Review

Early Asia

  • China

    • Sui Dynasty

      • Unified China

      • Grand Canal

      • Military Conquests

      • Increased technology and economy

      • Strong and Central government

    • Tang Dynasty

      • Art and Literature

      • Military Campaigns - Great period of peace

    • Bureaucracy

      • Large, complex system of government organization

      • Clear Hierarchy

      • Division of Labor

      • Standardized procedures

      • Emphasized efficiency

      • Formalized communication

      • Meritocracy: the most qualified people run the government

        • Civil Service Exam

          • Confucian-based exam to test merit

          • Major continuity until 1900

          • People who passed entered new social class: Scholar gentry

      • Gunpowder: Revolutionized combat, eventually spread

      • Champa Rice:

        • Tribute from Vietnam

        • 2 growing seasons

      • Public Works

        • Great Wall

        • Paper: Led to printing Revolutionized currency Artisans (skilled craftsmen) Key is economy's trade

        • Dujiangyan irrigation

        • Footbinding: Mutilation of women's feet to make them smaller. Women were much lower than men due to Confucian principles. Filial Piety (Respect for elders).

    • Social Structure: Based on Confucian principles

      • Emperor

        • Mandate of Heaven: Divine right for emperor to rule. If broken, people have right to rebel.

      • Scholar Gentry

      • Nobility

      • Peasants

      • Merchants

Tributary System:

  • China and Surrounding States (Japan, Korea, Vietnam)

  • In exchange for protection and trade rights, surrounding states gave China's emperor goods.

  • Japan

    • Adopted Confucianism

    • Rejected Confucianism

    • Decentralized

    • Tight aristocracy

    • Nuclear families

    • Kanji from China

    • Increased women's rights

    • No Social mobility

    • All resisted Sinification, but it was inevitable

    • Feudal and decentralized nation.

      • Emperor + Shogun (military leader)

      • Daimyo (Landowners)

      • Samurai warriors practiced their own brand of chivalry - Bushido Code.

Dar Al-Islam

  • The circle of Islam

  • Monotheistic religion founded by Prophet Muhammad.

  • Muhammad is last in line of prophets.

  • Quran - Holy book of Islam - final revelation from God.

  • Sharia Law - Muslim code of conduct.

  • Islamic expansion through Middle East facilitated trade.

  • Jizya - Nonmuslim tax.

  • Battle of Tours halted Islam's advance into Europe - Consolidated Christianity within Europe - through conquest.

  • Al-Andalus (8th-15th century)

    • Muslim-ruled dynasties in Iberia

    • A center of culture & learning

    • Highly diverse & tolerant society (Arab, Berber, and Jewish)

Women's Position

  • Islamic teachings suggest men = women

  • As a result, women had generally enjoyed more rights comparatively.

  • However, interpretations of Quran meant this wasn't always the case - too nuanced to 100% generalize.

Caliphates

  • Umayyad (661-750)

    • Centered in Damascus, Syria

    • Military conquests

    • Increased persecutions

  • Abbasids (750-1258)

    • Centered in Baghdad, Trade Dick

    • House of Wisdom built - Center of scholarship

  • Common

    • Influential across Afro-Eurasia

    • Many cultural achievements

    • Many eventual internal conflicts

    • As Mongols took over Abbasids, new Islamic powers arose.

New Islamic Powers

  • Egyptian Mamluks

    • Originally slave soldiers brought from Caucasus Asia

    • Eventually overthrew government and established centralized state

    • Fell to Ottomans

  • Seljuk Turks

    • Turkish people from cen. Asia

    • Established huge, influential Islamic empire

    • Fell: Divided into smaller states!

  • Delhi Sultanate

    • Muslim sultanate in India

    • Cultural & architectural achievements

    • Fell: To Mughals

South Asia

  • Hinduism

    • Polytheistic

    • Caste system consolidates power, As opposed to Buddhism + Islam, which preach equality. Ppl won't rebel in hopes of better caste in next life, Stagnant social dynamics.

    • Reincarnation - Rebirth cycle.

  • South India:

    • Chola Dynasty

    • Vijayanagar Empire

    • Muslim Kingdoms, 8th-16th cen Rajput Kingdoms

    • Vulnerable, Hindu Kingdoms in N. India.

Southeast Asia

  • As a result of its connection through the Indian Ocean Trade Network, SE Asia Saw great cultural diffusion… It played a key factor in the econ. & culture of this region

  • Irrigation: Khmer Empire Srivijaya Empire Majapahit Kingdom

    • Powerful land-based empire,

    • Indonesian Hindu Empire,

    • Smaller Indonesian Buddhist empire.

    • Angkor Wat - Capital

    • Key trade center btw. China & India

    • Controlled Straight of Malacca.

  • Sufism - Mythical sect of Sunni Islam. Islamic merchants & Sufi missionaries spread to SE Asia.

  • Geography

    • Tropical climate has influenced its development.

    • Monsoon seasons & typhoons has impacted trade patterns.

Early Africa

  • Like Pre-Columbian Americas, Africa was mostly tribal / clan-based.

  • Most African cultures were kin-based networks, where families / clans governed themselves.

  • As a result, there was no centralization of power.

  • Kin-based networks became too difficult to govern as population grew, which paved way for empires to form.

  • Islam's Influence

    • Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca, and Trans-Saharan Trade, both facilitated Exchange of goods, Econ. & cultural development, and Spread of Islam

    • Some parts of Africa resisted Islam, S. Africa regions didn't even have contact until later.

  • Post-Classical Africa saw significant changes.

  • West Africa

    • Ghana & Mali & Shanghai

      • Timeline

      • Powerful army & $,

      • Founded by Sundiata,

      • Founded by Sunni Ali.

      • Controlled gold & salt $ in Suharan Trade !, Cultural achievements $$$, No state religion !, Mansa Musa made 1 lavish hajj, Conquered by Morrocan invaders eventually

  • . Swahili Coast

    • Located in E. Africa - crossroad for trade w/ Indian Ocean

    • Bantu city-states blended African, Arab, and Persian culture

      • Largest was Great Zimba bwe

  • Ethiopia

    • Kingdom OF AXUM

      • Christian Kingdom which engaged in trade

  • Griots

    • venerated storytellers who acted as oral historians.

Early Europe

  • Followin the fall of Rome, W. Europe came to be dominated by feudalism.

  • Feudalism: Based on holding of land in exchange for service/labor.

    • King: owned all the land gave fiefs

    • Lords: Elites w/ granted land King's vassal

    • Knights: Protected wealth & power of those above them knight is lord's vassal

    • Serfs: worked the land-they weren't slaves, but they had no land.

  • Large Fiefs were known as manors.

  • The manorial system provided economic self-sufficiency and defense.

  • As a result, Europe remained decentralized and unengaged w/ global trade.

Agriculture

  • 3-Field System

    • Food

    • Windmills & plows also increased agricultural efficiency.

    • Increased population growth

  • Political Developments

  • Gradually, regional kingdoms grew to become solidified.

    • France

    • England

  • Feudalism also weakened as monarchs created bureaucracies.

    • King Phillip II of France made legislative body: Estates-General

  • However, Holy Roman Empire was federation of territories.

    • Former Germany

    • Founded by King Otto I, crowned emperor by Pope.

  • Another decentralized state

  • Concordat of Worms Separated church from state (secular authority).

  • King John of England was forced to sign Magna Carta - milestone for constitution & checks and balances.

  • Hundred Year's war

    • Another push to ending feudalism

    • Brought on nationalism - ppl. began identifying w/ nations rather than regions.

    • Demonstrated growing use of gunpowder spread west.

Religious Developments

  • Reconquista

    • Catholic church expelled Muslims from Spain.

  • The Great Schism marked 1st division of+

    • Roman Catholic West Europe

    • Orthodox East Europe: Greece - Russia)

  • Catholic Church was the MOST powerful institution in Europe.

    • Dominated literacy

    • Established 1st Universities

    • Persecuted those who spoke out

  • Crusades

    • Goals: Take back Holy Land in Palestine from Muslims, Attack orth. Christians in constantinople.

    • They pretty much all failed.

    • Effects: Weakened power of Catholic church, Increased power of regional monarchs, Sparked off Renaissance.

  • Renaissance

    • A reemergence of literature, art, global connection, and development.

    • Gutenberg Printing Press - Mass printed books Played key role in spreading of knowledge

    • The Crusades opened up Europe from their isolation: Individuals (Humanism), People put more emphasis on Science, Philosophy. All stole away power from monarchs & churches

The Mongol Empire

Continuity: Nomadic Central Asian ppl. were a constant threat to states throughout Period 1.

The Mongols were no exception- w/ their superior fighting, they established the largest land emp. in history. MILITARY Skilled horse and bow skills, cls pastoral people. They also utilized siege weapons Genghis Khan- Deadly leader of Mongols. Consolidated once-peaceful Mongols into fearsome fighting force Division Following Genghis Khan's death, the empire was divided into 4 Khanates:

  • Golden Horde

    • Modern Russia and Ukraine

    • Key stop on Silk Road

    • Established new forms of governance. In exchange for tributes, Golden Horde cities could self-elect leaders. Further led to Russia's delayed industrialization and Separation from Europe

  • Great Khanate (Yuan Dynasty)

    • China

    • Yuan Dynasty adhered to Chinese trad, more than Mongolia. Brought per. of peace by building on established cen. gov. Zhu Yuanzhang: Overthrew Yuan Dyn. established the Ming.

  • Il Khanate

    • Middle East alien ation. No intermarriage. Why? - No Civil Service Exam Hiring foreigners Cut off Abbasid Caliphate - ended Islamic Golden Age. Many converted to Islam after this conversion, Mongols supported massave of Jews & Christians Overall, Persia remained relatively unchanged.