WHAP - Unit 1 Review
**view in light mode to see highlighted words properly :)
Social Organizations and Interactions
Scholar gentry
New social class
Men educated in Confucian philosophy
Merchants frowned upon
They didn’t “contribute anything to society” - they exchanged existing goods
Patriarchy
Foot binding
Common practice used to ensure women remained obedient to men
Limited their movement and made walking difficult
Women were told they would never marry if they had unbound feet
It signified social status as well
Filial Piety
Family members must submit to the desires of men and any rulers with more power
People live with extended families
Politics and Governance
Imperial bureaucracy
Continuity (Since Qin Dynasty)
Appointed officials carry out the empire’s policies
Bureaucracy grew so large and paid so well it drained the empire’s resources and weakened it significantly
Meritocracy
Officials are elected based on knowledge/merit
Performance on Civil Service Exam
The exam was available to men of any social class
Men from higher classes had access to better resources and didn’t have to work, so they still had an advantage
Strong centralized government
Continuity throughout Chinese history
Interactions with the Environment
Rapid population growth
Urbanization
China was the most urbanized land in the world with several cities
Cultural Developments
Intellectual pursuits thrived
Literature, visual arts, etc.
Poetry was popular among higher social classes who could afford it
Buddhism
Mahayana: Strongest in China; emphasis on aiding others achieve Nirvana
Tibetan: Combined Buddhism with Shintoism
Theravada: Focus on personal spiritual growth through meditation and self-reflection
Buddhism fused with other religions in China to become more appealing (Syncretism)
+Daoism
Zen/Chan Buddhism
+Daoism +Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism
Economic Systems
Grand Canal allowed for easier access to trade, resulting in China becoming the world’s most populous trading area
Inventions spread along the silk road
Proto industrialization
People in rural areas make more goods than they can sell
Home/community-based production with simple tools
Artisans produced steel in smelting facilities, also produced silk and porcelain
Most commercialized society
Local consumption → Market consumption
Controlled trade in the South China Sea
Taxes paid for public projects
Collected tributes from neighboring states
China believed that they were superior and other states had to pay tributes to honor the emperor
Technology and Innovations
Invention of Gunpowder
Also spread along silk road
Champa Rice
Extremely resilient crop: could grow multiple yields a year and thrive in harsh conditions
Surplus of food allowed for rapid population growth
Compass
Aided maritime navigation
Woodblock printing and paper
Heian Period
Social Organizations and Interactions
People born intro hereditary hierarchy
Politics and Governance
Emperor exists, but has little power
Feudalism
No centralized government
Land ruled by Daimyo
More powerful than Emperor and Shogun
Cultural Developments
Bushido
Emphasis on loyalty, honor, and martial arts
Technology and Innovations
Japanese writer wrote the world’s first novel
Effects of Sinification:
Emulation of Chinese traditions in politics, art, and literature
Woodblock printing from China
Social Organizations and Interactions
Powerful aristocracy
Politics and Governance
Centralized government
No merit-based way to enter bureaucracy
Only elites allowed
Cultural Developments
Confucianism
Educated elites
Buddhism
Poorer civilians
Adopted Chinese writing system
Didn’t work well
Unique language
Technology and Innovations
Eventually developed their own writing system
Not until 15th century
Effects of Sinification:
Emulation of Chinese-style centralized government
Confucian + Buddhist beliefs
Adopted Chinese writing system
Social Organizations and Interactions
Married women had more rights than Chinese women
Nuclear families
Scholars have more loyalty to villagers than elites
Scholars led revolts against officials
Politics and Governance
Villages operated independently from a national government
Adopted merit-based bureaucracy system
Cultural Developments
Rejected polygamy and foot binding
Effects of Sinification:
Launched rebellions against Chinese influence
Merit-based bureaucracy
💡How and where did Islam arise and spread before 1450?
Social Organizations and Interactions
Merchants are more highly regarded than other societies
Sometimes sent out as missionaries
Muhammad was a merchant
Life for people in country/peasants remained unchanged as Abbasids took over
Slavery is allowed BUT can’t enslave Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, or Jews
Slaves converted to Islam and were freed
Slave women could earn money preforming to men, and sometimes saved enough to buy themselves freedom
Women in Islam had more rights than Christian women and Jewish women
Money paid to wife instead of father
Could practice birth control
No female infanticide
Wife could initiate divorce
Women could inherit property
Politics and Governance
Theocracy
Centralized government
In 1250, mamluks seized control of the government
Former slaves purchased by Arabs
Used for soldiers and later bureaucrats
Invaded/attacked by many other empires
Mamluks
Seljuks
Crusaders
Mongols
Common use of Sharia (Islamic Law) across Empires creates similar legal systems
Continuity
Interactions with the Environment
Population declines as trade moved further north
Cultural Developments
Islam originated in Mecca and diffused through trade and military conquest
Tolerated Christians and Jews
Dhimmi (People of the book)
Also tolerated monotheistic ppl who did good things
Many distinct cultural/ethnic groups across many regions
Formal region
Prioritize knowledge
Translated important Greek texts to Arabic
Saved Aristotle and other Greek thinkers
Studied mathematical texts from India and brought them to Europe
Adopted Chinese paper-making strategies and spread them to Europe
House of Wisdom in Baghdad
Scholars from all over were attracted to Baghdad to study
Sufism - Type of Islam
Introspection reveals truths that can’t be found by learning
Women cover faces and heads with a Hijab
Men also covered heads, but not faces
Economic Systems
Important link connecting trade between Asia, Europe, and North Africa
Goods and ideas flowed
Mainly through Baghdad
Trade slowly shifted north, and Baghdad lost importance
Technology and Innovations
Trigonometry
Accurate astronomical charts
Healthcare, idea of bacteria/airborne particles transmitting infections
Social Organizations and Interactions
Former Abbasid slaves
Politics and Governance
Conquered parts of the Middle East
Leader called Sultan
Cultural Developments
Limited access to Christian Holy Sites
Christians sent out Crusaders to deal with them
European
Social Organizations and Interactions
Former slaves
Economic Systems
Facilitated trade using cotton and sugar between the Islamic world and Europe
Conquered the Abbasid Empire and ended Seljuk rule
Cultural Developments
Center of Wisdom
Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived + worked together, and influenced each other
Technology and Innovations
Largest library in the world (at the time)
💡Compare the Indian Bakhti Movement to Sufism in Islam
💡Compare the Indian Caste System to Chinese social hierarchies from 1200 to 1450
Social Organizations and Interactions
Lower caste Hindus converted to Islam in hopes of a higher social status
The Hindu caste system accepted Muslim newcomers, and they merged
Politics and Governance
North and south India developed separate political structures
South India - More stable
Chola dynasty
Sri Lanka today
Vijayanagara dynasty
Northern India - Less stable
Gupta empire
Rajput kingdoms
No government
Often at war
Islamic forces attacked Northern India
Delhi Sultanate (1200-1500)
Islamic forces conquered much of Northern India (and the region), including Delhi
Prevented the Mongols from conquering South Asia
Lost power in 1526
Never organized an efficient bureaucracy
Cultural Developments
Hinduism held the region together
Delhi Sultanate made some Hindus convert to Islam
Muslim merchants married Hindu women and converted them to Islam
Ideas flowed/mixed within different cultures
Urdu - Syncretic language
Grammatical patterns of Hindu
Arabic vocabulary
The Bakhti Movement
Importance of emotion in your spiritual life
People developed a strong attachment to a particular deity
No discrimination against women or lower social classes
Economic Systems
Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) imposed
Technology and Innovations
Indian algebra and geometry were translated into Arabic and spread throughout Dar al-Islam
“Arabic numerals” originated in India
Arab astronomers and mathematicians added to Indian knowledge
Politics and Governance
Attacks from invaders generally was the reason behind the decline of these empires
Interactions with the Environment
Sea-based kingdoms
Srivijaya Empire (670-1025)
Hindu
Majapahit Kingdom (1293-1520)
Buddhist
Land-based kingdoms
Sinhala dynasties
Modern day Sri Lanka
Khmer/Angkor Empire
Situated near Mekong River and didn’t depend on maritime prowess for power
Became Buddhist at an unknown time
Construction of Angkor Wat - Buddhist temple
Cultural Developments
Arrival of Islam - 700s
Merchants hoping to have better relations with Islamic traders converted to Islam
Sufis did missionary work
Sinhala Dynasties - center of Buddhist studies
Buddhist priests advised the monarchs
Economic Systems
Indian merchants sold gold, silver, metal goods, and textiles in exchange for spices
Technology and Innovations
Many empires had complex irrigation and drainage systems that resulted in economic growth and prosperity
Farmers could harvest multiple yields yearly
💡
Many features of Aztec + Mayan civilizations/culture originated from Olmecs (Pottery, sacrifices, ball courts, etc)
Social Organizations and Interactions
Rigid class structure
Chief > Priests, Nobles > Farmers, Merchants, Artisans > Slaves
Slaves were usually POWs (Prisoners of war)
Women farm, men hunt
Matrilineal society
Politics and Governance
Chief - The “great sun”
Ruled each town
Interactions with the Environment
Began in the Mississippi River Valley
Cultural Developments
Built enormous earthen mounds
Cahokia - The largest
Interactions with the Environment
Dry region
Caused the decline of both empires
Trees were small and scarce
Technology and Innovations
Chaco
Built homes out of clay and stones
Mesa Verde
Built homes into the sides of cliffs using brick (sandstone)
Social Organizations and Interactions
Men and women could be priests
Politics and Governance
City-states
Ruled by a king (usually men)
Claimed to be “descendants from god”
Wars fought between city-states for tribute (usually)
No military; citizens fought for their city states in the case of a war
Cultural Developments
Human sacrifice during religious ceremonies
Economic Systems
People paid taxes
Crops
Labor
Technology and Innovations
Concept of “0”
Rubber
Advanced calendar
Social Organizations and Interactions
Emperor > Nobles > Scribes, Healers > Craftspeople, Traders > Peasants, Soldiers
People could become slaves if captured OR refuse to pay taxes
Women highly valued bc they wove cloth required for tribute
Husbands sometimes got more than one wife to pay tributes
Women also had other jobs, and some knew how to read and write
Politics and Governance
Protected conquered ppl if they paid tribute
City-states grouped into provinces
Theocracy
Human sacrifice also demonstrated might of Aztec Empire
People sick of tribute and sacrifice revolted w help from Spain and overthrew Aztec Empire
Interactions with the Environment
Tenochtitlan on island in middle of lake to protect from attacks
Almost 200k ppl
Chinampas - Floating farms
Cultural Developments
Temples made of stone
Slaves sacrificed in religious ceremonies
Worshiped hundreds of deities
Economic Systems
Tribute system
Conquered ppl had to pay tribute, give land, fight in military
Technology and Innovations
Aqueducts
Lower level of technology made agriculture inefficient
Social Organizations and Interactions
Mit’a system
Mandatory public service
Priests were very important
Diagnosed illness
Predicted outcomes of battles
Solved crimes
Determined sacrifices
Politics and Governance
Many small tribes were conquered and combined
Split into 4 provinces
Dead rulers were mummified and continued to rule after death, keeping their possessions
Interactions with the Environment
European disease led to the decline
Cultural Developments
Inti, sun god
ONLY serious events call for human sacrifice
Some animism
Economic Systems
No tribute system
Technology and Innovations
Quipu
Knotted strings for math and messages
Waru waru agriculture
Terraces
Massive road system
💡To what extent did the decentralized political systems of the peoples in Inland Africa resemble those of the Inca?
Politics and Governance
Kin-based networks
Ran by families
Head is the Chief
No centralized governments
Domination from outside due to lack of powerful government
Cultural Developments
Missionaries introduced Islam to the region in the 14th century (1300s)
Economic Systems
Hausa Kingdom City-States
States specialized in things
Benefitted from Trans-Saharan Trade
Politics and Governance
Ghana - Centralized government
King and nobles
Zimbabwe - Monarchy
Defensive stone walls used for protection
Interactions with the Environment
Zimbabwe on coast, allowing for easier access to Indian Ocean
Zimbabwe - Overgrazing damaged environment and resulted in ppl abandoning city capital (Great Zimbabwe)
Cultural Developments
Zimbabwe - Architecture of stone demonstrated wealth
Swahili - Eastern syncretic language used in Indian Ocean Trade
Ethiopia - Christian nation, Islam spread in 7th century (600s)
Constructed stone churches to express power
Separated from Christian Europe and developed independently
Economic Systems
Ghana - Ivory and Gold traded to Muslim merchants
Exchanged for copper, salt, cloth, and tools
Mali - Muslim ruler established gold trade w rest of Islamic Africa and Arabic merchants
Wealth grew tremendously
Hajj to Mecca to show lavish displays of gold
Zimbabwe - Built wealth on trade, gold, grazing, and agriculture
Indian Ocean trade
Ethiopia - Traded goods from India
Technology and Innovations
Iron weapons
Social Organizations and Interactions
Groups based on age, gender, and kinship (family)
Young ppl work more
Elders more knowledge ∴ advice
Men dominated jobs w specific skills
Blacksmiths, etc
Women had domestic and agriculture jobs
Slavery is allowed and generally indicates a higher social status
Griots - story tellers
Politics and Governance
Zanj Rebellion - Slave revolts
Interactions with the Environment
Proximity to sea allowed for Indian Ocean slave trade
Cultural Developments
Music, art, and stories are valued
Songs and visual arts carried religious significance in addition to a cultural one
Preserved history orally
Economic Systems
Demand for slaves in the Middle East resulted in Indian Ocean slave trade
💡Compare the rights of European women in the Middle Ages to those of another global region during this time period (East Asia, West Asia, South Asia, Africa)
💡Compare European feudalism to that of Japan
💡Evaluate the extent to which agriculture affected social organization in Europe from 1200-1450
💡Evaluate the extent to which the diffusion of Islam impacted the development of African states in the 1200 - 1450 time period.
💡Evaluate the extent to which belief systems and practices impacted South and Southeast Asian societies in the 1200 - 1450 time period.
💡Evaluate the extent to which European and East Asian state development differed in the 1200 to 1450 time period.
Social Organizations and Interactions
Women slowly gaining rights
Manor accounts
Religious skills allowed women to demonstrate leadership
Could be artisans and members of guilds
Guild: A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power.
Serfs - Peasants
Politics and Governance
Feudalism practiced
Nobles granted the use of land in exchange for loyalty + military service to the king
Fiefs - Plots of land granted to vassals (ppl lower social hierarchy)
Manorial System - Manors (large plots of land) produced enough resources to be self-sufficient
Later Middle Ages - Monarchies began implementing bureaucracies and militaries
Hundred Years War - England vs France
Use of gunpowder
People identified as English vs French
Interactions with the Environment
Societies → early urbanization
Little Ice Age
Lower temperatures lowered agricultural production ∴ cities grew slower and had less to trade
Increase in disease
Higher crime rates and antisemitism
Cultural Developments
Church was the leader in education
Philosophers, writers, and other thinkers were religious
Renaissance era
Humanism - Focus on individuals rather than God
Rise of powerful monarchies
Centralization of governments
Birth of nationalism
Economic Systems
Manorial System: Self-sufficient farming states where lords and peasants shared the land. Provided economic self-sufficiency and defense.
Three-Field System: Crops were rotated through three different fields
One was planted with wheat or rye, crops that provided food.
A second field was planted with beans and legumes, making the soil more fertile by adding nitrogen to the soil
Third field remain fallow
Technology and Innovations
Windmills
New plows
**view in light mode to see highlighted words properly :)
Social Organizations and Interactions
Scholar gentry
New social class
Men educated in Confucian philosophy
Merchants frowned upon
They didn’t “contribute anything to society” - they exchanged existing goods
Patriarchy
Foot binding
Common practice used to ensure women remained obedient to men
Limited their movement and made walking difficult
Women were told they would never marry if they had unbound feet
It signified social status as well
Filial Piety
Family members must submit to the desires of men and any rulers with more power
People live with extended families
Politics and Governance
Imperial bureaucracy
Continuity (Since Qin Dynasty)
Appointed officials carry out the empire’s policies
Bureaucracy grew so large and paid so well it drained the empire’s resources and weakened it significantly
Meritocracy
Officials are elected based on knowledge/merit
Performance on Civil Service Exam
The exam was available to men of any social class
Men from higher classes had access to better resources and didn’t have to work, so they still had an advantage
Strong centralized government
Continuity throughout Chinese history
Interactions with the Environment
Rapid population growth
Urbanization
China was the most urbanized land in the world with several cities
Cultural Developments
Intellectual pursuits thrived
Literature, visual arts, etc.
Poetry was popular among higher social classes who could afford it
Buddhism
Mahayana: Strongest in China; emphasis on aiding others achieve Nirvana
Tibetan: Combined Buddhism with Shintoism
Theravada: Focus on personal spiritual growth through meditation and self-reflection
Buddhism fused with other religions in China to become more appealing (Syncretism)
+Daoism
Zen/Chan Buddhism
+Daoism +Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism
Economic Systems
Grand Canal allowed for easier access to trade, resulting in China becoming the world’s most populous trading area
Inventions spread along the silk road
Proto industrialization
People in rural areas make more goods than they can sell
Home/community-based production with simple tools
Artisans produced steel in smelting facilities, also produced silk and porcelain
Most commercialized society
Local consumption → Market consumption
Controlled trade in the South China Sea
Taxes paid for public projects
Collected tributes from neighboring states
China believed that they were superior and other states had to pay tributes to honor the emperor
Technology and Innovations
Invention of Gunpowder
Also spread along silk road
Champa Rice
Extremely resilient crop: could grow multiple yields a year and thrive in harsh conditions
Surplus of food allowed for rapid population growth
Compass
Aided maritime navigation
Woodblock printing and paper
Heian Period
Social Organizations and Interactions
People born intro hereditary hierarchy
Politics and Governance
Emperor exists, but has little power
Feudalism
No centralized government
Land ruled by Daimyo
More powerful than Emperor and Shogun
Cultural Developments
Bushido
Emphasis on loyalty, honor, and martial arts
Technology and Innovations
Japanese writer wrote the world’s first novel
Effects of Sinification:
Emulation of Chinese traditions in politics, art, and literature
Woodblock printing from China
Social Organizations and Interactions
Powerful aristocracy
Politics and Governance
Centralized government
No merit-based way to enter bureaucracy
Only elites allowed
Cultural Developments
Confucianism
Educated elites
Buddhism
Poorer civilians
Adopted Chinese writing system
Didn’t work well
Unique language
Technology and Innovations
Eventually developed their own writing system
Not until 15th century
Effects of Sinification:
Emulation of Chinese-style centralized government
Confucian + Buddhist beliefs
Adopted Chinese writing system
Social Organizations and Interactions
Married women had more rights than Chinese women
Nuclear families
Scholars have more loyalty to villagers than elites
Scholars led revolts against officials
Politics and Governance
Villages operated independently from a national government
Adopted merit-based bureaucracy system
Cultural Developments
Rejected polygamy and foot binding
Effects of Sinification:
Launched rebellions against Chinese influence
Merit-based bureaucracy
💡How and where did Islam arise and spread before 1450?
Social Organizations and Interactions
Merchants are more highly regarded than other societies
Sometimes sent out as missionaries
Muhammad was a merchant
Life for people in country/peasants remained unchanged as Abbasids took over
Slavery is allowed BUT can’t enslave Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, or Jews
Slaves converted to Islam and were freed
Slave women could earn money preforming to men, and sometimes saved enough to buy themselves freedom
Women in Islam had more rights than Christian women and Jewish women
Money paid to wife instead of father
Could practice birth control
No female infanticide
Wife could initiate divorce
Women could inherit property
Politics and Governance
Theocracy
Centralized government
In 1250, mamluks seized control of the government
Former slaves purchased by Arabs
Used for soldiers and later bureaucrats
Invaded/attacked by many other empires
Mamluks
Seljuks
Crusaders
Mongols
Common use of Sharia (Islamic Law) across Empires creates similar legal systems
Continuity
Interactions with the Environment
Population declines as trade moved further north
Cultural Developments
Islam originated in Mecca and diffused through trade and military conquest
Tolerated Christians and Jews
Dhimmi (People of the book)
Also tolerated monotheistic ppl who did good things
Many distinct cultural/ethnic groups across many regions
Formal region
Prioritize knowledge
Translated important Greek texts to Arabic
Saved Aristotle and other Greek thinkers
Studied mathematical texts from India and brought them to Europe
Adopted Chinese paper-making strategies and spread them to Europe
House of Wisdom in Baghdad
Scholars from all over were attracted to Baghdad to study
Sufism - Type of Islam
Introspection reveals truths that can’t be found by learning
Women cover faces and heads with a Hijab
Men also covered heads, but not faces
Economic Systems
Important link connecting trade between Asia, Europe, and North Africa
Goods and ideas flowed
Mainly through Baghdad
Trade slowly shifted north, and Baghdad lost importance
Technology and Innovations
Trigonometry
Accurate astronomical charts
Healthcare, idea of bacteria/airborne particles transmitting infections
Social Organizations and Interactions
Former Abbasid slaves
Politics and Governance
Conquered parts of the Middle East
Leader called Sultan
Cultural Developments
Limited access to Christian Holy Sites
Christians sent out Crusaders to deal with them
European
Social Organizations and Interactions
Former slaves
Economic Systems
Facilitated trade using cotton and sugar between the Islamic world and Europe
Conquered the Abbasid Empire and ended Seljuk rule
Cultural Developments
Center of Wisdom
Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived + worked together, and influenced each other
Technology and Innovations
Largest library in the world (at the time)
💡Compare the Indian Bakhti Movement to Sufism in Islam
💡Compare the Indian Caste System to Chinese social hierarchies from 1200 to 1450
Social Organizations and Interactions
Lower caste Hindus converted to Islam in hopes of a higher social status
The Hindu caste system accepted Muslim newcomers, and they merged
Politics and Governance
North and south India developed separate political structures
South India - More stable
Chola dynasty
Sri Lanka today
Vijayanagara dynasty
Northern India - Less stable
Gupta empire
Rajput kingdoms
No government
Often at war
Islamic forces attacked Northern India
Delhi Sultanate (1200-1500)
Islamic forces conquered much of Northern India (and the region), including Delhi
Prevented the Mongols from conquering South Asia
Lost power in 1526
Never organized an efficient bureaucracy
Cultural Developments
Hinduism held the region together
Delhi Sultanate made some Hindus convert to Islam
Muslim merchants married Hindu women and converted them to Islam
Ideas flowed/mixed within different cultures
Urdu - Syncretic language
Grammatical patterns of Hindu
Arabic vocabulary
The Bakhti Movement
Importance of emotion in your spiritual life
People developed a strong attachment to a particular deity
No discrimination against women or lower social classes
Economic Systems
Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) imposed
Technology and Innovations
Indian algebra and geometry were translated into Arabic and spread throughout Dar al-Islam
“Arabic numerals” originated in India
Arab astronomers and mathematicians added to Indian knowledge
Politics and Governance
Attacks from invaders generally was the reason behind the decline of these empires
Interactions with the Environment
Sea-based kingdoms
Srivijaya Empire (670-1025)
Hindu
Majapahit Kingdom (1293-1520)
Buddhist
Land-based kingdoms
Sinhala dynasties
Modern day Sri Lanka
Khmer/Angkor Empire
Situated near Mekong River and didn’t depend on maritime prowess for power
Became Buddhist at an unknown time
Construction of Angkor Wat - Buddhist temple
Cultural Developments
Arrival of Islam - 700s
Merchants hoping to have better relations with Islamic traders converted to Islam
Sufis did missionary work
Sinhala Dynasties - center of Buddhist studies
Buddhist priests advised the monarchs
Economic Systems
Indian merchants sold gold, silver, metal goods, and textiles in exchange for spices
Technology and Innovations
Many empires had complex irrigation and drainage systems that resulted in economic growth and prosperity
Farmers could harvest multiple yields yearly
💡
Many features of Aztec + Mayan civilizations/culture originated from Olmecs (Pottery, sacrifices, ball courts, etc)
Social Organizations and Interactions
Rigid class structure
Chief > Priests, Nobles > Farmers, Merchants, Artisans > Slaves
Slaves were usually POWs (Prisoners of war)
Women farm, men hunt
Matrilineal society
Politics and Governance
Chief - The “great sun”
Ruled each town
Interactions with the Environment
Began in the Mississippi River Valley
Cultural Developments
Built enormous earthen mounds
Cahokia - The largest
Interactions with the Environment
Dry region
Caused the decline of both empires
Trees were small and scarce
Technology and Innovations
Chaco
Built homes out of clay and stones
Mesa Verde
Built homes into the sides of cliffs using brick (sandstone)
Social Organizations and Interactions
Men and women could be priests
Politics and Governance
City-states
Ruled by a king (usually men)
Claimed to be “descendants from god”
Wars fought between city-states for tribute (usually)
No military; citizens fought for their city states in the case of a war
Cultural Developments
Human sacrifice during religious ceremonies
Economic Systems
People paid taxes
Crops
Labor
Technology and Innovations
Concept of “0”
Rubber
Advanced calendar
Social Organizations and Interactions
Emperor > Nobles > Scribes, Healers > Craftspeople, Traders > Peasants, Soldiers
People could become slaves if captured OR refuse to pay taxes
Women highly valued bc they wove cloth required for tribute
Husbands sometimes got more than one wife to pay tributes
Women also had other jobs, and some knew how to read and write
Politics and Governance
Protected conquered ppl if they paid tribute
City-states grouped into provinces
Theocracy
Human sacrifice also demonstrated might of Aztec Empire
People sick of tribute and sacrifice revolted w help from Spain and overthrew Aztec Empire
Interactions with the Environment
Tenochtitlan on island in middle of lake to protect from attacks
Almost 200k ppl
Chinampas - Floating farms
Cultural Developments
Temples made of stone
Slaves sacrificed in religious ceremonies
Worshiped hundreds of deities
Economic Systems
Tribute system
Conquered ppl had to pay tribute, give land, fight in military
Technology and Innovations
Aqueducts
Lower level of technology made agriculture inefficient
Social Organizations and Interactions
Mit’a system
Mandatory public service
Priests were very important
Diagnosed illness
Predicted outcomes of battles
Solved crimes
Determined sacrifices
Politics and Governance
Many small tribes were conquered and combined
Split into 4 provinces
Dead rulers were mummified and continued to rule after death, keeping their possessions
Interactions with the Environment
European disease led to the decline
Cultural Developments
Inti, sun god
ONLY serious events call for human sacrifice
Some animism
Economic Systems
No tribute system
Technology and Innovations
Quipu
Knotted strings for math and messages
Waru waru agriculture
Terraces
Massive road system
💡To what extent did the decentralized political systems of the peoples in Inland Africa resemble those of the Inca?
Politics and Governance
Kin-based networks
Ran by families
Head is the Chief
No centralized governments
Domination from outside due to lack of powerful government
Cultural Developments
Missionaries introduced Islam to the region in the 14th century (1300s)
Economic Systems
Hausa Kingdom City-States
States specialized in things
Benefitted from Trans-Saharan Trade
Politics and Governance
Ghana - Centralized government
King and nobles
Zimbabwe - Monarchy
Defensive stone walls used for protection
Interactions with the Environment
Zimbabwe on coast, allowing for easier access to Indian Ocean
Zimbabwe - Overgrazing damaged environment and resulted in ppl abandoning city capital (Great Zimbabwe)
Cultural Developments
Zimbabwe - Architecture of stone demonstrated wealth
Swahili - Eastern syncretic language used in Indian Ocean Trade
Ethiopia - Christian nation, Islam spread in 7th century (600s)
Constructed stone churches to express power
Separated from Christian Europe and developed independently
Economic Systems
Ghana - Ivory and Gold traded to Muslim merchants
Exchanged for copper, salt, cloth, and tools
Mali - Muslim ruler established gold trade w rest of Islamic Africa and Arabic merchants
Wealth grew tremendously
Hajj to Mecca to show lavish displays of gold
Zimbabwe - Built wealth on trade, gold, grazing, and agriculture
Indian Ocean trade
Ethiopia - Traded goods from India
Technology and Innovations
Iron weapons
Social Organizations and Interactions
Groups based on age, gender, and kinship (family)
Young ppl work more
Elders more knowledge ∴ advice
Men dominated jobs w specific skills
Blacksmiths, etc
Women had domestic and agriculture jobs
Slavery is allowed and generally indicates a higher social status
Griots - story tellers
Politics and Governance
Zanj Rebellion - Slave revolts
Interactions with the Environment
Proximity to sea allowed for Indian Ocean slave trade
Cultural Developments
Music, art, and stories are valued
Songs and visual arts carried religious significance in addition to a cultural one
Preserved history orally
Economic Systems
Demand for slaves in the Middle East resulted in Indian Ocean slave trade
💡Compare the rights of European women in the Middle Ages to those of another global region during this time period (East Asia, West Asia, South Asia, Africa)
💡Compare European feudalism to that of Japan
💡Evaluate the extent to which agriculture affected social organization in Europe from 1200-1450
💡Evaluate the extent to which the diffusion of Islam impacted the development of African states in the 1200 - 1450 time period.
💡Evaluate the extent to which belief systems and practices impacted South and Southeast Asian societies in the 1200 - 1450 time period.
💡Evaluate the extent to which European and East Asian state development differed in the 1200 to 1450 time period.
Social Organizations and Interactions
Women slowly gaining rights
Manor accounts
Religious skills allowed women to demonstrate leadership
Could be artisans and members of guilds
Guild: A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power.
Serfs - Peasants
Politics and Governance
Feudalism practiced
Nobles granted the use of land in exchange for loyalty + military service to the king
Fiefs - Plots of land granted to vassals (ppl lower social hierarchy)
Manorial System - Manors (large plots of land) produced enough resources to be self-sufficient
Later Middle Ages - Monarchies began implementing bureaucracies and militaries
Hundred Years War - England vs France
Use of gunpowder
People identified as English vs French
Interactions with the Environment
Societies → early urbanization
Little Ice Age
Lower temperatures lowered agricultural production ∴ cities grew slower and had less to trade
Increase in disease
Higher crime rates and antisemitism
Cultural Developments
Church was the leader in education
Philosophers, writers, and other thinkers were religious
Renaissance era
Humanism - Focus on individuals rather than God
Rise of powerful monarchies
Centralization of governments
Birth of nationalism
Economic Systems
Manorial System: Self-sufficient farming states where lords and peasants shared the land. Provided economic self-sufficiency and defense.
Three-Field System: Crops were rotated through three different fields
One was planted with wheat or rye, crops that provided food.
A second field was planted with beans and legumes, making the soil more fertile by adding nitrogen to the soil
Third field remain fallow
Technology and Innovations
Windmills
New plows