AP WORLD Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200-1450)

Song Dynasty: Maintaining and Justifying Power

1. Confucianism & Neo-Confucianism

   1. Confucianism was derived from the Han Dynasty to reinforce hierarchy.

   2. Society based on unequal relationships: ruler > subject, father > son, husband > wife.

   3. Filial piety: Respect for parents and ancestors → trained obedience to the emperor.

   4. Neo-Confucianism blended Confucianism with Buddhist and Daoist ideas.

   5. Showed continuity (Confucianism revived) and innovation (Buddhist/Taoist influence).

2. Patriarchy in Song China

   1. Women were subordinate: had restricted legal rights, and couldn’t remarry after widowhood/divorce.

   2. Foot binding: Practice of breaking and tightly binding girls’ feet; symbol of elite status.

   3. Reflected women’s limited role and emphasized male dominance.

3. Imperial Bureaucracy & Civil Service Exam

   1. Bureaucracy carried out the emperor’s orders across China.

   2. Civil service exam based on Confucian texts → jobs awarded by merit, not connections.

   3. Created a highly educated, efficient bureaucracy.

   4. Strengthened central authority and government control.

Chinese Cultural Influence on East Asia

1. Korea

   1. Maintained political independence but paid tribute to China.

   2. Adopted Confucianism, Chinese-style government, and civil service exams.

   3. Korean elites embraced Chinese culture, but women were even more restricted than in China.

2. Japan

   1. Borrowed Chinese ideas voluntarily (not through conquest or tribute).

   2. Adopted Chinese bureaucracy, Buddhism, and a writing system.

   3. Selective borrowing: kept own traditions, adapted what was useful.

3. Vietnam

   1. Paid tribute to China but maintained political independence.

   2. Adopted Confucianism, Buddhism, and civil service exams.

   3. Women had more rights than in China; female deities and no foot binding.

Belief Systems in East Asia

1. Buddhism in China

   1. Originated in India; and spread to China by the Han Dynasty through the Silk Roads.

   2. Key beliefs: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, karma, and rebirth.

2. Types of Buddhism

   1. Theravada (Sri Lanka, SE Asia): strict, monk-based.

   2. Mahayana (China, Korea, Japan): emphasized compassion and salvation for all.

   3. Tibetan: focused on rituals and spiritual practices.

3. Chan Buddhism (Zen)

   1. The Chinese version of Buddhism with Daoist influence.

   2. Emphasized meditation, personal insight, and simplicity.

Song China’s Economic Prosperity

1. Commercialization

   1. Produced more goods than needed → sold surplus in markets.

   2. Introduced paper money, credit systems, and promissory notes.

2. Iron and Steel Production

   1. Growth of the manufacturing sector.

   2. Iron and steel are used for tools, coins, weapons, and construction.

3. Agricultural Advancements

   1. Use of iron tools, improved farming methods.

   2. Champa rice (from Vietnam): drought-resistant, fast-growing, harvested twice per year.

   3. This led to population growth and urbanization.

4. Transportation and Trade

   1. Expansion of Grand Canal: connected north and south China, reduced trade costs.

   2. Technological advancements: magnetic compass, improved shipbuilding (junks with rudders and bulkheads).

   3. Facilitated both domestic and maritime trade.

Major Monotheistic Religions

1. Judaism

   1. Originated in the Middle East; the ethnic religion of the Jewish people.

   2. Monotheistic: belief in one God.

   3. Foundation for Christianity and Islam.

2. Christianity

   1. Founded by Jesus (a Jewish prophet); emphasized salvation through grace.

   2. Spread under the Roman Empire → influenced European and African states.

   3. Structured with hierarchy: Popes, bishops, cardinals.

3. Islam

   1. Founded by the Prophet Muhammad (7th century, Arabian Peninsula).

   2. Belief: Muhammad = final prophet; salvation through righteous acts (e.g., almsgiving, prayer, fasting).

   3. Spread rapidly after Muhammad’s death (632) across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

Expansion and Impact of Islam

1. Dar al-Islam (“House of Islam”)

   1. Regions where Islam was the dominant religion.

   2. Facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and empire-building across Afro-Eurasia.

2. Trade and Prosperity

   1. Muhammad was a merchant → Islamic societies embraced trade.

   2. Islamic states were wealthier than Christian states due to commercial focus.

3. Spread of Islam

   1. Military expansion: e.g., Delhi Sultanate in South Asia.

   2. Merchant activity: e.g., the Mali Empire in West Africa converted to access trade.

   3. Missionaries: especially Sufi missionaries spread Islam through mysticism and inclusive practices.

Islamic States (1200–1450)

1. Abbasid Caliphate

   1. Ethnically Arab; ruled during Islam’s “Golden Age” (science, math, literature, tech).

   2. Fragmented by 1200, losing power to emerging Turkic states.

   3. Rose by defeating the Umayyads (8th century).

2. Seljuk Empire

   1. Turkic group from Central Asia.

   2. Originally hired by Abbasids for military support; later seized political power.

   3. Abbasid caliphs had religious authority; Seljuks held political power.

3. Mamluk Sultanate (Egypt)

   1. Turkic slaves (Mamluks) were originally brought by the Ayyubids.

   2. Seized control after Ayyubid decline → established a Turkic Muslim state.

4. Delhi Sultanate (India)

   1. Muslim state was established by invading Turks in Northern India.

   2. Ruled for 300 years; laid foundations for future Muslim influence in South Asia.

Continuities in Islamic Governance

• Military elites held power and managed administration.

• Continued use of Sharia law: Islamic legal code based on the Quran.

• Islamic political structures remained similar despite ethnic shifts in leadership.

Islamic Intellectual and Cultural Achievements

1. Science and Mathematics

   1. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: developed trigonometry; influenced Copernicus and heliocentric theory.

   2. Scholars studied astronomy to track celestial motion.

2. House of Wisdom (Baghdad)

   1. The major center of learning during Abbasid rule.

   2. Scholars preserved and translated classical Greek works (e.g., Plato, Aristotle) into Arabic.

   3. These texts were later reintroduced into Europe and contributed to the Renaissance.

3. Sufism

   1. Mystical branch of Islam.

   2. Emphasized emotional, and spiritual experience; inclusive across classes and genders.

   3. Helped spread Islam in areas resistant to orthodox doctrine.

Belief Systems in South and Southeast Asia

1. Hinduism

   1. Polytheistic; goal = reunite with world soul (Brahma) through reincarnation.

   2. Social structure based on caste system (hierarchical; little mobility within a lifetime).

   3. Ethnic religion → tied to specific people and places → did not spread widely beyond South Asia.

2. Buddhism

   1. Founded in India; emphasized enlightenment and rebirth.

   2. Rejected caste system → supported equality.

   3. Universalizing religion → spread across Asia (especially East and Southeast Asia).

   4. By 1200, Buddhism was declining in India; influence mostly among monks in monasteries.

2. Islam

   1. Introduced to India by Turkic Muslim invaders in 1206 (Delhi Sultanate).

   2. Became the second most influential religion in India.

   3. Mostly practiced by elites and rulers in India; spread more widely in Southeast Asia through trade and Sufi missionaries.

Religious Changes and Movements

1. Bhakti Movement (Hinduism)

   1. Emphasized devotion to one deity over rituals and caste.

   2. Rejected hierarchy and promoted personal spiritual experience for all.

2. Sufism (Islam)

   1. Mystical form of Islam; focused on spiritual connection and emotional worship.

   2. Rejected formal doctrine; promoted equality and was accessible to all.

   3. Helped spread Islam in South and Southeast Asia.

2. Comparison

   1. Both Bhakti and Sufism: emphasized direct spiritual experience, rejected religious elite, accessible across class boundaries → helped religions spread.

Political Developments in South Asia

1. Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

   1. Muslim-ruled state in Northern India.

   2. Islam was dominant in government but remained a minority religion among the population.

   3. Hinduism remained deeply rooted and resistant to Islamic rule.

2. Rajput Kingdoms

   1. Independent Hindu kingdoms in Northern India.

   2. Rival states resisted Muslim control but were eventually conquered or weakened.

3. Vijayanagara Empire (14th century)

   1. Hindu Empire in South India.

   2. Founded by Hindu converts to Islam who reverted to Hinduism and resisted northern Muslim rule.

Political Developments in Southeast Asia

1. Sea-Based States

   1. Srivijaya Empire (7th–11th century): Buddhist state; controlled Strait of Malacca; profited from maritime trade.

   2. Majapahit Kingdom (13th century): Hindu-Buddhist state on Java; used a tributary system to assert power over neighboring states.

2. Land-Based States

   1. Sinhala Dynasties (Sri Lanka): Long-lasting Buddhist kingdom; power based on agriculture and internal resources.

   2. Khmer Empire (Cambodia):

      1. Originally Hindu, later adopted Buddhism.

      2. Built Angkor Wat → blended Hindu and Buddhist architecture (example of syncretism).

Mesoamerica

1. Maya Civilization (250–900 CE)

   1. Pre-1200 civilization; legacy influenced later states.

   2. Decentralized city-states; each ruled independently.

   3. Used a tribute system to collect resources from neighbors.

   4. Human sacrifice: believed it fueled the sun’s struggle against darkness.

   5. Advanced in writing, mathematics (concept of zero), and astronomy.

2. Aztec Empire (1345–1521 CE)

   1. Founded by the Mexica (Mashika) people.

   2. Decentralized rule through tributary states (similar to Maya).

   3. Conquered peoples gave food, goods, and captives for sacrifice.

   4. Human sacrifice was central to religion and power justification.

   5. Capital: Tenochtitlan – highly urbanized, with temples, markets, and palaces.

   6. Legitimized rule by linking themselves to earlier civilizations.

Andean South America

1. Inca Empire (mid-1400s–1533)

   1. Centralized bureaucracy: used officials to implement the ruler's will.

   2. Mita system: required citizens to provide labor for state projects (e.g., mining, roads, agriculture).

   3. Expanded with the military and absorbed cultural features from earlier societies (e.g., Wari).

   4. Extensive infrastructure: roads, bridges, and state-planned cities.

   5. Religion-based political rule; rulers seen as divine.

North America

1. Mississippian Culture

   1. First large-scale North American civilization; based in the Mississippi River Valley.

   2. Hierarchical society ruled by chiefs (e.g., “Great Sun”).

   3. Built mounds for burials and religious ceremonies (e.g., Cahokia).

   4. Urban centers surrounded by satellite towns; organized public labor for construction.

2. Chaco & Mesa Verde

   1. Located in the dry Southwest United States.

   2. Adapted to arid climate:

      1. Chaco: built large stone houses using sandstone blocks; and imported timber.

      2. Mesa Verde: carved homes into cliffs.

   3. Demonstrated complex architecture and environmental adaptation.

East Africa

1. Swahili Civilization

   1. Collection of independent city-states on the East African coast.

   2. Gained wealth through the Indian Ocean trade (gold, ivory, timber, enslaved people).

   3. Goods imported from the African interior; were sold to Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants.

   4. Islam became dominant among elites → facilitated trade with Dar al-Islam.

   5. Swahili language: Bantu + Arabic influence.

   6. Each city had its king; politically decentralized (unlike Song China).

2. Great Zimbabwe

   1. Inland kingdom that gained wealth through gold trade via Indian Ocean ports.

   2. The economy is also based on farming and cattle herding.

   3. Built large stone structures (after Egyptian pyramids, largest in Africa).

   4. Capital housed the royal court; a symbol of power and wealth.

West Africa

1. Hausa Kingdoms

   1. Independent city-states scattered across West Africa.

   2. Gained wealth through Trans-Saharan trade (similar to Swahili on the East Coast).

   3. Urbanized, commercialized; acted as middlemen for interior trade.

   4. Ruled by kings with social hierarchies.

   5. Rulers converted to Islam → connected them to Islamic trade networks.

2. Islam in West Africa

   1. Powerful states like Mali and Songhai (covered in Unit 2) also adopted Islam.

   2. Islam helped organize states and legitimize power.

   3. Facilitated connections with Dar al-Islam through trade and diplomacy.

Christian Africa

1. Ethiopia

   1. An exception to the Islamic trend; remained Christian.

   2. Built massive stone churches to show royal authority.

   3. Gained wealth through the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean trade (notably salt).

   4. Centralized monarchy with a class hierarchy.

   5. The religious and political structure resembled other global empires despite religious differences.

Religion and Culture

1. Christianity

   1. Dominant religion; helped unify fragmented regions.

   2. Two main branches:

      1. Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine Empire, Kievan Rus).

      2. Roman Catholic (Western Europe).

2. Byzantine Empire

   1. Centralized Christian empire (Eastern Orthodox).

   2. Fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 (Constantinople → Istanbul).

   3. Religious authority and architecture influenced Kyivan Rus.

3. Western Europe

   1. Politically fragmented but united through Roman Catholicism.

   2. Church provided structure: hierarchy of pope, bishops, cardinals.

   3. Crusades (military campaigns against Muslims) connected Europe to larger trade networks.

4. Religious Minorities

   1. Islam in the Iberian Peninsula (Muslim rule since the 8th century).

   2. Judaism spread across Europe; and participated in trade but faced anti-Semitism and marginalization.

Political Organization

1. No large empires in Europe during this period (unlike Asia or the Americas).

2. Feudalism

   1. The decentralized system of political and military loyalties between lords and vassals.

   2. Land = exchanged for loyalty and service.

3. Manorialism

   1. An economic system based on self-sufficient estates (manors).

   2. Serfs worked the land for protection; bound to land (not owned, but not free).

4. State Centralization

   1. From 1200: some monarchs began to centralize power by building:

      1. Standing armies

      2. Bureaucracies

   2. Nobility lost power to kings.

   3. This led to wars of conquest between emerging centralized states.

SOME WEBSITE THAT MIGHT HELP

• https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world/unit-1