AP World History Notes

Early Asia

EARLY ASIA
  • CHINA
    • 3 Key Dynasties:
      • Sui Dynasty: Unified China and military conquests.
      • Tang Dynasty: Known for grand canal, art, literature and a period of peace.
      • Song Dynasty: Characterized by increased technology and economy, and a strong centralized government.
    • Bureaucracy:
      • Large, complex system of government organization with clear hierarchy, division of labor, standardized procedures, emphasis on efficiency, and formalized communication.
      • Meritocracy: The most qualified people run the government through the Civil Service Exam, a Confucian-based exam, a major continuity until 1900!
      • People who passed the exam entered a new social class: Scholar gentry.
    • Developments:
      • Gunpowder: Revolutionized combat and eventually spread.
      • Champa Rice: Tribute from Vietnam with two growing seasons, increasing the food supply.
      • Paper: Led to printing and revolutionized currency.
      • Public Works: Great Wall and Dujiangyan irrigation.
    • Social Structure: Based on Confucian principles.
      • Emperor: Divine right to rule (Mandate of Heaven), but if broken, people have the right to rebel.
      • Scholar Gentry: A new social class of people who passed the Civil Service Exam.
      • Peasants: The main labor force in the agrarian society.
      • Merchants: Generally lower status in the Confucian hierarchy.
    • Footbinding: Mutilation of women's feet to make them smaller, reflecting women's lower status due to Confucian principles and filial piety (respect for elders).
    • Tributary System: China's surrounding states (Japan, Korea, Vietnam) gave China's emperor goods in exchange for protection and trade rights.
  • JAPAN
    • Adopted Buddhism but rejected Confucianism and maintained a tight aristocracy.
    • Kanji from China but resisted Sinification.
    • Feudal and decentralized nation with an Emperor and Shogun as military leader. The Samurai warriors practiced Bushido (their own brand of chivalry).
    • Daimyo: Landowners with Samurai warriors
  • DAR AL-ISLAM
    • Monotheistic religion founded by Prophet Muhammad.
    • Quran: Holy book of Islam and final revelation from God.
    • Sharia Law: Muslim code of conduct.
    • Islamic expansion through the Middle East facilitated trade.
    • Jizya: Non-Muslim tax.
    • Battle of Tours halted Islam's advance into Europe and consolidated Christianity within Europe.
    • Al-Andalus: Muslim-ruled dynasties in Iberia were a center of culture & learning with a highly diverse & tolerant society.
    • Women's Position: Islamic teachings suggest men = women, but interpretations of the Quran meant this wasn't always the case with nuanced to 100% generalite.
Caliphates
  • Umayyad (661-750)
    • Centered in Damascus, Syria
    • Military conquests led to increased persecutions. (Towitus 2)
  • Abbasids (750-1258)
    • Centered in Baghdad (Iraq)
    • Known for the House of Wisdom and being the center of scholarship.
    • Many cultural achievements
    • Eventual Internal conflicts.
  • New Islamic Powers:
    • Egyptian Mamluks: Originally slave soldiers who eventually overthrew the government and established a centralized state. Fell to Ottomans.
    • Seljuk Turks: Turkish people from Central Asia who established a huge, influential Islamic empire. Fell to Mongols.
    • Delhi Sultanate: Muslim sultanate in India with cultural & architectural achievements. Fell to Mughals.
SOUTH ASIA
  • Hinduism
    • Polytheistic.
    • Caste system consolidates power with stagnant social dynamics through reincarnation. People won't rebel in hopes of better caste in next life.
  • South India:
    • Chola Dynasty.
    • Vijayanagar Empire.
    • Muslim Kingdoms.
  • Rajput Kingdoms: Vulnerable, Hindu Kingdoms in Northern India.
  • Delhi Sultanate: Ruled parts of Northern & Central India alongside Rajput Kingdoms with lack of efficient bureaucracy, which made it difficult to impose policies and it held against Mongols before fell to the Mughals.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
  • As a result of its connection through the Indian Ocean Trade Network, SE Asia Saw great cultural diffusion that played a key factor in the econ. & culture of this region
    • Irrigation influenced economy through:
      • Khmer Empire: Powerful land-based empire, Angkor Wat-Capital.
      • Srivijaya Empire: Key trade center between China & India.
      • Majapahit Kingdom: Smaller Indonesian Buddhist empire.
    • Controlled Straight of Malacca.
    • Sufism - Mythical sect of Sunni Islam through missionary worked.
  • Geography affected development through: tropical climate, monsoon seasons & typhoons, impacted trace patterns.

Early Americas

EARLY AMERICAS
  • Like Pre-Columbian Americas, Africa was mostly tribal / clan-based.
  • Most African cultures were kin-based networks, where families / clans governed themselves, which resulted to no centralization of power.
  • Kin-based networks became too difficult to govern as population grew, paving way for empires to form.
  • Islam's Influence through Hajj( Pilgrimage to Mecca.), Exchange of goods
    Econ. & cultural development and Spread of Islam.

Early Africa

EARLY AFRICA
  • Like Pre-Columbian Americas, Africa was mostly tribal/clan-based.
  • Most African cultures were kin-based networks, where families/clans governed themselves, resulting in no centralization of power.
  • Kin-based networks became too difficult to govern as pop. grew, paving the way for empires to form.
  • Islam's Influence
    • Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca.
    • Trans-Saharan Trade + Indian Ocean Trade facilitated Exchange of goods, econ. & cultural development, and the spread of Islam.
    • Some parts of Africa resisted Islam, and S. Africa regions didn't even have contact until later. Most African cultures were Kin-based networks, tribal/clan-based.
  • Post-Classical Africa saw significant changes
  • WEST AFRICA
    • Ghana: Powerful army & $ controlled gold & salt in Saharan Trade. No state religion.
    • Mali: Founded by Sundiata. Mansa Musa made lavish hajj, supported trade & Islam $$. A highly respected Mali emperor who led it into tremendous wealth
    • Shanghai: Founded by Sunni Ali. Conquered by Moroccan invaders eventually.
      Swahili Coast: Located in E. Africa with a crossroad for trade with the Indian Ocean. Bantu city-states blended African, Arab, and Persian culture. Largest city was Great Zimbabwe.
  • Ethiopia: Kingdom of Axum - Christian Kingdom which engaged in trade.
    Storytellers who acted as oral historians

Early Europe

EARLY EUROPE
  • Following the fall of Rome, W. Europe came to be dominated by feudalism.
  • Feudalism: Based on the holding of land in exchange for service/labor with a clear hierarchy: King, Lords (elites w/ granted land), Knights (protected wealth & power), and Serfs (worked the land).
  • Large Fiefs were known as manors. The manorial system provided econ. self-sufficiency and defense.
  • Europe remained decentralized and unengaged w/ global trade.
  • Agriculture
    • 3-Field System increased food production, leading to population growth.
    • Windmills & plows also increased argicultural efficiency.
Political Developments
  • Gradually, regional kingdoms grew to become solidified, where regional kingdoms grew to become solidified.
    King Phillip II, France, made legislative body: Estates-General
  • Holy Roman Empire was federation of territories founded by King Otto I and 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 demonstrated growing use of gunpowder spread west and brought on nationalism.
Religious Developments
  • Reconquista: Catholic church expelled Muslims from Spain.
  • The Great Schism marked the 1st division of Christianity, where:
    • Roman Catholic West Europe.
    • Orthodox East Europe (Greece - Russia).
  • Catholic Church was the MOST powerful institution in Europe. Dominated literacy, established 1st universities, and persecuted those who spoke out.
  • Crusades: A pretty much failed. However, it: Weakened the power of Catholic church, increased the power of regional monarchs, and sparked off Renaissance.
Renaissance
  • A reemergence of literature, art, global connection, and development during which Individuals (Humanism) put more emphasis on science & Philosophy.
  • Gutenberg Printing Press mass printed books. Played key role in spreading of knowledge.
  • The Crusades