Unit 1 Exam Review Notes

State Building and Maintenance (1200-1450)

  • State: A territory politically organized under a single government.

Song Dynasty (China)

  • Maintained rule through Confucianism and expansion of imperial bureaucracy.
  • Neo-Confucianism: Revival of Confucianism, removing Buddhist influences.
  • Confucianism: Hierarchical society needing harmony.
  • Filial Piety: Children obey/honor parents and ancestors.
  • Women's Status: Subordinate, stripped of legal rights, limited education, foot binding.
  • Imperial Bureaucracy: Government entity carrying out the emperor's will.
  • Civil Service Exam: Merit-based jobs based on Confucian classes.

Chinese Influence

  • Korea, Japan, and Vietnam adopted aspects of Chinese traditions (e.g., civil service exams).

Buddhism in China

  • Four Noble Truths: Life is suffering, suffering is caused by craving, cease craving to cease suffering, live morally by following the eightfold path.
  • Theravada Buddhism: Practiced by monks in monasteries.
  • Mahayana Buddhism: Broader participation, Bodhisattvas help others attain enlightenment.

Song Economy

  • Commercialization: Producing more goods than consumed for trade, such as porcelain and silk.
  • Champa Rice: Early maturing, drought-resistant rice leading to a population boom.
  • Grand Canal expansion facilitated trade and communication.

Dar Al Islam

  • Islam shaped cultures and societies.
  • Abbasid Caliphate: Initially dominant, later replaced by Turkic empires.
  • Seljuk Empire: Turkic empire that rose after Abbasid decline.
  • Sharia Law: Legal code based on the Quran.
  • Cultural/Scientific Innovations: Nasir al Din al Tusi (trigonometry), preservation of Greek philosophy in the House of Wisdom.
  • Expansion of Muslim Rule: Military expansion, merchant activity, Sufi missionaries.

South and Southeast Asia

  • Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam vied for dominance.
  • Bakti Movement: Emphasized devotion to Hindu gods.
  • Delhi Sultanate faced resistance from Rajput kingdoms and Vijayanagara Empire.
  • Majapahit Kingdom: Buddhist kingdom controlling sea routes.
  • Khmer Empire: Hindu kingdom that converted to Buddhism (Angkor Wat).

The Americas

  • Aztec Empire: Tribute system.
  • Inca Empire: Centralized with labor on state projects (Mita system).
  • Mississippian Culture: Built monumental mounds.

Africa

  • Swahili Civilization: Cities organized around commerce, influenced by Muslim traders, Swahili language emergence.
  • West African Empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai): Growth driven by trade, elites converted to Islam.
  • Great Zimbabwe: Wealthy state from farming, cattle herding, and gold exports; rulers maintained shamanistic religion.
  • Kingdom of Ethiopia: Christian state with a hierarchical power structure.

Europe

  • Dominated by Christianity (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism).
  • Byzantine Empire: Represented Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
  • Western Europe: Roman Catholic Church linked states culturally.
  • Feudalism: Powerful lords gained allegiance from lesser lords in exchange for land and military service.
  • Manorialism: Peasants bound to the land of powerful landowners.