Exhaustive Global History Study Guide: 1200-2000

Yellow Period: State Building and Trade Networks (1200-1450)

  • Time Duration: This period spans from 1200 to 1450.

  • Unit 1: State Building:     * Malacca Strait - Majanpahit:         * The Majanpahit empire was central to the Spice Trade.         * The empire held an Islamic religious character.     * Khemer Kingdom:         * Known for the Angkor Watt, which serves as a prime example of Monumental Architecture.

  • Unit 2: Trade Networks:     * The Mongols:         * Unifying Factors:             * They provided protection for merchants on the Silk Roads, ensuring safe passage.             * Pax mongolica: A specific document or state of being declaring peace throughout all Mongol-controlled territory.             * Maintained a policy of being religiously tolerant.             * Demonstrated cultural adaptability by adopting Chinese Culture.             * Facilitated the spread of technology across their domains.         * Dividing Factors:             * Responsible for mass murder and the destruction of various cities.             * Imposed major taxing on their subjects.             * Contributed to the spread of the plague.     * Latin America:         * Major civilizations included the Aztecs and Incas.         * Systems utilized included the tribute system and the mitas systems.         * Technological and record-keeping tools: quipu and terrace farming.     * Africa:         * East Africa: The Swahili Coast featured traders creating independent cities; heavily involved in the Indian Ocean trade.         * West Africa: Domain of the Gold Trans-sahara trade network.         * The Mali Empire was led by Mansa Musa, the Emperor of Mali.         * Social and religious structures: Islam-influenced and characterized as Matriarchal.     * Asia - China:         * Successive dynasties: Song dynasty and Yuan Dynasty.         * Agricultural and infrastructural innovations: Champa Rice and the Great Canal.         * Social and political pillars: Civil service exam, Filial piety, Mandatheam, the five relationships, and Confucianism.     * South East Asia & India:         * India: Predominantly Hinduism and the Caste System.         * Buddhism: Focused on Enlightenment, defined as the process of detaching yourself from relationships and everything else.     * Europe (Isolated):         * Feudal system: A hierarchical system strictly tied to land ownership.         * Hierarchy: King → Lords/nobles → Knights → Serfs.         * Knights: Functioned as part of the education and political system.         * Guild System: Established to protect the interests and welfare of the Serfs.         * Religion: Christianity was the dominant force.

  • Detailed Comparison of Trade Networks:     * Indian Ocean Trade Network:         * Cultures involved: Swahili, Arabic, and Bantas.         * Commodities: Bulk goods such as Iron, metal, wood, and large shipments of spices and teas.         * Geographic scope: Connected Africa and Asia.     * Silk Road:         * Focused on luxury goods, specifically silk, precious metal, spices, teas, and porcelain.     * Trans saharan Trade Network:         * Technology: Depended on the camel saddle and caravans.         * Commodities: Primarily Gold and Salt.         * Silent bargaining: A specialized system utilized where trading parties did not have to speak to one another to conduct trade.         * Political Context: Associated with the Mali Empire and the spread of the Islam Empire.

Blue Period: Land and Maritime Based Empires (1450-1750)

  • Time Duration: This period spans from 1450 to 1750.

  • Unit 3: Land Based Empires and Unit 4: Maritime Based Empires:     * Key Figures of Exploration:         * Zheng He: Responsible for expanding China's wealth and power throughout South East Asia and reaching parts of Africa.         * Columbus: Initiated the colonization of the Americas on behalf of the Spanish.

  • Major Empires:     1. Ottoman Empire:         * Utilized Gunpowder weapons.         * Religious affiliation: Sunni muslims.         * Military system: janissaries system.         * Millet system: A policy where non-muslims groups could practice their own religion provided they paid a tax.         * Tolerance: Described as moderately religiously tolerant, allowing for different religions within the empire.         * Location: Spanned the Middle east, Africa, and south Europe.         * Legacy: Collapsed during WW1; associated with the Arminan genocide.     2. Sadavids:         * Religious affiliation: Shia Islam.         * Location: Centered in the Persian Region.         * Emperor: Isamail.         * Architecture: Noted for Mosques.         * Conflict: Engaged in a persistent conflict ("beefing") with the Ottomans due to religious differences:             * Shia: Belief that leadership must be descended from the family of the prophet Mohanamad.             * Sunni: Support for elected leadership.     3. Mughal Empire:         * Location: India.         * Emperor Akbar: Known for religious tolerance and the adoption of different cultures.         * Taj Mahal: A major piece of Monumental architecture built by Shah Mahan.         * Religious movements: Sikhism and Syncretism (the blending of Hinduism and islam).

  • European Land Based Empires:     * France: King Louis XIV (King 14) built the Palace of Versailles to consolidate power with the nobles.     * Russia: Peter The Great instituted the Beard tax, reportedly driven by jealousy of being unable to grow facial hair himself.

  • China's Shift: After the death of Zheng He, China transitioned into a period of being isolationist.

  • Motivations for European Maritime Exploration:     * God: To convert others to Christianity.     * Glory: To compete against other European countries.     * Gold: To find resources and expand trade.

Trans-Atlantic Encounters and the Columbian Exchange

  • The Columbian Exchange:     * A massive transfer from Europe to America, and from America to Europe and Asia.     * Europe/Africa to America:         * Diseases: The "Great dying," resulting in a mortality rate where 90%90\% of natives died.         * Animals and Plants: Cattle, Horses, Pigs, Wheat, Spices, and Cash Crops.         * African contributions: Rice, Okra, millet, peanuts, yams, and Slaves.     * America to Europe/Asia:         * Staple crops: Potatoes, corn, and Cassava.

  • Trans Atlantic Slave Trade:     * Lead to the start of the racialization of White and blacks.     * Religious Syncretism:         * Christianity + Native Beliefs: Resulted in figures like the Virgin de Guadalupe (whom natives called Tonantzin).         * Christianity + African Beliefs: Resulted in Voodun.     * Pre-Atlantic Slave Trade Context: The slave trade existed previously, but under different terms: individuals could buy their freedom, own land, and were categorized socially; often based on those being a Prisioner of War.

  • European Empires in the Americas:     * Spain:         * Hernan Cortes: Conquered the Aztecs with the assistance of rival native tribes.         * Moctezuma: The leader of the Aztecs who believed Cortes was a god.         * Casta system (sociedad de las castas): A racialized system where Europeans (whites) held the most power and received the most privilege.

Modern History Periods (1750-2000)

  • Orange Period:     * Time duration: 1750-1900.     * Covers Unit 5 and Unit 6.

  • Red Period:     * Time duration: 1900-2000.     * Covers Unit 7, Unit 8, and Unit 9.