AP World Theme Two Timeline: CDI

Cultural Developments and Interactions

1200 - 1450

  • Song China population followed Confucianism and were unified under this one philosophy, one language, and one culture.
  • China had strong influence over Japan culture despite the Japanese resisting.
  • New forms of Buddhism made their way to China and Southeast Asia, such as Zen Buddhism which was a more religious version.
  • Dar al Islam was united by Islam and Arabic. Islam was not able to spread to India under the Mughal Empire due to the distinct differences with Hinduism. Islam spread to West Africa through merchants.
  • Hinduism rooted in India’s culture, the Caste System shaped their social hierarchy.
  • The Roman Catholic Church established places of knowledge and science, it unified Europe culturally.
  • The Crusades went to Jerusalem as directed by the Roman Catholic Church, they spread Christianity and fought Muslims for the holy sites.
  • The Renaissance brought the rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman art.
  • Mongol rule allowed all religions to continue their practices, and with protection those religions were able to spread even more (mostly Muslim).
  • Merchants on the Indian Ocean trade system spread their culture and religion, especially Muslim merchants. This also created diasporic communities between merchants.
  • Merchants on trade routes also syncretized their religions with the existing religions in trade areas. Ex: Zen Buddhism made from Daoism and Buddhism.
  • Merchants languages syncretized as well. Ex: Arabic and Bantu combined into Swahili.
  • Chinese maritime activity was led by admiral Zheng He created cultural and technological transfers.
  • Marco Polo’s trips to China inspired Europeans’ desire to trade with and travel to Asia/Africa.
  • Ibn Battuta traveled throughout Dar al Islam and rest of Asia and Africa, inspiring Muslims to travel to and trade with the rest of the world.

1450 - 1750

  • Protestant Reformation changed existing Christian traditions and resulted in the division between Roman Catholicism and the new Protestantism.
  • The political rivalry between the Ottomans and the Safavids intensified split in Islam with Shi’a and Sunnis.
  • As Hindus and Muslims interacted, Sikhism, a new syncretic religion was formed in South Asia.
  • Increase in interactions between the East and West, after the Columbian Exchange started, expanded reach/spread of existing religions and development of syncretic beliefs rather than fully accepting Christianity.
  • Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate cut itself off from European cultural influence.
  • European Jesuits attempted to convert the Chinese as interactions increased during the Qing Dynasty.

1750 - 1900

  • Enlightenment philosophies questioned religion’s role in society and emphasized reason over faith, but also normalized religious freedom.
  • Enlightenment political ideas about natural rights, the social contract, and the individual question government traditions and inspired rebellions.
  • Nationalism became driving force for future empire/state developments.
  • In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was singed during the American Revolution, it’s democratic ideals from Enlightenment thinking inspired revolutions in Haiti and France.
  • Imperialism was justified by nationalism, social Darwinism, and the desire to convert and civilize populations.
  • Sepoy Rebellion in 1857 was caused by British rulers not respecting the Hindu beliefs of their Indian colonized soldiers, the Sepoys.
  • As Europe colonized and attempted to convert Africa, Christianity was combined with African religions, including Shamanism and Animism.
  • As immigration increased greatly due to new push and pull factors, restrictions on immigration targeted groups, cultural and racial, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act in the US.

1900 - Present

  • The Cold War was driven by the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism.
  • Movements like the Non Aligned Movement promoted alternative social ideologies during the Cold War.
  • Movements lead by individuals like MLK, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela promoted non-violent ways of change.
  • Other movements believed in violence, mainly terrorists.
  • Globalization influenced arts, entertainment, and popular/consumer culture.
  • Global consumerism rose as economic culture, including online shopping