Global Tapestry Vocabulary (Pages 1-2)

1.1 Vocabulary

• Song Dynasty
  • Key features: advances in agriculture (terrace farming), urban culture, and state organization
  • Related concepts in transcript: terrace farming, foot binding, filial piety, Confucianism, proto-industrialization, woodblock printing
• Terrace farming
  • Definition: agricultural practice of carving flat steps into mountain slopes to increase arable land and reduce runoff
  • Significance: supports population growth and settlement patterns in agrarian empires
• Foot binding
  • Definition: cultural practice shaping female feet for beauty and status
  • Significance: reflects social norms and gender roles in Song-era China
• Filial piety
  • Definition: Confucian virtue of respect for one's parents and ancestors
  • Significance: foundational to family life and social hierarchy across East Asia
• Confucianism
  • Definition: philosophy emphasizing social harmony, hierarchy, education, and ritual propriety
  • Significance: influenced governance, education, civil service, and meritocracy notions
• Proto-industrialization
  • Definition: early phase of industrial development preceding full mechanization
  • Significance: laid groundwork for later industrial transformations in Eurasia
• Woodblock printing
  • Definition: printing technique using carved wooden blocks for mass reproduction
  • Significance: facilitated spread of literature, bureaucratic texts, and literacy
• Heian Period in Japan
  • Definition: Japanese era (794–1185) preceding feudalization, noted for court culture
  • Significance: cultural foundations that influenced later Japanese periods
• Buddhism
  • Definition: religious tradition practiced in Asia with multiple schools and rituals
  • Significance: shaped religious, cultural, and intellectual life across regions
• Nuclear family
  • Definition: family unit consisting of parents and dependent children
  • Significance: contrasts with extended family structures; affects lineage and inheritance patterns
• Meritocracy
  • Definition: system where advancement is based on ability or merit rather than birth
  • Significance: linked to civil service selection and governance in various empires
• Artisans
  • Definition: skilled craft workers producing goods and providing services
  • Significance: essential to craft production, trade, and urban economies
• Imperial bureaucracy
  • Definition: organized government staffing and administration under an empire
  • Significance: enabled centralized rule, taxation, and policy implementation
• Tribute
  • Definition: system of payments or goods given to a superior power by vassal/dependent states
  • Significance: facilitated diplomacy, trade, and political influence
• Grand Canal
  • Definition: vast waterway network in China connecting major economic regions
  • Significance: improved transport of grain, goods, and political control
• Kowtow
  • Definition: ceremonial bowing gesture of submission or respect in East Asian diplomacy
  • Significance: symbol of diplomatic hierarchy and foreign relations
• Taoism
  • Definition: Chinese philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing harmony with the Dao
  • Significance: contributed to regional belief systems and intellectual pluralism
• Polygyny
  • Definition: marriage form where a man has multiple wives
  • Significance: reflects social and family structures in certain empires
• Champa rice
  • Definition: fast-rilling rice variety from Champa that boosted yields in Asia
  • Significance: supported population growth and urbanization
• Scholar-gentry
  • Definition: educated landholding class in China who held bureaucratic positions
  • Significance: major force in governance and social mobility
• Imperial bureaucracy
  • See above under “Imperial bureaucracy”
• Tribute
  • See above under “Tribute”
• Grand Canal
  • See above under “Grand Canal”
• Kowtow
  • See above under “Kowtow”
• Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism (Synthesis/All three)
  • Note: Major religious and philosophical influences shaping governance, ethics, and social norms
• Silk Road
  • Definition: ancient network of trade routes linking East and West
  • Significance: enabled cross-cultural exchange, goods, ideas, and technologies
• Sufism
  • Definition: Islamic mysticism emphasizing inner spirituality and personal devotion
  • Significance: influenced religious practice and cross-cultural exchanges along trade networks
• Dhow
  • Definition: traditional sailing vessels used in Indian Ocean trade
  • Significance: facilitated maritime commerce and cultural contact
• Umayyads
  • Definition: early Islamic caliphate (661–750 CE) preceding the Abbasids
  • Significance: established early expansion and administrative structures in the Muslim world
• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
  • Definition: Persian scholar and polymath associated with medieval Islamic scholarship
  • Significance: contributed to theological, astronomical, and philosophical discourse
• A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah
  • Definition: female Muslim mystic and poet from early Islamic tradition
  • Significance: cultural and religious contributions to Islamic thought
• Ibn Khaldun
  • Definition: Arab historian and philosopher known for the Muqaddimah
  • Significance: foundational ideas on science of civilization and state dynamics
• Cordoba
  • Definition: prominent Islamic city in Al-Andalus under Umayyads/Abbasids
  • Significance: center of learning, culture, and religious tolerance
• People of the Book
  • Definition: term referring to Jews, Christians, and other adherents of revealed scriptures in Islamic tradition
  • Significance: affected interfaith relations and taxation (jizya in some contexts)
• Vijayanagar Empire
  • Definition: powerful southern Indian Hindu kingdom (c. 1336–1646)
  • Significance: promoter of trade, religion, and cultural exchange
• Chola Dynasty
  • Definition: South Indian dynasty known for naval power and trade
  • Significance: influence over Indian Ocean trade and politics
• Rajput kingdoms
  • Definition: cluster of warrior states in northern and western India
  • Significance: played key roles in medieval Indian political landscape
• Delhi Sultanate
  • Definition: Muslim-ruled sultanates in northern India (1206–1526)
  • Significance: major center of administration, culture, and religious diversity
• Jizya
  • Definition: per-capita tax historically levied on non-Muslim subjects in Muslim states
  • Significance: reflects governance strategies and religious tolerance/policy debates
• Gupta Empire
  • Definition: Classical Indian empire (approx. 320–550 CE)
  • Significance: known for cultural and scientific achievements; often cited as a Golden Age
• Hinduism
  • Definition: major world religion originating on the Indian subcontinent
  • Significance: deeply influenced social structure, philosophy, and temple culture
• Buddhism
  • See above under “Buddhism”
• Proselytize
  • Definition: to attempt to convert others to a religion or belief system
  • Significance: shaped religious expansion and intercultural contact
• Caste system
  • Definition: hierarchical social organization in India based on birth and lineage
  • Significance: structured social order and opportunities for mobility
• Arabic numerals
  • Definition: numeral system developed in the Indian-Arabic mathematical tradition and transmitted to Europe
  • Significance: fundamental for modern arithmetic and science
• Qutub Minar
  • Definition: iconic minaret in Delhi, a symbol of Islamic rule in India
  • Significance: architectural and historical landmark
• Urdu
  • Definition: language emergent from cultural interactions in South Asia, blending multiple linguistic traditions
  • Significance: linguistic symbol of syncretism in the region
• Bhakti Movement
  • Definition: devotional reform movements across Hinduism emphasizing personal devotion
  • Significance: contributed to religious reform and social change
• Srivijaya Empire
  • Definition: maritime empire centered on Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula
  • Significance: dominated trade routes in Southeast Asia and influenced regional culture
• Majapahit kingdom
  • Definition: major Javanese empire that controlled parts of Southeast Asia
  • Significance: played a pivotal role in the spread of Hindu-Buddhist culture in the region
• Sinhala dynasties
  • Definition: historical dynasties in Sri Lanka
  • Significance: contributed to political stability and Buddhist scholarship
• Khmer Empire / Angkor
  • Definition: powerful empire in Southeast Asia centered at Angkor (modern Cambodia)
  • Significance: monumental architecture and religious/cultural developments
• Sukhothai Kingdom
  • Definition: early Thai kingdom in the 13th–15th centuries
  • Significance: development of Thai statecraft and culture
• Syncretism
  • Definition: blending of different religious, cultural, or philosophical traditions
  • Significance: common in regions with long-standing intercultural contact
• Sinification
  • Definition: spread of Chinese culture and influence into neighboring regions
  • Significance: shaping political and cultural landscapes across Asia
• Zen Buddhism
  • Definition: school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition
  • Significance: influenced religious and cultural practices in East Asia
• Silk Road
  • See above under “Silk Road”
• Dhow (see earlier)
• Moche, Olmecs, Mississippian, Cahokia, Maya, Aztecs, Chinampas, Great Pyramid, Lake Texcoco, Theocracy, Pochteca, Pachacuti, Mit’a system, Cuzco, Temple of the Sun, Quipu, Carpa Nan, Huayna Capac, Mesoamerica, Arche
  • Overview: Pre-Columbian civilizations and practices in the Americas; common terms for social, religious, and architectural features
  • Significance: demonstrates independent regional developments and complex social structures in the Americas
• Abisola (likely a garbled entry)
  • Note: transcript contains garbled term; interpreted as part of the broader list of archaeological and cultural terms
• Arche (likely “Archaeology” or related term)
  • Note: garbled; included as part of the cross-cultural study of civilizations

1.2 Vocabulary

• Abbasid Caliphate
  • Definition: Abbasid dynasty ruling a vast Islamic caliphate (750–1258 CE) centered in Baghdad
  • Significance: golden age of science, culture, and learning; House of Wisdom as a major center
• Baghdad
  • Definition: capital of the Abbasid Caliphate; major hub of learning and commerce
• House of Wisdom
  • Definition: renowned center for translating and advancing knowledge in Baghdad
  • Significance: facilitated translations, scientific progress, and cross-cultural exchange
• Mamluk Sultanate
  • Definition: Islamic regime in Egypt and Syria (13th–16th centuries) built by slave soldiers
  • Significance: preserved and expanded trade networks and scholarly activity

1.3 Vocabulary

• Seljuk Turks
  • Definition: Turkic Muslim dynasty that established a vast empire in the 11th–12th centuries
  • Significance: mediated trade and culture between East and West; facilitated Crusades
• Seljuk Empire
  • Definition: political realm built by Seljuks across parts of the Middle East
• Sultan
  • Definition: ruler title in Islamic polities; sovereign authority
• Mongols
  • Definition: nomadic people who created the vast Mongol Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries
  • Significance: reshaped Eurasian political maps through conquest and exchange
• Crusades
  • Definition: series of religious military campaigns in the medieval period
• Zen Buddhism to Sinification
  • Definition: spread of Zen (Chan) Buddhism and its integration with local cultures in East Asia
  • Significance: facilitated cultural exchange and adaptation of ideas
• Neo-Confucianism
  • Definition: revival and reinterpretation of Confucian thought incorporating Buddhist and Daoist elements
  • Significance: shaped moral and political philosophy in East Asia
• Silk Road
  • See 1.1
• Sufism
  • See 1.1
• Dhow
  • See 1.1
• Umayyads
  • See 1.1
• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
  • See 1.1
• A'ishah al-Ba'uniyyah
  • See 1.1
• Ibn Khaldun
  • See 1.1
• Cordoba
  • See 1.1
• People of the Book
  • See 1.1
• Vijayanagar Empire; Chola Dynasty; Rajput kingdoms; Delhi Sultanate
  • Regional powers in South Asia with various governance structures and religious affiliations
• Jizya
  • See 1.1
• Gupta Empire; Hinduism; Buddhism; Proselytize; Caste system
  • Key terms across South Asian religious and political history
• Arabic numerals; Qutub Minar; Urdu; Bhakti Movement; Srivijaya Empire; Majapahit kingdom; Sinhala dynasties; Khmer Empire/Angkor; Sukhothai Kingdom; Syncretism; Sinification
  • Diverse terms reflecting global diffusion, architecture, language, religious reform, and regional powers

1.4 Vocabulary

• Moche; Olmecs; Mississippian; Mound builders; Cahokia; Matrilineal society
  • Definitions: pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas with distinct social structures
• Chaco; Mesa Verde; Maya City-states; City-state; Human sacrifice; Mexicas/Aztecs; Chinampas; Great Pyramid; Lake Texcoco
  • Highlights: monumental architecture, political organization, religious practices, and agricultural innovations
• Theocracy; Pochteca; Pachacuti; Mit'a system; Cuzco; Temple of the Sun; Quipu; Carpa Nan; Huayna Capac; Mesoamerica
  • Concepts: governance by religious authority, merchant networks, Andean social systems, and governance in Mesoamerican and Andean worlds
• Abisola; Arche
  • Note: transcripts include some garbled terms; captured here as part of a broader Mesoamerican and Andean context

1.5 Vocabulary

• Ibn Battuta
  • Definition: Moroccan traveler and scholar who documented Islamic lands and beyond
• Mali; Timbuktu; Gao; Kin-based networks; Chief; Hausa Kingdoms
  • Definition: West African empires and city-states linked by kin and trade networks
• Trans-Saharan trade
  • Definition: trade across the Sahara Desert between Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa
• Ghana; Songhai/Songhay kingdom; Sundiata; Mansa Musa
  • Key figures and states in West Africa’s empires
• Great Zimbabwe
  • Definition: stone-walled city and center of a powerful Zimbabwean state
• Indian Ocean trade; Gold; Salt
  • Significance: linked Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia; economic drivers
• Ethiopia/Axum
  • Definition: ancient Ethiopian kingdom with Christian heritage and long-distance trade
• Zanj rebellion
  • Definition: slaves’ uprising in the Ibn Battuta/early modern period context; reflects labor and colonial histories
• Griots/griottes
  • Definition: West African storytellers and musicians preserving history
• Types of slavery: Chattel; Domestic; debt bondage
  • Definitions: different forms of slavery documented across Afro-Eurasia

1.6 Vocabulary

• Roman Catholic Church; Martin Luther; Protestant Reformation
  • Definitions and connections: critique of medieval practices, rise of Protestant denominations
• Primogeniture
  • Definition: inheritance by the firstborn son
  • Significance: affected succession and property distribution
• Thirty Years War
  • Definition: major multi-national conflict primarily in Central Europe
  • Significance: reshaped European politics and religion
• Feudalism; Norman Invasion; Fief; Vassal; Magna Carta
  • Definitions and relationships: classic medieval political and social order; legal limits on monarchy
• Crusades; Code of chivalry; John; Venice; Levant; Saladin
  • Context: religious warfare, knightly conduct, and medieval diplomacy
• Manorial system; English Parliament; House of Lords; House of Commons
  • Governance and socio-economic structures within medieval/early modern Europe
• Great Schism of $1054$; Eastern Orthodox Church; Pope Urban II; Constantinople
  • Key events and institutions shaping Western and Eastern Christian relations
• Little Ice Age
  • Definition: prolonged period of cooling roughly from the 14th to the 19th centuries affecting agriculture and society
• European Jewry; European Muslims
  • Demographics and religious communities across medieval and early modern Europe
• Renaissance; Humanism; Divine Comedy; Canterbury Tales
  • Intellectual and literary movements/canons in Europe
• Kiev; Serf; Three-field system; Phillip II; Estates-General; Marco Polo; Otto I; Kublai Khan; Lay investiture; Cartography; Monasticism; Middle class
  • Diverse concepts spanning politics, social structure, exploration, and knowledge production

1.7 Vocabulary

• Vernacular language
  • Definition: everyday spoken language of a people, emerging in literature and administration
• Kievan Rus
  • Definition: medieval polity in Eastern Europe centered around Kyiv
• Ivan the Great
  • Definition: Grand Prince of Moscow who consolidated authority and expanded the Russian state
• State-building
  • Definition: processes by which a state forms, consolidates power, and creates institutions
• Role of religion in state-building and empires
  • Significance: religion often legitimated rule, helped unify diverse populations, and influenced law and policy
• Cross-cultural exchanges
  • Significance: movement of goods, ideas, people, and technologies across regions
• Connections to prior lectures
  • The listed terms collectively illustrate how states centralized power, managed economies, and interacted through trade and religion across Afro-Eurasia and the Americas
• Practical implications
  • Trade networks, technological transfers (e.g., printing, numerals), religious reform movements, and state-building strategies shaped world history
• Ethical/philosophical implications
  • Debates over religious tolerance, governance legitimacy, social stratification, and cultural assimilation
• Formulas and numbers present in the transcript
  • Great Schism dated: $1054$ (year of the split between Western and Eastern Christian churches)
  • Other terms imply timeframes (medieval, early modern, etc.) but are not explicitly dated in the transcript

Cross-cutting themes and connections

• Trade and exchange networks
  • Silk Road, Indian Ocean trade, and trans-Saharan routes linked diverse civilizations, enabling exchange of goods, technologies, and ideas
• Religion and state-building
  • Religion often underpinned political legitimacy (Islamic caliphates, Christian polities, Buddhist and Hindu states) and shaped laws, education, and social norms
• Social organization and mobility
  • Concepts like caste, feudalism, primogeniture, and the scholar-gentry show how power and status were structured and contested
• Technological and cultural diffusion
  • Printing, numerals, architectural styles, and religious/philosophical ideas diffused across regions, contributing to cultural syncretism and new ways of governance
• Epistemic centers and knowledge transmission
  • Institutions like the House of Wisdom, monasteries, and universities facilitated scholarship and cross-cultural learning