AP World Semester 1

AP World History Study Guide: Semester 1

I. The Global Tapestry (c. 1200 - c. 1450)

• Key Themes:

  • The period marks the rise and transformation of several powerful and culturally rich civilizations.

  • The spread of ideas, technologies, and religious beliefs led to the development of more complex political, economic, and social systems.

• Key Civilizations and States:

  • China:

    • Song Dynasty (960-1279):

      • The Song Dynasty was a period of significant technological and economic growth. Innovations like the use of paper money, compass navigation, and printing technologies spread across China and into the rest of Asia.

      • The civil service exams strengthened bureaucratic governance, while the foot binding practice symbolized changing gender roles.

      • China’s Silk Road trade flourished, and cities like Hangzhou were cultural and economic hubs.

  • India:

    • The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) was a key Muslim empire that extended control over northern India.

    • Islam spread significantly through trade and conquest, blending with local Hindu traditions.

    • Hinduism remained strong, but regional kingdoms like the Vijayanagara Empire showed syncretism, especially in art and culture.

    • Economic role: India was a central point for trade, including the exchange of spices, textiles, and gems across the Indian Ocean.

  • Europe:

    • Feudalism: The political structure was based on land ownership and the mutual obligations of lords and vassals.

    • The Catholic Church wielded immense influence, both spiritually and politically.

    • The Crusades (1095-1291) were military campaigns aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem from Muslim control, which also led to the exchange of knowledge, culture, and trade between Europe and the Islamic world.

    • Byzantine Empire: Though weakened by internal strife, the Byzantines maintained a strong cultural and economic presence in the Mediterranean region.

• Africa:

  • Mali Empire (c. 1235-1600): Known for its wealth from gold and salt trade, the Mali Empire flourished under leaders like Mansa Musa, who spread Islam and encouraged education.

  • The Swahili Coast: A network of coastal city-states that flourished due to trade with the Middle East and India, spread Islam, and built distinctive urban cultures.

• The Americas:

  • Aztec Empire: Located in Mesoamerica, the Aztecs were known for their vast agricultural systems, including chinampas (floating gardens), and their complex religious practices (e.g., human sacrifice to honor gods).

  • Inca Empire: In South America, the Incas developed an extensive road network across the Andes mountains, a sophisticated administrative system, and terracing for agriculture.

  • Mayan Civilization: In the Yucatan, the Mayans created advanced calendars, mathematics, and a writing system, contributing heavily to Mesoamerican culture.

• Southeast Asia:

  • Srivijaya (7th-13th centuries): A powerful maritime kingdom that controlled the Malacca Strait, a vital trade route for goods between India and China.

  • Khmer Empire (9th-15th centuries): Known for the Angkor Wat temple, the Khmer Empire was a major force in Southeast Asia and a center of Hinduism and later Buddhism.

• Key Concepts:

  • Social Hierarchies: The development of rigid class systems such as the feudal system in Europe, the caste system in India, and the social stratification in China and other parts of Asia shaped people’s roles in society.

  • Religion’s Influence: In addition to Islam spreading along trade routes, Buddhism was spread across East and Southeast Asia, while Christianity remained influential in Europe. Confucianism guided Chinese governance, while Hinduism remained dominant in India.

  • Cultural Diffusion: The Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade were crucial in spreading technologies like paper-making, gunpowder, and the compass, along with philosophical and religious ideas.

II. Networks of Exchange (c. 1200 - c. 1450)

• Key Themes:

  • This period saw the expansion of global trade networks, facilitated by innovations in navigation and transportation.

  • The interaction between cultures and regions shaped technological, cultural, and economic systems worldwide.

• Key Trade Routes:

  • Silk Roads:

    • The Mongols played a critical role in revitalizing the Silk Roads, offering protection and promoting stability (Pax Mongolica) that allowed merchants to travel more freely.

    • The Silk Road not only facilitated the movement of luxury goods like silk and spices, but also ideas, such as Buddhism into Central Asia and China and Islam into Southeast Asia.

    • Technology exchange: The compass, papermaking, and gunpowder spread through these routes, significantly impacting the societies that adopted them.

  • Indian Ocean Trade:

    • Maritime trade in the Indian Ocean was essential for connecting East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, especially through ports like Calicut and Malacca.

    • Muslim merchants acted as intermediaries, spreading both Islam and technologies like astrolabes and improved shipbuilding techniques.

    • The Swahili Coast acted as a hub for trade and culture, linking Arab, Persian, and Indian merchant networks.

  • Trans-Saharan Trade:

    • The trade in gold, salt, and slaves across the Sahara linked the West African kingdoms (Mali, Ghana) with the Mediterranean world.

    • The Mali Empire, under Mansa Musa, was one of the wealthiest empires, largely due to its control over the gold trade.

    • Islamic scholars and merchants traveled along this route, leading to the spread of Islam into West Africa.

• Key Concepts:

  • Cultural Diffusion: The spread of Islam through trade (Indian Ocean and Trans-Saharan routes), Buddhism through the Silk Roads, and the blending of Islam with local traditions in Africa and Asia.

  • Impact of Disease: The Black Death spread from Asia to Europe along trade routes, decimating populations and disrupting economies. It altered social structures and contributed to the end of feudalism in Europe.

  • Economic Integration: The rise of merchant classes and the growth of banking systems (e.g., in Italy) facilitated the expansion of trade.

III. Land-Based Empires (c. 1200 - c. 1450)

• Key Themes:

  • Powerful land-based empires expanded their territories through military conquests and effective state-building strategies.

  • Empires utilized military technologies, bureaucratic systems, and religious legitimacy to consolidate power.

• Key Empires:

  • Mongol Empire:

    • Genghis Khan (1162-1227) united the Mongol tribes and created the largest contiguous land empire in history, which spanned much of Asia and Eastern Europe.

    • The Mongols were skilled in horseback warfare and siege tactics, and they utilized gunpowder weapons and advanced battle tactics to defeat much larger armies.

    • The Pax Mongolica helped revive Silk Road trade and enabled cultural exchanges across Eurasia.

    • After Genghis Khan’s death, his empire fragmented into smaller khanates (e.g., Golden Horde, Yuan Dynasty in China, Ilkhanate in Persia).

  • Ottoman Empire:

    • The Ottomans expanded their territory across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe (e.g., the Balkans, and eventually the fall of Constantinople in 1453).

    • The Ottomans utilized gunpowder and cannons, especially to conquer fortified cities.

    • The Ottoman system was based on a mixture of Islamic law, military elites (Janissaries), and a decentralized administrative system.

    • Their dominance in key trade routes between Europe and Asia allowed them to control much of the trade in the Mediterranean.

  • Ming China:

    • After the Yuan Dynasty (Mongol rule), the Ming Dynasty restored Han Chinese rule, focusing on internal stability and economic recovery.

    • The Ming built the Great Wall to protect against northern invasions and commissioned voyages by Zheng He to establish Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean.

    • The Ming also expanded agricultural output with the introduction of new crops and irrigation methods.

  • Songhai Empire:

    • Songhai was one of the most powerful empires in West Africa, thriving on gold and salt trade.

    • The Islamic faith played a central role in governance and culture, with rulers like Mansa Musa of Mali encouraging education and Islamic scholarship.

• Key Concepts:

  • Military Technology: The use of gunpowder in both Europe (e.g., Ottoman cannons) and Asia (e.g., Mongol and Chinese armies).

  • Bureaucratic Systems: Empires like the Ming, Ottomans, and Songhai developed complex bureaucracies to manage large, diverse territories.

  • Religious Legitimacy: Many empires claimed divine right to rule or used religion to justify their conquests (e.g., the Caliphate system in Islamic empires, the divine mandate of the Chinese emperors, or the Ottomans’ role as caliphs).

IV. Transoceanic Interconnections (c. 1450 - c. 1750)

Key Themes:

• The period marks the rise of European exploration and the creation of global trade networks.

• Technological innovations, such as the astrolabe, compass, and new ship designs, made long-distance sea voyages possible.

• The Age of Exploration was driven by a desire for wealth, territory, religious expansion, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Technology of Exploration

Astrolabe:

• Origin: The astrolabe was a key navigational tool, originating from the Islamic world and based on Greek and Roman designs.

• Function: It helped sailors measure the angle of the sun or stars above the horizon, allowing them to determine latitude (their position north or south of the equator).

• Impact: It was crucial for European sailors during their voyages of exploration, improving their ability to navigate open seas, especially along the African coast.

Compass:

• Origin: The compass was first used in China as early as the 2nd century BCE, primarily for divination. By the 12th century, it was adopted in the Islamic world and later transferred to Europe.

• Function: The compass allowed sailors to navigate without relying on celestial bodies, giving them the ability to chart courses in all conditions, including cloudy weather or at night.

• Impact: Its widespread use in the Indian Ocean and Atlantic revolutionized navigation and allowed for more accurate long-distance sea travel, especially for European explorers venturing beyond known territories.

Caravel:

• Origin: The caravel was a type of small, maneuverable ship developed by the Portuguese in the 15th century.

• Function: It had lateen sails, which allowed for better control and speed in both windward and downwind sailing.

• Impact: It was particularly effective for exploration along the African coast and for transoceanic voyages, becoming a symbol of Portuguese and Spanish exploration.

Lateen Sail:

• Origin: The lateen sail originated in the Arab world during the medieval period and became a fundamental technology for sailing ships. It was adopted by European sailors during the Age of Exploration, particularly by the Portuguese.

• Function: The lateen sail is a triangular sail that is attached to a mast at an angle. It is notable for its ability to allow a ship to sail effectively against the wind (a technique known as "tacking"), unlike square sails which were only effective when sailing with the wind.

• Impact: The lateen sail was a major technological advance that enhanced the maneuverability and speed of ships. This innovation allowed European explorers to travel more effectively along coastlines, venture further out into the open ocean, and navigate unpredictable winds—making transoceanic voyages more feasible. Ships like caravels and galleons with lateen sails became the workhorses of exploration, trade, and military campaigns across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

• Significance in Exploration: The lateen sail revolutionized oceanic travel by enabling ships to navigate against prevailing winds, crucial for the exploration of distant lands like the Americas and parts of Asia. It facilitated the rise of maritime empires by improving the efficiency of trade routes, allowing for more flexible and dependable voyages across the world's oceans.

Key Explorers and their Voyages (Chronological Order)

• Prince Henry the Navigator (1394 - 1460):

  • Role: As a Portuguese prince, he was a key patron of exploration, encouraging the development of maritime technology and the exploration of the West African coast.

  • Impact: Henry's sponsorship led to the first Portuguese voyages along the coast of West Africa, establishing trading posts and spreading Christianity. His efforts laid the groundwork for the Portuguese maritime empire.

• Bartolomeu Dias (c. 1450 - 1500):

  • Voyage: Dias was the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, opening the route to the Indian Ocean.

  • Impact: This voyage proved that a sea route to Asia was possible by sailing around Africa, although Dias himself did not continue further into the Indian Ocean.

• Vasco da Gama (c. 1460 - 1524):

  • Voyage: Da Gama successfully sailed to India in 1498, landing at Calicut after rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

  • Impact: His successful journey around Africa to India paved the way for the Portuguese to establish a trade network in the Indian Ocean, marking the beginning of European dominance in global maritime trade.

• Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506):

  • Voyage: Sponsored by Spain, Columbus embarked on his famous voyage in 1492, aiming to find a westward route to Asia. Instead, he landed in the Caribbean, opening up the Americas to European exploration and colonization.

  • Impact: His voyages linked the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa) with the New World (the Americas), initiating centuries of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.

• Ferdinand Magellan (1480 - 1521):

  • Voyage: Magellan’s expedition (1519-1522) was the first to successfully circumnavigate the globe, although Magellan himself was killed in the Philippines.

  • Impact: This voyage provided the first clear evidence of the Earth's size and proved that the Pacific Ocean was much larger than previously thought. It also established Spanish claims to the Philippines.

Motivations for Exploration (Three G’s - God, Glory, Gold)

• Economic Motivations:

  • Trade routes: European nations were seeking direct routes to the spices, silk, and other luxury goods of Asia, bypassing middlemen like the Ottomans and Venetians who controlled traditional land routes.

  • Gold: The quest for wealth from gold and precious metals drove European states to look for new territories to exploit.

  • Mercantilism: The rise of mercantilist economic policies encouraged the establishment of overseas colonies to control resources and maintain a favorable balance of trade.

• Religious Motivations:

  • Christianity: Many explorers, particularly from Spain and Portugal, were driven by a desire to spread Christianity, especially through missionary work. The Catholic Church played a key role in supporting exploration, as exemplified by Columbus's journey.

  • Crusading Spirit: The historical legacy of the Crusades encouraged European states to expand their influence in lands not yet under Christian control.

• Technological Motivations:

  • The availability of navigational tools such as the astrolabe, compass, and improved cartography made long-distance voyages safer and more feasible.

  • The development of caravels and other ships designed for open-ocean travel allowed European explorers to venture beyond the limits of earlier seafaring.

Impact of Exploration

• Colonization:

  • The voyages of Columbus, Magellan, and others resulted in the European colonization of the Americas, leading to the establishment of Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English colonies.

  • The Columbian Exchange began, with goods, animals, diseases, and people moving between the Old World and the New World.

• Global Trade:

  • The establishment of European trade routes in the Indian Ocean, the Americas, and Africa led to the creation of global trade networks. This included the movement of silver from the Americas to Europe, spices from Asia, and slaves from Africa to the Americas.

  • Mercantilist policies led to the rise of powerful European trading companies like the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company.

• Cultural Exchange and Conflict:

  • While exploration led to the exchange of technologies, crops, and ideas, it also led to the destruction of indigenous cultures, the spread of diseases like smallpox, and the forced conversion of native populations to Christianity.