Unit 1: The Global Tapestry: Key Terms and Concepts

Period Overview

• Timeframe: c. 1200 to c. 1450 – a pivotal era marked by significant global transformations and the rise of new empires and networks.

• Emergence of large empires globally influenced by increased regional trade since c. 600, setting the stage for more interconnected societies and economies.

Revival of Large Empires

• Song Dynasty (China): Wealthiest empire of its time, known for innovations in governance such as an efficient bureaucracy, flourishing arts, and groundbreaking technological advancements like gunpowder and printing.

• Mesoamerica (Aztecs): Characterized by dedication to agricultural advancements including sophisticated irrigation systems and terraced farming, heavily influenced by the cultural and agricultural legacies of the earlier Mayan civilization.

• Islamic World: Served as vibrant centers of learning in cities like Baghdad and Cordoba (Spain), fostering critical intellectual achievements in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy, building on Greek, Persian, and Indian knowledge.

• West African Empires (Ghana, Mali): Experienced growth and prominence through the lucrative Saharan trade, dealing in gold, salt, and other valuable commodities, which facilitated economic and political expansion.

• Indian Ocean Trade: An increasingly important maritime network that led to the rise of complex states in East Africa (e.g., Swahili city-states) and Southeast Asia (e.g., Srivijaya), driven by trade in spices, textiles, and precious metals.

Unity in Central Eurasia

• Mongol Empire: Established the largest contiguous land empire in history, enabling unprecedented trade and exchange across Eurasia through policies that encouraged commerce and protected trade routes, although its expansion was marked by devastating conquests.

• Connected territories facilitated cultural exchange, technological spread, and intensified global interactions in the period post-1450, influencing global dynamics and laying the groundwork for future global interactions.

Developments in East Asia

Song Dynasty Innovations

• Political Developments:

  • Strong imperial bureaucracy maintained continuity since the Qin Dynasty, streamlining governance and ensuring consistent administration across the empire.

  • Meritocratic civil service exams expanded educational opportunities beyond the aristocracy, allowing talented individuals from lower classes to rise in society and government.

• Economic Ventures:

  • Grand Canal established as a major trade route, facilitating efficient transportation of goods and contributing to significant population growth in key urban centers.

  • Champa rice introduced from Vietnam led to double harvests, substantially increasing agricultural productivity and supporting a larger population.

  • Innovations in manufacturing and trade spurred the rise of proto-industrialization, with increased production of iron, steel, and porcelain for both domestic consumption and export.

• Technological Advances:

  • Gunpowder and firearms developed initially for military purposes, revolutionizing warfare and impacting geopolitical dynamics in Eurasia and beyond.

  • Use of the compass in navigation and woodblock printing revolutionized exploration and literacy, enabling the widespread dissemination of knowledge and facilitating maritime trade.

Social Structures

• Class Hierarchy:

  • Emergence of the scholar gentry as a dominant class, replacing the old aristocracy and exerting significant influence on politics, education, and culture.

  • Poor representation of labor and agrarian classes in governance reflected the hierarchical structure of society; stability encouraged through policies that favored the elite but also aimed to provide basic welfare.

• Role of Women:

  • Confucian patriarchy enforced societal norms, limiting women’s rights and opportunities; foot binding, a painful practice, became more widespread, reflecting social status and control over women's mobility.

• Cultural Developments:

  • Printing technology revolutionized access to literature and religious texts, fostering intellectual growth and enabling broader participation in cultural and religious life.

Religious Influences

• Buddhism:

  • Spread and syncretized with Daoism, giving rise to Chan (Zen) Buddhism, which emphasized meditation and direct experience, appealing to both elites and commoners.

  • Adoption of Buddhist texts by Confucianists reflected a period of religious coexistence and intellectual exchange, enriching both traditions.

• Neo-Confucianism:

  • Emerged as a rational and ethical philosophy incorporating elements of Buddhism and Daoism, influencing not only governance but also personal conduct and social interactions with its emphasis on morality and order.

Comparisons in East Asia

• Japan:

  • Selective adoption of Chinese culture including writing, Buddhism, and administrative practices, but maintained its own distinct cultural identity; emergence of feudalism with a powerful class of daimyo (regional lords) and samurai warriors.

  • Literature flourished with works such as "The Tale of Genji," which provided insights into court life and aesthetic values.

• Korea:

  • Emulated Chinese systems including Confucianism and bureaucratic structures, but retained a powerful local aristocracy that limited accessibility to meritocratic civil service exams, preserving aristocratic influence.

• Vietnam:

  • Stronger resistance to Chinese influence, particularly after periods of Chinese rule; maintained independent cultural practices, notably in gender roles and local governance structures, reflecting a unique national identity.

Key Terms

• Economic: Champa rice (high-yield rice), proto-industrialization (early manufacturing), artisans (skilled craftspeople).

• Society: Scholar gentry (elite class of scholar-officials), filial piety (respect for elders and ancestors).

• Government: Song Dynasty (ruling dynasty of China), imperial bureaucracy (government administration), meritocracy (rule by talent).

• Culture: Foot binding (practice of binding women's feet), Buddhism (religion emphasizing enlightenment), Chan Buddhism (Zen Buddhism), Neo-Confucianism (revived Confucianism).