Egyptian mamluks | Originally slave soldiersRuled from 1250-1517Known for military prowess and cultural achievementsEventually conquered by ottomans in 1500s |
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Seljuk turks | Turkish-speaking peoples originally from central asiaVast empire in 11th and 12th centuries(modern day) turkey, iran, iraq, syria, afghanistanKnown for military prowess and cultural achievementsSpread islam and islamic culture, established madrasas (islamic schools) and hospitalsDivided into a number of smaller states and declined in 13th century |
Delhi sultanate | Muslim sultanate that ruled parts of india 13th-16th centuries (1206-1526), was conquered by mughal empire at endKnown for cultural achievements and development of indic language and literatureQutb minar tower in delhiPolitical instability, internal conflicts, invasions and conquests by foreign powers |
Ottoman Empire | Founded in 1299 by Osman lOttoman sultans claimed status of caliphs, gaining hegemony over middle east and moving into southeast europe and eastern mediterraneanTo ensure trustworthiness of soldiers and civil servants (esp. In outlying areas), ottomans relied on devshirme (blood tax) -- forcibly recruited boys from non-muslim families and placed them in high positions (bureaucrats, janissaries, clergy)By 1400s, ottomans managed to destroy byzantine empire -- armies of mehmet ll used gunpowder artillery to bring fall of constantinople in 1453, setting stage for century-long ottoman-christian struggle |
Grand Canal | Massive engineering project to link the Yellow and Yangtze rivers and facilitate trade + communication between north and south ChinaMassive undertaking that required construction of hundreds of bridges + excavation of thousands of miles or waterwaysWas used to transport goods (grain, timber, minerals) |
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Gunpowder | Gunpowder, mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate that is used as a propellant or explosiveInvented in china in 9th century and used for medicinal + religious purposesEventually discovered that it could be used in guns, cannons, firearms, etc, but was still used for mining, fireworks, rocketryRevolutionized warfareChinese kept recipe a secret until it spread to middle east, where middle eastern and european states refined it |
Champa Rice | Grown in champa region of VietnamGrown in lowland areas of Mekong Delta (has a warm, humid climate that is well-suited for rice cultivation)Typically grown using traditional methods, often irrigated from using water from rivers and canalsMore food allowed for more people to live |
Canals | China has some of the largest coal reserves in the world, leading producers and consumers of coalUsed primarily to generate electricity, raw material in production of steel, iron, other industrial productsMost of china's coal is mined in the north and northwestern parts of the country |
Artisan | Chinese artisans often worked in guilds or workshops, where they learned their craft from master artisansTheir work was praised internationallyArtisans were considered an important part of the economy and society, played key role in development of chinese culture and technologyMany artisans in the production of luxury goods (jade, silk, porcelain) which were prized and seen as high status |
Public Works | China has undertaken a number of large-scale public works projects for various purposes (irrigation, transportation, flood control, defense)Great Wall of China: made to protect China from nomadic invadersGrand Canal: Linked Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, led to more goods being transported SouthDujiangyan Irrigation System: ancient irrigation system (3th century), played vital role in agricultureUrbanization: Faster growing and more densely populated cities |
Tribute System | Common in ancient and medieval societiesTributary states would send gifts or other valuables to demonstrate their loyalty and avoid military conflictSeen as exploitative and unbalanced |
Paper | Invented in 2nd century ChinaUsed for writing, printing, packagingAlso invented first printing technique (woodblock printing) which was used to produce religious texts and other documents |
Land Reform | Equal-field system Attempted to give all families landNot humanitarian, to take power from aristocracyEffective for 100 years, led to increase in rural wealth |
Japan | Religion of ShintoismFeudal HierarchyEmperor + Shogun would rule over DaimyoDaimyo would hire Samurai to protect their landSamurai would follow a brand of chivalry (Bushido Code)Buddhism spread to Japan, but they did not embrace the civil service exam or Confucianism |
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Korea | Most influenced by ChinaAdopted Confucianism, Buddhism, civil service examAristocracy in Korea did not allow for social mobility |
Vietnam | Tried very hard to maintain independence from ChinaDo not have a hierarchical society, instead villages and smaller nuclear familiesConfucianism and Buddhism spread, but impact of Confucianism is limited |
Social | Hindu caste system created hierarchy of power that was religious and inheritedWhen born into a caste, a hindu was typically stuck in that caste until their death and (hopeful) reincarnationThis promoted stability and stagnation (no competition for power) |
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Political | Since fall of Mauryan and Gupta Empires, South Asia broken into various kingdomsVarious hindu rajput kingdoms emerged in north india, keeping centralized power from emerging for centuriesThese competed with each other, allowing islamic armies to expand into afghanistan and pakistanThey were a group of hindu princely states that flourished 8th-16th centuriesWarrior caste that originated in northwestern region of indiaKnown for strong military traditions and resistance to foreign dominationAlso known for patronage of arts cultural achievementsThey were eventually conquered by the mughal empire in 16th centuryDelhi Sultanate was a muslim kingdom that ruled from 13th-16th centuriesFounded by turkic general (qutb al-din aybak) in 1206Expanded to include most of north and central indiaKnown for military might and cultural achievementGreat political and social upheaval, delhi sultans struggled to maintain power from challenge of rival kingdoms and internal strugglesEventually weakened by internal conflicts and rise of mughal empire |
Cultural | Predominantly hindu, but still largely impacted by buddhism and islamMajority of Indians are hinduHinduism is very decentralizedBy 1450, islam has spread to north india and helped delhi sultanate create a stable regional empire |
Ghana | Flourished between 4th-13th centuriesKnown for its powerful army and wealthWealth was largely from the kingdom's control of the trans-Saharn trade of salt and gold300-1000 western african trade gold for salt with north african berbers who were the middle men with EuropeCapital of Ghana was Koumbi Saleh, kingdom was ruled by a king who held power over vassal statesNo state religionEventually conquered by the Kingdom of Mali, absorbing much of its territory and cultural traditions |
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Mali | Flourished in 13th-14th centuriesFounded by Sundiata FeitaKnown for its wealthWealth was from the empire's control of the trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, etcAlso known for scholarship and cultural achievementsA number of important centers of learningMansa musa was a powerful muslim king who built mosques and libraries in TimbuktuHe is the richest person in historyTraveled along the trans-Saharan Trade network on his hajj to MeccaDeclined in the 15th century and was eventually replaced by the Songhai Empire |
Songhai | Flourished in 15th-16th centuriesFounded by Sonni AliKnown for its wealthWealth derived from control over the trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, goodsAlso known for its cultural achievementsEstablishment of a number of important centers of learningDeclined in late 16th century and conquered by Moroccan invadersCompletely collapsed due to slave trade |
Swahili Coast | Coastal region of East Africa that stretches from modern-day Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the southImportant center of trade and cultural achievements for many centuriesCrossroads for trade routes that connected the East African coast with interior of the continent, Middle East, Indian Ocean regionHome to many city-states that formed a loose confederation known as swahili cultureSwahili culture was a blend of African, Arab, Persian influencesKnown for arts, literature, architectureIts city-states were united in trade and variations of the bantu languageIts largest city-state, Zimbabwe, protected themselves with a large wall |
Ethiopia | Located in the Horn of AfricaDiverse population and is home to more than 80 different ethnic groupsOfficial language is Amharic, Long Tradition of Orthodox Christian FaithLone Christian state in a region converting to Islam |
Vocab:
Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected Asia, Europe, and Africa from ancient times through the Middle Ages.
Empires were rapidly expanding and with a growing empire, came a growing desire for goods.
Profit-seeking merchants began to build off of old technology to make it work for this much bigger trade network (caravanserai, bills of exchange, banking houses).
Textile production dramatically increased across Eurasia as well as steel in China.
Ideas of the merchants carrying the goods would travel along the roads.
With more simple ways to travel, common people were more free to travel and share their observations.
Disease also spread.
Summary of causes:
Summary of effects:
Events that occurred along the Silk Roads
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Event | Example | Significance |
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Formation of New Trading Cities | Kashgar, Samarkand | New trading cities emerged along these routes |
Trading of Credit and Monetization | Bills of exchangeBanking housesUse of paper money | Emergence of global economyIncreased access to capital |
Creation of Diasporic Communities | Muslim merchantsChinese merchantsSodigan merchants | Ethnic enclaves emerged in new regions as communities migrated |
Diffusion of literary, cultural, artistic tradition | Spread of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism | Merchants brought religions with them and spread new and old belief systems across the worldClassical texts were preserved and adopted into new traditions |
Diffusion of crops and diseases | Crops: New RiceCottonSugarCitrusDiseases:Bubonic Plague (Black Death)Justinian PlaguePlague of Cyprian | Greater access to diverse foodstuffsIncreased population globally |