### AP World History Unit 1 Study Guide

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#### Vocabulary

1. Conjugal: Relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple.

2. Omnipotent: Having unlimited power; able to do anything.

3. Agrarian: Relating to the cultivation of land or the management of farming.

4. Virtue: Behavior showing high moral standards; a quality considered morally good or desirable.

5. Diasporic: Related to the dispersion of people from their homeland.

6. Continuity: The consistent existence or operation of something over time.

7. Mortality: The state of being subject to death; death rate.

8. Facilitate: To make an action or process easier.

9. Contention: Disagreement or debate.

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### Key Concepts

#### 1. Mongol Effect on Economies and Governments of Afro-Eurasia

- The Mongols created the largest contiguous empire, which facilitated trade (especially along the Silk Road), boosting economies across Eurasia.

- Governments in Afro-Eurasia were influenced by Mongol administrative practices, which often included a degree of religious tolerance and centralized bureaucracy.

- In Persia, Mongol rule led to the destruction of infrastructure, but also revitalized trade and taxation systems.

#### 2. Commonalities Between Christianity and Islam

- Both religions are monotheistic, believing in an omnipotent God.

- Each has holy scriptures (the Bible for Christians, the Quran for Muslims) and a focus on moral behavior and virtue.

- Both emphasize the importance of charity, with Christianity's teachings of loving thy neighbor and Islam’s zakat (almsgiving).

#### 3. Song China and Government Policies

- Song China developed a bureaucratic system based on the Confucian examination system, ensuring government positions were filled by educated elites.

- The Song Dynasty is known for its meritocratic approach to governance, emphasizing scholarly learning over military power.

#### 4. Similarities and Differences Between the Maya, Aztec, and Inca

- Similarities: All were agrarian societies with complex religions, monumental architecture, and centralized governance systems.

- Differences: The Maya developed a network of city-states, while the Aztec had a vast empire with a capital at Tenochtitlan. The Inca built an extensive road system and had a centralized economy based on communal labor.

#### 5. Song China and Trade Networks

- Song China was highly involved in maritime trade, using the Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade routes.

- They were pioneers in issuing paper money, facilitating easier trade across vast distances.

#### 6. Effect of the Trans-Saharan Trade Route on Culture and Economy

- Linked North Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa, facilitating the spread of Islam and creating diasporic Muslim communities.

- Gold and salt trade flourished, leading to the rise of wealthy empires like Mali and the establishment of key cities like Timbuktu.

#### 7. Concept of the Mandate of Heaven

- A Chinese political philosophy where the ruler is granted the divine right to rule as long as they maintain virtue and justice.

- If a ruler became corrupt or ineffective, they would lose the Mandate, justifying rebellion.

#### 8. Afro-Eurasia Before and After Mongol Rule

- Before: Fragmented states, localized economies, and slower cultural exchange.

- After: Increased trade along the Silk Road, cultural exchanges between East and West, and the spread of technologies such as gunpowder and the compass.

#### 9. Chinese Confucian Examination System

- A rigorous testing system that selected government officials based on merit rather than birth, deeply embedded in Confucian ideals of governance by the learned and virtuous.

#### 10. Incan Infrastructure Accomplishments

- Built an extensive road network across the Andes, facilitating communication and trade.

- Developed terracing for agriculture, allowing for food production in mountainous regions.

#### 11. Champa Rice and Its Effect

- Introduced from Vietnam to China during the Song Dynasty, Champa rice was a fast-growing variety that allowed for multiple harvests in a year.

- Led to a population boom and increased agricultural output in China.

#### 12. Effect of Islam on Land-Based and Maritime Trade Routes

- Muslim traders dominated the Indian Ocean and land-based routes like the Silk Road, spreading Islamic culture, language (Arabic), and religious practices.

- Islamic caliphates facilitated trade by providing security and a common legal framework.

#### 13. Confucianism on Family System

- Confucianism emphasized filial piety, stressing the importance of respect for elders and hierarchical family roles.

- The family was seen as a microcosm of the state, with each member playing a prescribed role.

#### 14. Japanese Feudal System

- Japanese feudalism involved a rigid class hierarchy, with the shogun at the top, followed by daimyo (landlords), samurai (warriors), and peasants.

- Samurai were bound by a strict code of honor, bushido, which emphasized loyalty and discipline.

#### 15. Feudalism in Europe

- European feudalism was a decentralized system where lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service.

- The system was based on mutual obligations, with serfs working the land for protection and sustenance.

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### Themes to Focus On

- Trade Networks: The role of trade in shaping economic and cultural exchanges in Afro-Eurasia.

- Religious Influence: The spread of Islam and Christianity, and how religion influenced government and societal structures.

- Political Structures: Different forms of governance, from Chinese bureaucracies to feudal systems in Europe and Japan.