AP World History: 1200-1450 CE

Major Civilizations and State Building

• State: Territory politically organized under a single government.

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Political Structure and Ideology

• Maintained rule through Confucianism, continuing the revival from Tang Dynasty.
• Neo-Confucianism: Removed Buddhist influence.
• Confucian Principles: Advocated hierarchical society.
• Filial Piety: Children honoring parents/ancestors.

Women in Song China

• Subordinate social positions, stripped of legal rights.
• Social restrictions, foot binding as elite status symbol.
• Widows/divorced women could not remarry.

Imperial Bureaucracy

• Hierarchical bureaucracy executing emperor's will.
• Civil service exam for government jobs; merit-based.
• Open to all men, but wealth was needed to study.

Buddhism in Song China

• Originated in India, focusing on the Four Noble Truths:
  1. Life is suffering.
  2. Suffering is due to craving.
  3. Ceasing craving ends suffering.
  4. The Eightfold Path is the way to end suffering.

Economic Developments

• Expanded economic prosperity; population doubled (8th-10th centuries).
• Commercial economy, excess goods production for markets.
• Key exports: porcelain and china.
• Agricultural innovation: Champa rice.
• Expanded Grand Canal for transportation.

Developments in Dar-Al-Islam

Political Shifts

• "House of Islam" regions where Islam was the organizing principle.
• Abbasid Caliphate lost power; Turkic peoples gained dominance.
• Seljuk Empire: Established by Turkic pastoralists.
• Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258.

Turkic Empires: Continuities

• Military-administered states, Sharia law.

Intellectual Achievements

• Nasir Al-Din Al-Tusi: Invented trigonometry.
• Preservation of Greek philosophy.
• House of Wisdom: Scholarly center.
• Golden Age of Islam: Scholarly and economic center.

Expansion of Muslim Rule

• Military expansion (Seljuk, Mamluk).
• Trade spread Muslim influence.
• Mali Empire converted via trade.
• Sufis: Adapted local beliefs.

South and Southeast Asia

Religious Landscape

• Hinduism: Most widespread.
• Islam: Influenced elites, Delhi Sultanate established.
• Bhakti Movement: Devotion to one Hindu god, challenged social hierarchies.

Political Entities

• Rajput Kingdoms: Hindu, resisted Muslim rule.
• Majapahit Kingdom: Buddhist, controlled trade routes; declined due to China-supported Sultanate of Malacca.
• Angkor Wat: Hindu temple incorporated Buddhist elements.

State Building in the Americas

Aztec Empire (1345)

• Capital: Tenochtitlan, largest pre-European city.
• Formed alliances for expansion, tribute-based administration.
• Conquered peoples provided labor/goods; human sacrifices.
• Decentralized rule.

Inca Empire

• Located in Andes; elaborate bureaucracy.
• Mit'a System: Labor on state projects.
• Highly centralized.

Mississippian Culture

• First large-scale American civilization, agricultural.
• Known for monumental mounds.

State Building in Africa

Swahili Civilization

• Independent trading cities, Islamic influence.
• Development of the Swahili language.
• Elite converted to Islam; commoners retained indigenous beliefs.

Great Zimbabwe

• Economic strength in farming/cattle, gold exports.
• Maintained indigenous religion.

Kingdom of Ethiopia

• Flourished through trade; Christian state.
• Hierarchical power.

Europe

Religious Division

• Dominated by Christianity (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholicism).
• Byzantine Empire weakened, Kievan Rus preserved Orthodox traditions.
• Fragmented Western Europe linked by Roman Catholicism.

Political Organization

• No large empires, fragmented political structure.
• Feudalism: Allegiances among lords, monarchs, knights.
• Manorialism: Land owned by lords, worked by peasants/serfs.
• Power concentrated in nobility.

Unit 2: 1200-1450

Networks of Exchange

• States connected by trade networks, enabling cultural diffusion.
• Expanded geographic reach of networks due to commercial and technological innovations.
• Increased connectivity led to states growing wealthy.