Focus: Major civilizations and their state-building and maintenance
Definition of "State": Politically organized territory under a single government
China: The Song Dynasty
Governance and Culture
Confucianism:
Revival into Neo-Confucianism
Hierarchical society emphasized (filial piety)
Women's roles: loss of legal rights, foot binding practice
Bureaucracy:
Civil service exams based on Confucian classics
Merit-based job allocation
Economy
Commercialization of economy
Key goods: Porcelain and silk
Agricultural innovations: Champa rice, Grand Canal expansion
Influence on Neighboring Regions
Korea, Japan, and Vietnam influenced by Chinese traditions
Dar al-Islam
Governance and Religion
Abbasid Caliphate:
Centered in Baghdad, began to decline
Turkic Empires:
Seljuk Empire, Mamluk Sultanate, Delhi Sultanate
Dominance of Turkic over Arab leadership
Cultural and Scientific Achievements
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Trigonometry
Preservation of Greek philosophy
House of Wisdom in Baghdad
Expansion
Military conquest, merchant activities, Sufi missionary work
South and Southeast Asia
Belief Systems
South Asia:
Decline of Buddhism
Hinduism and Islam dominant
Bhakti Movement: Simplified Hinduism
Southeast Asia:
Dominance of Buddhism and Islam
State Building
South Asia:
Delhi Sultanate struggled with Hindu population
Rajput Kingdoms and Vijayanagara Empire resisted Muslim rule
Southeast Asia:
Majapahit and Khmer Empire
The Americas
Mesoamerica
Aztec Empire:
Founded by Mexica people
Tribute system and human sacrifices
Andean Civilization
Inca Empire:
Mit'a system for labor
Centralized bureaucracy
North America
Mississippian Culture:
Cahokia mounds
Agricultural society
Africa
East Africa
Swahili Civilization:
Trade-based city-states
Muslim influence and Swahili language development
West Africa
Ghana, Mali, Songhai Empires:
Trade-driven growth
Islam among elites
Zimbabwe and Ethiopia
Great Zimbabwe: Shamanistic religion, wealthy from trade
Ethiopia: Christian state in Muslim-dominated region
Europe
Belief Systems
Eastern Europe:
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Kievan Rus
Western Europe:
Roman Catholic Church
Influence of Muslims and Jews
State Organization
Feudalism: Lords, vassals, and serfs
Manorialism: Land-based economic system
Transition towards centralized monarchies post-1000 CE
Conclusion
Unit 1 covers the variety of ways civilizations built and maintained states during 1200-1450, highlighting their belief systems, governance, economies, and interactions with surrounding regions.