AP World History Unit 1 Review (1200-1450)

Introduction

• Focus: Major civilizations and state-building
• Understanding the concept of 'state':
  • Territory politically organized under a single government

Song Dynasty (China)

Establishing and Maintaining Power

• Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism:
  • Revival from the Tang Dynasty
  • Emphasized hierarchical order: filial piety, social roles
  • Confucianism redefined to rid Buddhist influence

Impact on Social Hierarchy

• Women subjugated:
  • Deprived of legal rights
  • Social restrictions like foot binding

Bureaucratic Expansion

• Growth of the Imperial bureaucracy:
  • Civil service exams based on Confucian values
  • Merit-based bureaucratic positions, though wealthy had an advantage

Economic Developments

• Commercialization of the economy
  • Surplus goods sold in markets in China and across Eurasia
• Significant trades: Porcelain and Silk
• Agricultural Innovations:
  • Introduction of Champa rice: early maturing, drought-resistant
  • Expansion of the Grand Canal: facilitated trade and communication

Influence on Neighboring Regions

• Influence on Korea, Japan, and Vietnam:
  • Adoption of similar civil service systems, Confucianism, Buddhism

Dar al-Islam

Rise and Spread of Islam

• Decline of Abbasid Caliphate, rise of Turkic Muslim Empires (Seljuk, Mamluk, Delhi Sultanate)
• Practices:
  • Sharia law, military-administered states
  • Preservation and innovation in various fields:
    • Mathematics (Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, trigonometry)
    • Preservation of Greek philosophy (Plato, Aristotle)
  • Establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad: Central knowledge repository

Expansion Routes

• Military expansion
• Merchant activities: Especially in North and West Africa
• Missionary work: Sufi's emphasis on mystical experience and adaptability

South and Southeast Asia

Influence of Religions

• Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam:
  • Bhakti movement in Hinduism: Emphasized devotion to one god
  • Islamic influence through Delhi Sultanate

State Building

• Conflict between Hindu and Muslim states:
  • Rajput Kingdoms: Hindu resistance in North India
  • Vijayanagara Empire: South Indian Hindu Empire

Southeast Asian States

• Sea-based example: Majapahit Kingdom (Java)
  • Controlled sea routes for trade
• Land-based example: Khmer Empire
  • Monument Angkor Wat: Representation of Hindu and later Buddhist influences

Americas

Mesoamerica: Aztec Empire

• Founded by Meshika people
• System of tribute States
• Role of human sacrifice in religious practices

Andean Civilization: Inca Empire

• Elaborate bureaucracy to maintain control
• Required labor (Midas system): Farming, mining, military service, construction

North America: Mississippian Culture

• Grew around Mississippi River Valley
  • Key site: Cahokia
• Known for monumental mounds

Africa

East Africa

• Swahili Civilization: City-states centered on commerce
  • Influence of Muslim traders: Emergence of Swahili language (Bantu+Arabic)
  • Cities became Islamic, integrated into Islamic trade

West Africa

• Powerful, centralized civilizations: Ghana, Mali, Songhai empires
  • Elites and officials converted to Islam, commoners retained indigenous beliefs
• Hausa Kingdoms: City-states like the Swahili states, trade-driven

Great Zimbabwe

• Notably did not convert to Islam, maintained indigenous religions
• Economy based on farming, cattle, and especially gold trade

Ethiopia

• Unique for being Christian among Islamic and indigenous belief states
• Hierarchical structure similar to other African states

Europe

Belief System

• Christianity dominated (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic)
• Byzantine Empire: Eastern Orthodox Christianity
  • Decline led to emergence of Kievan Rus, adopting Eastern Orthodox Christianity
• Western Europe: Dominated by Roman Catholic Church, decentralized
  • Influence of Muslims (Iberian Peninsula) and Jews

Political Organization

• Decentralized feudal system:
  • Powerful lords (nobles) offering land in exchange for military service
  • Manorialism: Economic system centered on large estates (manors)
• Gradual rise of monarchs, leading to centralized power over centuries

Conclusion

• Unit 1 covered the major global civilizations from 1200-1450 and their approaches to state-building, belief systems, and economic structures
• Key takeaway: Influence of religion, economy, and political organization in shaping world history