AP World History Unit 1: Circa 1200-1450

Introduction

Focus on major civilizations around the world and how they built and maintained their states.
State: A territory politically organized under a single government, e.g., United States, Japan.

Song Dynasty (960-1279): Emphasized Neo-Confucianism and expanded the imperial bureaucracy.
- Neo-Confucianism: Revival of Confucianism influenced by Buddhism; societal hierarchy emphasized.
- Filial Piety: Emphasized respect and obedience to parents and ancestors.
- Women's position deteriorated: Legal rights stripped, foot binding practiced.
Imperial Bureaucracy: Grew in scope, based on Confucian teachings; civil service exams determined bureaucratic positions.
Economic Developments: Commercialization, trade of porcelain and silk, introduction of Champa rice, and expansion of the Grand Canal.

Korea, Japan, Vietnam: Influenced by Chinese traditions, adopted civil service exams and Buddhism.

Abbasid Caliphate: Ethnically Arab, began declining by 1200.
Rise of Turkic Empires: Seljuk Empire, Mamluk Sultanate, Delhi Sultanate.
Cultural and Scientific Innovations: Math (trigonometry), translation of Greek works, House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
Expansion of Muslim Rule: Through military expansion, merchants, and Sufi missionaries.

Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
Bhakti Movement: Emphasized devotion to one god, challenged social hierarchies.
Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule in Northern India, faced resistance from Hindu kingdoms like the Rajput Kingdom.
Vijayanagara Empire: Hindu kingdom in the South, rose as a counterpoint to the Delhi Sultanate.
Majapahit Kingdom (Buddhist) and Khmer Empire (Hindu/Buddhist): Important sea and land-based empires.

Aztec Empire: Established in 1345; tribute system; capital at Tenochtitlan.
Inca Empire: 1400s, centralized government, mit'a system.
Mississippian Culture: First large-scale civilization in North America; known for their mounds.

Swahili Civilization: City-states along East African coast, involved in Indian Ocean trade, influenced by Muslim traders.
West African Empires: Ghana, Mali, Songhai; growth through trade, partial conversion to Islam.
Great Zimbabwe: Wealth from gold trade, did not convert to Islam.
Ethiopia: Christian state, hierarchical structure.

Christianity Dominated: Eastern Orthodox in Kievan Rus and Roman Catholicism in Western Europe.
Feudalism: Decentralized political system based on land ownership and military service.
Manorialism: Economic system based on large estates; serfs worked the land.

This period was defined by the growth and interaction of major civilizations and religions, leading to significant cultural, economic, and political developments.