AP World History Unit 1 Exam Review Notes

Introduction

• Time Period: Circa 1200 to 1450
• Focus: Major civilizations and how they build and maintain states
• Definition of State: A territory politically organized under a single government

China: The Song Dynasty

• Song Dynasty Timeline: 960 to 1279
• Main Question: How did they maintain and justify their rule?
  • Confucianism Revival:
    • Neo-Confucianism: Revival and adaptation of Confucianism
    • Emphasis on hierarchical society and filial piety
    • Impact on women: Legal rights stripped, foot binding practiced
  • Imperial Bureaucracy:
    • Expanded under the Song Dynasty
    • Civil service exam based on Confucian classics
    • Open theoretically to all men, but practically limited to the wealthy
• Economic Prosperity:
  • Commercialization: Overproduction and trade of goods (e.g., porcelain, silk)
  • Agricultural Innovations:
    • Introduction of Champa Rice from Champa Kingdom
    • Early maturation, drought resistance, multiple harvests
  • Transportation Improvements:
    • Expansion of the Grand Canal

Influence of Chinese Traditions

• Neighboring Regions: Korea, Japan, Vietnam
  • Adoption of Confucian and Buddhist practices

Buddhism in Song China

• Origins and Spread: Originated in India
• Core Beliefs: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path
• Adaptations:
  • Theravada Buddhism: Monastic focus
  • Mahayana Buddhism: Broader participation, Bodhisattvas’ role

Dar al-Islam

• Geographic Spread: All places with Islamic faith
• Key Religions in Heartland: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
  • Islamic Beliefs: Monotheism, teachings of Muhammad
• Major Empires:
  • Transition from Arab to Turkic Empires (e.g., Seljuk, Mamluk, Delhi Sultanate)
  • Cultural and Scientific Contributions:
    • Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Advances in mathematics, trigonometry invention
    • Preservation of Greek philosophy
    • House of Wisdom in Baghdad
• Expansion of Muslim Rule:
  • Military expansion, trade, and Sufi missionary work

South and Southeast Asia

• Dominant Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam
• State Building in South Asia:
  • Delhi Sultanate’s difficulty imposing a Muslim state
  • Hindu resistance (e.g., Rajput Kingdom, Vijayanagara Empire)
• State Building in Southeast Asia:
  • Majapahit Kingdom: Buddhist, sea trade
  • Khmer Empire: Hindu-to-Buddhist conversion

The Americas

• Main Civilizations: Aztec and Inca Empires
• Aztec Empire:
  • Founded by the Mexica people
  • Tribute system and Human Sacrifice
• Inca Empire:
  • Mita system for labor contributions
  • Highly centralized bureaucracy
• Mississippian Culture:
  • Agricultural focus, mound-building (e.g., Cahokia)

African States

• East Africa: Swahili Civilization
  • Trade-based city-states, Islamic influence
  • Swahili language: Bantu-Arabic blend
• West Africa: Ghana, Mali, Songhai Empires
  • Trade-driven growth, partial Islamic conversion
• Central Africa: Great Zimbabwe
  • Trade-focused, gold economy, non-Islamic
• Ethiopia: Christian state in Africa

Europe

• Dominant Religion: Christianity (Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic)
• State Organization:
  • Feudalism: Land-for-service agreements
  • Manorialism: Peasant land tenure
  • Growth of monarch power post-1000 CE

Conclusion

• Unit 1 covers various civilizations and their state-building efforts from 1200-1450 CE.
• Emphasizes the influence of belief systems on political and social structures across regions.