AP World History Unit 1: State Building and Societies (Circa 1200-1450)

Introduction

• Focus: How major civilizations build and maintain states
• Definition of "state": A politically organized territory under a single government

Song Dynasty China

State Maintenance and Justification

• Confucianism Revival: Neo-Confucianism emphasized hierarchical society and filial piety
  • Women faced increased social restrictions; e.g., property rights, foot binding
• Imperial Bureaucracy: Civil service exams based on Confucianism
  • Merit-based bureaucratic positions

Economic Developments

• Commercialization: Production for trade (e.g., porcelain, silk)
• Agricultural Innovations: Introduction of Champa rice led to population growth
• Transportation: Expansion of the Grand Canal

Influence on Neighbors

• Korea, Japan, Vietnam: Adoption of Chinese methods, Confucianism, Buddhism

Dar al-Islam

Political Dynamics

• Transition of Power: From Abbasid (Arab) to Turkic empires (e.g., Seljuk Empire)

Cultural and Scientific Achievements

• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Advances in mathematics, invented trigonometry
• Preservation and translation of Greek philosophy in the House of Wisdom

Expansion of Islam

• Methods: Military conquest, merchant trade, Sufi missionaries

South and Southeast Asia

Religious Influence

• Hinduism: Bhakti movement challenges traditional hierarchies
• Buddhism: Decline in India, still influential in Southeast Asia
• Islam: Spread through the Delhi Sultanate

State Building

• India: Delhi Sultanate (Muslim rule), Rajput Kingdoms (Hindu resistance)
• Southeast Asia: Sea and land-based empires (e.g., Majapahit, Khmer)

The Americas

Mesoamerica and Andean Civilizations

• Aztec Empire: Tribute system, human sacrifice
• Inca Empire: Centralized bureaucracy, mita labor system

North America

• Mississippian Culture: Mound-building, agricultural society

Africa

East Africa

• Swahili Civilization: Trade-based city-states, Islamic influence

West Africa

• Empires: Ghana, Mali, Songhai developed through trade, partial Islamic conversion

Southern Africa

• Great Zimbabwe: Trade-centered, maintained indigenous beliefs

Ethiopia

• Christian Kingdom: Hierarchical structure, trade-driven

Europe

Belief Systems

• Christianity: Dominant religion, split into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic
• Influence of Muslims in Iberian Peninsula and Jews across Europe

Political Organization

• Feudalism: Decentralized, land-based hierarchy
• Manorialism: Agriculture-based economy, serfs bound to land

Conclusion

• Each region demonstrated unique methods of state-building and cultural development influenced by dominant belief systems and economic practices.