AP World History Unit 1 Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Focus on the period circa 1200 to 1450.
• Understanding how major civilizations built and maintained their states.
• Definition of "state" in a historical context (territory organized under a single government).

Chinese Civilization

Song Dynasty

• Timeline: Ruled from 960 to 1279.
• State Maintenance:
  • Emphasized Neo-Confucianism (Revival of Confucianism, emphasizing societal hierarchy and filial piety).
  • Place of Women: Subordinate position, legal rights stripped, social restrictions like foot binding.
  • Imperial Bureaucracy: Expanded bureaucracy with civil service exams based on Confucian texts, promoting meritocracy.
• Economic Developments:
  • Commercialization, manufacturing, and trading (notably porcelain and silk).
  • Introduction of Champa rice led to agricultural innovation and population growth.
  • Expansion of the Grand Canal facilitated trade and communication.

Influence on Neighboring Regions

• Korea, Japan, and Vietnam:
  • Influenced by Chinese traditions such as the civil service exam and Buddhism.

Dar al-Islam

Islamic Civilizations

• Decline of Abbasid Caliphate: Followed by rise of Turkic empires like Seljuk, Mamluk, and Delhi Sultanates.
• Cultural and Scientific Innovations:
  • Nasir al-Din al-Tusi's advance in mathematics (trigonometry).
  • Preservation and translation of Greek texts by Arab scholars.
• Expansion:
  • Through military, merchants, and Sufi missionaries.

South and Southeast Asia

Belief Systems

• Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam:
  • South Asia mainly Hindu with increasing Muslim influence.
  • Bhakti movement as a reform movement within Hinduism.
• Southeast Asia: Predominantly influenced by Buddhism and Islam.

State Building

• Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule faced Hindu resistance (e.g., Rajput Kingdoms).
• Vijayanagara Empire: Example of Hindu resistance and state-building.
• Majapahit and Khmer Empires: Notable for trade and religious influences.

Americas

Mesoamerica

• Aztec Empire:
  • Large empire with a tribute system and human sacrifice.
• Inca Empire:
  • Centralized bureaucracy, mita labor system.

North America

• Mississippian Culture:
  • Agriculture-based society with mound building.

African Civilizations

East Africa

• Swahili Civilization:
  • City-states influenced by Indian Ocean trade and Islamic culture.

West Africa

• Ghana, Mali, Songhai Empires:
  • Centralized empires driven by trade, especially gold.
  • Adoption of Islam by elites.
• Hausa Kingdoms: City-states engaging in trans-Saharan trade.

Great Zimbabwe

• Became powerful through trade, maintained indigenous beliefs.

Ethiopia

• Christian kingdom with trade connections.

Europe

Belief Systems

• Christianity:
  • Dominated by Eastern Orthodox in the Byzantine Empire and Roman Catholicism in Western Europe.

Political Structure

• Feudalism:
  • Decentralized, based on land ownership and vassalage.
• Manorialism:
  • Economic structure centered on land estates.
• Emerging Centralized States: Monarchs began to consolidate power.