AP World History Unit 1: 1200 to 1450

Key Concepts

• Focus on major civilizations around the world and how they build and maintain their state.
• State: A politically organized territory under a single government (e.g., United States, Japan).

China: The Song Dynasty

Key Features

• Period: 960-1279 (Dates are not required to memorize).
• Confucianism Revival: Known as Neo-Confucianism, emphasized hierarchical structure in society.
  • Filial Piety: Importance of obeying and honoring family.

Women's Status

• Women were relegated to subordinate positions.
• Loss of legal rights, property became husband’s property.
• Practice of foot binding as a status symbol.

Government and Bureaucracy

• Expansion of Imperial Bureaucracy.
• Civil Service Examinations based on Confucianism to select bureaucrats.

Economic Developments

• Commercialization: Production and sale of goods (e.g., porcelain, silk).
• Agricultural Innovations: Introduction of Champa rice leading to population growth.
• Grand Canal Expansion: Facilitated trade and communication.

Influence on Neighboring Regions

• Chinese traditions influenced Korea, Japan, Vietnam.
• Adoption of Confucian exams and Buddhism.

Role of Buddhism

• Origin: India, focused on Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.
• Theravada Buddhism: Practiced in Sri Lanka, monastic focus.
• Mahayana Buddhism: Promoted broader participation.

Dar al-Islam

Key Concepts

• Abbasid Caliphate: Ethnically Arab, declining by 1200.
• Rise of Turkic Muslim Empires (e.g., Seljuk, Mamluk, Delhi Sultanate).
• Sharia Law: Legal system based on the Quran.

Cultural and Scientific Contributions

• Advances in mathematics and trigonometry.
• Preservation of Greek philosophical works.
• House of Wisdom: Significant scholarly center in Baghdad.

Expansion of Islam

• Through military conquest, trade, and Sufi missionaries.

South and Southeast Asia

Belief Systems

• Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam shaped societies.
• Bhakti Movement: Devotion to one Hindu god.

State Building

• Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule in Northern India.
• Rajput Kingdoms: Hindu resistance.
• Vijayanagara Empire: Southern Hindu Empire.

Southeast Asia

• Majapahit Kingdom: Sea-based trade influence.
• Khmer Empire: Combination of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Americas

Mesoamerica

• Aztec Empire: Tribute system, human sacrifice.

Andean Civilization

• Inca Empire: Centralized bureaucracy, mita system for labor.

North America

• Mississippian Culture: Known for monumental mounds.

Africa

East Africa

• Swahili Civilization: Commerce-driven city-states, Islamic influence.

West Africa

• Powerful empires like Ghana, Mali, Songhai.

Great Zimbabwe

• Economic powerhouse, gold trade, maintained indigenous beliefs.

Ethiopia

• Unique Christian state in Africa.

Europe

Belief Systems

• Christianity: Dominated by Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
• Influence of Muslims and Jews.

State Building

• Feudalism and manorialism as main social, political, economic systems.
• Decentralized power structures, rise of monarchies.

Additional Resources

• Check out the AP World History Heimler review guide for further study materials.