AP World History Unit 1 (circa 1200-1450)

Key Concepts

• Unit Focus: Major civilizations and how they build and maintain their states.
• Definition of 'State': A politically organized territory under a single government (e.g., United States, Japan).

Song Dynasty China

• Period: 960 to 1279

• Methods of Rule:

  • Emphasis on Neo-Confucianism: Revival of Confucianism from Tang Dynasty; sought to remove Buddhist influences.
  • Hierarchy and Filial Piety: Society is hierarchical; importance of obeying elders and ancestors.
  • Place of Women: Subordinate position; limited legal rights and social restrictions (e.g., foot binding).
  • Imperial Bureaucracy: Expansion; civil service exam based on Confucian classics.

• Economy:

  • Commercialization: Production of goods (e.g., porcelain, silk) for trade.
  • Champa Rice: Early maturing, drought-resistant rice led to population growth.
  • Grand Canal: Facilitated trade and communication.

• Influence on Neighbors:

  • Korea, Japan, Vietnam influenced by Chinese traditions like civil service exams and Buddhism.

Dar al-Islam

• Dominance Shift: From Arab to Turkic Muslim empires (e.g., Seljuk Empire).

• Sharia Law: Continued as the legal code.

• Cultural/Scientific Innovations:

  • Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (trigonometry).
  • Preservation of Greek and Roman works.

• Expansion:

  • Military (e.g., Seljuk Empire expansion).
  • Merchants and trade (e.g., Mali Empire conversion to Islam).
  • Sufi missionaries in South Asia.

South and Southeast Asia

• Religious Influence:

  • Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam as major religions.
  • Bhakti Movement: Emphasized devotion to one Hindu god, challenged traditional hierarchies.

• State Building:

  • Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule in northern India.
  • Rajput Kingdoms: Hindu resistance.
  • Vijayanagara Empire: Hindu empire in the south.
  • Majapahit Kingdom (Southeast Asia): Buddhist, controlled trade routes.
  • Khmer Empire: Mixed Hindu-Buddhist influences; Angkor Wat.

The Americas

• Mesoamerica: Aztec Empire with tribute states.
• Andean Region: Inca Empire with mita system (labor tribute).
• Mississippian Culture: Agriculture-based, mound-building societies.

Africa

• East Africa: Swahili Civilization, trade-influenced, developed Swahili language.
• West Africa: Ghana, Mali, Songhai empires; trade-driven, Islamic elite.
• Great Zimbabwe: Trade-based economy, maintained indigenous religion.
• Ethiopia: Christian state, hierarchical society.

Europe

• Dominant Religion: Christianity (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic).
• Feudalism: Societal organization; lords and vassals system.
• Manorialism: Economic system; serfs worked on manors.
• Political Fragmentation: Decentralized states; rise of monarchies after 1000 CE.

These notes cover key points from the lecture on Unit 1 of AP World History, focusing on major global civilizations, their state-building strategies, economies, and significant religious and cultural developments between circa 1200 to 1450.