AP World History: Unit 1 Overview (1200-1450)

Introduction

• Period: Circa 1200 to 1450
• Focus: Building and maintaining states in major civilizations worldwide
• Definition of "State": A politically organized territory under a single government

Chinese State Building

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

• Confucianism Revival:
  • Emphasized Neo-Confucianism
  • Society structured hierarchically
  • Filial piety was crucial; women had subordinate roles
  • Practices such as foot binding among elites
• Imperial Bureaucracy:
  • Expansion to maintain rule
  • Civil service exams based on Confucian texts
  • Merit-based bureaucratic appointments
• Economic Prosperity:
  • Commercialized economy with goods like porcelain and silk
  • Agricultural innovation: Champa rice led to a population explosion
  • Transportation innovations like the Grand Canal

Influence on Neighboring Regions

• Korea, Japan, and Vietnam: Adopted practices like civil service exams and Buddhism

Buddhism's Role

• Spread from India to China; formed new branches such as Mahayana Buddhism
• Mahayana encouraged broader participation compared to Theravada

Dar al-Islam's Developments

• Islamic Empires:
  • Transition from Arab to Turkic dominance (e.g., Seljuk Empire)
  • Sharia law continued as legal foundation
• Cultural and Scientific Influences:
  • Scholars like Nasir al-Din al-Tusi advanced mathematics
  • Preservation of Greek philosophical works
• Expansion:
  • Through military, merchants, and Sufi missionaries

South and Southeast Asia

• Religious Influence:
  • Hinduism remains dominant; Islam gains influence
  • Bhakti movement simplifies Hinduism and challenges hierarchies
• State Building:
  • Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule with challenges in Northern India
  • Vijayanagara Empire: Hindu kingdom in the South
  • Southeast Asian kingdoms like Majapahit and Khmer adapted Buddhist and Hindu traditions

Americas

• Mesoamerica:
  • Aztec Empire: Tribute system, vast territory, human sacrifice
• Andean Civilization:
  • Inca Empire: Centralized bureaucracy, mita labor system
• Mississippian Culture:
  • Based on agriculture, known for burial mounds

Africa

• East Africa: Swahili civilization; trade-based, influenced by Islam
• West Africa: Empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai; Islam influenced the elites
• Great Zimbabwe: Trade-focused, maintained indigenous religion
• Ethiopia: Christian state amidst Islamic and traditional African beliefs

Europe

• Religious Influence:
  • Dominated by Christianity: Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine) and Roman Catholic (Western Europe)
  • Minorities of Muslims and Jews present
• State Building:
  • Feudalism: Decentralized power structure based on land relations
  • Manorialism: Economic system with serfs working on manors
  • Gradual centralization of power with monarchs gaining influence

Conclusion

• The period from 1200-1450 was marked by diverse methods of state building and religious influence across different world regions.