Unit 1: AP World History Lecture Notes (1200 - 1450)

Introduction

• Focus: Major civilizations and their state-building efforts.
• Definition of state: Politically organized territory under one government.

Chinese State Building

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

• Confucianism Revival:
  • Neo-Confucianism: Revival with some changes, distancing from Buddhism.
  • Hierarchical society emphasized, including filial piety.
• Role of Women:
  • Subordinate position, loss of legal rights, social restrictions.
  • Practices like foot binding.
• Imperial Bureaucracy:
  • Civil service exams based on Confucian texts.
  • Merit-based bureaucracy, though often accessible only to the wealthy.
• Influence on Neighbors:
  • Korea, Japan, Vietnam influenced by Chinese traditions, civil service exams.

Song Dynasty Economy

• Commercialization:
  • Artisans produced goods for trade (porcelain, silk).
• Agriculture:
  • Champa rice: early maturing, drought-resistant, led to population growth.
• Transportation:
  • Expansion of the Grand Canal for trade and communication.

Dar al-Islam

• Islamic Empires:
  • Decline of Arab-dominated Abbasid Caliphate.
  • Rise of Turkic empires (Seljuk, Mamluk, Delhi Sultanate).
• Scientific and Cultural Developments:
  • Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Advances in mathematics, invention of trigonometry.
  • Preservation of Greek works in House of Wisdom.
• Spread of Islam:
  • Military expansion, merchant activity, Sufi missionaries.

South and Southeast Asia

Belief Systems

• Hinduism and Islam in South Asia.
  • Decline of Buddhism, rise of Bhakti movement.
• Buddhism and Islam in Southeast Asia.

State Building

• Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule in North India.
• Rajput Kingdoms: Hindu resistance in South Asia.
• Vijayanagara Empire: Hindu kingdom in South India.
• Majapahit Kingdom: Sea-based power in Java.
• Khmer Empire: Blend of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Americas

Mesoamerica

• Aztec Empire:
  • Tributes from conquered peoples, human sacrifice.

Andean Civilization

• Inca Empire:
  • Bureaucracy and mita labor system for state projects.

North America

• Mississippian Culture:
  • Agriculture-based, known for burial mounds.

Africa

East Africa

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

West Africa

• Ghana, Mali, Songhai Empires: Centralized trade-driven empires.
• Hausa Kingdoms: City-states, trade-focused.

Great Zimbabwe

• Economy: Farming, cattle herding, gold trade.

Ethiopia

• Christian State: Unique among largely Islamic Africa.

Europe

Belief Systems

• Christianity:
  • Eastern Orthodox in Byzantine Empire and Kievan Rus'.
  • Roman Catholicism in Western Europe.
• Other Religions:
  • Jewish and Muslim minority influences.

Political Organization

• Feudalism: Decentralized power, land exchange for military service.
• Manorialism: Peasant life centered on large estates.
• Emerging Monarchies: Gradual centralization post-1000 CE.

Conclusion

• Overview of state-building methods across different regions.
• Continued evolution and influence of belief systems on societies.