AP World History Unit 1: 1200-1450 Overview

Key Concepts

• Understanding how major civilizations built and maintained their states.
• 'State' refers to a politically organized territory under one government.

China & Song Dynasty

• Time Period: 960-1279 (No need to memorize exact dates).
• Confucianism:
  • Revival of Confucianism, called Neo-Confucianism, reshaping society’s hierarchy.
  • Emphasized filial piety and hierarchical society roles.
• Role of Women:
  • Subordinate position, loss of legal rights.
  • Practices like foot binding were prevalent.
• Bureaucracy:
  • Expansion of Imperial bureaucracy, civil service exams based on Confucian teachings.
  • Merit-based but limited to the wealthy class for exam preparation.
• Economy:
  • Economic prosperity and population growth.
  • Commercialization and significant trade in porcelain and silk.
  • Introduction of Champa rice, leading to agricultural and population growth.

Influence on Neighboring Regions

• Korea, Japan, and Vietnam:
  • Influenced by Chinese traditions like Confucian bureaucracy and Buddhism.

Buddhism

• Spread from India to China, adapted in forms like Theravada and Mahayana.
• Theravada: Focused on monastic life.
• Mahayana: Encouraged broader participation and had bodhisattvas aiding others to enlightenment.

Dar al-Islam

• Refers to regions where Islam was the organizing principle.
• Religions: Islam, Judaism, Christianity.
• Empires: Shift from Arab to Turkic (e.g., Seljuk Empire).
• Scientific and Cultural Contributions:
  • Advances in mathematics (trigonometry), preservation of Greek philosophy.
• Expansion: Through military conquest, trade, and Sufi missionaries.

South and Southeast Asia

• Belief Systems: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam.
• Bhakti Movement: Emphasized personal devotion to one Hindu god, challenged traditional hierarchies.
• State Building:
  • South Asia: Resistance against Muslim rule in Delhi Sultanate, rise of Hindu kingdoms like Vijayanagara.
  • Southeast Asia: Buddhist and Islamic influences, e.g., Majapahit and Khmer Empires.

Americas

• Aztec Empire: Known for tribute system and human sacrifices.
• Inca Empire: Centralized, used mita system for labor in state projects.
• Mississippian Culture: Noted for agriculture and mound-building.

Africa

• East Africa (Swahili Civilization):
  • City-states organized around trade.
  • Influenced by Islam, Swahili language developed.
• West Africa:
  • Empires like Ghana, Mali, Songhai centralized through trade.
  • Hausa Kingdoms acted as trade brokers.
• Great Zimbabwe:
  • Wealth from trade, remained largely non-Islamic.
• Ethiopia:
  • Christian state amidst Islamic regions, monarch-led.

Europe

• Belief Systems: Predominantly Christianity (Orthodox and Roman Catholic).
• Eastern Europe: Byzantine Empire and Kievan Rus.
• Western Europe: Feudalism and manorialism structured society.
• Political Organization:
  • Fragmented into small states, later increased monarch power.

Summary

• Unit 1 covers diverse civilizations, their state-building processes, and cultural/religious influences from 1200-1450.
• Key themes include the spread of religion, economic systems, and the rise and fall of empires across the globe.