📚

AP World History Overview: 1200-1450

May 1, 2025

View transcript

AP World History Unit 1 Overview

Period Overview: 1200-1450

  • Focus on major civilizations and their state-building efforts.
  • Definition of State: A politically organized territory under one government (not like U.S. states).

Resources for Exam Preparation

  • AP World History Heimler Review Guide includes videos, notes, practice questions, exams, and answers.

Chinese Civilization: The Song Dynasty

  • Timeline: 960-1279
    • Emphasis on state-building and rule justification.
  • Methods of Rule:
    • Neo-Confucianism: Revival of Confucianism with elements of Buddhism removed.
      • Society is hierarchical; filial piety is a central concept.
    • Place of Women:
      • Subordinate position; loss of rights (e.g., foot binding).
    • Bureaucracy:
      • Civil service exams based on Confucian classics.
      • Jobs based on merit, theoretically open to all, but practically limited to the wealthy.
  • Economic Developments:
    • Commercialization of the economy; trade of porcelain and silk.
    • Agricultural innovations like Champa rice leading to population growth.
    • Expansion of the Grand Canal for trade and communication.

Chinese Influence on Neighboring Regions

  • Korea, Japan, Vietnam:
    • Adoption of similar Civil Service exams and Buddhism.

Role of Buddhism in Song China

  • Four Noble Truths:
    • Life is suffering; cessation of suffering through the Eightfold Path.
  • Branches:
    • Theravada: Monastic focus.
    • Mahayana: Broader participation encouraged.

Dar al-Islam

  • Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.
  • Abbasid Caliphate: Arab-led, declined by 1200.
  • Turkic Empires:
    • Seljuk Empire: Established by Turkic pastoralists, replaced Abbasid power.
    • Use of Sharia law; contributions to mathematics and preservation of Greek philosophy.
  • Cultural and Scientific Innovations:
    • Advances in mathematics (e.g., trigonometry) and preservation of ancient texts.
  • Expansion of Islam:
    • Through military expansion, merchants, and Sufi missionaries.

South and Southeast Asia

  • Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam.
  • Bhakti Movement: Devotional form of Hinduism, challenges social hierarchies.
  • State-Building:
    • Delhi Sultanate: Muslim rule, difficulty imposing state control over Hindus.
    • Vijayanagara Empire: Hindu kingdom resisting Muslim rule.
    • Majapahit and Khmer Empires: Trade and religious influences.

The Americas

  • Mesoamerica (Aztecs):
    • Tribute system; Human Sacrifice.
  • Andean Civilization (Incas):
    • Mit'a labor system; bureaucracy for control.
  • Mississippian Culture:
    • Agriculture and mound-building.

African Civilizations

  • Swahili City-States:
    • Trade-based, influenced by Islam.
  • West African Empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai):
    • Trade-driven, Islamic elite.
  • Great Zimbabwe:
    • Trade and agriculture, indigenous religion.
  • Ethiopia:
    • Christian state, hierarchical power structure.

Europe

  • Christianity:
    • Divided into Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine Empire) and Roman Catholic (Western Europe).
  • Feudalism:
    • Lords and vassals; land exchanged for military service.
  • Manorialism:
    • Economic system centered around manors.
  • Decentralization:
    • Political fragmentation with increasing power of monarchs post-1000 CE.

These notes summarize key points from the provided transcript of a lecture on AP World History Unit 1, focusing on state-building and cultural developments in various regions during 1200-1450.

Full transcript