AP World History: Unit 1 Study Guide
List the core beliefs/practices of Christianity:
-They all have sinned and the only way to salvation or to heaven is by having faith in the word of god. -Attending Church on Sundays, baptism, learning the Bible.
List the core beliefs/practices of Judaism:
-To obey God's commandments and perform Bar mitzvah´s at adulthood. -Wearing tallit and tefillin and attending prayer services.
List the core beliefs/practices of Islam:
-Women would often cover their heads and faces with a hijab. -Although many women were literate, they were not to do so in the company of men not related to them. -Are to submit to god by following the Five Pillars and fasting such as in Ramadan.
How did Buddhism arrive in China?
Buddhism arrived in China via trade routes such as the Silk Road where many merchants would form diaspora communities. This would mean that through vocal and textual communication, Buddhism was able to spread throughout China. It became widely popular due to the creation of woodblock printing and it soon resulted in many other religions such as Tibetan Buddhism to form.
Explain how Buddhism impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia:
Buddhism impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia because it allowed the changing of social hierarchies. This is because the teachings of this religion allowed the poor and women to have more rights than in other empires.
What role did Buddhist monasteries play in spreading Buddhism and promoting trade?
Buddhist monasteries helped spread Buddhism and promote trade because they helped reach people to the state of Nirvana. Nirvana is a state where there is no suffering, desire, or death, meaning that there is total peace. This belief allowed many people to convert to Buddhism and as others traveled to reach that state, it promoted trading routes and services.
Prompt 2: Evaluate the extent to which the diffusion of Islam impacted the development of African states in the 1200 - 1450 time period.
Due to the increase of trade in sub-Saharan Africa, it led to the diffusion of many religions such as Islam. Since many merchants were from an Islamic fate, many empires and leaders took it upon themselves to convert to Islam to have better relations and therefore, prosper in trade. Such leaders like Mansa Musa went on pilgrimages to Mecca and built mosques throughout sub-Saharan Africa to show his devotion to the religion but also his wealth as a result of trade. Although many might argue that Islam did not have an effect of African states as they developed because of trade. Since empires were influenced through social organizations because of Islam and provided more merchants to visit such empires, it shows the extent to which the diffusion of Islam impacted the development of African states in the 1200-1450 time period.
What eventually happened to serfdom? (How did it change moving into the 1450-1750 time period)?
Eventually, serfdom ceased to exist because of the Black Plague. This plague killed many of the workers and those who remained demanded better working conditions and pay. Moving into the next time period, the workers no longer were attached to the property and were paid for their work as they had more rights.
Describe Great Zimbabwe (include InSPECT characteristics):
Great Zimbabwe was located in East Africa where it was surrounded by a stone wall to be protected from invaders. It was a large trading hub as it prospered due to agriculture and mass amounts of gold. However, due to overgrazing and deforestation, it resulted in famine and soon, mass emigrations. This then led to the downfall of Great Zimbabwe by the end of the 1400s.
Explain how Hinduism impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia:
Hinduism impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia because it created the caste system. This system is still popular in many areas such as in India where people are borned into a social class. Meaning that they cannot choose or move to a different social class as it is based on gender, ethnicity, and race.
Describe Ethiopia (include InSPECT characteristics)
In Ethiopia, Christianity was the most prominent religion due to missionaries and trade. However, the spread of Islam also made the empire more diverse however, Christianity in Ethiopia developed independently. Meaning that many people combined their traditional aspects with Christianity to create a distinct form of fate.
Prompt 1: Evaluate the extent to which agriculture affected social organization in Europe from c. 1200 - 1450.
In feudal Europe, many empires lacked a centralized government. Due to this, the Roman Catholic Church controlled many institutions as it helped justify rule and order. Seeing how decentralized governments were from 1200-1450, many peasants took it upon themselves to serve nobels for protection. This resulted in serfdom where peasants or other people would provide for agricultural production in exchange for protection for bandants. Although many might argue that agriculture had no effect on social life, because serfs became a major part of social life and allowed for nobles and kings to have more influence, it explains the extent to which agriculture affected social organizations in Europe.
Explain the influence of Confucianism on Song China's society and culture.
In the Song dynasty´s society, because of the expansion of the bureaucracy that is largely based on Confucian teachings, a new social class developed: scholar gentry. This social class were educated in Confucian teachings and they soon outnumbered the aristocracy. This is important because this social class was the most influential during the Song dynasty. Not to mention, it affected culture as it allowed the creation of woodblock printing, resulting in the growth of arts and literature based on Confucian teachings.
Explain how Islam impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia:
Islam impacted societies in South and Southeast Asia because it allowed women to have more independence. For example, Muhammad raised the status o women as he treated his wives with respect. This meant that many women were allowed to have ownership and pursuit education.
Explain the causes of the expansion of Muslim rule; how and where did it expand before 1450?
One of the main causes of Muslim rule would be because it was integrated in many empires due to the expansion of trade routes. For example, the Abbasid Empire had many Islamic aspects through the introduction of buildings, religious text, and laws influenced by it. Therefore, many took it upon themselves to convert to Islam as well to be a part of the bureaucracy. Muslim rule increased due to conquests, personal choice, missionaries, and trade. It expanded to Arabia, Persia, Turkey, Africa, Southeast and Central Asia, as well as parts of India, Syria, and Eastern europe.
Explain the influence of Confucianism on Song China's political system.
One of the main influences of Confucianism in the Song dynasty's political system is that it was used to expand the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy was used to carry out orders and expand the emperor´s influence but it was based on Confucian texts. Young men who were appointed to be a part of this system needed to take the civil service exam that was based on Confucian teachings.
What were the cultural impacts of the arrival of Buddhism?
Some of the cultural impacts of the arrival of Buddhism was that it created different types of beliefs such as Chan Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. This means that due to the popularity of this religion, many syncretic religions formed because of it. Also, due to the spread in China, many Buddhist scriptures and buildings were made available for the public.
Describe the intellectual innovations and transfers of Muslim States:
Some of the intellectual innovations and transfers of Muslim states were shown in the fields of medicine, astronomy, architecture, and arts. These advances led to higher education and resulted in these empires to grow to large centers of trade where people would travel to spread their knowledge and trade goods.
What role did Sufi missionaries play in spreading Islam?
Sufi missionaries traveled across many areas in Afro-Eurasia to spread Islam. Due to their religious tolerance, many people felt comfortable in learning their teachings, therefore, spreading the religion of Islam.
Describe the Abbasid Caliphate (include InSPECT characteristics):
The Abbasid Caliphate was led by Arabs and Persians in which was largely based on the ideas of Islam. During the golden age, Nasir al-Din al Tusi contributed to astronomy, law, ethics, mathematics, and other studies. Not to mention, new technologies such as the windmill were created.
Explain the effects of each of the following on Song China:
The Grand Canal: An inexpensive and efficient internal waterway system. Allowing the growth of agricultural production but it also allowed new trading routes to form throughout the empire. Meaning that by expanding the canal, it enabled China to become a more populous trading area in the world.
Explain the significance of the House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad:
The House of Wisdom was the academic center for research and translation at the time. It was stimulated by greek texts, and the Islamic thinkers. So the House of Wisdom allowed for a growth in technological innovations as well as new philosophies and ideas concerning logic and experiments.
Describe the Inca (include InSPECT characteristics) :
The Inca empire extended from present-day Ecuador to Chile where it was split into four provinces. Meaning that each had its own leader and bureaucracy. Under the Inca empire, the mit'a system was created where young men had to do mandatory public service, either in building roads or buildings. The religion in the empire was based on ¨people of the sun¨ where many religious buildings such as the Temple of the Sun were built to show respect for the sun and their ancestors.
Describe the Maya city-states (include InSPECT characteristics) :
The Maya city-states expanded over the southern part of Mexico and other Latin America states where each city was ruled by a different set of kings and wars among the states were common. The economy was largely based on agriculture as well as taxes or providing labor to the government. In the Maya city-states, the kings or queens believed that they were descendents of god and often performed human sacrifices. During its peak, they developed a complex writing system and learned how to make rubber.
Describe the Mexica (include InSPECT characteristics):
The Mexia or the Aztec empire was originally formed by a group of hunter-gatherers and soon founded the capital city called Tenochtitlan. The empire was formed in the middle of a swampy lake so that it could be protected from attacks. The Aztecs formed a tribute system where many conquered people were forced to give up land or serve the government in labor or give luxury goods. Not to mention, the Aztec empire was a theocracy which is ruled by religious leaders and the emperor was known as the Great Speaker.
Describe the Seljuk Empire:
The Seljuk Empire started with an ethnic group, the Seljuk Turks who were Muslims and began conquering parts of the Middle East. The sultan has the highest authority in the empire and defended their Islamic culture from the Crusaders.
1.Describe Song China (include InSPECT characteristics).
The Song dynasty replaced the Tang dynasty however the empire began losing land in the northern region due to invasions from the Manchuria group. The empire was based on a bureaucracy system in which officials carried out orders from the emperor. Since the Song dynasty was involved in the Silk Road, champa rice was spreaded, resulting in tremendous population growth and allowed the dynasty to prosper. Not to mention, some of the innovations that occurred during this dynasty would include paper, silk, gunpowder, and the development of the Grand Canal.
How did the Srivijaya Empire develop and maintain power?
The Srivijaya Empire developed and maintained power because it charged fees through trading routes. As merchants traveled between India and China, the Srivijaya Empire prospered by taxing them, allowing it to maintain power and influence over the Indian Ocean trade.
What were the effects of the rise of Islamic states?
The effects of the rise of Islamic states is that it resulted in the caste systems. These social systems were more dominant in India where people were not able to change their social status. Not to mention, Islamic states offered many technological advances such as in the Abbasid Empire with the House of Wisdom.
What effects did these innovations have in Dar al-Islam?
The effects that these innovations have in Dar al-Islam is that it allowed the strengthening of many empires. Without these innovations, many merchants and scholars would have not traveled to these empires, therefore, not creating a large trading hub. These innovations also resulted in a more efficient way for trade, population growth, and respect towards Dar al-Islam.
Explain the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on Western Europe:
The impact of the roman Catholic Church on Western Europe was that it was the most powerful institution in Europe. During its influence, many people asked Church officials on how to read or write such as religious texts, resulting in corruption. It also had great power over the feudal system as it could pressure the lord by canceling religious services for his serfs.
Describe the manorial system:
The manorial system provided economic self sufficiency and defense. So, it produced everything that the population needed in order to be stable, limiting trade within the region. So, as the serfs produced goods in manors, oftentimes, they would spend the rest of their lives working on it.
Describe the political organization of feudal Europe:
The political organization of feudal Europe consists of the monarch of kings who are at the top of the social structure. The king usually granted lands to lords in return for loyalty where they would then provide land to the knights. In return, the knights would become vassals and pledge loyalty to the lords. Not to mention, lords would also provide land for peasants in return for protection and providing for agricultural production.
What was the role of serfdom in Europe?
The role of serfdom in Europe was that the serfs worked for the nobles in land to produce crops. Serfs worked for the nobles to pay for their debt but also to get protection from bandants. This is because Europe was so decentralized during that time so there was a lot of internal and external conflict.
Describe the social hierarchy of feudal Europe:
The social hierarchy of feudal Europe put kings and Church rule on top, with Nobles following. After the Nobles came the knights. Peasants and serfs were at the very bottom.
