AP World Unit 1 Questions

Why did larger kingdoms grow in prominence?

As the population increased, kin-based networks were more difficult to govern. As a result, competition among villages erupted, and small communities fought to survive, while larger kingdoms grew in prominence.

What was domestic slavery?

Domestic slaves served as cooks, cleaners, or other household workers. They were commonly found in Classical Greece, Rome, and the Middle East. Enslavement was often permanent for them, as well as the enslavement of their children. However, certain circumstances protected a slave from being sold by their master.

How did the imperial bureaucracy change over time?

One of Emperor Song Taizu's greatest achievements was expanding the educational opportunities to the lower economic classes so that they also had the chance to do well on these exams. In China's bureaucratic system, officials gained their jobs by demonstrating their merit on the exams, which is why the bureaucratic system was also known as a meritocracy. The poor became more represented in the bureaucracy when China allowed for more upward mobility than any other hiring system in its time. However, this bureaucratic system led to the downfall of Song China because it increased the costs of running the government to its breaking point.

What was the impact of Islamic teachings on slavery?

Slavery was legal in Islam, but the enslavement of Muslims by other Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians was not allowed. Many slaves were freed after converting to Islam. Slave women had more freedom than in other countries. They often served as concubines for men who had four wives, and were sometimes allowed to run errands or dance for unrelated men. With the money that they accumulated, some were able to buy their freedom.

China's earlier discovery of coal led to the manufacturing of steel. How did steel impact Song China?

Steel could be used to build or reinforce bridges, gates, ship anchors, and agricultural equipment. It was also often used for creating religious items, such as pagodas and Buddhist figurines.

The Abbasid Empire began to crumble in the 1100s and 1200s due to attacks from outsiders. What was the significance of the Crusaders in this?

The Abbasids allowed Christians to travel to and from their holy places around Jerusalem, but the Seljuk Turks tried to limit this travel. In response, European christians organized groups of soldiers called Crusaders to provide easier access.

Explain how the Mississippian culture organized its government and society.

Their social structure consisted of the Great Sun, the chief and ruler of a town, at the highest authority, then the upper class of priests and nobles, lower class of farmers, hunters, merchants, and artisans, and then slaves at the bottom, who were often prisoners of war. The majority of women farmed and men usually hunted. The Mississipians had a matrilineal society, where social status was determined by the woman's side of the family.

Looking back at intellectual innovations and cultural transfers, explain the significance of education and tolerance within the Islamic empire.

Under the Abbasid Empire, scholars from far away countries came to the House of Wisdom, a remarkable learning center, which led them to spread their knowledge throughout Afro-Eurasia. al-Andalus, the Islamic state established in Spain, was also a popular center of learning. It had a famously large library and a history of producing great scholars. The Muslims, Christians, and Jews living in al-Andalus not only got along with each other but also influenced one another to share their ideas with each other as well as with the outside world. These philosophers and scholars of different cultures living in Spain that worked together, which can be rare sometimes, caused many scientific and intellectual innovations to take shape. For example, the Renaissance in Europe and the technology of paper making from China was spread much more rapidly as a result of these people working together.

How did Song China also utilize Confucianism to maintain control?

A Confucian idea called filial piety was introduced, saying that the duty of family members was to subordinate their desires to the desires of the head of the family and ruler. The emphasis on respecting your elders helped maintain the Song's control of China.

What lasting economic impact did the Tang Dynasty have on the Song Dynasty?

A lasting economic impact that the Tang Dynasty had on the Song Dynasty was by promoting agriculture, trade, and technology.

New Islamic political entities also demonstrated several cultural innovations. Explain how A'ishah al-Ba'uniyya contributed to this "global age".

A popular Sufi poet, this woman was among the most prolific Muslim writers before the 20th century. Her reference to other poets showed her broad knowledge and many of her works elaborated on her journey toward mystic illumination. Her works also conveyed the contrast between Muslims and Sufis. Muslims focused on intellectual pursuits, while Sufis believed in introspection to gain knowledge that could not be achieved by learning.

How did the Grand Canal allow Song China to flourish economically?

The Grand Canal gave Song China an inexpensive and efficient waterway system that made them the most populous trading spot in the world.

What was the importance of the sea-based kingdom of the Majapahit Kingdom(1293-1520) in Southeast Asia?

The Majapahit Kingdom, a Hindu Kingdom based on Java, had 98 as its highest number of tributaries. Similar to the Srivijaya Empire, Majapahit's power came from controlling trade by sea.

What was the role of religion in the Maya government and culture?

The Mayan king was believed to be descended from a god, and that when he died, he would join his ancestors in the afterlife.

Sub-Saharan Africa was also socially organized around kinship, age, and gender. How did the role of gender impact men and women in society?

Men usually had jobs that required a special skill, such as being a leather tanner or blacksmith. In contrast, women were in charge of agriculture and food gathering, as well as carrying out domestic chores and raising the children.

What other methods of control did the Actec utilize to govern?

The Aztecs grouped city-states into provinces, moving warriors and their families to the capitals of these areas to ensure the province maintained control. Also, an Aztec official was stationed in each province's capital to collect tribute from local officials.

What was the importance of the land-based kingdoms of the Sinhala Dynasties in Southeast Asia?

The Sinhala Dynasty was among the many empires that gained power through control of other lands since the 3rd century, when the first merchants were believed to have arrived from north India. With them came Buddhists, who made the island a place of Buddhist study. Virtually everyone had an enjoyable life there.

What were the key characteristics of the government and economy in the African kingdom of Ethiopia, and how did Islam impact it?

The kingdom of Axum, located in Ethiopia, prospered by trading goods with India, Arabia, the Roman empire, and the interior of Africa. In the 7th century Islam made the region more religiously diverse. Ethiopia was famous for its architecture, as it built 11 large Christian churches made of rock. Ethiopian Christiantity grew independently.

Intellectual pursuits, such as literature, thrived in the Song Dynasty. What inventions from earlier Chinese history allowed this to happen?

They were the first ones to use woodblock printing, which expanded the availability of books. As a result, China's high social classes had more access to literature, and Confucian scholars retained it rapidly as well as produced much of it. The emphasis of schooling formed well-rounded scholar-bureaucrats with greatly diverse skills.

In feudalism, what was the monarch's role?

Another name for a king, the monarch granted pieces of land, or fiefs, to lords, who, in return, would become the king's vassal, owing service to those with higher authority.

The Abbasid Empire began to crumble in the 1100s and 1200s due to attacks from outsiders. What was the significance of the Seljuk Turks in this?

As Muslims from Central Asia, the Seljuk Turks expanded their territory into the Middle East, getting almost as far as Western China. Their leader called himself sultan, thus reducing the role of the highest-ranking Abbasid at that time from caliph to chief Sunni religious authority.

How did the activities of merchants lead to the expansion of the Islamic Empire?

Merchants could get rich by trading across the Indian Ocean and Central Asia, as long as they maintained fair dealings and gave to charity according to Islamic law. Merchants traded across the Silk Roads, mostly with goods, but some traveled as missionaries and spread Islam via the Silk Roads to other areas.

What was the impact of Islamic teachings on economics?

Merchants were higher up on the social scale in Islam than in many other countries. Some grew rich because of their trade across the Indian Ocean and Central Asia using the Silk Roads. Goods and ideas flowed through Baghdad consistently at first, but then the trade routes gradually shifted farther north. Baghdad lost its place at the center of trade, causing a huge decrease in the wealth and population. It could not maintain the canals and farmers could not provide enough food.

What was the role of religion in the Inca Empire?

The most important of the Incan gods to Incas is Inti, the sun god. The two main elements of Incan religion were honoring the sun and royal ancestor veneration, emphasized in the Temple of the Sun in Cuzco. Priests were in charge of diagnosing illnesses, predicting the outcome of battles, solving crimes, and deciding what sacrifices should be made to what god. Dangerous events such as famine, plague, or defeat in battle were responded to using human sacrifice. Animism, the belief that physical objects could have supernatural powers, was also incorporated into Incan religion.

Why was the Zanj Rebellion considered one of the most successful slave revolts in history?

Around 15,000 slaves successfully captured the city of Basra and held it for ten years. The large size of this city and long period of time before being defeated made this rebellion one of the most successful in history.

How did the Aztecs utilize a tribute system to control their population?

Conquered people were forced to pay tribute, in the form of goods, to their conqueror. This enabled the Aztecs' local rulers to maintain their positions as tribute collectors. In exchange, the conquered people were provided with safety.

What were key achievements of the Inca and why were they significant to the empire?

In mathematics, the Inca developed quipu, a series of knotted strings to record numerical information for trade/engineering and recording messages to be transported around the empire. The Inca also created sophisticated terrace systems that redirected rain to avoid erosion from floods and that stored water for dry seasons. Lastly, the Inca were famously talented at building bridges and roads. Their best known roadway system was the Carpa Nan, which stretched 25,000 miles. These innovations were significant to the empire's success because bridges were especially important in mountainous areas, and basic resources such as water were difficult to collect as well.

Explain how the Inca's mita system differed from the Aztec tribute system.

Instead of paying tribute, like what the Aztecs enforced, the Inca's mita system required conquered men between 15 and 50 years old to provide labor for the government, such as constructing roads.

How did Islam spread to Southeast Asia? Why did many in Southeast Asia convert?

Islam's expansion into the Indian Ocean granted access to more countries. The first Southeast Asian Muslims were local merchants, and they converted to Islam in the 700's, hoping to have better trading relations with the Islamic merchants.

Describe how Islam interacted with and impacted South Asian culture.

People in South Asia and the Middle East began to share their intellectual and cultural ideas with one another. Sultans erected buildings combining Hindu art with Islamic architecture during the Delhi Sultanate, which the city of Delhi is filled with. Many famous ones, like the Qutub Minar, are still standing today. A new language was also introduced among Muslims living in South Asia called Urdu. It melded elements of Hindi, Arabic, and Farsi, and is the official language of present-day Pakistan. In the 12th century, some Hindus focused on personal reflection to develop a strong attachment to a certain deity, which became known as the Bhakti Movement.

Sub-Saharan Africa did not centralize power like most Asian or European societies. Explain how they governed their societies.

They used kin-based networks, where families governed themselves. A chief was in charge of a network and mediated conflicts between neighboring villages. The groups of villages became districts, and a group of chiefs collaborated with each other about the district's issues.

What was the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on reform?

Although clergy swore to give to the poor and support charities, they also had considerable political influence, which made some monasteries very wealthy. This led to corruption and theological disagreements, which drove reformers like Martin Luther to take down the unity of the Roman Catholic Church.

How did greater agricultural prosperity impact European society in the Middle Ages?

As the demand for labor on manors increased, the supply of them decreased. A series of severe plagues went through Europe and Eurasia in the 14th century, the worst of which being the bubonic plague or the Black Death, which wiped out one-third of the population. The demand for labor and the deaths due to these plagues gave serfs more bargaining power with lords.

Why was the Roman Catholic church extremely influential in Europe at this time?

Because Church officials were often summoned by people who needed something read or written for them, and Christianity provided people with a shared identity though vernacular languages, those spoken by a people in a region, replacing Latin.

What was the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on monasticism?

Christian clergy who visited monasteries to mediate and pray remained a part of the economics of Western Europe. These monasteries had the same economic functions of agriculture and protection as other manors. Women were allowed to become nuns and thus influence the monasteries of the Church.

What evidence is there that Chinese society was patriarchal (male-dominated).

Confucianism held that women were to be respected and that they would listen to men. There were constraints enforced on women's activities, such as foot binding, which was popular in aristocratic families. It caused girls to not be able to move, participate with the public, or their bones to grow properly.

How did this system impact the groups above and how did it impact women?

Feudalism provided security for peasants, equipment for knights and other soldiers, and land to anyone who served a lord. This system included a code of chivalry, an unwritten set of rules requiring the display of honor, courtesy, and bravery. This code placed women on a pedestal without giving them any additional importance.

How was the Aztec society organized? What role did women have?

From highest authority to lowest authority, the social scale was organized with the Great Speaker, the political ruler and representative of the gods, then the land-owning nobles, who often served in the military, then scribes and healers, next were craftspeople and traders, pochteca, merchants who traded luxury goods, then peasants and soldiers, and finally slaves. Women had an important role in Aztec society, as they wove the valuable cloth often paid as tribute. They were able to become priestesses, midwives, healers, or merchants, and some noblewomen, knowing how to read and write, were scribes to female members of royal families

Explain how the middle class emerged in Western Europe, and who made up this new social group.

Growth in long-distance commerce caused the new middle class to emerge in Western Europe called the bourgeoisie, or burghers, which was made up of shopkeepers, merchants, craftspeople, and small landowners.

Northern India had more upheaval than Southern India. How did the Delhi Sultanate(13-16th centuries) evidence this?

Included in Islam's expansion into the northern part of South Asia was conquering the city of Delhi. The Delhi Sultanate was formed, which reigned for 300 years and dominated the politics of the era. The Delhi Sultanate imposed a tax, the jizya, on all non-Muslims in the empire, which caused some to dislike the Islamic rule. It never managed to organize an efficient bureaucracy, which made it difficult to force their policies in the vast country of India. The sultans wished to extend their rule farther south, but were prevented from doing so by an attack by the Mongol army. They defended the area, but lost power to a similar army, the Mughals.

Summarize the governing structure of the Maya.

Instead of fighting to gain land, the Mayans often fought to gain tribute, payments from the conquered to the conqueror, as well as captives for human sacrifices. The king could be overthrown, the people were required to pay taxes, and when war erupted, citizens had to provide military service. No central government was in place in any Mayan city-state, but one state was usually the strongest.

Summarize the main differences between Hinduism and Islam.

Islam believes in only one god, while Hindus believe in many. Temples and art showing pictures of deities is popular in Hinduism, but Islam does not approve of any visual representation of Allah. Hinduism upheld a hierarchical caste system, while Islam emphasizes equality of all believers. Lastly, Hindus refer to multiple sacred texts, and Islam looks only to the Quran for spiritual guidance.

What was the impact of Islamic teachings on education?

Islam provided these scholars from far away with knowledge from the House of Wisdom, which greatly helped spread Islamic beliefs throughout Afro-Eurasia. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi's astronomy, mathematics, medicine, philosophy, and other subjects led to trigonometry being introduced. Medical advances and better hospital care was created, giving doctors and pharmacists the opportunity to earn a license.

Describe how Islam impacted the social structure of South Asia.

Islam's impact on the strong caste system of India was not very effective. However, it did alter to accommodate newcomers, including Muslim merchants and migrants who were not Hindu. The subcastes, based on peoples' occupation, soon became absorbed into Indian society.

Summarize the several cultural continuities that were demonstrated as new Islamic political entities emerged.

Islamic scholars wanted to follow the path of the great prophet Muhammed and so they carried on the work of other thinkers by studying different cultures. They translated Greek literature into Arabic, keeping the original Greek text, and shared mathematics texts from India as well as paper-making from China with Europeans.

The Abbasid Empire began to crumble in the 1100s and 1200s due to attacks from outsiders. What was the significance of the Mamluks in this?

Many Mamluks were enslaved by Arabs, and made to serve as soldiers or bureaucrats. Therefore, Mamluks had more potential than did other slaves in Islam. Mamluks took control of the Egyptian government and established the Mamluk Sultanate. They prospered by constant trade with Islam and Europe, but when the Portuguese and Europeans developed new sea routes for trade, the Mamluks began to lose power.

What were the key characteristics of the government and economy in the African kingdom of Mali, and how did Islam impact it?

Many scholars believe that the founder of Mali, Sundiata, was a Muslim who had trade relationships with other merchants of his faith. As a result of his leadership, Mali became a very wealthy kingdom.

Explain how Marco Polo's travels abroad impacted the economy of Europe.

Marco Polo traveled to Dadu, modern day Beijing, to learn about the customs of the natives there to spread to Europeans. He found that Mongols had multiple marriages, drank mare's milk, burned coal to heat their homes, and bathed at least three times a week.

Explain the significance of music, visual arts, and literature to the culture of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Music, visual arts, and literature were important to this culture because they produced enjoyment and marked rituals such as weddings and funerals. Song lyrics were often a way to communicate with the spirit world. The visual arts were significant because metalworkers created busts of past rulers so that the current rulers could refer to them for guidance. The sophistication of their architecture would soon convince Europeans to increase their respect for West African cultures. Griots were masters of knowledge and literature, as they possessed encyclopedic knowledge of family lineages and great leaders. Their stories and songs preserved an entire people's history and passed it down to future generations. Females in this role were called griottes, and they usually sang at special occasions, and they gave women empowerment in a patriarchal society.

Explain how Song China continued to rely on free peasant and artisan labor.

Proto-industrialization relied on home or community-based production by artisans who used simple equipment in smelting facilities under the government's supervision. They were skilled craftworkers who produced much of the country's steel, porcelain, and silk. China's social structure put peasants at the very bottom, who would work for landowners to pay off debt or for the poor.

Although Jewish, Muslim, and female citizens positively impacted their communities, explain how they also faced ostracism or negativity from Europe.

Some Christians saw Jews as outsiders and untrustworthy, so Jews expelled from western and central Europe moved to eastern Europe. In 1492, the Spanish king expelled all Muslims in the kingdom who would not convert to Christianity. Not as many women as men received an education, even when they managed manor accounts, and some became artisans and members of guilds, without receiving property rights.

Identify and explain two examples that prove that states in core areas of civilization grew larger, and smaller states began to decline.

The Abbasid Caliphate in the Middle East was divided because of shifts in trade routes and invaders. As a result, new Muslim states arose in Africa, the Middle East, and Spain. In Europe, feudal ties became less popular as new centralized states were formed, which was more present in Western Europe than in Eastern Europe.

Explain the role of religion in Aztec government and culture. How does this differ from the Maya?

The Aztecs believed that the gods had sacrificed themselves to create the world. Therefore, the Aztecs believed that human sacrifice could atone for sin. Their beliefs were different than that of the Mayan Empire because the king of a Mayan city-state was believed to be descended from the gods, while the Aztecs believed the gods had sacrificed themselves to create the world, thus they strongly upheld human sacrifice.

What was the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on the relationship between the Church and State?

The Church had a significant part in the feudal system, because if a lord did something that displeased the Church, they could pressure them to give into certain demands. The regional religious leaders, called bishops, owed allegiance to the pope, and could select and supervise local priests.

Explain how the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches emerge from the Christian Church in Europe in 1054.

The Great Schism is the split of the Christian Church in which two branches emerged, the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The Roman Church was more impactful in Europe than the Orthodox Church, but the Orthodox did have power in eastern Europe.

Explain how religious, social, and economic pressures resulted in the Crusades.

The Holy Land had special religious importance to European Christians. Primogeniture, in which the oldest son in a family inherited the estate of their parents, left the other sons with no inheritance. As a result, the landed nobles started a military campaign to divert these people's focus, who were revolting against neighboring lords. Merchants desired unfettered access of trade routes through the Middle East.

Describe the governing system of the Holy Roman Empire and what led to its decline.

The Holy Roman Empire's government was successful as King Otto I overcame the papacy over the lay investiture controversy and the Church was given autonomy from secular authorities. The Empire remained until the Thirty Years' War, where it was weakened greatly, and then fully destroyed by Napoleon.

What marked the limit of Islamic expansion into Western Europe?

The Islamic military was forced back when they were defeated at the Battle of Tours against Frankish forces. It was a rare and major loss and abruptly stopped Islam's expansion into Western Europe. Muslims ruled in Spain for the next seven centuries.

Explain how the role of nomads changed over time in the process of state-building.

The Mongols ruled significant regions of Asia and Eastern Europe in the 13th century, creating political stability in these areas that increased trade across Eurasia. The Seljuk and Ottoman Turks took over the Mediterranean region while another Turkish group established an empire in Persia and the surrounding territories. However, these empires would be among the last ones between settled and nomadic peoples, as the Turks would soon be replaced by merchants and trading companies, diminishing the role of nomads in commerce and cross-cultural exchange.

Describe the feudal system of Norman England and explain how it changed in 1215 and 1265.

The Norman king named William the Conqueror captured England in 1066. However, many English nobles rejected the rule of William and the succeeding monarchs, forcing him to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, which required him to allow right to a jury trial and scutage. The English Parliament was established in 1265, in which two legislative bodies became the most powerful of their kind in Europe.

Describe two major types of state-building and where they were used.

The Revival of Former Empires occurs when new leadership continues or a previous empire is rebuilt with some innovations. This was used by the Song Dynasty, based on the Han Dynasty, the Mali Empire, based on the Ghana Kingdom, and the Holy Roman Empire, based on the Roman empire. The Synthesis of Different Traditions occurs when a state adopts the beliefs of another area. Regions that used this were Japan, which adopted Chinese and Japanese ideals, the Delhi Sultanate, which adopted Islamic and Hindu traditions, and Neo-Confucianism.

What was the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on education and art?

The Roman Catholic church established the first universities in Europe, which caused many surrounding philosophers, thinkers, and writers to become religious leaders. All artists worked for the church, and most artwork depicted religious themes, which was helpful to serfs in understanding the Bible.

What major trade network allowed China to trade items and technology (like guns) with Eurasia?

The Silk Roads allowed China to trade goods and technology, such as guns, which were produced by the Song Dynasty, with Eurasia.

Buddhism posed a problem for the Tang Dynasty, who grew jealous. How did the Song Dynasty treat Buddhism?

The Song Dynasty was mostly friendly towards Buddhism, but preferred the native traditions of Confucianism. Buddhism was strongly present in China, and Confucians began adopting its ideals. The Song Dynasty benefitted from a Confucian belief called filial piety. This emphasized the importance of family members respecting their elders and the male head of the family. Neo-Confucianism was developed later and favored ethics over the mysteries of God and nature, which became popular in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

What developments allowed agriculture to become more efficient near the end of the Middle Ages?

The change in the three-field system and other agricultural developments created an increase in the population. Towns and markets were permitted to operate more often than just holidays.

How did population growth and agricultural prosperity lead to urban growth? How did the Little Ice Age impact society during this time?

The change to the three-field system and other advances in agriculture led to population growth. This caused growth of towns and markets that could operate more often, and the demand for labor on the manors increased. The Little Ice Age slowed down urban growth, as lower temperatures reduced agricultural productivity. It also resulted in an increase in disease and unemployment, creating social unrest. Crime rate increased, and Jews and other groups that were facing discrimination were blamed for scapecoating, being accused for something they could not control.

Explain the general evolution of Kiev to the modern state of Russia.

The city-state at the center of the trade through Scandinavia to the Mediterranean to Central Asia was Kiev, Ukraine. It adopted Othodox Christianity, creating close cultural relationships with Byzantium rather than Roman Catholic Europe. In the 13th century, the Mongols captured this region, so it developed separately from the rest of Europe.

What was the main goal of the Christian Crusades?

The main goal of the Christian Crusades was to take control of the Holy Land, the region of Palestine in the Middle East that holds spiritual significance to Muslims, Europeans, and Christians.

How was the role of religion in empire and state-building similar or different throughout Afro-Eurasia?

The role of religion in empire and state-building between Islam and China and East Asia were similar because they both used a system of beliefs to create a group of rulers to maintain the bureaucracy. Islam was different from the roles of religion in China and Europe because they used the language of Arabic to help increase religious awareness. Additionally, Europe differed from other Eurasian areas' ways of incorporating religion into their empire because the church was sometimes part of the state building process, as the Church provided an alternative social structure for many weak states. This caused them to become a rival of powerful states that emerged in France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Explain how the increase in cross-cultural exchanges impacted regions throughout Afro-Eurasia.

The unique growing capabilities of Champa rice helped Song China sustain their population. Additionally, porcelain, silk, steel, and iron production helped build China into the strongest state of its time. The invention of paper by China helped other regions, like the Islamic state of Baghdad, to spread literature and knowledge through the House of Wisdom and led to advances in subjects such as mathematics and medicine. Europe also benefited from trade with Asia, but at the same time had many conflicts with them.

Northern India had more upheaval than Southern India. How did the Rajput Kingdoms evidence this?

These kingdoms formed in northern India after the fall of the Gupta Kingdom. The leaders of these Hindu kingdoms, often divided into clans, were constantly at war with each other. As a result, no centralized government was ever established, leaving them vulnerable to Muslim invasions. However, the Rajput princes limited the Muslim conquerors' influence. Islamic forces plundered Hindu and Buddhist temples and built mosques on Hindu and Buddhist holy sites.

What do the three main types (Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan) of Buddhism have in common?

These three types of Buddhism all have a belief in the Four Noble Truths, which help alleviate suffering by eliminating people's desires and by following Buddhist precepts. They also embrace the Eight-Fold Path, the precepts that, if obeyed, can lead to enlightenment, or nirvana.

Southern India was more stable than Northern India. How did the Vijayanagara Empire(1336-1646) evidence this?

This dynasty began when two brothers were sent to Delhi because the Delhi Sultanate wanted to extend its rule to southern India. The brothers were at first Hindus and then later converted to Islam in order to gain priveleges of higher classes. When they left the region controlled by the Delhi Sultanate, they converted back to their original religion of Hinduism, establishing their own kingdom, which became the Vijayanagara Empire. It existed from the mid-1300s to the mid-1500s until the Muslims overthrew it.

What was the importance of the land-based kingdom of Khmer Empire/Angkor Kingdom(802-1431) in Southeast Asia?

This empire was located near the Mekong River, and they prospered economically through the irrigation and drainage systems, allowing them to harvest rice crops several times a year and not be heavily affected by the monsoon rains. The capital, Angkor Thom, contained a variety of Indian cultural influences on Southeast Asia in its temples. However, the Khmer rulers later converted to Buddhism, adding Buddhist sculptures to the Hindu art. These rulers also constructed the ornate and unique complex of Angkor Wat. In 1431, the Sukhothai Kingdom invaded, forcing the Khmers out, but the ruins of the majestic structures of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat are still there.

What was the importance of the sea-based kingdom of the Srivijaya Empire(670-1025) in Southeast Asia?

This was a Hindu Kingdom based on Sumatra. It had a great navy and its main source of income was fees for ships traveling between India and China.

How did the Renaissance and its interest in humanism impact Europe?

This was a period of interest in classical Greek and Roman literature, art, culture, and civic virtue. The printing press was a very effective innovation in Europe, as it was able to mass produce these texts at an affordable price. Humanism, a meaningful characteristic of the Renaissance, emphasized focus on individuals rather than God, and humanists began writing secular literature seeking education and reform. Cultural changes propelled the rise of new powerful monarchies, the centralization of government, and nationalism. The author Dante Alighieri of The Divine Comedy reflected his independence from the Church by his criticism of religious officials and use of Italian ventricular instead of Latin.

What were the key characteristics of the government and economy in the African kingdom of Zimbabwe, and how did Islam impact it?

Zimbabwe's rich gold fields and taxes levied on the transport of gold made this kingdom wealthy. Zimbabwe also had the advantage of being part of the Indian Ocean trade system, which enabled them to trade with coastal city-states such as Mombasa, Kilwa, and Mogadishu. In East Africa, traders combined Bantu and Arabic to form the language of Swahili, which is still spoken today.

How does an imperial bureaucracy/meritocracy work?

A vast organization where appointed officials execute the empire's policies. Because officials obtained their positions of power by getting a high score on exams based on Confucian texts, China's bureaucratic system was also known as a meritocracy.

What was the impact of Islam in Africa?

Africa was one of the countries that Islam ususally purchased slaves from. Traders in East Africa blended Bantu and Arabic to develop the language of Swahili, which is still commonly spoken today. Muslim forces defeated the Byzantine army in North Africa in the year 711, setting up their invasion of Spain from the south.

What was the impact of Islam in Spain?

After defeating the Byzantine forces in North Africa, the Muslims conquered Spain and made Cordoba their capital. They created an environment of peace there between Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and promoted trade of Chinese and Southeast Asian products in Spain and the majority of Europe.

Why did the Hausa kingdoms/states rely on the Trans-Saharan trade network?

Because the Hausa lacked access to the sea, they used the trans-Saharan trade network to trade with other regions who did have access to the Red Sea and Meditteranean Sea.

Why were the Mayans called the "Greeks of the New World"?

Because they incorporated the number zero into their number system, developed a complex writing system, and learned to collect liquid rubber from rubber plants.

Buddhism continued to shape societies in Asia, especially in Song China. How did it migrate (spread) to China?

Buddhism originated in India and spread to all of China via the Silk Roads. It was present during the anarchic Han and Sui dynasties later in China's history. A Buddhist monk named Xuanxang helped it to become widespread during the Tang Dynasty.

How did China's imperial bureaucracy/meritocracy lead to the decline of the Song?

China's imperial bureaucracy made the country very successful in many areas, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and political stability. However, the bureaucracy had become so large and had created so many jobs that by paying the officials that performed very high on the merit exams so generously, the costs of government increased to the point of using up all of China's wealth.

Song China became increasingly commercialized during proto-industrialization. Explain what commercialization means for an economy.

Commercialization in an economy is their ability to bring goods and services to the market. China's economy changed from local consumption to market production, which was made possible by the Grand Canal.

What was debt bondage slavery?

Debt bondage slaves were those who had to work to repay their debt. They were common in East Africa prior to the 15th century and in European colonies in the Americas. Slaves rarely gained freedom again, children often inherited the debt of their parents, but some laws or customs could limit how severely a slave could be punished.

Summarize the Middle Ages (medieval period) of Western Europe.

During the Middle Ages in Western Europe, trade declined, intellectual life receded, and Rome was divided into kingdoms that were commonly fought over. In response, European leaders developed systems of governing such as feudalism and the manorial system that would help the economy and defense. The Roman Catholic Church was very influential to this part of Europe.

Prior to the Song Dynasty, most of Chinese society lived in rural areas. How does Song China differ from earlier history, and what makes this change happen?

During the Song Dynasty, China became the most urbanized land in the world. What made this change happen were the several large cities, Chang'an, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou, which were active centers of commerce and offered many entertainment options.

Give examples of and explain how innovations in agriculture led to population growth and economic success.

Experimentation with champa rice revealed that it could grow in places that it could not before and heavy plows pulled by water buffalo were introduced, making farming possible in these areas. Chinese farmers found that manure enriched the soil, and built irrigation systems with ditches, water wheels, pumps, and terraces, which made farming more successful. These innovations created an increase in China's population and the abundance of food.

Explain two new characteristics in the later Middle Ages that led to stronger monarchies. Why did this change create conflict?

Feudal lords having the ability to be in charge of their own bureaucracy and military led to stronger monarchies. This created conflict because the regions that used these characteristics either had their king's authority rejected or were too weak to avoid being conquered because the activation of this authority was unsuccessful.

How is South Asia characterized politically after the collapse of the Golden Age (Gupta Dynasty)?

For 1,000 years, political disunity was present in South Asia, but Hinduism created some cultural unity when people felt comfortable with combining their own local traditions and willingly accepted the beliefs of Hinduism.

What were the key characteristics of the government and economy in the African kingdom of Ghana, and how did Islam impact it?

Ghana traded gold and ivory with Muslim traders in exchange for salt, copper, cloth, and tools. In the capital city of Koumbi Saleh, the king maintained a centralized government, aided by nobles, and an army with iron weapons.

Explain what/how economic challenges also led to the decline of the Abbasid Empire.

Goods and ideas flowed rapidly through Baghdad at first, but then the trade routes were slowly moved farther north. As a result, Baghdad lost its significant trade capability, greatly impacting its wealth and population negatively. It could not maintain the canals and farmers could not provide enough food.

List three (3) other items of trade from Song China.

Guns/gunpowder, porcelain, and silk were other items that were produced and traded by Song China.

Most South Asians practice which religions before the arrival of Islam?

Hinduism and Buddhism

New Islamic political entities also demonstrated several cultural innovations. Explain how Ibn Khaldun contributed to this "global age".

Ibn Khaldun was best known for his contributions to historical accounts and for being a founder of historiography and sociology.

Explain how the Tributary System supported both economic and political power for Song China.

In this system, other countries that Song China controlled had to pay money or goods to honor the emperor. In return, the tributary system provided stability and stimulated trade for these countries. The tributary system also required representatives from these tributary states to honor the emperor by bowing their head to the ground when greeting them, known as a kowtow.

What countries of today correspond with the region of Southeast Asia?

Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

In feudalism, what was the peasants' role?

Lords also provided land and protection to peasants, who had to farm the lord's land and give them some of the crops and livestock, as well as obey their orders.

In feudalism, what was the lords' role?

Lords gave land to knights, who became vassals for the lord in exchange, being dedicated to providing military service for the lord or king.

The arrival of Islam was at first forceful, as Muslim rulers tried to force Hindu and Buddhist subjects to convert. This was unsuccessful, which led to voluntary conversion. Who voluntarily converted and why?

Many Muslim merchants trading through the Indian Ocean moved to Indian port cities and got married. As a result, their wives often converted to their husband's religion. This happened because wives often confer to their husband's religion.

The Abbasid Empire began to crumble in the 1100s and 1200s due to attacks from outsiders. What was the significance of the Mongols in this?

Originating from Central Asia, the Mongols were one of most well known conquerors in history. They conquered the Abbasid empire completely in 1258, ending the Seljuk rule as well. They were finally stopped by the Mamluks in Egypt when they tried to obtain more land to the west.

From most powerful to least powerful, list the six classes of social hierarchy?

Scholar gentry, farmers, artisans, craftsmen, merchants, and peasants.

How were slaves and women treated under Islam?

Slavery was allowed in Islam, but Muslims could not be enslaved by other Muslims, and Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians also could not be enslaved. Many slaves converted to Islam after their owners freed them. Female slaves were given more independence than the legal wives, going to the market or running errands often. They were permitted to dance for unrelated men and accumulate enough money to buy their freedom. Women could study and read, but not in the presence of unrelated men. Muhammed insisted that Islamic women have more rights, such as remarrying if widowed, receiving a cash settlement if divorced, practicing birth control, and initiating a divorce under certain circumstances.

Explain how Zen Buddhism is a syncretic religion.

Some religions were formed by combining Buddhism with Daoist principles. Zen Buddhism was created by the fusion of Buddhist doctrines and Daoist principles. Because of its fusion with Chinese beliefs, Buddhism became very common in China.

What led to the decline of the Inca Empire?

Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived at the Inca Empire during the Incan civil war. The weakened Incan army or the diseases introduced by Europeans potentially led to the decline of the Inca Empire. In 1533, Spanish forces defeated the core of the empire, and the remaining outposts in 1572.

How did the activities of Sufis lead to the expansion of the Islamic Empire?

Sufi missionaries successfully spread Islamic beliefs by adapting to other cultures and traditions and sometimes intertwining religious elements into Islam.

What mistakes led to the decline of the Aztec?

The Aztecs' poor knowledge of technology, as well as their commitment to the military, tribute from conquered people, and human sacrifices, caused the government to want to expand the empire beyond what it could govern. This created resentment among tribes, and they were prepared to rebel against the Aztec government if necessary.

How do the Chaco and Mesa Verde exemplify innovative advancements? Why did they have to do this?

The Chaco built massive houses using stones and clay when wood was rare to come by. In addition, the Mesa Verde built multi-story homes into the sides of cliffs with sandstone bricks. This was mandatory because this was a dry region where trees and water was scarce, so the people of these cultures had to create advancements that would make those resources possible to collect.

How did the Inca rule their extensive territory efficiently?

The Empire was divided into four provinces, each with a governor and bureaucracy in place. Conquered leaders who showed loyalty to the Inca Empire were rewarded.

What two major developments allowed Song China to trade by sea?

The Grand Canal allowed trade in China's internal waterways and the paper navigation charts made seafaring possible in open waters, causing the sailors to be less dependent on the sky when traveling by sea.

How did the Mississippian culture decline? Why might there be different theories?

The Mississipian civilization was completely abandoned by the year 1600. Theories on why their culture declined include that flooding and bad weather created struggles for crops and the agricultural economy to feed the population, and that diseases spread by Europeans wiped out the population. Different theories exist because there could be several causes of the decline, depending on the historian's perspective.

Describe the bureaucracy of France in the Middle Ages and evaluate its level of success.

The bureaucracy of France was at first successful, but then declined as King Philip II was the first king to establish a real bureaucracy, but the Estates-General, who was a body of representatives from the three social classes, was not very powerful because the clergy and nobility would not get taxed. As a result, they did not want to support a government that they were not financing, leading up to the French Revolution.

How did the activities of the Islamic military lead to the expansion of the Islamic Empire?

The caliph's soldiers were restricted from owning territory they had seized. The presence of a military force that kept order but did not control property allowed life for most of the citizens of the countryside to be virtually unaffected. However, people had to pay tribute to these Islamic caliphs instead of Byzantine rulers.

Describe the system of decentralized governance used by Europe in the Middle ages.

The decentralized government that Europe had in the Middle Ages was called feudalism. It was essentially a system of exchanges of land for loyalty to protect the population from bandits, rival lords, and invaders.

How did the Song Dynasty's imperial bureaucracy represent a political continuity?

The imperial bureaucracy represented a political continuity because they maintained the same method of enforcing their policies through appointed officials.

What was the impact of Islamic teachings on tolerance?

The majority of Islamic leaders supported tolerance of Christians, Jews, and other religions that believed in one god and doing good works. Similarly, the rulers of Cordoba tolerated the presence of Muslims, Christians, and Jews living in the same country together. They allowed Chinese and Southeast Asian products into Spain and Europe.

Describe the manorial system; how was it similar and different to feudalism?

The two systems were similar because serfs of the manorial system, just like peasants of feudalism, were restricted from doing certain things because of their lord's orders, and had to give the lord crops, livestock, and other goods. However, the two systems were different because the manorial system was more focused on improving the economy and technology, while feudalism emphasized a political/social point of view.

What was chattel tslavery?

These slaves were legal property of their owner. They were common in the Americas from the 16th to 19th century. They could not buy their freedom, their children were automatically also slaves, and these slaves had no rights. This type of slave seems like the most brutally treated.

Southern India was more stable than Northern India. How did the Chola Dynasty(850-1267) evidence this?

This Dynasty reigned for over 400 years. In the 11th century, it extended its rule to Ceylon, a large island south of India, known as Sri Lanka today.

New Islamic political entities also demonstrated several cultural innovations. Explain how Nasir al-Din Tusi contributed to this "global age".

This was one of the most famous Islamic scholars. He contributed to astronomy, law, ethics, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine. His studies of astronomy laid the groundwork of an astronomy observatory that was the most advanced and accurate in the world. His studies of the lengths and angles of triangles inspired the creation of the subject of trigonometry. Medical advances and hospital care was improved in major cities such as Cairo, and doctors/pharmacists had the ability to obtain a license so that they could work in these places.

What was the impact of Islamic teachings on women?

Women were required to cover their heads and faces, and observe hijab. Women were allowed to study and read, but not when unrelated men were also present. Muhammed raised the status of women in Islam, insisting that the payment of the husband for marriage be paid to the future wife rather than her father and that the killing of newborn girls, or female infanticide, be outlawed. Islamic women had more independence than Christian and Jewish women. Islamic women could inherit property and retain ownership after marriage, remarry if widowed, and receive money if divorced.