unit 0, 1, 2, apwh key terms, concepts, people, events, places, and vocab
Daoism & Laozi
Daoism, or Taoism, is the belief in a carefree, natural way of life that requires little mental or physical discipline. - Daoism is a cohesive and unified system of thought and is more concerned with political and moral practices than with mystically religious practices. - includes a multitude of traditions and techniques. The important Daoist principles are inaction, simplicity and living in harmony with nature. Daoist philosophical principle rested on a belief in the law of unity of the two opposite forces that are yin and yang. - Laozi was the founder of Daoism
Medieval Europe "Dark Ages"
Due to the spread of the Black Death, religious conflict, and little advancement in science and technology, Europe entered a period of "Dark Ages" between 500-1000 CE (after the fall of the Roman Empire) - Slow economic/scientific development, religious conflict, rise of feudalism, spread of Black Death, crusades
Han Dynasty
Emerging out of the Qin dynasty, the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) was a "Golden Age" of Chinese history and continues to influence Chinese culture and practices. - peacefulness and population growth - science and technological innovation such as paper and the magnetic compass - traded luxury items like silk, spices, and metals with other empires - created Confucian civil service exams to put educated people into power (bureaucracy, where decisions are made by state officials - in this case, those who passed the exam)
Gupta Dynasty
(320-550 CE), the Gupta Dynasty unified India under Hinduism to create a second age of unity in South Asia known as the Golden Age of India - Used Hinduism (beat Buddhism & Jainism as dominant religions) to unite the diverse Indian population - Gupta Buddhist art influenced East and Southeast Asia as trade between regions increased
Incas (before conquistadors)
4 provinces with their own governor and bureaucracy in 1438-1533 - conquered people paid tribute through Mit'a system of labor - worshiped Sun god, priests predict through god's will about illness, battles, and wars - mathematics: quipu (system of knotted strings for number info), agriculture: terrace system for cultivating crops - Built bridges/roads
Umayyad Caliphates
A Sunni Muslim territory established in 661 CE that ruled for seven centuries - Invaded Spain from the South - Muslims, Christians, and Jews were able to coexist - Traded with Asia - Fell in 750 CE after the Abbasid Caliphates took control
Kumarajiva
A great Buddhist scholar, monk, missionary, and translator who lived from 344-413 CE, he studied and interpreted Mahayana Buddhism; he lived in Central Asia and north-western India and presented his interpretations of Buddhism in China.
Great Wall of China (origins & purpose)
A stone wall surrounding China built to protect it from foreign nomadic invaders from the North - Around 220 BCE, Qin Shi Huang (first emperor) united existing walls from the warring states period into one - The Hongwu emperor, who founded the Ming dynasty, improved the wall with watchtowers and platforms to keep invaders out
Middle Ages
After fall of Roman Empire, Western Europe entered the middle ages, an era of slow economic, cultural, and technological developments - Intellectualism and trade decline - Smaller kingdoms fought for control of territories - Peasants began to loosen shackles of serfdom Feudalism - Black Death killed many people, leading to a labor shortage; workers were able to demand better wages - Women were attracted to monastic life for freedom from men - High middle ages: economic and territorial expansion
Samarkand
An oasis city in Central Asia, Samarkand was the capital of the Timurid Empire - stopping point on the Silk Roads - influenced by Buddhism which was spread by traders on the Silk Road
Anasazi, Mesa Verde, Chaco
Anasazi: - 100-1600 CE, modern-day Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, etc. - Known for dwellings, complex network of roadways, transportation systems, functional pottery, and communication routes Mesa Verde - 550-1300 CE, lived here for more than 700 years - Built stone communities in sheltered alcoves of canyon - Abandoned their homes in late 1200 CE Chaco - Lived in 9-13th centuries - Adapted to dry region by building large houses from stone and clay along with collecting, storing, and transporting water efficiently
Bantu and their migrations
Bantu people had oral traditions and spirit worship rather than a universal religion, along with having an iron advantage over other tribes. Bantu migrations spread cultural elements to other parts of Africa such as iron tools, farming techniques, food, language, pottery, etc. - 500 BCE-1000 AD
Mississippian culture & Cahokia
Cahokia, the capital of Mississippian culture, flourished for centuries (95-1350 CE), and was the most extensive urban center in prehistoric America - Mississippian cultural elements include living in fortified towns/small homesteads, large earthen mounds, trade networks, powerful leaders, and similar symbols/rituals - Cahokia was a center of religious devotion and trade
China's Civil Service Exam (Han & Tang Dynasty)
China's Civil Service Exam started during the Han Dynasty in 165 BCE. It was a Confucian test that Chinese people could take in order to gain a government position or political power. - was supposedly equal for everyone to take but people who couldn't afford education would not be able to pass the exam - the Tang dynasty used civil service examinations to improve bureaucracy by ensuring that candidates were qualified to hold office. The examinations tested the candidates on Chinese classics, poetry, and legal and administrative issues.
Ming Dynasty
Founded by Zhu Yuanzhang (1368-1398), the Ming Dynasty lasted from 1369-1644 and was the "re-Chinesization" of China after the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (similar to the Han Dynasty). - Emperor Hongwu, or Zhu Yuanzhang, was very paranoid and did not allow others (prime minister, eunuchs) to obtain political power; also distrusted easily and executed those who were disloyal without proof - Restored traditional Chinese cultural values and beliefs such as civil service exam, porcelain & silk industries, irrigation systems and reservoirs, and relocated capital to Beijing, rebuilding the Forbidden City for protection - Reopened Silk Road trade routes, but distrusted overseas routes
Ghana
Founded during the 5th century and peaking during the 8th-11th century, Ghana became immensely wealthy through trade - Sold gold and ivory to Muslim traders in exchange for salt, copper, cloth, tools - King ruled centralized government aided by nobles, along with army equipped with iron weapons - Traded through Trans-Saharan trade route
Carolingian Dynasty
Frankish (French) dynasty founded by Pepin that lasted from 751-987 - Succeeded by Charlemagne and many others - Spread Christianity, leading to the Carolingian Renaissance - Territorial expansion, policies, and relationships with the church
Fatimid Caliphates
Included North Africa and the Middle East from 909-1171 - Conquered Egypt and used Cairo as a capital - Shasm (Shite) appealed to Arab minorities & non-Arab Muslims - Islam spread to Sub-Saharan Africa through Trans-Saharan trade routes - Tried to convert Sunni to Shiite, but failed in Egypt - led to a longstanding conflict between them (still lasting today)
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan (1215-1294), the grandson of Genghis Khan, was peaceful compared to his relatives and defeated the Song dynasty to replace it with the Yuan dynasty in China - Used China's technology (gunpowder) against them - Adopted Chinese lifestyle and attempted to assimilate into Chinese culture; created a dual ruling system with Mongols and Chinese elites - Conquered Burma & Korea, but failed to conquer Japan twice - Used a more peaceful approach to conquer China in order to find a retirement home, rather than killing everyone and destroying the cities & technology; saw the value of Chinese intellectualism and technology
Vikings
Nordic people from Scandinavia who looted monasteries and churches - Successfully raided everything except for Constantinople (Greek Fire and Roman walls) - Advantage: long ships - Knights were established to fight vikings (but what do they do when there are no more vikings ?)
Andean societies (pre-Incas: Chimu Empire)
Noteworthy for monumental architecture, extensive road system, textile weaving, and unique characteristics of society - Dominated north coast of Peru between 900 CE to 1470 CE; however, conquered by the rival Inca Empire - expertise in metallurgy and ceramics contributed to artistic richness of Inca Empire
Chinese tributary system (like Korea's & Japan's relationship to China)
Other states, especially those close to China, had to provide tribute and submit to the emperor in order to acknowledge China's power - In return, Chinese emperor would bestow titles and gifts - States in this tributary system include Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc.
Chinese paper money (Song Dynasty)
Paper money was invented in China in the 600s CE, but the base unit of currency remained the copper coin - the use of paper currency was initiated by merchants to avoid having to carry thousands of strings of coins long distances - merchants in late Tang times 900s CE started trading receipts from deposit shops where they had left money or goods - First, paper money was introduced in medieval China in the late 10th century during the rule of the Song dynasty 960 CE -1279 CE. - A sophisticated system of production, issue and withdrawal was gradually developed to an admirable perfection achieved during the Mongol Yuan dynasty 1260-1368.
Chinese invention of paper (its significance)
Paper was invented in China in 105 CE and it greatly helped the spread of literature and literacy, making books more convenient to use and cheaper. Scholars at the Imperial academies were issued with thousands of sheets of paper each month by the government. China traded paper with other areas so they could become literate and write as well.
Mansa Musa
Sundiata's nephew in the 14th century, known for religious leadership but also political & economic - 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca; took extravagant caravans and distributed gold to those who he saw along the way, displaying Mali's wealth - Established religious schools, built mosques, and deepened support for Islam
Chinese invention of gunpowder (its significance short term, long term)
The Chinese invention of gunpowder in 800 CE was used wrapped in bamboo to shoot arrows and in catapult bombs. Their explosive invention would become the basis for almost every weapon used in war from that point on, from fiery arrows to rifles, cannons and grenades.
Fertile Crescent & Mesopotamia
The Fertile Crescent was a "moon crescent" shape of land in the Middle East that was known as the "Cradle of Civilization", as it was home to some of the earliest civilizations - ex: Mesopotamia, an ancient region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which was home to the earliest known human civilizations (and may be the birthplace of the agricultural revolution) - Ideal for farming due to abundance of water and fertile soil - Sumer, Babylon, Assyma, Egypt, and Phoenicia were all parts of Mesopotamia
Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, K'ung Fu-tzu (Confucius) & Analects
Confucianism is the idea of the importance of having a good moral character while also either submitting (low position, ex: being a wife, citizen, child) to higher-ups or being benevolent if you are a higher up (ex: husband, emperor, parent), which can then affect the world around that person through the idea of cosmic harmony - If the emperor has moral perfection, his rule will be peaceful and benevolent. - Confucian teaching rests on three essential values: Filial piety, humaneness, and ritual. - K'ung Fu-tzu, or Confucius 551-479 BCE, was the first teacher in China who wanted to make education broadly available and who was instrumental in establishing the art of teaching as a vocation - he also established ethical, moral, and social standards that formed the basis of a way of life known as Confucianism.
Jewish Diaspora
The dispersion of Jews or Israelites outside of their ancestral homeland (Land of Israel) as they settle in other parts of the globe
Theravada (Hinayana) vs Mahayana Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism (spread to Central Asia, China, Japan, and SE Asia) - portrayed Buddha as a role model, not divine Mahayana Buddhism: - accessible to all - single lifetime -bodhisattvas: enlightened beings -Buddha became a god
Yuan Dynasty
a Mongolian Chinese dynasty that lasted from 1279-1368 led by Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty was a relatively short but impactful dynasty. - Rebuilt capital at Zhongdu and renamed it Dadu - Policy of religious tolerance helped gain favor of Buddhists and Daoists, who were previously oppressed - Mongols discriminated against the Chinese and government & culture slowly became "non-Chinese", building resentment in China - Zhu Yuanzhang's White Lotus Society and Red Turban Movement ended Yuan dynasty in 1368
parliamentary bodies
a democratic form of government where a party or multiple parties with the greatest representation in parliament/legislature form the government, with a prime minister or chancellor acting as the leader (ex: British parliament system)
dynasty
a line of hereditary rulers of a country, meaning that a certain family ruled over a specific country at a time and rulers came into power due to their lineage. For example, in Chinese dynasties, emperors passed down power to their sons.
vassal
a person under the protection of a feudal lord who has sworn loyalty and allegiance to them; they owe service to a higher status - can also mean a person or state in a subordinate position to another (ex: Chinese tributary system created vassal states)
City-states (general definition but include Athens & Sparta)
a political structure where a city rules its surrounding territory and acts as the center & leader, forming an independent state - Athens: ancient Greek society mainly focused on technological advances (theater, architecture, philosophy, and literature) and created the concept of democracy, where free men could participate in political decisions through vote - Sparta: ancient Greek society that was organized and had a powerful military; while men trained and fought, women, the elderly, and enslaved people filled their roles in society
universal religion
a religion that appeals to people everywhere. The six qualities that decide if a religion is universal are if it appeals to diverse populations, can adapt as it moves culturally and geographically, promotes universal rules (behavior modifications) for the present and future, offers conversion/proselytizing, provides a sense of community, and has support from a powerful empire/civilization (but can outlast the empire/civilization.) The three universal religions are Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.
Monasticism (Dark Ages)
a religious way of life where one renounces worldly pursuits to fully devote oneself to spiritual work (similar to Buddhism, giving up desires in this world for spiritual work)
oligarchy
a small group of people having control over a country, organization, or institution, such as the merchant groups that ruled some areas on the Swahili coast
theocracy
a system of government where priests rule in the name of God or a god, such as Vatican City today
nirvana
achieving enlightenment, eliminating greed, hatred, delusion, and unhappiness once you complete the Eightfold Path of Buddhism
Neolithic Revolution
also called the Agricultural Revolution, a transformation of human life where humans began to domesticate food and animals, along with forming permanent settlements, rather than being nomadic tribes of hunter-gatherers starting around 10,000 BC in the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East - Led to jobs that were specialized in fields other than agriculture, such as artisans, merchants, government officials, etc. - Civilizations began to form (people reproduced = population growth, more resources, etc.)
The Persian Empire
also known as the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian Empire lasted from 559-331 BCE and encompassed parts of modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan - One of the most powerful and complex empires in the ancient world ; global center for culture, religion, science, art, and technology - First people to establish regular routes of communication between 3 continents (Africa, Asia Europe), built new roads, and established the world's first postal service - Fell to Alexander the Great in 331 BCE
synthesis
an AP World History skill involving meaningful and persuasive historical connections. This can include connecting one historial issue to another through similar developments in different historial contexts, geographical areas, or eras, connecting different course themes or approaches to history (SPICE-T) for a certain historical issue, or even using views from different disciplines to better understand something in history. (key word: connection)
contextualization
an AP World History skill that involves connecting historical events and processes to specific times and places, including broad activities or events such as ones in the region, nation, or globe. You also need to determine past events or developments within the contexts of which they occurred and then draw conclusions about how and why they were significant. (key word: context)
causation
an AP World History skill that involves the ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate relationships among historical causes and events, along with being able to tell the difference between short-term and long-term effects. You should also know the difference between CAUSATION and CORRELATION (correlation does NOT equal causation!!) (key word: cause)
continuity and change
an AP World History skill which is the ability to recognize, analyze, and assess the dynamics of continuity (things that stay the same) and change (things that become different) over different lengths of time, as well as being able to relate these patterns to a broader historical context, process, or time (key words: continue and change)
Alexander the Great
an ancient Macedonian ruler (King of Macedonia and Persia) (336 BCE-323 BCE) who was one of history's greatest military leaders - established the largest empire in ancient world history - influenced Greek and Asian culture, which led to Hellenistic Culture, and he spread the foundation for the Hellenistic world
Astrolabe
an invention of the Hellenistic civilization by Apollonius of Perga between 220 BCE and 150 BCE, often attributed to Hipparchus. The astrolabe was a marriage of the planisphere and dioptra, effectively an analog calculator capable of working out several different kinds of problems in astronomy.
Zoroastrianism
belief system developed in Persia focusing on free will and the eternal battle between forces of good and evil
Constantinople
capital of the Byzantine empire (280-357 CE), named after Constantine - Located at crossroads that linked Europe and Asia, allowing control of trade (was on the Silk Road) - Created the Nicaea Creed or Christian "Holy Trinity" - Established pope
Empire of Mali
decline of Ghana led to the rise of the Empire of Mali in the 12th century - Sundiata, the ruler, was Muslim, and used his faith to connect with others and establish trade - Gold trade lead to immense wealth
Define Civilization & features of civilization
defined as an advanced state of human society containing highly developed forms of government, culture, industry, and common social norms. Core characteristics of a civilization can include urban centers, agricultural manipulation and storage, irrigation, written language, standards of measurement, craftsman technology, social stratification, state government, a common religion and/or ideology, and shared culture. Civilizations are an essential part of APWH and change, develop, and fall over time. Some popular examples of civilizations include the Roman Empire, Chinese dynasties, Mesopotamia, the Ottoman Empire, etc.
Democracy (Greek) & republic (Roman)
democracy (Greek): voters were directly involved in political decisions and cast votes regarding laws or politics, republic (Roman): voters elected representative officials that decided on state matters (indirect democracy)
Hellenism/Hellenistic Culture
derived from Greek culture, Hellenism flourished between 800-400 BCE that blended Greek culture with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian ideas, as a result of Alexander the Great's empire - spread throughout Mediterranean world - the Hellenistic period in ancient Greece lasted from 323 BCE to 32 BCE
cultural diffusion
describes the way cultures and cultural elements merge and spread throughout the world, often through movement, war, technology, or trade. (ex: religious cultural ideas such as Buddhism were culturally diffused on the Silk Road due to trade & movement)
Bhakti
devotion to one or another of India's gods/goddesses - Ex: Vishnu, protector and preserver of creation, or Shiva, god representing divine - Kirshna: appealed to many, didn't discriminate, spread Hinduism, Hindus and Sofi Muslims were able to agree on some beliefs
Hinduism (Upanishads, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-Gita)
dominant religion in India - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva: trinity of birth, existence, destruction - Vedas (scriptures) - Person is reincarnated many times and goal is to escape the cycle of rebirth - Caste system
Zen Buddhism
emphasize direct experience and meditation as opposed to formal learning based on studying scripture; Japan
ethnocentrism
evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture. Essentially, ethnocentrism is viewing other people's cultures as inferior to your own group and culture. This belief comes up again and again throughout history, through European colonization, the Crusades, Ibn Battuta's observations about his travels, and more throughout APWH. Ethnocentrism is a large theme throughout history and is the cause for many historical events.
Mediterranean World/Basin/Region
includes parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa; the regional environment of the Mediterranean produced unique goods while also offering trade routes through its sea, leading to the spread of ideas, religions, and technology
Magnetic Needle Compass
invented in 1000 CE in China as a large magnetized needle fastened to the underside of a circular card on which several directions were drawn - by the 12th century, many civilizations had adopted the use of magnetic compasses - magnetic compasses were invented when it was discovered that lodestone, a naturally occurring magnetic mineral, responded to the polarity of the Earth.
Charlemagne
king of the Franks (French) & crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 CE by the Pope - Converted Western Europe into Christianity and helped unify Europe
patrilineal/patrilocal
kinship based on the father or male line, meaning that the family name is carried with sons (nearly EVERY civilization is patrilineal); patrilocal: couple lives with husband's family
matrilineal
kinship based on the mother or female line, meaning that the family name is carried with daughters (ex: Mississipians in North America had a matrilineal society)
Genghis Khan
leader of the Mongols, he helped establish the Mongol Horde/Empire, conquered territories across Eurasia, is known as the grandfather of humanity (had so many children), and was born as Temujin (1155-1227 CE) - 1210: conquered Jin Empire, 1219: conquered Central Asia, 1227: conquered North China to Eastern Persia - his descendants continued his mission and formed Khanates across Eurasia (note: Yuan dynasty) - title of "Genghis Khan" means "ruler of all" - was a surprisingly peaceful leader, attempted to unify Mongol Empire through Uyghur language and created Pax Mongolia, a period of Mongolian peace between 13-14th centuries
the Torah
main book of religion for Jews, book of scriptures made by Jewish prophets
Teotihuacan
most important pre-Aztec American city in the 6th century (501-600 AD), prospered through trade and had a large population - Monumental religious temples of Sun and Moon gods along with influencing others such as the Aztecs
nomadic pastoralism
one of three general types of nomadism, where people move with their livestock/flocks to take advantage of seasonal changes and different types of climates and land (for farming) (ex: Mongols)
Roman Empire (Western & Byzantine)
overall, Roman Empire beliefs included Greek gods, Republic government, "innocent until proven guilty", and CHRISTIANITY ! which was persecuted but continued to grow until Constantine made it the official religion of the empire - WESTERN: was not as successful as eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine), with an over-extended military, corrupt leaders, epidemics, and invasion from "barbarians" (foreigners), eventually draining the Western Roman Empire - BYZANTINE (EASTERN): capital: Constantinople in 324 CE, the Byzantine Empire was the most powerful Christian Empire until it was conquered in 1453 by the Ottoman Empire. Great achievements included the basilica (church) Hagia Sophia, the rule of Justinian the Great (527-565 CE), and the Justinian Code, a legal guide - problems between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox also arose in the Roman Empire, leading to separate branches of Christianity being developed
Vedism (Rig-Veda)
polytheistic sacrificial religion involving worship of numerous male divinities and some goddesses; also known as Brahmanism
Foraging
relying on food provided by nature through the gathering of plants and small animals, birds, and insects, scavenging animals killed by other predators, and hunting; essentially, the gathering and hunting of food. Humans primarily did this until the Agricultural Revolution.
SPICET
social, political, interaction between humans and environment, cultural, economic, technological; themes that repeat in world history and can be used to categorize events in history, important to remember on the AP exam
Tibetan Buddhism
special authority to Lamas(learned teachers) awareness of and preparation for death; Mongol China and Nepal
Feudalism
system where kings/lords provide land and protection for peasants in exchange for loyalty - king granted land called fiefs to lords and in return became a king's vassal - lords provide land for knights and in return receive protection and loyalty - lords provide land and protection for peasants and receive labor in return
the Talmud
the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law & legend containing the Mishnah and Gemara; a record of the rabbinic debates in the 2nd-5th centuries on Torah teachings - There are two versions: the Babylonian (dates from the 5th century CE, but includes earlier material) and the earlier Palestinian/Jerusalem Talmud
aristocracy
the highest class in certain societies, such as those who hold hereditary titles or offices; it can also be a state of government where power is held by the nobility (ex: Chinese elites who passed the civil service exams and became government officials were part of the aristocracy)
Phoenician Alphabet & our modern Alphabet
the prototype for all alphabets of the world, the Phoenician alphabet was a writing system developed by the Phoenicians (modern-day Lebanon) that spread across the Mediterranean from Phoenician traders Used a small number of symbols to represent consonants, creating an easier writing system than Egyptian hieroglyphics, allowing the Phoenician alphabet to be adopted by other languages and eventually become a foundation for all alphabets in the future
polytheism
the religious belief that there are many gods/spiritual powers (ex: Hinduism)
monotheism
the religious belief that there is only one god (or other spiritual power). Examples of monotheistic religions include Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
gender division of labor
the way society divides work among women/girls and men/boys ; ex: in modern times, women are known to cook, clean, & bear children, while men are known to have traditional jobs
Judaism
the world's oldest religions, dating back nearly 4,000 years, Judaism is a monotheistic faith that is considered the original Abhramic faith; developed in the Middle East by Hebrews/Jews who believed in one God and prophets like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Solomon, and others - God: Yahweh - Laid the foundation for other Abrahamic and monotheistic faiths such as Christianity and Islam - Scriptures are in Hebrew ; sacred book: Torah and the Ten Commandments
irrigation systems
to use systems to water crops by bringing in water from pipes, canals, sprinklers, or other man-made items (not relying on rainfall); ex: in Mesopotamia, there were large irrigation projects with dams and canals
Tang Dynasty
(618-907 CE) replacing the Han dynasty, the Tang dynasty used the foundation of the Sui dynasty in order to reestablish China as a world power and expand Chinese territory & influence - Li Yuan, from the Sui dynasty, laid much of the foundation by establishing a professional army, new provinces, and crushing rebellions (forced to abdicate by his son, Li Shimin) - Similar to the Han dynasty, used merit-based bureaucracy through civil service exams (womens and merchants were banned from participating) - Empress Wu - China's first and only female emperor in history, she rose up as a concubine, replaced the old empress, and became Empress Wu in 684 CE when her husband died, creating the short Zhou dynasty - Religious tolerance of Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and even other religions like Christianity and Islam; scholars attacked Buddhism after Wu Zetian due to threat to Confucianism - Heavy influence on Korea and Japan - Expanded transportation networks, especially by sea, such as through canals (Sui dynasty) and on the Silk Road
Maya & Chichen Itza (before conquistadors)
- 200-900 CE - war between city-states as they fought to gain payments from the conquered to use for sacrifices - people paid taxes through labor - no armies; citizens provided military service - concept of 0, rubber, calendars, human sacrifices
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
- Brahman: Hindu god of creation, grandfather, original creator of universe; due to his elevated rank, he rarely appears in picture myths in which gods take on human and character form. - Vishnu: Hindu god of preservation, great maintainer who often appears in many incarnations, avatara to provide salvation for humanity. Some of his best known avatars, popular and beloved throughout Hindu India, are the gods Krishna and Rama. - Shiva: holds one of the most prominent roles in Hinduism as gods of destruction, he is one of the 3 most important gods; sect of shaivism hold that Shiva is the supreme being which all other gods are subordinate to
srivijaya empire
- a powerful empire that controlled parts of modern day Indonesia and the Malay archipelago from the seventh to twelfth centuries - due to trading extensively with India and China, eventually adopted the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism - while there are few written records of the Srivijaya Empire itself, there are texts written about the empire by Chinese and Indian traders, both of which traded extensively with the Srivijaya Empire - it controlled two major passageways between India and China (Sunda Straits & Strait of Malacca) - the Srivijaya Empire was a vassal (inferior but part of) state to China, acting as a mediator between China and other nations - a popular form of Buddhism that developed was Vajrayana Buddhism, a form of the religion that focused on yantras or special symbols, and it even became a center of this form of Buddhism; the same form of Buddhism developed in India at the same time, showing how they were culturally connected - language: Old Malay - even after the Srivijaya Empire collapsed in 1288 due to increasing attacks from Chola, a southern Indian dynasty, the trade routes established continued to be widely used (for example, Zheng He's voyages used Srivijayan sea routes)
Mexica (called Aztecs in next Time Period) (before conquistadors) & Poshteca
- built aqueducts, pyramids, temples, and floating gardens (led to food) - tributary system forced conquered people to pay in goods, land, and military; asserted political dominance and provided protection - theocracy: hundreds of deities worshiped, human sacrifices, women wore cloths - declined due to low level of technology (poor agriculture), human sacrifices, and rebellions due to the tribute system and human sacrifices
Laws of Manu
- introduced the caste system - guidelines formed based on hindu beliefs, and duties of caste system - 100CE in India by Manu
samsara, karma, dharma
- samsara: concept of reincarnation, cycle existence where spirit or individual soul is trapped in an endless wheel of life, death, and rebirth\; aim of Buddhism is to break free from the cycle - karma: relationship between a person's mental/physical actions and the consequences of following those actions; signifies the consequences of all actions of a person in their live(s) and the chain of cause and effect in morality - dharma: practice of living by a moral code and doing what is right for the good of the universe. Some are personal duties and some are eternal duties, but are not for everyone; dharma duties are expected of hall hindis, they live with these in mind
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was an Italian native from Venice who visited the court of Kublai Khan (Yuan Dynasty) in the 13th century - when he returned to Italy in 1295, he wrote a book about travels where he created captivating descriptions of the people and cultures he was introduced to; however, as a merchant, his views were mostly focused on trade-related matters - Europeans became curious about Asia due to his descriptions and had interest in map-making
Olmec
Mesoamerican cultures influenced by Olmec civilization - ex: feathered snake god were in Mayan and Aztec religion, pottery, ritual sacrifices, pyramids, ball courts
Mongol Horde/Mongol Empire
Mongol Horde: brutal killing of people and conquer of land; led by Genghis Khan's oldest son's son, Batu, who pillaged and conquered cities while forcing them to pay tributes - army of hundreds of soldiers - Conquered Russia, Abbasid Caliphate, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Byzantium, Armenia, and sort of conquered (?) Tibet, northern India, and China (Yuan dynasty) Mongol Empire: the result of all conquered Mongolian land, the Mongol Empire was half a century of murder, military, and government building by Genghis Khan and his successors - Brought regions together for exchange in the 13th-14th century by reopening Silk Roads, which allowed trade for goods and culture, but also the Black Death, which eventually ended the Mongol Empire
Abbasid Caliphates
Most influential rulers in Dar al-Islam from 750-1258 - Islam became a universal religion and Islamic culture thrived - Used military force for expansion and conversion, and spread Islam to Europe (Spain), Central Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa - Religious tolerance, but must pay non-Muslim tax (jizya) - Center of Islamic learning: medicine, astronomy, algebra, Greek and Roman texts - Diffused ideas and goods throughout Indian Ocean through trade
slavery vs. serfdom vs peasants
SLAVERY: legal property of another person SERFDOM: person is bound to land, but not owned by feudal lord (owned by land) PEASANTS: poor people who lived in farm/village (all EUROPE)
Sanskrit Cosmopolis
Sanskrit Cosmopolis was an enormous geographic sweep of Indic culture that stretched from Afghanistan through Vietnam and the East Indies, which spanned a millennium from the 4th to the 14th century.
Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, Four Noble Truths, & Eightfold Path
Siddhartha Gautama was a wealthy prince (563 BCE - 483 BCE) who renounced his position and wealth to seek enlightenment as a spiritual ascetic, attained his goal and, in preaching his path to others, founded Buddhism in India. - the Four Noble Truths were: The truth of suffering, which was that there are two major types of suffering in the world being physical and mental, that there are four unavoidable forms of physical suffering including birth, old age, sickness, and death, and three forms of mental suffering, separation from loved ones, contact with those disliked, and frustration of desires, and that happiness does not end suffering. - the truth of the cause of suffering, which was desire and ignorance, how they cause suffering, and that solving these causes of suffering can and will result in true happiness. The truth of the end of suffering, identifies that suffering does indeed hold the possibility of ending, what occurs after it does end Enlightenment, and that Enlightenment cannot be described, only felt. - the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering, where the concept of living a life with no extremes, no excessive indulgence or extreme poverty, and that following the steps of the Noble EightFold Path can and will result in the achievement of the end of suffering. - the Eightfold path practices right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi, or meditative absorption.
Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven was a belief that the heavens would provide a leader for their empire in China starting during the Qin Dynasty. Whenever leadership changes in China, the people accept their new leader believing that the heavens chose them as their leader.
Silk Road (Eurasian Trade Network)
The Silk Road was an interconnected trade network across Afro-Eurasia where culture, technology, ideas, and diseases were spread, formed around 130 BCE. It was originally land-based but grew to include the sea when the Tang dynasty expanded its trade network. - Was reopened and closed several times throughout history, but permanently ended in 1453 when the Ottoman Empire closed routes to the west
Timur the Lame & Timurid Empire
The Timurid Empire, founded by Timur the Lame (or Tamerlane), was renowned for its revival of artistic and intellectual life in Iran and Central Asia. It lasted from the 15th-16th century and was of Turkish-Mongol origin. - Timur was the last Central Asian conqueror to achieve such great military successes and conquests, along with being remembered for his "barbarity" and the cultural achievements of his dynasty/empire - Was a master in military techniques developed by Genghis Khan
Varna System
The Varna System was the social stratification based on the Varna caste in Hinduism. Four basic categories are defined under this system - Brahmins (priests, teachers, intellectuals), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings, administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturalists, traders, farmers) and Shudras (workers, laborers, artisans).
