Aztec and Inca Civilizations

Chinampas

• Chinampas were floating gardens built by the Aztecs.
• They were built in shallow lakes by piling mud, plants, and reeds into rectangular shapes.
• The plots were fertile due to their location in water.
• Crops like corn, beans, and squash grew well.

Inca Inheritance

• Inca inheritance followed a split system.
• The new ruler inherited political power.
• The deceased ruler's wealth, land, and possessions remained with descendants.
• This system maintained the ruler's memory and managed the estate.
• Descendants maintained the estate, worshipped the mummified body, and maintained the ruler’s legacy.
• The system encouraged rulers to expand their empires.

Mita System

• The Mita system supported state projects.
• These projects included roads, terraces, public buildings, and mining.

Calpulli

• Calpulli were clan-like social units in Aztec society.
• They organized families into neighborhoods.
• They managed communal land and distributed it among members.
• They provided military service, and education.
• They were responsible for labor to the state.
• Calpulli leaders oversaw land use and resolved disputes.

Golden Horde

• The Golden Horde was a 13th-century Mongol khanate.
• It was established by Batu Khan.
• It ruled over parts of Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia.
• The Horde imposed tribute on Russian principalities.
• The Horde thrived on Silk Road trade.
• The Horde later adopted Islam.
• Its power declined as Moscow rose.

Guardians

• Guardians were entities that protected sacred or intellectual sites.
• They included scribes and priests in ancient civilizations.

Alexandria

• Alexandria was a major intellectual center in the Nile River.
• It was known for its Great Library.
• Alexandria was a hub of learning in the Hellenistic world.

Sindh

• Sindh was conquered by Muhammad bin Qasim in 711 CE.
• Sindh is located in modern-day Pakistan.
• Sindh was conquered by the Umayyad Empire.

Bactria

• Bactria was an ancient region in Central Asia.
• It was located around modern-day Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
• Bactria was a key center of trade and culture.

Srivijaya Empire

• The Srivijaya Empire (7th-13th centuries) was a great trading empire.
• It controlled major maritime trade routes in Southeast Asia.

Spread of Islam in Southeast Asia

• Islam spread through trade networks.
• It spread through Sufi missionaries.
• Conversion of local rulers, like those in the Malacca Sultanate, also played a role.

Yuan Dynasty

• The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) was founded by Kublai Khan.
• It was located in China.

Mongol Empire

• The Mongol Empire facilitated cultural exchange.
• It facilitated increased trade along the Silk Road.
• It spread innovations and diseases like the Black Death.

Foot Binding

• Foot binding was a Chinese cultural practice.
• It started during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
• It involved tightly binding young girls' feet.
• The purpose was to reshape the feet into a smaller, “ideal” size.
• The practice was known as “lotus feet.”
• It symbolized beauty, social status, and wealth for elite women.
• Foot binding permanently disabled many women.

Mansa Musa

• Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in 1324.
• He made a pilgrimage to Mecca (a Hajj).
• He distributed large amounts of gold.

Ibn Battuta

• Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan explorer (1325-1354).
• He traveled extensively across the Islamic world
• his journeys spanned North Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and even China.
• His accounts, recorded as the Rihla, document the cultural and economic interconnectedness of the Islamic world.
• They highlight the significance of trade.

Samarkand and Kashgar

• Samarkand (in modern Uzbekistan) and Kashgar (in modern China)
• were key cities along the Silk Roads.
• They were trade hubs.
• Merchants could rest, exchange goods, and access markets in these cities.
• They were centers of cultural exchange and scholarship.
• They housed diverse populations. They fostered the spread of ideas, religions, and technologies.

Mongol Trade

• Mongols ensured the safety of trade routes, especially the Silk Road.
• They protected merchants and standardized laws.
• The Mongols encouraged trade and cultural exchange.

Islamic Scientific Knowledge

• Islamic scholars preserved and expanded knowledge from ancient civilizations:
  • Greek
  • Roman
  • Indian
  • Persian
• Significant advancements occurred in mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and philosophy.

Chinese Paper etc...

• Chinese paper, medical knowledge, and Arabic numerals are examples of cross-cultural exchanges.
• These exchanges were facilitated by trade routes like the Silk Road.
• Chinese paper revolutionized record-keeping and education.
• Medical knowledge spread from the Islamic world.
• Arabic numerals replaced Roman numerals in Europe.

Urban Growth

• Urban centers grew due to increased trade along major routes (Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan).
• Agricultural innovations like the three-field system and champa rice boosted food production.
• Political stability provided by empires fostered growth.

Decline of Eurasian Population

• The Black Death (bubonic plague) killed millions across Eurasia.
• The plague spread along trade routes.
• Mongol invasions, conquests, famines, and climate change also contributed to population decline.

Trade Routes

• Silk Road: Land-based trade, luxury goods, exchange of Buddhism, Islam, and technologies
• Indian Ocean trade: Sea-based trade, bulk goods, reliance on monsoon winds
• Trans-Saharan trade: Land-based trade, linked West Africa to North Africa, traded gold, salt, and slaves.

Song Dynasty Capital

• Song Dynasty capital changed from Kaifeng to Hangzhou.
• Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song dynasty.
• Hangzhou became a thriving trade and cultural center during the Southern Song Dynasty.

Sui Dynasty Downfall

• The Sui Dynasty fell in 618 due to overambitious projects (like the Grand Canal).
• These projects burdened the population and resulted in forced labor.
• Military failures and disastrous campaigns further weakened the dynasty, leading to rebellion.

Tang Dynasty Founder

• The Tang Dynasty was founded by Emperor Gaozu of Tang (Li Yuan) in 618 CE

Song Dynasty Founder

• The Song Dynasty (960–1279) was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin).
• He was a military general who overthrew the Later Zhou dynasty.

Gunpowder Invention

• Gunpowder was invented in China during the Tang Dynasty (9th century).
• Initially used for fireworks, it later revolutionized warfare.

Sunni and Shia Islam

• Sunni Islam is the largest sect. Their belief is that leadership should follow the Prophet Muhammad's companions and elected caliphs.
• Shia Islam believes leadership should remain within the Prophet Mohammed's family, specifically descendants of Ali.

Byzantine Emperor

• Emperor Justinian I (527-565 CE) attempted to reconquer the western Roman territories.

Arab Merchants in West Africa

• Arab merchants sought gold and traded other goods in West Africa.
• Their contact increased the trade in these areas.

Tang and Song Similarities

• Both promoted Confucianism.
• Both oversaw periods of economic prosperity and cultural flourishing.
• Both expanded bureaucratic systems through civil service exams.
• Both encouraged advancements in technology (Tang: gunpowder, Song: printing press and compass).

Polynesian Migration

• Polynesians navigated the Pacific Ocean between 300-1300 CE.
• They settled islands like Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island, and Samoa.
• They used star navigation, ocean currents, and wind patterns.

Prince Henry the Navigator

• Prince Henry (1394-1460) was a Portuguese royal.
• He supported maritime exploration along West Africa’s coast.
• He established a navigation school and sponsored expeditions that advanced European knowledge of Africa.

This quiz covers key aspects of the Aztec and Inca civilizations, focusing on their agricultural practices like chinampas, social structures such as calpulli, and inheritance systems. Test your knowledge on how these ancient cultures organized society and managed resources.