Podcast
Questions and Answers
The uniformity of pottery, jewelry, and toys found across Harappan settlements suggests what about their society?
The uniformity of pottery, jewelry, and toys found across Harappan settlements suggests what about their society?
- A diverse range of artistic expression among different social classes.
- A lack of technological advancement in manufacturing processes.
- Economic and social equality and a centralized government. (correct)
- A strong emphasis on regional craftsmanship and trade.
Which geographical feature significantly contributed to China's early isolation and the unique development of its culture?
Which geographical feature significantly contributed to China's early isolation and the unique development of its culture?
- The presence of vast deserts, high mountain ranges, and expansive oceans. (correct)
- A lack of natural resources, forcing interaction and cultural exchange.
- The absence of any significant mountain ranges or deserts.
- The abundance of navigable rivers facilitating trade with neighboring regions.
How did the concept of the Mandate of Heaven influence the dynastic cycle in ancient China?
How did the concept of the Mandate of Heaven influence the dynastic cycle in ancient China?
- It provided a justification for rebellion against corrupt or ineffective rulers, leading to dynastic change. (correct)
- It established a system of meritocracy where the most capable individuals were chosen to rule.
- It reinforced the authority of religious leaders, who held the power to appoint the emperors.
- It ensured a peaceful transition of power from one dynasty to the next through divine selection.
What was the primary economic impact of the Silk Road on both China and Rome?
What was the primary economic impact of the Silk Road on both China and Rome?
How did the Mongols adapt their approach to governance in China under Kublai Khan, compared to their initial destructive invasions?
How did the Mongols adapt their approach to governance in China under Kublai Khan, compared to their initial destructive invasions?
What role did Mecca play in pre-Islamic Arabia, and how did this change with the advent of Islam?
What role did Mecca play in pre-Islamic Arabia, and how did this change with the advent of Islam?
How do the Qur'an and Sunnah contribute to the Shari'a, and what aspects of life does the Shari'a address?
How do the Qur'an and Sunnah contribute to the Shari'a, and what aspects of life does the Shari'a address?
How did the environment of the Arabian Peninsula influence the lifestyle and social structures of the Bedouin people?
How did the environment of the Arabian Peninsula influence the lifestyle and social structures of the Bedouin people?
What were the key economic and cultural exchanges facilitated by trade between North Africa and the regions south of the Sahara?
What were the key economic and cultural exchanges facilitated by trade between North Africa and the regions south of the Sahara?
What role did the kings of Ghana play in the trans-Saharan trade, and how did they manage the gold trade to maintain their power?
What role did the kings of Ghana play in the trans-Saharan trade, and how did they manage the gold trade to maintain their power?
How did the introduction of iron tools and weapons impact the development of early societies in the Sahel region?
How did the introduction of iron tools and weapons impact the development of early societies in the Sahel region?
How did the geographic landscape of Japan, with its mountains and limited arable land, influence its social and economic development?
How did the geographic landscape of Japan, with its mountains and limited arable land, influence its social and economic development?
What role did cultural exchange with Korea and China play in the formation of early Japanese culture and government?
What role did cultural exchange with Korea and China play in the formation of early Japanese culture and government?
How did the Shinto religion contribute to a unique sense of national identity and unity in Japan?
How did the Shinto religion contribute to a unique sense of national identity and unity in Japan?
What were the main factors that led to the Tokugawa Shogunate's decision to isolate Japan from the outside world?
What were the main factors that led to the Tokugawa Shogunate's decision to isolate Japan from the outside world?
How did the alliance between the Silla kingdom and the Tang dynasty impact the Korean peninsula?
How did the alliance between the Silla kingdom and the Tang dynasty impact the Korean peninsula?
How did Chinese culture influence the development of Korean society, while Korea maintained its distinct identity?
How did Chinese culture influence the development of Korean society, while Korea maintained its distinct identity?
What role did Buddhism and Confucianism play in shaping the early government and society of Korea?
What role did Buddhism and Confucianism play in shaping the early government and society of Korea?
What was the significance of celadon pottery in Korean culture, and how did it reflect the artistic influences of China?
What was the significance of celadon pottery in Korean culture, and how did it reflect the artistic influences of China?
How did Vietnam's relations with China influence the development of Vietnamese culture and political identity?
How did Vietnam's relations with China influence the development of Vietnamese culture and political identity?
What role did the Trung sisters play in the history of Vietnam, and what did they symbolize for Vietnamese identity?
What role did the Trung sisters play in the history of Vietnam, and what did they symbolize for Vietnamese identity?
How did the geographical characteristics of the Red River Delta influence the development of early Vietnamese society?
How did the geographical characteristics of the Red River Delta influence the development of early Vietnamese society?
What role did rice cultivation and water management systems play in the prosperity and stability of the Khmer Empire?
What role did rice cultivation and water management systems play in the prosperity and stability of the Khmer Empire?
How did the Khmer Empire's adoption of Indian ideas about kingship influence its system of government and religious practices?
How did the Khmer Empire's adoption of Indian ideas about kingship influence its system of government and religious practices?
What factors contributed to the decline and eventual abandonment of Angkor, the capital city of the Khmer Empire?
What factors contributed to the decline and eventual abandonment of Angkor, the capital city of the Khmer Empire?
In what ways did the spread of Islam influence the political and cultural landscape of West Africa?
In what ways did the spread of Islam influence the political and cultural landscape of West Africa?
How did the actions of Mansa Musa impact the perception of Mali and West Africa in the broader Islamic world?
How did the actions of Mansa Musa impact the perception of Mali and West Africa in the broader Islamic world?
How does the concept of Karma relate to the cycle of Reincarnation in Hindu beliefs?
How does the concept of Karma relate to the cycle of Reincarnation in Hindu beliefs?
What purpose did the seals found in Harappan cities serve, and what do they suggest about Harappan society?
What purpose did the seals found in Harappan cities serve, and what do they suggest about Harappan society?
What are the Five Pillars of Islam and how do they shape the daily life and religious practice of Muslims?
What are the Five Pillars of Islam and how do they shape the daily life and religious practice of Muslims?
What is the importance of the Ka'aba in Islam, and how does it connect to pre-Islamic traditions in Mecca?
What is the importance of the Ka'aba in Islam, and how does it connect to pre-Islamic traditions in Mecca?
How did geographic isolation impact Japan's cultural development?
How did geographic isolation impact Japan's cultural development?
What is Shinto, and how is it connected to Kami?
What is Shinto, and how is it connected to Kami?
What important cultural traditions did the early Korean people receive from China?
What important cultural traditions did the early Korean people receive from China?
What were some ways the Khmer people learned from China?
What were some ways the Khmer people learned from China?
Flashcards
Hindu Core Beliefs
Hindu Core Beliefs
The soul is reborn into new lives. Actions in this life affect the next life. The ultimate goal is breaking free from the cycle of rebirth by following one's duty.
Brahma
Brahma
Creator of the universe in Hindu beliefs.
Chinese Civilization
Chinese Civilization
Arose along the Huang He (Yellow River) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze River).
The Silk Roads
The Silk Roads
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Kashgar's Role
Kashgar's Role
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Mandate of Heaven
Mandate of Heaven
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Mosque
Mosque
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Sharia
Sharia
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Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
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Zakat (Alms)
Zakat (Alms)
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Sawm (Fasting)
Sawm (Fasting)
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Salat ( Prayer)
Salat ( Prayer)
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Shahadah (Faith)
Shahadah (Faith)
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Sunnah
Sunnah
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Qur’an
Qur’an
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Homeland conditions
Homeland conditions
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Early Living
Early Living
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Oasis
Oasis
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Mecca
Mecca
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Islam spread through Africa
Islam spread through Africa
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Trade in North Africa.
Trade in North Africa.
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Shinto: Japan's Religion
Shinto: Japan's Religion
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Time Away From Others
Time Away From Others
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Mali built wealth on gold
Mali built wealth on gold
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Korea:
Korea:
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Beginning of Vietnam
Beginning of Vietnam
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Khmer Empire
Khmer Empire
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Study Notes
Harappan Civilization
- Around 2500 B.C.E., the Harappan civilization emerged in the Indus Valley due to food surpluses, leading to wealth and population growth.
- The civilization's food source came from fertile soil and irrigation.
- Villages grew into large cities, with Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa as two major urban centers.
- Mohenjo-Daro covered approximately 250 acres.
- Harappa encompassed a 500,000 square mile area, which was larger than ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
- The cities were planned with defensive walls, indoor plumbing (bathrooms and toilets), grain storage buildings, straight roads, and sewage systems.
- Strong cultural ties were evident through similar goods found in various locations.
- The civilization likely had a strong central government, although the exact structure is unknown.
- An advanced culture existed with a writing system based on pictures, which remains undeciphered.
- Standard weights and measures were used.
- Long-distance trading was conducted by boats and wheeled vehicles.
Hindu Beliefs and Practices
- Reincarnation is the belief that the soul is reborn into new lives.
- Karma is the principle that actions in this life affect the next life.
- Moksha is the ultimate goal of breaking free from the cycle of rebirth.
- Dharma involves following one's duty according to their caste.
- The Vedas are hymns and rituals written in Sanskrit.
- Brahma is considered the creator of the universe.
Ancient China's Isolation
- Ancient China was geographically isolated, fostering a unique cultural development.
- Natural barriers such as the Gobi and Taklimakan Deserts, the Himalaya, Tian Shan, and Pamir Mountains, and the Pacific Ocean, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea contributed to this isolation.
- Civilization arose along the fertile Huang He (Yellow River) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze River).
- The Huang He, known as the Yellow River, is characterized by fine yellow silt and unpredictable flooding.
- The Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) features predictable flooding and was used for transportation.
- Civilization depended on the North China Plain located between these two rivers.
- Many Chinese cultures emerged and engaged in trade.
Shang and Zhou Dynasties
- The first two rulers were from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
- The Mandate of Heaven determined the worthiness of a ruler to take the throne, given by the gods.
- The Shang Dynasty was polytheistic and used animal bones to answer questions, interpreting cracks formed by heat as divine answers.
- The Shang Dynasty is the first with existing evidence.
- Their writing system used over 3,000 characters.
- The Zhou Dynasty ruled for about 800 years.
- The rise and fall of dynasties is known as the Dynastic Cycle, which includes a dynasty losing the Mandate of Heaven, a bad ruler, people rebelling, a new ruler taking over, and the cycle repeating.
The Silk Roads
- The Silk Roads were a network of ancient trade routes connecting East Asia, India, Southwest Asia, and Europe via land and water routes.
- The routes were known for the trade of Chinese silk.
- Cultures spread through the exchange of goods, religions, and ways of life.
- Geographical barriers included the Gobi Desert, Taklamakan Desert, and the Himalayas.
- Most traders stopped at various points along the route rather than traversing the entire path.
- Key exchanges included goods like silk, spices, and precious metals, ideas like religion and technology, and innovations like paper and the compass.
- Camels were used to cross the desert because they could carry heavy loads, withstand sandstorms, and survive long periods without water.
The Western Silk Road and Kashgar
- Kashgar was a key trading hub connecting east and west.
- The path from Kashgar went through the Pamir Mountains, fertile valleys, and the Iranian Plateau, continuing to Mesopotamia, Ctesiphon, and Mediterranean Ports.
- Kashgar provided respite from altitude sickness and dangers like lions and scorpions.
- The Syrian Desert presented the risk of dehydration.
- Goods from Egypt, Arabia, and Persia included perfumes, cosmetics, and carpets.
- Central Asia traded metal items, dyes, and slaves.
- Rome provided gold, glass products, coral, and asbestos.
- China grew rich from the silk trade, only accepting gold in return, with death as the penalty for revealing silk-making secrets.
- High demand for silk in Rome led to significant gold exports, prompting Emperor Tiberius to restrict silk use to reduce gold outflow.
- The Silk Road served as a bridge between cultures, leaving a legacy of exchanged goods, ideas, technologies, and innovations.
The Mongol Conquest and Yuan Dynasty
- Genghis Khan united nomadic tribes and expanded rule over Central Asia and China.
- The Mongol Conquest involved loose nomadic tribes from the steppes who were skilled in roaming, raiding, herding, and fighting.
- They invaded northern China and destroyed cities, as well as destroying an empire in Iran.
- They invaded southern Russia and destroyed China's capital.
- Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson, led the Mongol Empire and conquered southern China.
- He declared himself emperor, establishing the Yuan Dynasty.
- The Mongols were more skilled at fighting than governing.
- The Yuan Dynasty continued the Chinese government structure, maintaining a strong central state with a bureaucracy and Confucian rituals.
- Mongols excluded Chinese citizens from higher positions, favoring Mongols and foreigners for top jobs.
- Marco Polo, an Italian merchant, served as a tax collector.
- Chinese scholars had unofficial influence.
- Mongols implemented strict rules to control China, leading to social stratification where Chinese citizens were treated as second-class citizens.
- Social classes were Mongols, foreigners, Northern Chinese, and Southern Chinese.
- Kublai Khan adopted a less destructive approach to governing but brutally punished resistance.
- Agents closely monitored the Chinese, and families were restricted in their activities to prevent rebellion.
- Peasant farmers were forced off their land to work on government projects.
- The Yuan Dynasty rebuilt Beijing, making it a wealthy city with palaces and gardens.
- Contributions of the Yuan Dynasty include expanded trade and agriculture, construction of roads and the Grand Canal, a Mongol postal service, an accurate calendar, and a flourishing of Chinese literature.
- The Chinese people remained hostile and formed secret societies.
- After Kublai Khan's death, the Yuan Dynasty declined, and rebellions broke out.
The Islamic World's Origins
- The Islamic world's homeland is the Arabian Peninsula, primarily a desert with limited resources.
- Its location is a strategic crossroads where Africa, Asia, and Europe meet, providing a crucial advantage for trade and exchange.
- The region is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, receiving only about 3-5 inches of rain per year across its 1.2 million square miles.
- Early inhabitants were Bedouin nomads who moved with sheep, goats, and camels in search of pasture and water.
- By the 600s, Bedouin tribes were organized based on clans, with extreme loyalty within the clans, led by a Sheikh known for wisdom and courage.
- Inter-tribal conflict for power and resources was common.
- Oases were centers of life and trade, providing isolated and reliable water sources. They supported plant growth and facilitated movement of goods, ideas, and culture as part of the Silk Road network.
Mecca and the Prophet Muhammad
- Mecca was Arabia’s most important city, serving as a major trade and pilgrimage hub.
- Pre-Islamic society was polytheistic, worshipping nature gods.
- Tradition holds that Abraham built the Ka’aba (shrine), which housed tribal idols and was a focal point for annual pilgrimages.
- The Islamic Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca reserved only for Muslims.
- Prophet Muhammad is considered the final messenger of Allah (God).
- Divine teachings were revealed to him over 22 years (610-632 CE) and written as the Qur’an after his death.
- The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters (Surahs) in non-chronological order and is slightly longer than the New Testament.
- Islam is the 2nd largest world religion.
The Five Pillars of Faith
- Declaration of Faith (Shahada): Belief in one God (Allah) and Muhammad as his prophet.
- Prayer (Salat): Praying 5 times daily, facing Mecca.
- Fasting (Sawm): Abstaining from food and drink from dawn till dusk during Ramadan.
- Almsgiving (Zakat): Donating a portion of wealth to the poor.
- Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj): Making a pilgrimage to Mecca if able.
Divisions within Islam
- Sunni: The majority (80-85%) who do not believe a messiah will come (await Jesus' return) and have no hierarchical clergy, with leadership based on scholarship. They believe divine revelations ended with Muhammad.
- Shiite (Shia): A minority (10-15%), primarily in Iran/Iraq/Syria, who believe in the coming of Mahdi (messiah figure) and have Imams as divinely inspired leaders and official clergy. They also have different behaviors and historical developments, sometimes resulting in division and sometimes peaceful coexistence.
Core Islamic Beliefs and Practices
- The Qur’an is believed by Muslims to contain the words of Allah, revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, emphasizing one God and His kindness and mercy.
- The Sunnah encompasses the words and actions of Muhammad documented by his followers, serving as guidelines for daily life alongside the Qur’an, forming the basis of Islamic law.
- Sharia is derived from the Sunnah and Qur’an, providing laws covering human behavior, family and community life, worship, and business.
- Shahadah (Faith) is the first pillar, affirming that there is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God, marking entry into the Muslim community.
- Salat (Prayer) involves praying five times a day facing Mecca, reciting from the Qur’an, often using prayer mats, and is open to women, though not mandatory.
- Zakat (Alms) is the third pillar, requiring Muslims to donate a portion of their income to community members in need and to support communal structures like hospitals and schools.
- Sawm (Fasting) occurs during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, where healthy Muslim adults abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset, to gain awareness of God's privileges.
- Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the fifth pillar, requiring every Muslim to visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah if they are healthy and able.
- A Mosque is a Muslim place of worship where the main service occurs on Friday afternoons, requiring worshippers to wash before entering, kneel on prayer mats, and face Mecca.
- An Imam is a Muslim religious leader who heads the Muslim community, leads prayers, and conducts weekly services with prayers and a sermon.
Conditions and Way of Life in the Arabian Peninsula
- The Arabian Peninsula's desert conditions with heat, dryness, and little rain (5 inches annually) made life challenging and necessitated migration.
- Nomadic herders, known as Bedouin, moved sheep, goats, and cattle across grazing lands.
- The Bedouin organized into tribes and clans with extremely loyal members who owned land and property together.
- A Sheikh led each tribe, and tribes frequently fought each other for land, especially oases.
- Oases were the only places that supported life, providing isolated water sources and attracting settlements.
- Oases were useful for trade, serving as important crossroads connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- Merchants carried silk, spices, and metals, transforming some oases into rich market towns.
- Mecca was Arabia’s most important city and a center for trade and religion.
Mecca's Religious Significance and Muhammad's Revelation
- Arab tribes worshipped nature gods and were polytheistic, but agreed on Allah as one main god.
- Islamic tradition holds that Abraham traveled to Mecca and built the Ka'aba to honor the Hebrew god; over time, this shrine became polytheistic.
- Mecca became a pilgrimage site, with people from around the region travelling to worship there.
- Muhammad, born into a ruling family in Mecca, gained a reputation for honesty and kindness and worked as a trader for Khadijah, a rich widow whom he married.
- Deeply interested in religion, Muhammad often retreated to a cave outside Mecca to pray.
- At 40, while praying in the cave, Muhammad heard the voice of the Angel Gabriel, who told him that people could achieve salvation by worshipping the one true God.
- Muhammad rejected polytheism and began preaching about the God of Abraham, which threatened Mecca’s political leaders who benefitted from the city being a pilgrimage center for polytheistic Arabs.
- Muhammad's teachings made life difficult for him and his followers.
- Islam means "submission to the will of God," and a Muslim is "one who has submitted to God."
- Muhammad and his followers fled to Yathrib, which was renamed Medina; this event, the Haijrah, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
- In Medina, Muhammad became the leader and created an Islamic community (umma), where loyalty to the umma was more important than tribal loyalty.
- United the tribes of Arabia under Islam.
Muhammad's Conquest of Mecca and Islam's Legacy
- The people of Mecca, angered by Muhammad's movement, sought to stop it.
- Muhammad conquered Mecca, and changed worship at the Ka'aba to be solely for the God of Abraham.
- This victory spread Islam.
- Muhammad died with most Arabian tribes under the umma.
- Muhammad was a great religious, political, and military leader.
- The Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, is believed to contain the words of Allah, revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. It teaches there is one God whom all Muslims must worship and describes God as the creator who gives mercy.
- Islam teaches that God will judge people based on their actions and send them to heaven or hell on judgment day. It promotes charity and prohibits gambling and drinking.
- The Sunna details everything Muhammad did from the Qur’an, such as washing before prayer.
- The Qur’an and Sunna form the basis of Islamic law, called shari’a, which covers all aspects of human behavior (family, community, morals, worship, etc.).
- Islam is connected to Christianity and Judaism (both monotheistic religions). Muslims refer to Jews as "people of the book" because they consider Abraham a prophet and have a holy book similar to the Qur’an.
The Five Pillars and Mosque Traditions
- The Five Pillars of Islam are religious beliefs and daily duties.
- Other beliefs include specific rules for eating, such as animals being killed humanely.
- A mosque is a Muslim place of worship, with services on Friday afternoons, where worshippers wash and kneel on prayer mats facing Mecca.
- A religious leader (imam) leads the weekly service with prayers and a sermon.
- Mosques can also be centers of education and social work.
Islamic Caliphates and Expansion
- After Muhammad's death, there was chaos until Abu Bakr was appointed as a caliph, the supreme religious, political, and military leader.
- Abu Bakr ruled for two years and was critical to the survival of Islam, crushing rebellions and keeping Arabia united.
- Subsequent caliphs established a large Muslim empire from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia, expanding into weakened Byzantine and Persian empires due to constant fighting between these empires.
Conversion and Islamic Law
- The Qur’an forbids forcing conversions to Islam, and other religions were allowed under Muslim rule, but with some restrictions.
- Many people converted to Islam, drawn to its ideas and customs, as well as for social, political, and economic advantages.
The Ummayad and Abbasid Dynasties
- The Ummayyads took control after the last of four caliphs were murdered and established a system where the caliph title was passed down within the family.
- The Ummayyads moved the capital to Damascus in Syria to better control conquered lands.
- The Ummayyad dynasty's unpopular actions split Islam into Sunni and Shi’ite factions.
- The Sunni majority accepted the Umayyads and believed any Muslim could be caliph. The Shi’ite faction believed only members of Muhammad’s family could rule, divisions which remain today.
- The Umayyads expanded the Muslim empire by establishing an efficient bureaucracy that divided the empire into provinces connected by a postal service.
- Rebel groups overthrew the Umayyads.
- The Abbasids, descendants of Muhammad’s uncle, rival clan, took over with support from non-Arab converts and Shi’ites and moved the capital to Baghdad in central Iraq.
- The Abbasids ruled during the golden age.
- Caliphs became isolated, so government was left to advisors.
- The Abbasids controlled through force, with a large army mainly of Turkish mercenaries.
- The Seljuk Turks converted to Islam and came to control the Muslim government.
- The Mongols invaded Baghdad and killed the last Abbasid caliph.
Muslim Spain and Al-Andalus
- Muslims conquered Spain in 711, and much of the land came under Umayyad control.
- The last surviving Umayyad prince fled to Spain where he established an independent Umayyad dynasty centered in Cordoba (Al-Andalus).
- Al-Andalus flourished with a thriving economy and reached its peak under Abd al-Rahman III.
- Abd al-Rahman III won full control of Muslim Spain.
- Cordoba was transformed into one of the most powerful cities.
- Lavish palaces, including an extended Great Mosque known for its arches that could hold 500,000+ people.
- Cordoba became a center of learning with a large library holding around half a million books.
The End of Muslim Spain
- Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived together under a tolerant government that made many advances in science, philosophy, medicine, and the arts.
- After Abd al-Rahman died, there was a civil war, and it split into small Muslim kingdoms.
- Northern Christian kings then took over, which ended their rule.
The Sahel and Early Societies in Africa
- South of the Sahara lies the Sahel, a vast grasslands region serving as a transitional zone between the arid Sahara and humid savannas.
- The Sahel presented both challenges and opportunities for early settlements by supporting agriculture, primarily the cultivation of grains like millet and sorghum, and raising livestock.
- Early societies were organized in villages, often based on kinship ties and agricultural practices, each led by a chief with political, social, and sometimes religious authority.
- Gradual unification of villages through alliance, conquest, or mutual agreement led to greater stability and facilitated trade, forming the foundation for the Kingdom of Ghana.
Kingdom of Ghana
- The Kingdom of Ghana was strategically located with ideal land for farming in the southern Sahel.
- Adoption and use of iron tools, such as iron plows, improved agricultural efficiency, allowing for cultivation of larger areas and iron weapons provided military advantages.
- Increased agricultural surplus supported a significant increase in population.
- Ghana emerged as the first great trading state in West Africa around A.D. 500, controlling crucial trans-Saharan trade routes.
- Primary trade goods were salt from the Sahara and gold from the south.
- Ghanaian kings acted as vital middlemen, levying taxes on goods passing through their territory, accumulating substantial wealth and power.
- The capital city, Koumbi Saleh, became a major commercial and administrative center, known for its vibrant markets and diverse population.
- Sophisticated economic policies were implemented under Ghanaian kings, who imposed tariffs on the import and export of salt and other goods, maintained strict control over the gold trade by reserving gold nuggets for the royal treasury while allowing only gold dust for general trade to control supply, maintaining a high price for gold.
- Ghana engaged in broader trade networks by exchanging textiles from North Africa, iron weapons, and imported horses and agricultural products like bananas.
- Significant cultural and religious influences included the introduction and spread of Islam, primarily through trade contacts with North African merchants, which influenced the ruling class and urban centers, and Arabic became the written language for commerce and administration.
Decline of Ghana
- Around 1050, the Almoravid dynasty, a Berber group from North Africa with religious motivations, attacked and briefly captured the capital, Koumbi Saleh, in an effort to convert Ghana to Islam, significantly weakening Ghana.
- Internal and environmental factors contributed to decline: Soil exhaustion due to continuous cultivation reduced agricultural productivity, disruption of trade routes after the Almoravid invasion, internal political instability and the rise of new power centers, plus gradual fragmentation and migration of the population.
- The decline marked the end of Ghana's dominance, though its legacy remained important in the region's history.
- Trade in North Africa began with the Bebers, who lived in communities in present-day Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
- Most Bebers farmed and herded cattle, while some lived in mountains and/or deserts as nomads, sharing a broad culture
- From 800 B.C onward, Phonenicians and Greeks came to North Africa, where they founded cities and studied areas for trade with Spain
- Carthage was a city founded by Phonenicians and Greeks that increasingly controlled Beber lands and people.
- Numidia was an early Beber kingdom that helped the Romans overthrow Carthage.
- Trade relationships developed between people of the desert and the North African coast as they transported slaves, salt, stones, and other goods from the Mediterranean, and in exchange received horses, weapons, food, and cloth.
Africa's Commodities and Trans-Saharan Trade
- Gold and salt were Africa's most important commodities, traded for centuries in the 400s.
- The Western Sudan in Northern Africa was rich in gold deposits, and each year, gold crossed the Sahara.
- African gold stimulated silk trade from China and spices from India, as European kings used African gold to make coins.
- Salt was worth almost as much as gold and was used to preserve foods and goods; this is still done today.
Trans-Saharan Expansion and Conversion to Islam
- After Muhammed died in 632, Islam spread from its origin to North and West Africa.
- At first, few Bebers converted, but then a lot did.
- Arab armies conquered Egypt in 642, expanding trans-Saharan trade through camel caravans.
- In the 1000s, West African rulers converted to Islam, mixing the religion with other practices.
- By the 1500s, Islam had spread through North, West, and East Africa.
- By the 1300s, Muslim leaders ruled several empires, and the Arabic language spread through Africa.
The Nok People
- The Nok people settled in present-day Nigeria and were the first to make iron tools with metal found in rock.
- The Nok people used fire baked clay or Terra Cotta to make unusual sculptures of humans, with heads of Nok figures reaching 12 inches high and cone shaped.
- The use of better iron weapons and tools began during the Iron Age.
- The Nok were the first Sub-Saharans to smelt iron, removing it from iron ore at extremely high temperatures.
- The tools helped with an increased food supply, which expanded the population.
- The Nok people had about 350,000 square miles of land during their peak and their downfall was due to Deforestation damaging local ecosystems.
- They declined at about 200 A.D.
Mali and Mansa Musa
- Mali built wealth on gold and had great achievements in culture and the arts.
- The location advantages included a savannah, which made it easy to grow food because of the rain, which led to food surplus. This allowed Mali to engage in trade, get art, and make big buildings.
- Effective leaders played an important role, as Sundiata Keita founded Mali and became rich by taxing traders.
- Mansa Musa, a descendant of Sundiata, grew the empire, controlled trans-Sahara, grew the population to 40 million, and got Tribute from merchants in the form of taxes.
- Mansa Musa was Muslim and supported the arts and encouraged Timbuktu to become an Islamic education center.
- He oversaw the construction of the great mosque, the oldest mosque in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Shinto Religion in Japan
- Shinto is Japan’s religion that translates to "way of the gods"
- It is inspired by Japan’s landscape
- The religion believes in a spirit power in nature.
- Kami are their gods (spirits/essences)
- Kami are located in mountains, rivers, trees, and rocks.
- Kami are also ancestors, heroes, and ideas
- They are seen as good and strong
- Sacred natural locations are present, such as mountains.
- Mount Fuji is the most sacred mountain because it is beautiful, inspires respect, and is big.
- Shrines connect with Kami and are simple buildings
- Torii are special gates that mark the way to holy places
- Shinto does not have a founder or special book, nor strong right or wrong rules.
- The focus is on harmony with nature and others.
- Shinto practices include clapping hands at shrines to get Kami's attention and whispering short prayers to give thanks, requests, and respect.
- Priests perform actions to please Kami and keep good fortune, while using bells, dancing, and music.
Early Japan and Unification
- People from Siberia/Korea migrated to Japan 30,000 years ago, starting the Japanese people.
- 10,000 years ago in Japan, the Jomon culture of hunter-gatherers and fishers started exhibiting pottery, baskets, and clothes.
- By 3,000 b.c., basic farming started in Japan, and rice growing slowly became important.
- Before the 400s, Japan’s groups (clans) fought before the Yamato group united clans under an emperor.
- They said they should rule Japan from the main Shinto Kami (Sun goddess).
- Yamato created a ruling family (monarchy), and Japan allowed no foreigners for 200 years to preserve their own ways.
- The Mongols tried to take over Japan, but had to leave because storm wrecked boats.
- The daimyo (local leaders) fought Mongols, and storms called Kamikaze defended boats, while the Japanese continued to fight the Mongols.
- In 1603
- Tokugawa Ieyasu united Japan under the Shogunate (Shogun rule).
- Shinto has a strong link to Japan's nature.
- It demonstrates Respect for natural things.
- Spirits (Kami) live in nature.
- They are not like Western gods, but more like spirits.
- They are located in mountains, rivers, trees, rocks, and nature
- Some nature spots are very special
- Mountains are Kami homes, such as Mount Fuji
- Shrines link to Kami and are often a simple fit for nature.
- Torii gates stand out and show way from normal to holy.
- Shinto has no one founder and no one holy book, so there are no hard rules about right or wrong.
- The main focus is on nature and the group.
- To practice Shinto, people clap hands at shrines to wake up Kami.
- After clapping, they whisper quiet, short prayers, and offer thanks and respect.
- Priests care for shrines and do acts to please Kami, get luck, and clean, while using bells, dance, and music.
Japan's Geography and Culture
- Japan is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean.
- Most of Japan’s population lives on 4 main islands, which include Hokkaido, Honshu (Japan’s largest island), Shikoku, and Kyushu and is roughly 145,000 square miles long.
- The islands helped political, economical, and social development of Japan.
- South Korea is 120 miles away from Japan, and China is 500 miles away.
- Isolation had a major impact on their culture.
- They barely had any invasions but they were protected major migrations.
- Japan developed from one ethnic group.
- Japan also gave Japan a strong sense of unity.
- Neighbors of Japan still influenced their culture
- Korea and China formed Japan’s unique culture
- Japan is along the Ring of Fire.
- About 1,500 earthquakes happen in Japan.
- Japan is at risk of tsunamis because earthquakes are frequent.
- Japan is also at risk of typhoons (in the Atlantic they are called hurricanes).
- Japan’s mountains limited terrain for farming.
- Only 12 percent of the land can be used for farming.
- Japan lacks important resources such as metals.
Japan's Political and Cultural Development
- 593: Empress Suiko took the throne and named Prince Shotoku as regent, marking another political leap.
- 604: Shotoku made Japan’s first constitution that mixed Buddhist and Confucian ideas.
- 607-839: Japan sent embassies to China to examine Chinese culture and mimic it.
- 3000 b.c.: The Japanese began basic farming.
- 300 b.c.: New immigrants from Central Asia with advanced culture came.
- 300s: Aristocracy power increased, supported by farmers and slaves.
- 400s: Clans united under the leadership of a Yamato emperor.
- 593-622: Prince Shotoku and Empress Suiko made foundations for the Japanese government.
- After 839: Japan stopped sending embassies to China.
- Early 800s: Japan adopted Chinese culture, while their own culture was flourishing.
- 600s: Shotoku built a religious center.
- 30,000 years ago: People from Siberia and Korea came and settled in Japan.
The Three Kingdoms of Korea
- Korea is a large mountainous peninsula with fertile land suitable for cultivation.
- In 108 B.C., the Chinese Han dynasty conquered northwest Korea.
- By 37 B.C., the Koguryo kingdom emerged in the north, and in 18 B.C., the Paekche kingdom was founded.
- In 676 B.C., Southwest China withdrew from the peninsula.
- The Silla kingdom entered an alliance with the Tang dynasty in 660 A.D. and conquered the Paekche Kingdom.
Korean Unification and Cultural Development
- The Koguryo was the strongest tribe and conquered peninsulas.
- The Kingdoms had similar cultures, including Chinese writing and Feudal-like societies.
- Silla took control of Paekche.
- Their alliance was a good move for the Silla, and they were put in control of a unified kingdom.
- The Tang took the conquered lands and reduced the Silla’s power.
- Chinese culture influenced arts, architecture, literature, government, and religion, creating their own distinct culture.
- China exchanged paper, porcelain, silk, and weapons for other goods.
- Kings commanded a warrior aristocracy and an educated bureaucracy, while poor peasants provided labor for agriculture.
Korean Cultural Achievements
- Korea further developed its culture using Chinese confucianism and Buddhism.
- Koreans developed Celadon, a type of pottery with a blue green color, where they picked up from Chinese woodblock.
- Carved Buddhist teachings into over 80,000 woodblocks or Tripitaka Koreana. The blocks were burned in the Mongol invasion of 1231, but were recarved.
- The Tripitaka Koreana house, made of material that regulated Moisture which preserved the wood blocks.
- Kimchi is Korea’s national dish and is made of spicy pickled vegetables.
- Women’s Hanbok: The traditional clothing called Hanbok included undergarments covered by a long billowing skirt and a short which was made of silk.
- Men’s Hanbok: Full length pants, long jacket with wide sleeves, which used Hemp and silk.
- Korean homes had a heating system called Ondol., where Hot air from fireplaces were drawn through passageways beneath the floor to heat the air and warm floors.
- Koreans today use updated versions of Ondol.
Vietnamese Kingdoms
- Vietnam began with migration from Southern China from the red river delta.
- Early struggles in Vietnam centered on maintaining political and cultural independence from China.
- In 207 B.C., the Chinese government created a breakaway kingdom: Nam Viet.
Chinese Domination of Vietnam
- In 111 B.C., China took control of Vietnam.
- Because Chinese culture was pushed, there were violent uprisings.
- Sisters Trung Trac and Trung Nhi led the rebellion and won to rule for 3 years. After the conquest, Chinese forces overthrew them.
- In 938 A.D
- An uprising occurred in Dai Viet led by Ngo Quyen.
- China acknowledged independence in a different way and led to 1000 years of independence for Vietnam.
- The Ly dynasty moved the capital to Hanoi and enforced strong leadership, a strong central government, Reinforced Buddhism as main religion and Enforced confucianism ideas.
- The Tran dynasty reformed while successfully fighting off invasion and expanding.
- The Ming Chinese invaded in 1407, in order to enforce Chinese culture.
- Le Thanh Tong restored native rule in 1428, restoring culture.
- In 1471 new land was conquered in Champa.
Khmer Empire's Rise and Fall
- The Khmer Empire was located in Southeast Asia, in present-day Cambodia.
- The Khmer people migrated south from China, founding city states known as Chenla in 500 A.D.
- The city states were influenced by an Indian trading kingdom called Funan.
- The city states rallied together to protect against strong island nations.
- In 802 A.D. it was united under Jayavarman II, marking the start of the Khmer Empire.
- The Capital was located in city called Angkor, which means (city); the art and architecture had Hinduism, and from the Indian style.
- The Religion was a mix of Hinduism Buddhism and native religions.
- The Khmer adopted Indian ideas of kings as gods and had a Central Government.
- They were skilled rice farmers.
- Rice farming was the foundation of Khmer’s stability, prosperity, and powe.
- It helped learn many wet and fertile river deltas ideal for cultivating rice and manage water systems.
- The peak of the kingdom was under Jayavarman II when ruled, from 1181-1218.
- Roads were built to the new capital Angkor Thom.
- 20,000 Buddhist shrines were built along with supporting 300,000 Buddhist monks and priests.
- The decline was due to too much money spent from the shrines and roads, religious monuments, and wars that weakened empire during.
- Capital abandoned, as Thai took over in 1431.
- The Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu temple and dedicated to the god of Vishnu.
- It was built by Suryavarman II and located in Angkor which was the largest city at 300 miles wide.
- It features the tower which symbolizes the home of the legendary Hindu gods and a wide moat represent mountains at the edge of the world and the ocean.
- The Lotus bud at the top of the five towers represent beauty and purity in Hindu.
Religious Meaning of Angkor Wat
- Angkor wat stretched 244 acres
- It was built to honor the Hindu god of Vishnu.
- Known for carvings, one carving is 1970 feet long and represents artistic achievement.
- It also served as an astronomical observatory.
- Oriented with certain stars and faced west, towards the setting sun, which symbolized death.
- It was converted into a buddhist shrine.
- When king Jayavarman VII moved to the capital to Angkor Thom, the city slowly lost popularity.
- When the Khmer empire collapsed the city was nearly abandoned.
- In 1860 it was rediscovered by a French explorer, visitors and thieves started to take some of the treasures causing it to become protected by the Unesco.
Koryo and Choson Dynasties
- The three paragraphs are about the Koryo dynasty
- In the 700s After a golden age in Silla, Silla declined.
- General Wang Kon made a rival dynasty called the Koryo in 918.
- Korea was ruled by Koryo for over 450 years.
- Named ‘Korea’ because of Koryo
- Korea's language was Chinese for a long time.
- Also influenced Koryo to adapt Chinese government ideas and to have government ideas as a centralized government. But with a special preference to artisiocrats, which made their bureaucracy came from nobility.
Mongol Influences and Korean Loss of Independence
- The Mongols invaded Koryo and took control in 1231 and 1236.
- This harsh ruling demanded tribute.
- The Dynasty ended in dominance in 1336. And replaced with the Choson Rose to the power, which took 518 years. They Ruled with Confucianist which with strict hierarchy.
- China and Japan invaded Korea in 1894.
- Japan took Korea in 1910, and made Koreans use Japanese-style culture and names.
- In 1945 Japan gave Korea their independence back.
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