Indian Political Structures and Culture

The practice of granting land to religious leaders in exchange for political support. This mutual benefit system helped solidify power for both parties.

A complex system of genealogies compiled by Brahmans to legitimate the ruling positions of Indian rajas, demonstrating a quid pro quo relationship between religious and political power.

The process of expanding Hinduism by incorporating indigenous people into the religion through conversion and subsequent landowning.

The strategic location of India, along prominent land and sea trade routes, attracted diverse cultural influences from Afro-Eurasia, resulting in a rich and diverse cultural mosaic.

Ottoman Turkish military leaders who invaded India, facing weak resistance from fragmented Indian regimes, particularly in the northern regions between the Indus and Ganges Rivers.

A period in Indian history marked by Turkish Muslim rulers who brought political unity and cultural diversity to northern India, but did not impose a single culture or religion.

The system of social hierarchy in India based on birth, where people are divided into different groups or 'varnas'.

A tax levied by Turkic Muslim rulers on non-Muslim religious groups in India, allowing them to practice their own religion and manage their local affairs.

The practice of rulers and leaders adopting and accepting local customs and social structures, while introducing their own traditions.

The language of administration and literature used by Turkic Muslim rulers in India, influenced by their admiration for Persian poetry and culture.

The process of absorbing the beliefs and practices of one religion into another religion, resulting in a blend of traditions.

A powerful and influential dynasty in China that ruled from 960 to 1279, known for its economic and cultural achievements.

The period of fragmentation in China after the Tang Dynasty, ruled by powerful military generals.

The belief in the divine right to rule, often associated with Chinese emperors.

The period in Chinese history when the Song Dynasty was finally overthrown by the Mongols.

Paper money used in the Song Dynasty, which is a time period in Chinese history from 960 to 1279, and was more convenient to carry around than coins.

The Song dynasty printed too much paper money, causing a rapid increase in the prices of goods and services, leading to economic instability.

A government system where officials are chosen through competitive exams, allowing individuals to rise in power based on merit rather than familial connections.

The Song emperors expanded the government bureaucracy, placing emphasis on scholar-officials, chosen by competitive civil service exams. These exams symbolized the high level of achievement and demanded allegiance from those who entered government.

The Song dynasty's advanced weaponry, like crossbows and flamethrowers, was used by nomadic groups against them.

The Song Dynasty attempted to maintain peace with neighboring nomadic groups by offering payments. This had short-term success but led to economic problems and military weakness.

The capital city of Kyoto, Japan, was designed after the Chinese capital, revealing the lasting influence of Chinese culture on Japanese society.

During the Song Dynasty, Southeast Asia became a crossroads for trade, with various cultural influences from China, India, and beyond. This crossroads facilitated the growth of powerful kingdoms like the Khmer Empire.

The Khmer Empire, located in Cambodia, was known for its magnificent temples like Angkor Wat, showcasing a blend of religious and cultural influences.

The Khmer Empire and other Southeast Asian kingdoms played a crucial role in preventing conflict between China and India, leading to stability and economic prosperity within Southeast Asia.

Christianity spread from monasteries to parish churches, becoming a more universal religion.

The Christian Holy Land (Palestine and Jerusalem) was under Muslim control. This sparked conflict and fueled the Crusades.

The Seljuk Turks, a Muslim group, threatened the Byzantine Empire in the late 1000s. This led to the First Crusade.

Pope Urban II called for a holy war in 1095 to recapture Jerusalem from Muslim rule. Knights and commoners joined the Crusades, which were seen as a just war.

Crusader armies travelled to the Holy Land by ship, often through cities such as Genoa, Pisa, and Venice, fueling economic activity in these port cities.

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, characterized by centuries of internal conflicts and fragmentation, leading to invasions by 'barbarian' groups who coveted Roman wealth and sought to escape the Huns.

Groups deemed culturally inferior by the Romans, often associated with nomadic tribes from outside the empire's borders. Their invasions contributed to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

The system of rule in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, characterized by land grants in exchange for loyalty and military service between lords, knights, and serfs.

The practice of bestowing honor and respect on knights, emphasizing their chivalrous virtues of courage, loyalty, and protection of the weak.

A system of localized power in Western Europe after the Roman Empire's fall, where local lords and religious leaders held considerable influence, unlike the weakened kings and emperors.

The central religious institution of Western Europe, providing guidance, support, and continuity during the tumultuous period after the Roman Empire's fall.

The expansion of Christianity into Northern Europe led by groups like the Franks and Germanic tribes who had invaded the Western Roman Empire.

Emphasized the distinct cultural identity of China as compared to other civilizations, often referred to as ‘outsiders’ or 'barbarians' within their borders.

A significant innovation that demonstrated China’s advanced technology and played a crucial role in spreading knowledge and unifying the literate class across East Asia.

The use of classical Chinese as a common language for education and communication among the elite across East Asia, fostered by the widespread production and circulation of books.

A system of social organization where lords granted land to knights in exchange for military service, and peasants provided labor and taxes to the lord. It formed the basis of European society in the Middle Ages.

A fortified estate or castle owned by a lord, where peasants (serfs) worked the land in exchange for protection and a place to live.

The gradual evolution of feudalism with the development of more organized and technologically advanced production processes within manors.

Peasants who were bound to the land and obligated to work for the lord in exchange for protection and the right to live on the land.

The movement of peasants from Western Europe to Eastern Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries, seeking freedom from feudal lords' oppression and forced labor.

The adoption of a Byzantine model for governance and culture by Russia, emphasizing strong central authority and the influence of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

The development of Russian cities as centers of long-distance trade and migration, rather than purely agrarian centers.

The influence of the Hagia Sophia, a magnificent church in Constantinople, on the architecture and design of religious buildings in Russia, particularly the construction of Kiev's Hagia Sophia.