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Questions and Answers
What was a significant effect of Neo-Confucianism during the Song Dynasty?
Which agricultural advancement contributed to the population growth in Song China?
What was a common characteristic of the Abbasid Caliphate before its decline?
What was a primary function of civil service examinations during the Song Dynasty?
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How did neighboring states like Korea and Japan influence their societies during the Song Dynasty?
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What distinguishes Mahayana Buddhism from Theravada Buddhism?
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What role did the Grand Canal expansion play in Song China?
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Which of the following best describes a contribution of the Muslim world during this period?
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What contributed to the Renaissance in Europe relating to ancient Greek philosophy?
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Which factors were significant in the expansion of Muslim rule?
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What primarily characterized the Bhakti movement in Hinduism?
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What challenges did the Delhi Sultanate face in South Asia?
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What was the significance of the Majapahit Kingdom in Java?
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What system did the Aztec Empire primarily rely on for expansion?
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How did the Inca Empire's bureaucracy differ from that of the Aztecs?
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What was a notable characteristic of the Mississippian culture?
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Study Notes
Overview of Unit 1: Circa 1200 to 1450
- Focus on major civilizations worldwide and their state-building processes.
- Definition of "state": politically organized territory under a single government (e.g., United States, Japan).
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- Revival of Confucianism, termed Neo-Confucianism, emphasized societal hierarchy.
- Key concepts include filial piety, reinforcing family and societal roles.
- Women faced restrictions: loss of legal rights, limited education access, and foot binding as a status symbol.
- Expansion of the imperial bureaucracy, employing civil service examinations based on Confucian classes for bureaucratic positions.
- Bureaucratic roles generally required wealth, limiting opportunities for lower socioeconomic classes.
Influence of China on Neighboring Regions
- Neighboring states like Korea, Japan, and Vietnam adopted aspects of Chinese civilization, including civil service exams and Buddhism.
Buddhism's Role in Song China
- Originated in India, focused on four noble truths emphasizing the cessation of suffering.
- Differentiation between Theravada Buddhism (individual focus) and Mahayana Buddhism (communal support for enlightenment).
- The spread of Buddhism saw it adapt to various East Asian cultures, influencing local practices.
Song China's Economic Developments
- Economic prosperity inherited from previous dynasties led to population growth.
- Commercialization: increase in production for trade (e.g., porcelain, silk).
- Agricultural advancements, particularly Champa rice, which matured early and increased yields.
- Transportation improvements, notably the expansion of the Grand Canal, enhanced trade and communication.
Dar al-Islam (House of Islam)
- Refers to regions where Islamic faith was central during this period.
- Major religions included Judaism (focused on the Torah), Christianity (based on Jesus’ teachings), and Islam (founded by Prophet Muhammad).
- The Abbasid Caliphate, dominant before 1200, began to decline, leading to the rise of Turkic-led Islamic states, such as the Seljuk Empire.
Rise of the Seljuk Empire
- Established in the 11th century by Turkic peoples, it gained power in the decline of the Abbasids.
- Continued practices such as military administration of states and Sharia law.
Intellectual Contributions of the Muslim World
- Advances in mathematics (e.g., trigonometry by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi).
- Preservation and translation of ancient Greek philosophical works in The House of Wisdom, Baghdad, contributing to the Renaissance in Europe.
Expansion of Muslim Rule
- Occurred through military conquest, trade involving Muslim merchants, and missionary work by Sufi individuals.
- Significant expansion in regions like North Africa and South Asia, leading to the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate.
Religions in South and Southeast Asia
- Hinduism predominant in South Asia, with Islam becoming influential due to the Delhi Sultanate.
- Decline of Buddhism in South Asia, primarily limited to monastic communities.
- Emergence of the Bhakti movement in Hinduism emphasizing personal devotion to specific deities.
State Building in South Asia
- The Delhi Sultanate faced challenges in imposing Muslim rule over a majority Hindu population.
- Hindu resistance was embodied by the Rajput kingdoms and later the Vijayanagara Empire, established in 1336 as a counter to northern Muslim rule.### Emergence of Kingdoms in South Asia
- Delhi Sultanate's failed attempt to extend Muslim rule into South resulted in former Hindu emissaries converting back to Hinduism and establishing a rival Empire.
- Formation of the Majapahit Kingdom (1293-1520) in Java, a significant Buddhist state known for controlling trade routes rather than possessing strong naval power.
- Decline of Majapahit began when China backed its rival, the Sultanate of Malacca.
- Khmer Empire transitioned from a Hindu to a Buddhist Kingdom, exemplified by the architectural blend found in Angkor Wat, reflecting both religions' influence.
The Aztec and Inca Empires in the Americas
- Aztec Empire founded in 1345 by the Mexica people; Tenochtitlan was the largest city in the Americas pre-European contact.
- By 1428, the Aztecs allied with two states, leading to expansion driven by a tribute system requiring conquered peoples to provide labor and goods.
- Human sacrifice was integral to Aztec religion, utilizing enslaved individuals captured from conquered regions.
- Inca Empire arose in the early 1400s across the Andes, characterized by a highly centralized bureaucracy that controlled local populations through labor requirements on state projects, contrasting with the decentralized tribute system of the Aztecs.
Mississippi Valley and African States
- Mississippian culture was North America's first large-scale civilization, thriving due to fertile soil along the Mississippi River and established monumental mounds for burial.
- Swahili Civilization emerged along the East African coast, organized around trade and heavily influenced by Muslim traders, leading to the creation of a hybrid language, Swahili.
- Trade spurred the conversion of elite members of centralized empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to Islam, while many commoners retained indigenous beliefs.
- Great Zimbabwe (1250-1450) was a powerful African state focused on agriculture and later gold trade, maintaining indigenous shamanistic religion without Islamic influence.
Ethiopia and European Political Structures
- Kingdom of Ethiopia thrived through Mediterranean trade, unique as a Christian state amidst predominantly Muslim and indigenous beliefs.
- Europe was dominated by Christianity, featuring Eastern Orthodox in the Byzantine Empire and Roman Catholicism in Western Europe.
- Post-Roman Empire, Western Europe fragmented into small states, linked culturally and politically through the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy.
- Feudalism characterized European political organization, where powerful lords gained loyalty from lesser lords (vassals) in exchange for land and military support.
- Manorialism structured local economies around large estates (manors) run by lords, with serfs bound to the land and providing labor in exchange for protection.
Summary of Societal Structures
- Aztecs exercised a decentralized tribute-based system; Incas implemented centralized labor requirements.
- Mississippi culture utilized fertile land for agriculture, while Swahili states thrived on trade along the Indian Ocean.
- Trade was crucial for the growth of African empires and cultural exchanges, leading to divergent religious practices within regions.
- Political fragmentation and decentralization marked European society, which gradually shifted towards centralized monarchies over time.
Overview of Unit 1: Circa 1200 to 1450
- Major focus on global civilizations and state-building processes.
- "State" defined as a politically organized territory governed as a whole.
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- Revival of Confucianism, known as Neo-Confucianism, emphasized societal roles and hierarchy.
- Key concepts included filial piety, reinforcing family dynamics.
- Women experienced significant restrictions: loss of legal rights, limited education, and foot binding as a status symbol.
- Expansion of imperial bureaucracy implemented civil service exams based on Confucian principles.
- Bureaucratic roles tended to favor the wealthy, marginalizing lower socioeconomic groups.
Influence of China on Neighboring Regions
- Korea, Japan, and Vietnam adopted elements of Chinese civilization, including civil service exams and Buddhist practices.
Buddhism's Role in Song China
- Buddhism originated in India, focusing on the Four Noble Truths that address human suffering.
- Differentiation exists between Theravada Buddhism (individual focus) and Mahayana Buddhism (emphasis on communal support for enlightenment).
- Buddhism adapted and influenced local practices across East Asia.
Song China's Economic Developments
- Economic prosperity led to significant population growth, carrying forward advancements from previous dynasties.
- Commercialization of goods, notably porcelain and silk, increased trade production.
- Agricultural innovations, particularly the introduction of fast-maturing Champa rice, enhanced crop yields.
- Transportation improvements, especially the Grand Canal expansion, facilitated trade and communication.
Dar al-Islam (House of Islam)
- Refers to regions where Islamic faith predominated during this period.
- Major religions included Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the latter founded by Prophet Muhammad.
- Decline of the Abbasid Caliphate led to the emergence of Turkic-led Islamic states like the Seljuk Empire.
Rise of the Seljuk Empire
- Established in the 11th century during the Abbasid decline, asserting military administration and Sharia law.
Intellectual Contributions of the Muslim World
- Significant advancements in mathematics, including trigonometry by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.
- The House of Wisdom in Baghdad preserved and translated ancient Greek philosophical works, influencing the European Renaissance.
Expansion of Muslim Rule
- Expanded through military conquests, trade, and Sufi missionary activities.
- Notable growth in North Africa and South Asia, which included the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate.
Religions in South and Southeast Asia
- Hinduism was dominant in South Asia, while Islam gained influence through the Delhi Sultanate.
- Buddhism experienced decline, becoming more confined to monastic communities in South Asia.
- Emergence of the Bhakti movement in Hinduism emphasized personal devotion to specific deities.
State Building in South Asia
- The Delhi Sultanate struggled to impose Muslim dominance over a majority Hindu population.
- Hindu resistance found expression in Rajput kingdoms and the Vijayanagara Empire, which arose in 1336 against northern Muslim rule.
Emergence of Kingdoms in South Asia
- Delhi Sultanate's failure to extend its rule southward led to previous Hindu emissaries reverting to Hinduism and forming rival empires.
- The Majapahit Kingdom (1293-1520) in Java became a significant Buddhist state, controlling trade routes but lacking strong naval power.
- The Majapahit's decline was exacerbated by China's support for the rival Sultanate of Malacca.
- The Khmer Empire transitioned from a Hindu to a Buddhist kingdom, with Angkor Wat symbolizing the blend of both religions architecturally.
The Aztec and Inca Empires in the Americas
- The Aztec Empire was founded in 1345 by the Mexica people, with Tenochtitlan as the largest city in pre-European America.
- By 1428, the Aztecs expanded through alliances and a tribute system demanding labor and goods from conquered peoples.
- Human sacrifice was a vital aspect of Aztec religious practices, utilizing enslaved individuals from conquests.
- The Inca Empire emerged in the early 1400s in the Andes, featuring a centralized bureaucracy that imposed labor on state projects, contrasting with the Aztec tribute system.
Mississippi Valley and African States
- The Mississippian culture represented North America's first significant civilization, thriving along the fertile Mississippi River and constructing monumental burial mounds.
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Description
Explore the major civilizations worldwide during Unit 1, covering the period from 1200 to 1450. This quiz highlights the state-building processes in various regions, with a focus on the Song Dynasty's Confucian revival and China's influence on neighboring countries. Test your knowledge on societal roles, Buddhism's impact, and the bureaucratic systems of the era.
