Study Guide PDF

STUDY GUIDE Questions: 1. Chinampas were like floating gardens used by the Aztecs to grow food. They built them in shallow lakes by piling mud, plants, and reeds into rectangular shapes. These plots were super fertile because they were in water, so crops like corn, beans, and squash grew really...

STUDY GUIDE Questions: 1. Chinampas were like floating gardens used by the Aztecs to grow food. They built them in shallow lakes by piling mud, plants, and reeds into rectangular shapes. These plots were super fertile because they were in water, so crops like corn, beans, and squash grew really well. 2. In the Inca Empire, inheritance followed a split inheritance system: The new ruler (usually a son of the old ruler) inherited political power to rule the empire. However, the wealth, land, and possessions of the deceased ruler stayed with his descendants to maintain his memory, worship his mummified body, and manage his estate. This system encouraged each new ruler to expand the empire to gain new wealth and resources for themselves. 3. The Mita system supported different state projects like roads, terraces, public buildings and mining. 4. In Aztec society, calpulli were clan-like social units that organized families into neighborhoods. Each calpulli managed communal lands and distributed them to its members, Provided military service, education, and labor to the state. Acted as a local governing body, with leaders overseeing land use and resolving disputes. 5. The Golden Horde was a 13th-century Mongol khanate established by Batu Khan, ruling over parts of Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia. It imposed tribute on Russian principalities, thrived on Silk Road trade, and later adopted Islam. Its power declined as Moscow rose. 6. Refers to entities protecting sacred or intellectual sites, such as scribes or priests in ancient civilizations. 7. Alexandria, known for its Great Library and its role as a hub of learning in the Hellenistic world. 8. Sindh (in modern-day Pakistan) was conquered by Muhammad bin Qasim in 711 CE. 9. An ancient region in Central Asia, around modern-day Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, emerging as a key center of trade and culture. 10. The Srivijaya Empire (7th--13th centuries), which controlled major maritime trade routes. 11. Spread through trade networks, Sufi missionaries, and the conversion of local rulers like those in the Malacca Sultanate. 12. The Yuan Dynasty (1271--1368) in China. 13. Facilitated cultural exchange, increased trade (e.g., along the Silk Road), and spread innovations and diseases like the Black Death. 14. Foot binding was a Chinese cultural practice that began during the Song Dynasty (960--1279) and continued for centuries. It involved tightly binding young girls' feet to reshape them into a smaller, "ideal" size often referred to as "lotus feet." The practice symbolized beauty, social status, and wealth, as women with bound feet were typically from elite families and did not need to work. However, it caused lifelong disability for many women. 15. Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire, made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) in 1324. During his journey, he distributed vast amounts of gold, reportedly destabilizing local economies (e.g., in Cairo). His pilgrimage demonstrated Mali's wealth, Islamic devotion, and connections to the broader Islamic world. It also boosted Timbuktu as a major center for Islamic learning and trade. 16. Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively across the Islamic world and beyond (1325--1354). His journeys covered North Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and even China. His accounts, recorded in the Rihla, reveal the cultural and economic interconnectedness of the Islamic world and the importance of trade and shared religious practices. 17. Samarkand (in modern Uzbekistan) and Kashgar (in modern China) were key cities along the Silk Roads. They thrived as trade hubs, offering merchants a place to rest, exchange goods, and access markets. These cities also became centers of cultural exchange and scholarship, hosting diverse populations and facilitating the spread of ideas, religions, and technologies. 18. The Mongols created the largest contiguous empire in history, spanning Eurasia. They ensured the safety of trade routes, particularly the Silk Road, by protecting merchants and standardizing laws. The Pax Mongolica encouraged trade and cultural exchange, allowing goods, knowledge, and technologies (e.g., paper, gunpowder) to move freely across the empire. 19. Islamic scholars preserved and expanded upon the knowledge of ancient Greek, Roman, Indian, and Persian civilizations. They made significant advancements in mathematics (algebra, trigonometry), medicine (surgical techniques, hospitals), astronomy (astrolabe, planetary models), and philosophy. 20. These are examples of cross-cultural exchanges facilitated by trade routes such as the Silk Road, Indian Ocean Trade, and others. Chinese paper revolutionized record-keeping and education. Medical knowledge spread from the Islamic world, including surgical techniques and medicinal herbs. Arabic numerals (originating in India) replaced Roman numerals in Europe, simplifying mathematics. 21. Urban centers grew due to Increased trade along major routes like the Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan networks. Agricultural innovations like the three-field system and champa rice, which boosted food production. Political stability provided by empires 22. The Black Death (bubonic plague), spread along trade routes, killed an estimated 30--60% of Europe's population and millions in Asia. Mongol invasions and conquests also caused widespread destruction and population displacement. Famines and climate change (e.g., the Little Ice Age) further contributed to population decline. 23. **Silk Road:** Land-based; luxury goods (e.g., silk, spices, porcelain); caravan trade; spread of Buddhism, Islam, and technologies. **Indian Ocean Trade:** Sea-based; bulk goods (e.g., spices, timber, cotton); relied on monsoon winds; connected East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. **Trans-Saharan Trade:** Land-based; linked West Africa to North Africa; traded gold, salt, and slaves; spread Islam in West Africa. 24. The capital of the Northern Song was Kaifeng. After losing northern China to the Jin dynasty, the Southern Song moved its capital to Hangzhou, which became a thriving trade and cultural center. 25. The Sui Dynasty fell in 618 due to overambitious projects like the Grand Canal, which overburdened the population with high taxes and forced labor. Military failures, including a disastrous campaign against Korea, further weakened the dynasty, leading to rebellion. 26. The Tang Dynasty (618--907) was founded by Emperor Gaozu of Tang (Li Yuan) in 618 CE. He seized power after the collapse of the Sui Dynasty, establishing one of China's greatest dynasties, known for its cultural, technological, and territorial achievements. 27. The Song Dynasty (960--1279) was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin) in 960 CE. He was a military general who overthrew the Later Zhou dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and reunified much of China. 28. Gunpowder was invented in China during the Tang Dynasty (9th century). Initially used for fireworks and later for military purposes, its invention revolutionized warfare and spread to the Islamic world and Europe via the Silk Road. 29. **Sunni Islam:** The largest sect, believing that leadership should follow the Prophet Muhammad's companions and elected caliphs. **Shia Islam:** Believes leadership should remain within the Prophet Muhammad's family, specifically descendants of Ali, Muhammad's cousin, and son-in-law. 30. Emperor Justinian I (527--565 CE) attempted to reconquer the western Roman territories. His military campaigns, led by generals like Belisarius, temporarily regained parts of North Africa, Italy, and Spain but ultimately overstretched the empire's resources. 31. Arab merchants sought gold, which was abundant in West Africa and highly valued in global trade. They also traded salt, textiles, and other goods, while spreading Islam, which was adopted by West African elites, such as in the Mali and Ghana empires. 32. Promoted Confucianism as the foundation of governance. Oversaw periods of economic prosperity and cultural flourishing. Expanded bureaucratic systems through the civil service exam. Encouraged advancements in technology (Tang: gunpowder, Song: printing press and compass). 33. Polynesians navigated vast distances across the Pacific Ocean between 300--1300 CE, settling islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), and Samoa. They used star navigation, ocean currents, and wind patterns to guide their outrigger canoes. 34. Prince Henry (1394--1460) was a Portuguese royal who supported maritime exploration along the West African coast. He established a navigation school in Sagres and sponsored expeditions that advanced European knowledge of Africa and paved the way for the Age of Exploration.