1.1 to 1.3 Flashcards
During which century did China first become a unified state?
Third century BCE.
What was the political structure like during China’s unification?
Emperor was at the top of the government.
What were the main achievements of the Tang Dynasty?
Expanded Chinese borders and broke off to the Song Dynasty.
How did the territory of the Song Dynasty compare to that of the Tang Dynasty?
Not as extensive as the Tang’s had been.
What was significant about the ruling class during the Song Dynasty?
Well-educated ruling class with aristocratic lineage as an easy way to power.
What educational innovation did the Song Dynasty introduce?
Civil Service examinations.
Who had the opportunity to gain influence through Civil Service examinations?
Men, as it was not open to women.
Besides study and official duties, what else were scholars involved in during the Song Dynasty?
Appreciated and even produced literature, music, and art.
Who was responsible for bringing together Confucian writings into the official version during the Song Dynasty?
Zhu Xi.
What led to the disorder in China that facilitated the Mongol invasion?
Drought, disease, rebellions, and bad leadership.
Who led an army against the Mongols and founded a new dynasty?
Taizu.
How did economic expansion contribute to the growth of cities during the dynastic periods?
By fueling economic growth.
What was one significant innovation in the production of money during the Song Dynasty?
Issuing the world’s first government-issued paper money.
What aspects of Chinese culture were particularly influential in East Asia?
Confucian political ideas, Buddhist teachings, and adapted Chinese writing.
When did Korean rulers adopt the vassal state relationship with China?
During the early years of the period.
What script was increasingly used for poetry and memoirs during the Heian Period in Japan?
A new script for writing Japanese phonetically.
What forms of Buddhism were introduced by Japanese monks during this period?
Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism.
What led to the decline of the Fujiwara family’s dominance in Japan?
Civil war in the late 12th century.
Who established military governments in Japan following the decline of Fujiwara dominance?
Other powerful families headed by shoguns.
What natural phenomenon helped the shogunate repel the Mongol invasions?
Kamikaze (divine winds) destroying Mongol fleets.
What persisted in Japan despite successfully repelling the Mongol invasions?
Disputes and widespread violence.
What is the core belief system of Islam?
Islam is a monotheistic tradition, believing in one god, Allah.
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
The Five Pillars of Islam are: 1) Declaring faith in God and Muhammad as God’s Prophet, 2) Performing regular daily prayers, 3) Fasting during the sacred month of Ramadan, 4) Giving charity to the poor, and 5) Performing the pilgrimage to Mecca if able.
How did Islam emerge historically?
Islam emerged after Muhammad received a revelation from God in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century CE. His teachings spread rapidly across the region and beyond after his death.
What are the primary Islamic texts?
The primary Islamic texts are the Quran and the Hadith reports, which contain accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and actions.
How did early Muslims organize after Muhammad’s death?
After Muhammad’s death, early Muslims debated and eventually established a caliphate to lead the community both politically and religiously.
How did Islam spread beyond its place of origin?
Islam spread through conquest, trade, and cultural exchange, reaching regions from Spain to India within a few decades after Muhammad’s death.
What influence did Islam have on societies?
Islam influenced societies by shaping their culture, politics, economy, and intellectual life, creating a unified cultural world known as Dar al-Islam.
How do historians study Islam?
Historians study Islam through analyzing primary sources such as the Quran, Hadith reports, archaeological evidence, and corroborating narratives.
Why are historical narratives about Islam significant?
Historical narratives about Islam are significant because they shape our understanding of the religion’s emergence and development, influencing global perspectives and contemporary events.
Dar al-Islam Definition
Refers to regions where Muslims are in the majority and rulers practice Islam.
Spread of Islam
Started with conquests of Muhammad and Arab armies in the seventh century, quickly expanding from Arabia to surrounding regions.
Islamic Universalism
Like Christianity and Buddhism, Islam emerged as a universalist and missionary religion, believing anyone could become Muslim.
Early Caliphates
Umayyad (661–750) and Abbasid (750–1258) Caliphates spread Islam across Afro-Eurasia, embracing new ideas encountered during conquests.
Cultural Exchange
Early Islamic empires blended ideas from different places, fostering a diverse but unified cultural world.
Golden Age
Abbasid Empire’s conquests and prosperity initiated the Golden Age of Islam, lasting until the thirteenth century.
Intellectual Contributions
Islamic scholars preserved and innovated, preserving Greek and Roman texts, pioneering concepts like Arabic numerals, algebra, and zero.
Agricultural Innovations
Abbasid Empire introduced new irrigation techniques and exchanged plants and animals, revolutionizing agriculture.
House of Wisdom
Baghdad became a leading center of education and research, fostering advancements in various sciences.
Political Fragmentation
Abbasid Caliphate declined from the ninth to thirteenth centuries due to invasions, revolts, and disputes, but cultural expansion continued.
Turkic Invasions
Turkic tribes migrated into Central and Southwest Asia, adopting Islam and establishing large states like the Seljuk dynasty.
Mongol Conquests
Mongol invasions led to the fall of Baghdad in 1258 but also facilitated the spread of Islam across the Mongol Empire.
Cultural Expansion
Despite political fragmentation, Dar al-Islam culturally expanded from 1200 to 1450, reaching sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.
Unified Cultural World
Dar al-Islam fostered a unified cultural world, exemplified by travelers like Ibn Battuta, who found cultural unity across Afro-Eurasia.
Modern Relevance
The expansion of Dar al-Islam contributed to modern science, math, and medicine, and shaped the religious and cultural geography of the world.
Introduction to Islam
Islam is a monotheistic tradition centered around belief in one God, Allah, and follows the teachings of Muhammad.
Five Pillars of Islam
Core beliefs and practices include declaring faith in Allah and Muhammad, regular prayers, fasting during Ramadan, giving charity, and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Variety within Islam
Islam is practiced in diverse cultures, each leaving its mark on the religion.
Early History of Islam
Islam emerged in 7th-century Arabia under Muhammad’s teachings, spreading rapidly across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
Islamic Texts
The Quran is considered the speech of God revealed to Muhammad, while Hadith reports document the Prophet’s statements and actions.
Development of Islamic Community
After Muhammad’s death, early Muslims organized under a caliphate, facing challenges in governance and expansion.
Spread of Islam
Despite initial slow conversion rates, Islam spread through trade networks and urban centers, integrating with local cultures.
Influence of Islam
Islamic empires expanded trade routes, conquered new lands, and reshaped societies, influencing life across Afro-Eurasia.
Historiography of Islam
Historians rely on sources like the Quran, Hadith, and archaeological evidence to construct narratives about early Islam, while recognizing the diversity of narratives within and outside Muslim communities.
Significance of Islamic Narratives
Historical narratives about Islam’s emergence and development shape our understanding of global affairs and cultural diversity.
The period from 1200 to 1450 saw the emergence of what varied and complex human societies across the Americas?
The period from 1200 to 1450 saw the emergence of varied and complex human societies across the Americas, with diverse cultures, practices, and beliefs.
What did the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, formed in North America around 1200, pledge and what conflicts did it end?
The Haudenosaunee, or Five Nations, pledged peace and unity, ending conflicts among the Iroquois tribes.
From where did the Aztecs, or Mexica, migrate and what city did they establish in central Mexico? What characterized their complex societies?
The Aztecs, or Mexica, migrated from Aztlan to central Mexico, where they established the city of Tenochtitlan. They developed complex societies with pyramids, human sacrifices, and trade networks.
In what region was Mayapan located and what civilization and culture influenced this cultural and political center from 1250 to 1450?
Mayapan was located in Yucatán and was a cultural and political center of the Yucatecan Maya civilization from 1250 to 1450, influenced by Toltec culture.
Originating from where did the Inca Empire emerge around 1100 and how did it expand to establish its vast imperial system across the Andes?
The Inca Empire originated from Lake Titicaca, emerging around 1100 and expanding through military conquests to establish a vast imperial system across the Andes.
What diverse religious rituals did societies practice across the Pre-Columbian Americas?
Across the Americas, societies practiced diverse religious rituals, including human sacrifices, festivals honoring celestial deities, and reverence for nature.
Despite regional diversity across the Americas, what increasing connections between societies led to the emergence of large states and shared cultural practices?
Despite regional diversity, there were increasing connections between societies, leading to the emergence of large states and shared cultural practices.
What was the Taíno?
One of the major indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, living across multiple islands at the time of European contact.
