Exam4 ALL WRITTEN

Question 1

Al Mansur

Answer 1

•Muslim Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate who ruled between 754 and 755 CE
•Led search for new caputil for Islam to establish power in Iranian plateau.
•Chose Baghdad, due to its proximity to Tigris and Euphrates, including many canals.
•Began construction of Baghdad in 762.
——————————————————
•Baghdad became a center of trade in the world within few years.
•Much of its success was because of Al Mansur’s wisdom on choice of location and timing.
•Many of the goods came because of the proximity to water.
•Established new center of Islam, and influenced the course of many deals, wars, and expansion attempts of Islam.

Question 2

Champa Rice

Answer 2

•Rice from central Vietnam introduced around seventh century and later.
• Drought resistant, low gluten content, and ripens very fast
————————————–
•Introduction of new grains and technologies opened new land for farming in south China
•More durable plants allowed farming to become more efficient throughout East and South Asia.
•Led to population explosion, with cities becoming more dense, in combination with improved agricultural technology.

Question 3

Mecca

Answer 3

• A village in Hijaz that was the birthplace of Muhammad in the sixth century CE.
• At the time, no more than simple mud huts with a sustenance farming community
• Today, it is most sacred site in Islam, with hundreds of thousands of followers arriving for holy pilgrimage.
——————————————————-
• Significant because it acts as birthplace of Islam.
• Community of Mecca was the first to follow instructions of Prophet Muhammad.
• Ties into theme of religions.
• To modern Muslims, symbolizes home of Islam, and is an integral part of religion.

Question 4

Muhammad

Answer 4

•Born in Mecca circa 570 CE to tribal family
•Moderate success in profession as trader
•Saw vision of Gabriel in 610 CE on pilgrimage to Mount Hera
•Told to gain followers, act righteously, set aside false idols, and worship God
• Seen as last of long line of prophets
——————————————————-
•Message spread began adherents gathering
•Seen as one of most influential man in the entirety of Islam
•His visions became the Koran, which define the Muslim faith, even today
•Islam continued after his death because of the inspiration and energy in his life and legacy

Question 5

Umma

Answer 5

• Concept of communal unity known as “band of the faithful”
• Created around 7th century, with Muhammad’s perilous escape after persecution from Mecca
•Supplanted traditional family, clan, and tribal affiliations
• Key was the unification as followers of Mohammed
——————————————–
•Unified all followers of Islam into one family
• Enabled kingdoms to be ruled very effectively
• Gave rise to strong relations within the community of Muslims
• Set stage for expansion of Umma by conquests through jihad

Question 6

Baghdad

Answer 6

• City founded by Al-Mansur in 762 CE
• Proximity to Tigris and Euphrates river
• Chosen because of prime location, and meant to be new center of Abbasid Caliphate
• Soon became universal center of trade, including goods from India, China, and Africa.
——————————————————
• As crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, became the most important point of economic convergence
• Allowed flourishing of many religions, and interactions of many cultures, including Indian, and Chinese
• Unity imposed by Abbasid redoubled movement of peoples, ideas, innovations, and commodities.
• Acted as center of Islamic world and allowed it to flourish

Question 7

5 Pillars of Islam

Answer 7

• Core practices and beliefs of every Muslim, crystallized around 7th century
•Built on long-standing practices, and established in text of Koran
1. Declaration of belied in one God
2. Ritual prayer
3. Fasting
4. Pilgrimage
5. Alms
————————————————-
• Became solid parts of Islam in first decades of Muhammad’s prophecy
• Significant because these tenets shaped the lives and practices of countless millions of Muslims over the centuries
• The actions of even governments can be explained by examining the five pillars
• Ties into the theme of religions and also belief systems

Question 8

Sharia

Answer 8

•Muslim legal system finalized 100 years after Muhammad’s death by scholars.
•Included many laws such as 5 pillars of Islam, reduction of jizra (tax) for Muslims, and requirement of zakat
——————————————————
•Influenced the actions of Muslim individuals and governments
•Symbolized demands of Islamic faith on its adherents
•Establishment of Sharia law maintained stability and religiously banned individuals from causing any harm

Question 9

Mawali

Answer 9

•Who: Non-Arab converts to Islam
•Where: Throughout middle east, focused in Abbasid caliphate
•When: around 8th century CE
•Why: Mostly formed of second class citizens who began to embrace Arab message and rule.
———————————————-
•Ties into racial and ethic constructions within theme 5 of Social Structures
•Result that these people were still at bottom of social ladder highlights views of Arab society at the time.
• Became clients to Arabs, and help give military support to Abbasid movement

Question 10

Ulama

Answer 10

• Who: Specialist regional scholars
• What: Legislators and decision makers within government
• Where: Within the Abbasid Caliphate
• When: Spread of Abbasid dynasty (7-8th century)
————————————————
• Significant because these were actual rulers, and all decisions can be traced to them
• Fit into the theme of Political Structures and forms of government within Statebuilding, Expansion, and Conflict
• Many of laws and results of laws such as justice issues were decided directly by Ulamas, who seemed to have greater political authority than the actual rulers.

Question 11

Ibn Sina

Answer 11

•Who: Great Muslim Scholar who found great foreign books and marveled at Persian libraries
•Where: Persia, other locations in Middle East
•When: Eleventh century
————————————————–
• Significant because symbolizes vast sizes and magnitude of Arabian libraries at the time
• Ties into theme of Arts and Architecture within Cultural Development
• Influential figure in revolution of bibliophilia and times of expanding libraries and interest in preserving literature throughout Arabia

Question 12

Abd al-Rahman III, al-Nasir

Answer 12

Who: Muslim Caliph who ruled in Spain.
Where: Iberia, Spain
When: 912- 961 CE
What: Brought peace and stability to region and improved religious relations. Established capital of Cordoba and Madinat al-Zahra near Cordoba and
——————————————-
•Ties into theme of Statebuilding, Expansion and Conflict
•Improvements between religions created more effective government, and trade flourished
•Diplomacy with other kingdoms spurred wealth throughout Europe
•Establishment of peace and stability maintained successful frontier land, and led to Spain’s expansion and power

Question 13

Jenne

Answer 13

What: City in modern-day Mali. Located on common trading routes, as a bustling caravan town
Where: Mali, near the terminus of African trade routes
When: Around 4th century BCE to 11th Century CE
———————————————–
•Tied into theme of Economic Systems
• Significant as a bustling entrepot, helped trade flourish near north Africa
•Proximity to north Africa made it one of the most important trade hubs uniting Europe and Africa
•Trade center enabled Islam to spread into Africa

Question 14

Ghana

Answer 14

What: Powerful kingdom in West Africa, created by wealth of trade. Location of vast gold-mines.
Where: Northwest Africa, near modern-day Mauritania
When: Height of kingdom was 11th century CE
————————————
•Tied into theme of Empires within Statebuilding, Expansion and Conflict
•Significant because signifies power of wealth to create vast kingdoms.
•Major source of gold trade around all of Afro Eurasia

Question 15

Swahili

Answer 15

What: The language of the Arab-African culture, evolving from Bantu
Where: In and around East Africa
When: Around 9-11th Centuries CE
—————————————————
•Ties into theme of Cultural Development and Interaction
•Signifies unification of many tribes in Africa to create a Arab-African tribe
•Enabled many Africans to effectively communicate and foster trade

Question 16

Sunnis

Answer 16

Who: Subset of Muslims who defended claims of succession by caliphates to Muhammad.
Where: Throughout North Africa, lower Iraq, and the Middle East
When: Since death of Muhammad (632 CE)
—————————————————–
•Ties into theme of Cultural Development and Interaction
•Significant because acted as the major group defending succession, and refuted Shiite ideas of Ali being the true ruler.
•To this day, divide between two groups acts as cause for much violence and hatred throughout Middle Eastok

Question 17

Shiites

Answer 17

Who: Subset of Muslims who dissent Sunni opinion and feel that Ali (husband of Fatima) should be the true ruler
When: Around 7th century onwards
Where: North Africa, Iraw, Iranian Plateau
————————————————–
•Tie into theme of Cultural Development and Interaction
•Significant because act as major dissidents to Sunni rule and defeated and overthrew Sunni leaders throughout history.
•Divide between these people and Sunnis cause for much violence in Middle East even today

Question 18

Fatimid Dynasty

Answer 18

What: Shiite regime that took power after Abu Abdullah overthrew Sunni ruler. Also fought Abbasid Dynasty
Where: North Africa
When: From 909 CE to 12th Century
————————————————–
•Ties into theme of Statebuilding, Expansion, and conflict
•Significant because symbolized Shiite power having capability of Sunni regime.
•Acted as main fighters and dissidents of Abbasid caliphate

Question 19

Abbasid Caliphate

Answer 19

What: Caliphate that controlled vast kingdom throughout Afro Eurasia
Where: Lands included North Africa, Middle East, and west Asia. Centralized in Bagdhad
When: Height of kingdom was around 8th century CE
Who: Included rulers such as Al-Mansur and Barmaki family
——————————————
•Establishment of Baghdad as capital created a universal hub for trade and integration of Muslim and Christian cultures
•Vast amounts of wealth and wisdom led to developments in fields of mathematics, history, art, and even philosophy
•Tied into theme of Statebuilding, Expansion and Conflict

Question 20

Tang Civil Examinations

Answer 20

What: Tests for qualifying local elites who were running for office. Consisted of questions of classics and required mastery of literary skills. Also included calligraphy and mathematics skills mastery.
Where: Tang state in China, occupying about eastern-half of modern-day China.
When: First examinations around the 6th -7th centuries CE.
————————————————————–
•Significant because it was most powerful mechanism for uniting Chinese state
•Also contributed to promoting obedience and loyalty among officials in government
•Ties into themes of Statebuilding and Expansion
•Establishment and development of this school enabled a powerful and prosperous Tang state

Question 21

Wu Zhao

Answer 21

Who: Only empress of Chinese history. Born into wealthy family, and quickly rose to power through deception and wit in the Chinese court. Helped elevate Buddhism in Tang state.
Where: Tang state of China, most of eastern-half of modern-day China.
When: Ruled from 684-795 CE
—————————————————–
•Significant because she was only Chinese Empress, and symbolized the power that high intellect, beauty, and trickery could gain in Chinese government.
•Development of Chinese secret service led to death of many powerful officials
•Classical meritocracy rules led to rise of new academic ability in government
•Ties into theme of Statebuilding and Expansion

Question 22

Eunuch Bureaucracy

Answer 22

• Who: Castrated men who served as leaaders
•What: Served as highest administrative grade in Tang government
• When: 820 CE
• Where: Tang regime
—————————————-
•significance was a cause of increasing power to the Eunuchs in Tang society.
• reached striking levels of literacy and cultural attainments as well as provided 1,696 Eunuchs to serve in the highest administrative grade of Tang government.
•falls under the theme of State Building and political structures

Question 23

Silk Road by Sea

Answer 23

Who: People from Afro-Eurasia
What: Established sea-based trade route
When: During Chinese rebellions and rise of Islam jeopardizing the land route
Where: All of Afro-Eurasia
———————————————————-
•significance was to provide an alternative to the dangerous land routes while still boosting the economic system in Tang China.
•wealth was transported and accumulated in South China eventually defining Chang’an as the richest and most populous city in the world.
•falls under the theme of economic systems and trade and commerce.

Question 24

Xuanzang

Answer 24

Who: Chinese Buddhist scholar
What: Brought back to Chang’an an entire library of Buddhist scriptures and began to translate every line into Chinese
When: 643
Where: From Buddhist holy sites in South Asia to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda in Chang’an
—————————————————————Sig: Xuanzang embarked upon a pilgrimage to Buddhist holy sites throughout South Asia and collected hundreds of boxes of Buddhist scriptures. These writings that he brought back to China were significant in that they were considered to hold the “truth” of Buddhism and transformed the religion and showed its migration from South Asia to Afghanistan to caravan cities, and finally to China.

Question 25

Battle of Talas

Answer 25

Who: Muslims conflict with Tang
What: Muslim forces drive out Tang from Turkistan
When: 751 CE
Where: Conflicting area in Afro-Eurasia between Abbassids and Tang
—————————————————————
•embodied the overall struggle between the Abassid Empire and the Tang Dynasty in their boundary conflicts;
• the Muslims were successful in driving out the Tang, and this emboldened other groups like the Sogdians and Tibetans to challenge the Tang from the west.
•This led to wars within the dynasty and the fragmentation of the dynasty as the Tang retreated to central Asia.
•Ties into theme of Statebuilding and Expansion

Question 26

Zhongguo

Answer 26

What: “Middle kingdom”; what china was called throughout Asia; meant non-barbarization.
Where: Throughout the Far East, including China, Japan, and Korea.
When: During warring states era and Tang state era
—————————————————-
• the distinction allowed for better understanding of steppe vs. china proper
•increased ties between different warring tribes and also between Mainland Chinese people.
• Ties were also fostered between steppe and civilized peoples
• led to conflicts and wars because of territory conflicts
• Theme of Cultural Interaction

Question 27

Yangzi Delta Workshops

Answer 27

What: Workshops along Yangzi delta that created paper, woodblocks, iron, and porcelain.
When: During development of Silk Road by the Sea
Where: Yangzi River delta, near south central China.
Who: Tang artisans and workers
———————————————-
• led to development of industries in China
•Increased trade and transport of silk
• Consumption of this silk led to increasing Chinese wealth,
•Ties into Economic Systems

Question 28

Tomb Culture

Answer 28

Who: Tribal conquerors who arrived by seas that extolled their ancestors.
What: Maintained social hierarchies and believed in power of female shamans such as Himiko.
When: Arrived around 250 CE.
Where: Came by Korea from sea, and settled in southern Japan.
————————————————-
• Aristocratic society set up by Tomb Culture was precedent to Yamato Japanese state.
•Significant because controlled Japan for hundreds of years, and helped develop early Japanese Society.
•Ties into themes of Statebuilding and Expansion.

Question 29

Yamato Emperor

Answer 29

What: Culture in early Japan that focused heavily on ancestral worship, and the concept of a soul becoming a deity.
Who: Created the Soga kinshop, which became Japan’s leading family.
Where: Southern Japan
When: Around 500 CE
————————————————–
•Rituals of scribes gave rise to Shinto religion
•Formed much of the Japanese cultural identity through ancestral worship.
•Ties into themes of Religions because they promoted Buddhism and Shinto
•Also ties into Statebuilding and Expansion

Question 30

Shinto

Answer 30

What: Religion focused on “way of the deities.” Belief that human and divine realms fuse.
Who: Created by Yamato scribes traditions that presented emperor as embodiment of Japan, and focused on soul becoming Kami, or deity.
Where: Japan
When: Created around late 6th century.
——————————————————-
•Became one of the most influential Japanese religions over the next millennium, and influenced many decisions of the empires.
• United many Japanese under one religious belief.
• Ties into Theme of Cultural Expansion, and into subtheme of Religions

Question 31

Prince Shotoku

Answer 31

Who: Prince of the Soga kinship who many attributed countless reforms and innovations in Japan to.
When: lived from 574 - 622 CE.
Where: Ruled Southern half of Japan
What: Sent envoys to China, created a treatise, promoted Buddhism and Shintoism, and built many temples.
———————————
•Credited with promoting rise of Japan as a early superpower in East Asia.
•so much credit and praise signifies Japanese cultural reverence of their Emperor.
•Diplomatic ties with other countries helped Soga dynasty grow.
• Promoting Buddhism and Shinto led to their growth.
• Ties into Religions, Statebuilding and Expansion, and Cultural Interaction

Question 32

Taika Reform Edicts

Answer 32

What: Reforms out into place by Natakomi that established ruler as “exalted emperor who ruled by mandate of heaven”
Who: Created by Natakomi No Kamatari, who lived from 614-669 CE
When: Established around mid-7th century.
———————————————
• Adopting mandate of heaven elevated religious prestige of Japanese Emperor
• Edicts promoted Buddhism as religion of the state, which gave the religion more influence in Japan,
• Emperor gained more power and legitimacy, easing his ruling efforts
• Ties into Statebuilding and Expansion, and also Kinship and Family Ties.

Question 33

Charlemagne

Answer 33

Who: Leader of the Franks
When: Ruled from 768 - 814
Where: Frank Empire stretched over most of Western Europe, including Constantinople.
What: Ruled all of empire through much traveling and conquest. Empire was based on spreading Christianity, and helped create first pope.
————————————–
• Ruled successful and powerful empire for many years
•United most of Western Europe for first time
• Fact that he was considered political lightweight highlights vast power and wealth of Islamic Empires at the time.
• Actions to spread Christianity forged its popularity for the next millennium.
• Ties into theme of religions and statebuilding and expansion

Question 34

Kingdom of Franks

Answer 34

What: Kingdom led by Charlemagne, consisted of less than 15 million inhabitants
Where: Frank Empire stretched over most of Western Europe, including Constantinople.
When: Around 450 AD to 843 AD
——————————————–
• Fact that it was considered a weak kingdom highlights vast power and wealth of Islamic Empires at the time.
• Fact that he was considered political lightweight highlights vast power and wealth of Islamic Empires at the time.
• Fact that he was considered political lightweight highlights vast power and wealth of Islamic Empires at the time.
• Encouraged much slave trade through involvement in trafficking-> ties into theme of social relation

Question 35

Vikings

Answer 35

Who: Violent looters from Scandinavia
When: Lasted from 800 - 1000
Where: Throughout northern Europe, and spread to reach near Africa and Canada
What: Looted many churches and the Frank Empire. Tried to attack Constantinople
—————————————–
•Significant because it exposed weakness of Charlemagne’s empire
• Constant attacks on Europe significantly weakened the empire and temporarily, but trained it to withstand such attacks
•Tie into statebuilding and expansion

Question 36

Kiev

Answer 36

What: City in modern Ukraine. Link between it and Constantinople was created by vikings
Where: Ukraine, near Baltic Sea
When: link created around 9th century
———————————————-
•Significant because link between two areas started slave trade, and opened up region for important trade for many centuries to come.
• Ties into economic systems and expansion

Question 37

Highway of the Slaves

Answer 37

What: Route between Scandinavia and Baltic States to Constantinople and Bagdhad
When: around 9th century
Who: Created by Vikings
Where: Throughout Eastern Europe to Middle East
————————————
• Significant because it increased slavery in Europe
• New route exposed many regions to cultural influences of Middle East and Constantinople
• Ties into themes of trade and commerce

Question 38

Greek Fire

Answer 38

What: Combination of petroleum and potassium that exploded in water
Where: Used throughout Europe
When: Used first around 717
Who: Created by Christian armies
——————————————–
• Helped many Christian states remain in power under siege.
• Affected the outcome of many battles, and attempts at conquest
• Aided in decisive defeat of Vikings, which led to their weakening at Constantinople in 860
• Ties into theme of warfare

Question 39

Augustine of Hippo

Answer 39

Who: Great Christian Bishop
Where: Seaport in modern Algeria
When: 410 CE
What: Wrote many works that argued that Christianity was for everyone, and supported the Catholic Church
——————————————————
• Significant because helped spread of Catholicism, in spite of not being popular at the time.
• Works also helped increase popularity of Christianity in areas such as Africa and near the Middle East.
•Ties into theme of religion

Question 40

Wu Zhao

Answer 40

Who: Only empress of Chinese history. Born into wealthy family, and quickly rose to power through deception and wit in the Chinese court. Helped elevate Buddhism in Tang state.
Where: Tang state of China, most of eastern-half of modern-day China.
When: Ruled from 684-795 CE
—————————————————–
•Significant because she was only Chinese Empress, and symbolized the power that high intellect, beauty, and trickery could gain in Chinese government.
•Development of Chinese secret service led to death of many powerful officials
•Classical meritocracy rules led to rise of new academic ability in government
•Ties into theme of Statebuilding and Expansion