Unit 1: State-Building Flashcards
Qin Dynasty
Introduced a strong central bureaucracy that remained and expanded under Song China, showing an example of continuity in East Asia.
Tang Dynasty
Improved agriculture, roads, and canals, which encouraged foreign trade and allowed Song China to be the economic powerhouse of the world in the post-1200 world
What type of government system did China have? Explain. Which dynasty expanded it and how? Did it help or hurt that dynasty? Why? What was good about this government system?
Centralized imperial bureaucracy which required members of government to take merit exams. Song China expanded the imperial bureaucracy, making it easier to lower class people to take the exam and enter the government.
This eventually hurt Song China, as the large bureaucracy became too expensive to maintain. The Chinese Meritocracy system provided more upward mobility than any other government hiring system in the world at the time.
What did Song China innovate? (3)
Grand Canal: Increased Trade - THEY’RE RICH!
Steel/Iron Production: Allowed farm tools to be stronger and more efficient.
Champa Rice: High caloric rice that grew in dry soil year around created a surplus in food. Came because of increased tribute trade with Vietnam.
Chinese Proto-industrialization
Chinese innovations allowed fewer people to farm, and more people to become artisans or laborers who lived in urban areas
What were the three religions in Song China?
Confucianism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism
Confucianism
The first major religion in Song China, Confucianism emphasized filial piety
This was the idea the men were the head of the household and their needs came first. When new religions entered China, the government was hesitant to give up Confucianism and this idea.
How did Buddhism come to China?
Came to China on the SIlk Road Combined with Taoism to create Zen-Buddhism. Popular among Chinese people, but resisted by the Confucianists.
Neo-Confucianism
Rose in Song China as a response to the rise of Buddhism
Social Structure in Song China: Urbanization? Social Mobility? Social Hiearchy? Women?
Song China was the most urbanized land in the world! There was some social mobility in China, with the emperor at the top, the scholar gentry (those educated in Confucian philosophy) up next, followed by farmers, artisans and craftsmen, and the merchant class. At the bottom were peasants and the poor. Women deferred to men for all things. (I.e Foot Binding)
Chinese Tributary System
States surrounding China had to pay a tribute to China in the form of money or goods.
This continued to increase Chinese prosperity.
How were Japan, Korea, and Vietnam effected by China?
Japan - adopted Buddhism and Confucianism, but was not as centrally governed.
Korea was very close to China with a centralized system of government and the use of Confucianism and Buddhism. Vietnam adapted the Chinese system of writing, but resisted sinification due to their unique views on the family and culture.
How did Islam spread?
Through military actions, merchants, and missionaries
Dar-al Islam
After the fall of the pre-1200 Abbasid Caliphate, there was not one unified Islamic government, but regional Islamic empires collectively known as Dar-al Islam (everything Islam touches)
Mamluk Empire
Turkish slaves working in Egypt who attacked and seized control of the Egyptian government created a Muslim empire across North Africa known as the Malmlu Sultanate
Seljuk Turks
Muslim Turks who captured parts of the Middle East including Baghdad.
al-Andalus in Spain
Muslim empire in Spain that represents tolerance and collaboration between numerous religions in Muslim occupied territories.
Nasiral-Din al-Tusi
Celebrated Islamic Scholar who made advances in math that laid the groundwork for trigonometry.
A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah
The most prolific female Muslim writer before the 20th century!
What three ways did Islamic scholars build upon innovations from other cultures?
- Translated Greek classics into Arabic
- Studied math from India
- Made paper from China
Sufism
Expanded Islam to common people through mystic beliefs in spiritualism over tradition and ritual. Similar to the Bhakti movement in Hinduism.
South and Southeast Asia. Type of empires? Influenced by?
South and Southeast Asia were largely decentralized with regional empires growing over time.
This region was heavily influenced by the trade relationship it had with surrounding regions.
Islam in South and Southeast Asia. Why did people convert?
Islam greatly influenced the region, with many merchants converting to Islam to have a stronger trade relationships with Muslim nations. Islam challenged traditional Hindu beliefs like the caste system. Merchants are responsible for bringing Islam to Southeast Asia.
Some Hindus converted to Islam to escape the Caste system.
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
Polytheistic. Sacred Text: The Vedas. Believes in a cycle of life. Dharma are good deeds committed in life that help you have positive Karma. A soul with enough Karma will end the cycle of reincarnation. The caste system is immobile. You stay there for life.
Aztecs. Arose from what civilization? Location? Interactions with surrounding empires? Capital City? Rulers?
Arose from the Toltecs. Near a lake which allowed for farming, fishing, and transportation. Aztecs dominate the valley by conquering other city-states and creating a tribute empire. They made surrounding regions pay them prisoners, goods, and money keeping the Aztecs rich and the others poor. Capital city of Tenochtitlan was filled with farming, vast palaces, and exciting markets! Rulers were considered gods on earth giving them lots of power.
Inca. Type of government? What connected the empire? Tribute system?
Highly Centralized with a main ruler over four provinces. Local leaders rule, but defer to the Inca - Inca are conquerors
Created a Tribute Empire
Carpa Nan connected the large empire - one of the largest roads in the world at the time, with checkpoints throughout.
Mit’a system of forced labor helped Incan rulers consolidate control and complete these massive projects. Advanced irrigation made the Inca skilled farmers.
Similarities Between Aztecs and Inca (5)
Built on earlier empires that preceded them
(Aztecs = Toltecs; Inca = Chimor). Excellent imperial and military organizers. Highly organized agricultural sector under state control. Ethnic groups allowed to survive (Inca incorporate them into empire; Aztecs rule them harshly). Animistic religions
Differences Between Aztecs and Inca (2)
- Aztecs have sophisticated traders and markets VS Inca have no specialized merchant class
- Aztecs have a writing system VS Inca do not
The Maya
Maya were decentralized with many Maya city-states spread throughout the region. They were often at war with each other. Known for art, architecture, calendar, and astronomical system.
What was Africa like before Islam?
Before Islam came to Africa, the societies were extremely diverse, Animistic and polytheistic, with varying economies.
Most people spoke the Bantu language.
The Bantu people, spread not only their language, but their knowledge of metalwork and agriculture throughout Africa.
Stateless Society:
Many African societies were stateless meaning they did not have an organized and centralized government.
Stateless society were largely weak with no tax systems or large building projects.
Islam in Africa. Where did it come from? What was its effect on early African societies?
Islam comes to Africa from missionaries/merchants and many convert because Islam was egalitarian with a focus on the authority of the king.
Conversion to Islam gave early African societies equal footing to Arabic societies and better trade opportunities within the Trans-Saharan trade network.
Where did Islam spread within Africa? Why did they become Islamic?
West African Empires - Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Became Islamic to grow political power. Traded with other Muslim nations
Set up Tributary systems on a small scale.
Great Zimbabwe
Large and non-Islamic
Dominated African gold and trade on coastal ports in the Indian Ocean network. Built a great wall for protection.
Ethiopia
Link between the Arab and Mediterranean world.
Exposed to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
LOTS of trade because proximity to Eurasia.
What held a decentralized Europe together?
In a time of decentralization, religion held many places in Europe together.
The Catholic Church was highly organized and it became the most powerful institution in Europe. It was highly corrupt in many places.
Manorialism
Existed during a time of decentralization
Land owners would have peasants (serfs) work and live on their land.
In exchange, the Lord of the manor would provide protection for the serf.
Manors were isolated with low levels of production and low technology.
Create a system of local rule with regional aristocrats.
Feudalism
Decenteralized political organization based on exchanges of land for loyalty. People needed protection from invaders.
What did feudalism in Europe transition to? What increased during this time period?
Over time, Feudalism slowly transforms into a Monarchy, with many movements in place to limit both the Catholic Church and the Feudal system. The High Middle Ages was a time where Feudalism decreased and industrialization increased
This lead to an increase in education and urbanization. Agriculture improves and technology begins to catch up with the rest of the world. .
The Plague
Around 1300, the Black Death starts to spread around Europe. ½ of the European population dies, and the labor force of Europe is slashed, making Feudal lords want a tighter hold on their peasants.
Some places begin passing laws to force peasants into labor. Peasants start to revolt against their working conditions, and checks were put in place against the Feudal lords. Many people form Guilds to control working conditions.
