Unit 1: State-Building

Question 1

Qin Dynasty

Answer 1

Introduced a strong central bureaucracy that remained and expanded under Song China, showing an example of continuity in East Asia.

Question 2

Tang Dynasty

Answer 2

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

Question 3

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?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What did Song China innovate? (3)

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Chinese Proto-industrialization

Answer 5

Chinese innovations allowed fewer people to farm, and more people to become artisans or laborers who lived in urban areas

Question 6

What were the three religions in Song China?

Answer 6

Confucianism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism

Question 7

Confucianism

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

How did Buddhism come to China?

Answer 8

Came to China on the SIlk Road Combined with Taoism to create Zen-Buddhism. Popular among Chinese people, but resisted by the Confucianists.

Question 9

Neo-Confucianism

Answer 9

Rose in Song China as a response to the rise of Buddhism

Question 10

Social Structure in Song China: Urbanization? Social Mobility? Social Hiearchy? Women?

Answer 10

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)

Question 11

Chinese Tributary System

Answer 11

States surrounding China had to pay a tribute to China in the form of money or goods.
This continued to increase Chinese prosperity.

Question 12

How were Japan, Korea, and Vietnam effected by China?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

How did Islam spread?

Answer 13

Through military actions, merchants, and missionaries

Question 14

Dar-al Islam

Answer 14

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)

Question 15

Mamluk Empire

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Seljuk Turks

Answer 16

Muslim Turks who captured parts of the Middle East including Baghdad.

Question 17

al-Andalus in Spain

Answer 17

Muslim empire in Spain that represents tolerance and collaboration between numerous religions in Muslim occupied territories.

Question 18

Nasiral-Din al-Tusi

Answer 18

Celebrated Islamic Scholar who made advances in math that laid the groundwork for trigonometry.

Question 19

A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah

Answer 19

The most prolific female Muslim writer before the 20th century!

Question 20

What three ways did Islamic scholars build upon innovations from other cultures?

Answer 20

1. Translated Greek classics into Arabic
2. Studied math from India
3. Made paper from China

Question 21

Sufism

Answer 21

Expanded Islam to common people through mystic beliefs in spiritualism over tradition and ritual. Similar to the Bhakti movement in Hinduism.

Question 22

South and Southeast Asia. Type of empires? Influenced by?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Islam in South and Southeast Asia. Why did people convert?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Basic Beliefs of Hinduism

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Aztecs. Arose from what civilization? Location? Interactions with surrounding empires? Capital City? Rulers?

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Inca. Type of government? What connected the empire? Tribute system?

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Similarities Between Aztecs and Inca (5)

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Differences Between Aztecs and Inca (2)

Answer 28

1. Aztecs have sophisticated traders and markets VS Inca have no specialized merchant class
2. Aztecs have a writing system VS Inca do not

Question 29

The Maya

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

What was Africa like before Islam?

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Islam in Africa. Where did it come from? What was its effect on early African societies?

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Where did Islam spread within Africa? Why did they become Islamic?

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Great Zimbabwe

Answer 33

Large and non-Islamic
Dominated African gold and trade on coastal ports in the Indian Ocean network. Built a great wall for protection.

Question 34

Ethiopia

Answer 34

Link between the Arab and Mediterranean world.
Exposed to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
LOTS of trade because proximity to Eurasia.

Question 35

What held a decentralized Europe together?

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Manorialism

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Feudalism

Answer 37

Decenteralized political organization based on exchanges of land for loyalty. People needed protection from invaders.

Question 38

What did feudalism in Europe transition to? What increased during this time period?

Answer 38

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. .

Question 39

The Plague

Answer 39

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.