Key Terms
Entries by students of Mr. Rosselle’s 2nd Period AP World History class
Period 3: c. 600 – 1450
Chapter 13
125. Muhammad
 Lived from (570 – 632) he was born into a reputable family and married the widow he
work for in 595 moving him higher up in the social class allowing him to establish the
role of a merchant.
 At age 40 Muhammad had a spiritual experience that changed his life forever, his
experience left him with the belief that there was one true god and that was Allah
Muhammad believed that Allah ruled the universe.
 After Muhammad’s death a group of devout Muslims compiled all of his written
recitations and put them into a book called the Quran.
126. Islam
 The religion which was created by Muhammad. Islam’s book for practicing the religion
is the Quran
 In 630 Muhammad and his followers attacked Mecca and conquered the city. After they
conquered Mecca they forced all of its population to convert to Islam and practice
Muhammad’s faith and that of the Quran.
127. Muslim
 Someone who practices and promotes Islam, a monotheistic religion based on the Qur'an
 Muslims believe that Allah is transcendent, absolutely one, eternal, as well as
incomparable with any other god.
 Muslims also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of an original faith
that was revealed at many times and places before, including through the prophets
Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
128. The Five Pillars of Islam
 1. Muslims must acknowledge Allah as the only god and Muhammad as his prophet.
2. They must pray to Allah daily while facing Mecca.
3. They must observe a fast during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan.
4. They must contribute alms for the relief of the weak and poor.
5. Those who are physically and financially able to in honor of Muhammad’s visits to
Mecca in 629 and 632 undertake the hajj and make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca
 Bonds the Umma into a cohesive community
 Muhammad’s leadership shaped the idea of the Five Pillars
129. Mecca



The holy place of the Islamic Religion.
The birthplace of Allah’s only prophet Muhammad it is also the site of the revelation of
the Quran.
The location in which the Hajj takes place ( The 5th pillar ) its normal population is
around 2 million but almost 15 million people visit it annually, Only Muslims are
allowed into Mecca.
130. jihad
o Literally meaning “struggle”, jihad is an additional obligation to the Islamic religion that
SOME Muslims practice that has several different interpretations
 One interpretation is that jihad imposes spiritual and moral obligations on Muslims by
requiring them to fight between right and wrong, good and evil.
 Another interpretation is that jihad calls on Muslims to look past the ignorance of those
who do not believe in the Islamic faith and to fight against it by spreading the word of
Islam and seeking converts to the faith.
 A third interpretation involved jihad as a physical struggle and obliging Muslims to
engage in war and violence with unbelievers who threaten Islam.
131. sharia
o Islamic holy law that offered detailed guidance on proper behavior in almost every aspect
of life.
o Drew it’s inspiration from the Quran and the early historical accounts of Muhammad’s life
and teachings.
o Provided specific guidance on matters such as marriage, family life, inheritance, slavery,
business and commercial relationships, political authority in the dar al-Islam, and crime.
o Transformed Islam from just a religious doctrine to a way of life including social and
ethical values derived from Islamic religious principles.
132. caliph
o After Muhammad’s death, because he was the “seal of prophets”, it seemed inappropriate
for another prophet to succeed him, so one of his closest and most devout disciples, Abu
Bakr was chosen to serve as the caliph, or deputy. He and his successors led the umma as
lieutenants or deputies as opposed to prophets, in the place of Muhammad.
133. Shia vs. Sunni
o The Sunni and the Shia were two different groups of Muslims that struggled for power after
the death of Muhammad.
134. dar al-Islam
o A term that means “house of Islam” that refers to the lands under Islamic rule.
135. sakk
o Islamic banks during the Abbasid period greatly contributed to the stimulation of the
commercial economy of the Islamic world. Sakks were islamic letters of credit drawn on
the parent bank, sakk being the modern root of the word check.
136. Sufis
o Sufis were among the most effective Islamic missionaries. Most Sufis lived pios and
generous lives, devoting much of their lives to deepen their spiritual awareness, however
not necessarily by formal religious teachings, as they did not find these meaningful.
o Sufis were so effective as missionaries because they emphasized devotion to Allah above
mastery of doctrine.
o The Sufis easily won the respect of those the preached to due to the ascetic and holy lives
they led.
137. ulama
o Ulama were learned officials with religious knowledge that set moral standards in local
communities and resolved disputes.
o Ulama sought to develop public policy in accordance with the Quran and sharia.
Chapter 14
138. Grand Canal
o The most elaborate project under-taken during the Sui dynasty
o Was the largest water-works project in the world before modern times.
o It was a series of artificial water ways that ultimately reached from Hangzhou in south
China to the imperial capital of Chang’an in the west near modern day Beijing.
o Facilitated trade throughout China and other near countries.
138. Grand Canal
 Most elaborate project undertaken by Sui dynasty
 Series of artificial water ways that reached from Hangzhou to Imperial capital of
Chang’an to near modern Beijing
 2,000 kilometers and reportedly 40 paces wide
 Investment in the canal paid dividends for more than 1000 years
 Millions of people were used to work on the canal
 Principal conduit for trade during this time.
139. Equal Field System
 Governing of the allocation of agriculture lands.
 To ensure an equitable distribution of land and to avoid the concentration of all
other land to individuals and their families according to lands fertility and
recipient’s need.
 1/5 of landowners become the hereditary possession of the recipients, while the
rest is available for distribution.
 Rising population lead to pressure being put on the land.
140. Fast Ripening Rice



The Sui and Tang dynasties prepared the way for agricultural productivity when
they took control over south china and Vietnam.
In Vietnam they discovered fast ripening rice that could be cultivated twice in a
year.
When they introduced it in China, they were able to expand the food supply.
141. Foot Binding
 The tight wrapping of young girls feet with cloth to prevent the normal growth of
bone and resulted in curved feet.
 With their feet like this, it made it extremely difficult to walk so many women
needed canes or servants to help.
 Foot binding was considered to increase the attractiveness and gain increased
control over the girl.
 This would allow a man to have tight control over women’s affairs.
142. Flying Cash
 China experienced a shortage of cooper coins and needed more money.
 Merchants developed alternatives to these coins , which resulted in in more
economic growth.
 The letter of credit were known as “flying cash” meaning someone could get the
product with that paper and the merchant was able to get the money somewhere
else.
 Flying Cash=Banknotes
143. Chan Buddhism
 Type of Buddhism that didn’t focus on written texts, but help intuition and sudden
flashes of insight.
 Known as Zen in Japan.
 Emphasizes the enlightenment and direct insight of Buddha’s teachings
144. Neo Confucianism
 More realistic and secular form of Confucianism by taking away the Daoism and
Buddhism elements that influenced it.
 Zhu Xi was a very important philosopher that represented neo Confucianism.
 He wrote Family Rituals, basing the common rituals for wedding, funerals ect.
145. The Tale of Genji
 Story of a fictional prince that lived very highly with his friends.
 He lived amid gardens and palaces, but devoted himself to the cultivation of an
ultra refined lifestyle.
 This story was told to cheer up the sad people of this time period.
146. Samurai
 These are the name for the warriors in Japan who use force and the arts of
fighting.
 They serve the lords of Japan to enforce their authority and extend their claim to
the land.
 The Samurai were given a surplus of agriculture and labor servants of peasants.
 These warriors devoted themselves to hunting, archery, riding, and martial arts.
Chapter 15
147.
Delhi Sultanate
148.






149.




150.




Monsoons
Monsoons- winds that governed sailing and shipping in the Indian Ocean
Seaborne trade benefited mostly because of the monsoon winds that govern
weather and the seasons in the Indian Ocean basin. During the spring and summer
the winds blow from the southwest, and during the fall and winter they come from
the northeast.
Once mariners recognized these rhythms, they could sail easily and safely before
the wind
Because of the rhythms of the monsoons, irrigation was essential for the
maintenance of a large, densely populated, agricultural society
Merchants coming from east Africa or Persia exchanged their cargoes at Cambay,
Calicut, or Quilon for goods to take back west with the winter monsoon.
Mariners from China or southeast Asia called at Indian ports and traded their
cargoes for goods to ship east with the summer monsoon
Dhows and junks
Dhow- Indian, Persian, and Arab ships, could carry 100-400 tons
Junks- Chinese and southeast Asian ships, some could carry 1000 tons of cargo
After recognizing the monsoon winds, people started building larger ships, which
enabled them to leave the coasts behind and ply the Indian Ocean
As dhows and junks came into use, mariners increasingly entrusted their crafts
and cargoes to the reasonably predictable monsoons and sailed directly across the
Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
Axum (or Aksum)
Axum- African Kingdom centered in Ethiopia that became an early and lasting
center of Coptic Christianity
Founded in the highlands of northern Ethiopia about the first century C.E., Axum
was originally a small kingdom whose merchants traded from the port of Adulis
on the Red Sea
During the fourth and fifth centuries, Axumites adopted Christianity and
established a distinctive church that maintained relations with Christian
communities in Egypt and the Mediterranean basin
During the sixth century Axum embarked on a round of territorial expansion,
building an empire that included most of modern-day Ethiopia and Yemen


151.







152.





153.





154.
Because neighboring lands mostly adopted Islam, Axum fell out of
communication with other Christian societies
Even though challenged by Muslim forces, Axum was able to maintain its
independence and prosperity, largely because of its participation in trading
networks of the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Expansion of caste system
Caste system- a social structure where classes are determined my heredity
The caste system became much more complex in the postclassical era
The new, more complex caste system accommodated the migrations and social
changes taking place throughout the postclassical era
Besides becoming more complex, the caste system also extended its geographic
reach
Economic development aided that process by encouraging commercial
relationships between southern merchants and their caste-conscious counterparts
in the north
The emergence of merchant and craft guilds in southern regions strengthened the
caste system
Powerful temples also fostered caste distinctions: Caste-conscious Brahmins who
supervised the temples were particularly effective promoters of the system, since
temples provided the only formal education available in most regions
Funan
The rulers of Funan consolidated their grip on the Mekong valley and built a
capital city at the port of OcEo
Funan grew wealthy because it dominated the Isthmus of Kra, the narrow portion
of the Malay peninsula where merchants transported trade goods between China
and India
The rulers of Funan drew enormous wealthy by controlling trade between China
and India. They used their profits to construct an elaborate system of water
storage and irrigation that served a productive agricultural economy in the
Mekong delta
As trade with India became an increasingly important part of Funan’s economy,
the ruling classes adopted Indian political, cultural, and religious traditions
Funan fell in the late sixth century due to a bitter power struggle
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat- a temple complex built in the Khmer Empire (capital) and dedicated
to the Hindu god Vishnu
One of the world’s greatest architectural achievements
The complex nearly covered a square mile
It was built as a symbolic mountain dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu
The Khmer also used it as an observatory
Melaka (or Malacca)






Melaka- a Southeast Asian Kingdom that was predominantly Islamic
Founded during the late fourteenth century by Paramesvara, a rebellious prince
from Sumatra, Melaka took advantage of its strategic location in the Strait of
Melaka, and soon after became prominent in the trading world of southeast Asia
During its earliest days Melaka was more of a lair of pirates than a legitimate state
However, by the mid-fifteenth century, Melaka had built a substantial navy that
patrolled the waters of southeast Asia and protected the regions sea lanes
Melaka became a powerful state through the control of maritime trade: within a
few decades Melaka became the principal clearinghouse of trade in the eastern
Indian Ocean
Although it began as a Hindu state, Melaka soon became predominantly Islamic
Chapter 16
155.






156.






Post-classical Era
During the post-classical era larger ships and improved commercial organization
supported a dramatic surge in the volume and value of trade in the Indian Ocean
basin
The political, economic, and social changes of the post-classical era brought a
series of challenged for India’s caste system
Migrations, the growing prominence of Islam, economic development, and
urbanization were all changed that took place during the post-classical era
The Indian cultural landscape underwent a thorough transformation
In the Mediterranean, southwest Asia, and China, agricultural yields increased
significantly in post-classical India, enabling large numbers of people to devote
themselves to trade and manufacturing rather than production of food
As population grew, opportunities for specialized work became more numerous
and trade was increased
Justinian
Justinian was a high-ranking Byzantine nobleman that succeeded his uncle to the
throne of the eastern empire
In effort to regain Rome’s fading glory, Justinian in 533 sent his best general to
recover North Africa from the invading Germanic tribes
After numerous campaigns, Justinian’s armies won nearly all of Italy and parts of
Spain
Justinian set up a panel of legal experts to regulate Byzantium’s increasingly
complex society
The panel created a single uniform code known as Justinian code: decided legal
questions that regulated whole areas of Byzantine life including marriage, slavery,
property, inheritance, women’s rights, and criminal justice
Justinian himself died in 565, but his code served the Byzantine Empire for 900
years after his death
157. Byzantium: was the ancient Greek city in the site that later became Constantinople. It
became the new capital of the Roman Empire and was renamed Constantinople (modern
Istanbul). In the late seventh and eighth century, Byzantium was the most urbanized city. The
heart of the city was the imperial palace which employed twenty thousand workers as palace
staff. The aristocrats maintained enormous palaces while the less privileged classes lived above
their shops. The city contained many attractions which include baths for relaxation, taverns and
restaurants for social gatherings and entertainment provided by the Hippodrome- a large stadium
where Byzantine subjects watched chariot races, athletic matches, contests and circuses.
158. theme system: a method of providing troops for the Byantine army. Citizen farmers were
given land to work in return for military service. The system was heriditary and allowed
Byzantines to put large, well-equipped armies in to field. Byzantine emporers in the eighth
century innovated the theme system as a response the the threat of Islam. An imperial province
called a theme was places as the authority general who resumed responibility for military defense
and civil administartion. Armies reigned under the theme system were proven to be effective
forces. However, around the eleventh century, wealthy landowners increasingly undermined the
theme system that transformed free peasants in to a class of dependent agricultural laborers and
led to diminished tax receipts.
159. Eastern Orthodoxy: derived from the Byzantine Chirch and adhering to Byzantine rights
and acknowledges the honorary primacy of the patriarch of Constantinople. Eastern Orthodoxy
began in the eleventh century when a differences between doctorines, rituals and church
authority became to great to handle.
160. schism: a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties caused by
differences in opinion or belief. A schism between the Byzantine patriarchs and the Roman
popes began when the western and eastern churches went their seperate ways. In light of this
schism, the western side is now referred to as the Roman Catholic church and the eastern side as
Easter Orthodox.
161. Cyrillic Alphabet: an alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet and used for writing Slavic
language. Missionaries derived this alphabet when conducting missions to Bulgaria and Moravia.
The Cyrillic alphabet remained in use in much of eastern Europe until supplanted by the Roman
alphabet in the twentieth century.
162. Carolingian Empire: the realm of the Franksk under the Carolingian dynasty in the eary
Middle Ages. Seen as the origin of France and the Holy Empire. Charlemagne built this empire
as one of his largest accomplishments. The Carolingian rulers used a system of brueaucracy
called the missi dominici that enhanced the auhority of the centeral government and reestablishe
imperial rule in western Europe. As this happened though, the empire was brought to a quick
end. Because imperial authorities were unable to protect their territories, this empire became a
target for invasion.
163. Charlemagne: king of the Franks from 768-814 and Holy Empire as Charles 1 from 800814. As the first Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne promoted the arts and education, and his
court became the cultural center of the Carolingian Renaissance. He established centralized
imperial rule in a society disrupted by invasion. The Carolingian Empire was one of his
enormous accomplishments and by his time of death in 814, he had extended territory to
northeastern Spain, Bavaria and Italy as far south as Rome.
164. serfs: An agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.
Beginning around 100o B.C.E, The Aryans dispatched semifree serfs to work in fields. In eastern
Europe in the sixteenth century, Russian were tied to the land as serfs. This occured when
landowners and rulers began to tighten the restrictions of peasants and lasted until the nineteenth
century. The key to social reform in Russia was the emanciaption of the serfs; people began to
believe that serfdom was an obstacle to economic development.
165. manors: A unit of land, originally a feudal lordship, consisting of a lord's demesne and
lands rented to tenants. During the Carolingian empire, lords hoped to control heir manors and
profit from their production.
Monasticism- A religious way of life in which you leave your worldly values behind and devote
a life to the church. They provide a number of social services that build close relationships with
the communities. Because of the roles that they played in society, this helped in the spread of
Christianity. Males pursuing a life in monasticism are called monks while women are called
nuns.
Christian EuropeChapter 17
Chinggis Khan- Unifier of the Mongols. He gained power by forming alliances by conquering
rival contenders for power. His policies strengthened the Mongol people greatly. He mistrusted
the Mongol’s tribal organization and broke up the tribes, and forced men of fighting age to join
new military units. He chose political officials because of their talents or loyalty to him.
Khubilai Khan- One of the most talented of the conquerors descendants.. He actively promoted
Buddhism, and he also provided support for Daoists, Muslims, and Christians. He extended the
Mongol rule all the way to china. IN 129 he proclaimed himself emperor and established the
Yuan Dynasty, until the collapse in 1368.
Khanates- A rule or important person in an Asian country. Even after the collapse of the
Mongol regimes in Persia and china the Mongol states did not all disappear. The khanate of
Chagatai continued to rule in in central Asia. While the khanate of the Golden Horde continued
to dominate the Caucasus and the steppe lands north of the Black sea.
Golden Horde- A khanate the continued to rule the Caucasus and the steppe lands north of the
Black Sea and the Caspian Sea until the mid-sixteenth century. A Russian state brought them
down.
Yuan dynasty- Established in 1279 by the Mongol leader Khubilai Khan. Eventually collapsed
in 1368.
Pax Mongolica- Period of peace during Mongol rule in the area they conquered during the 13th
century. Provided eased commerce and communication and unified administration. Khublai
Khan effectively connected eastern and western world. The end of this period of peace was
marked by the political fragmentation of the Mongol empire.
Tamerlane- Used Chinggis Khan as his model. By 1370 he extended his power throughout the
khanate of Chagatai and began to build an Imperial capital on Samarkand. He took the region
between Persia and Afghanistan. Wanted to levy taxes on trade and agricultural production. He
attacked the Golden Horde and by the mid-1390s he had severely weakened it. He opened a new
century with campaigns in southwest Asia and Anatolia. He died in 1405 while leading his army
to an invasion on China.
174: Tamerlane
 After the collapse of Mongol states, a Turkish conqueror name “Timur the Lame”
took over Persia. By 1370, he had brought back Persia as the Tamerlane Empire.
 Tamerlane made frequent conquests from East Turkey to Pakistan. He also attacked
the Golden Horde and Russia.
 However, Timur was not a good governor, so by the time of his death, the empire
couldn’t stop other empires from taking over their land.
Chapter 18
175: stateless society
 A stateless society is a form of social organization without a real political
government.
 An example of a stateless society is the Bantu people. Male heads of families would
discuss issues in a council, but not in a government-like fashion. There were only
village chiefs to discuss matters in times of need.
176: gold trade
 Due to the major demand of gold in Europe, people began to investigate the caves of
Africa to find gold. They found the jackpot in West Africa which marked the
explosion of the gold trade.
 Muslim merchants crossed from the Sahara to Ghana in search for gold.
 Kings in Africa used taxes and trade control to profit from the gold trade and further
strengthen their territory.
177: spread of Islam
 As the gold trade became bigger through the century, Islam grew with it as well.
Trade sparked people to convert others in search of gold.
 The Kings of Ghana did not try to stop it, in contrast with the neighboring countries
who tried to convert everyone to Islam.
178: Mansa Musa



Mansa Musa ruled Mali from 1312 to 1337, where the empire reached the peak its
reign.
He became Islamic and had established religious schools and mosques across Mali.
After his rule, Mali hit rock bottom due to the crippled government and large factions.
The Songhay later took control of Mali and would make a new government in the late
fifteenth century.
179: Swahili
 Swahili in Arabic means “coasters,” which refers to the African traders along the east
African coast. The local African languages mixed with the Muslim language.
 The Swahili were known for their superior trade and the materials that they exported.
 The Swahili city-states were main ports which developed powerful governments and
kings to organize the public. Technology dramatically changed these ports and made
them with wood dried mud and coral.
180: slavery
 Slaves were mostly captives of war and were agricultural laborers, construction
laborers, miners, and porters.
 Slaves were a major form of personal wealth in Sub-Saharan Africa, and since there
was little private ownership of land; one couldn’t get rich off land but only slaves.
 Muslims also did slave trading, and the demand for slaves became increasingly
popular in Africa.
 Many revolts and raids have happened due to the amount of slaves and poor treatment
upon them, such as the Zanj Revolt. The Zanj Revolt was when Ali bin Muhammad
led Zanj slaves to capture Basra, an important city in southern Mesopotamia.
Abbasid rulers quickly defeated them in 883.
181: age grades
 African societies made a group of separate ages that included all individuals within a
given community born within a few years of one another.
 These members were assigned different tasks based on their development level.
 Age grades had an effect on establishing social ties across families and kinship.
182: Ethiopian Christianity
 Ethiopian Christians had little contact and communication with other European
Christians. Thus, their Christianity had only basic theology and rituals. Churches
made in the twelve century were made of rock and were the basic tradition of
Ethiopian Christianity.
Chapter 19
183.
184.
Holy Roman Empire
Capetian France
- A royal dynasty in France beginning with Hugh Capet (939-996)
- The dynast controlled France from 987-1328, succeeded by the Valios.
- The Capetian Dynasty overtime accumulated land that was controlled by regional
warlords, creating the basis of France today.
- Royal law courts and local officials developed in France, which created the foundation
for the French monarchy.
- Phillip II is known for gaining much of western France from England.
185.
Norman England
- Duke William of Burgundy invaded England in 1066, which was then controlled by the
Angles and the Saxons.
- “William the Conqueror” and his dynasty ruled until 1154 where the House of
Plantagenet took over.
- Norman England brought an end to slavery, but left many lower classes almost the same
as serfs.
- The language was changed from Old English to Anglo-Norman or Latin.
- The Norman dynasty kept the basis of the government but began to make laws on
landholdings called Forest Laws.
186.
economic growth
- Increase in the amount of goods and services produced by an economy over time.
- Spurred by new technologies such as the cotton gin, steam engine, automobile, airplane,
and trains.
- Closely related with infrastructure growth, such as railroads, telegraph lines, and large
port cities. (Ex. After the Great War, Europeans began building infrastructure in Africa,
which enabled economic growth.)
187.
Hanseatic League
An association of trading cities from Novgorod to London.
Also known as the Hansa
The Hansa dominated Northern European trade in fur, grain, fish, and timber.
It also controlled much of the shipbuilding market and beat out almost all other naval
ships around the world.
- The league was created by German communities that wanted to protect mutual trading
interests.
- Protected trade by fighting off pirates and brigands to keep safe trade.
-
188.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
One of the wealthiest and most powerful women on the Middle Ages.
Wife of Louis VII of France and Henry II of England.
Eleanor supported poets and large poetic movements such as the courtly love tradition.
Eleanor gave support to a revolt led by her sons in 1173. After the revolt failed, she was
captured while trying to flee and imprisoned. After Henry II died, she was released and
regained all her power.
189. chivalry
- A traditional code of conduct associated with medieval knighthood.
- A set of morals saying that they should protect those who could not protect themselves
such as children and women.
-
- Chivalry was used to turn warriors into cultivated leaders of society.
- It promoted Christian faith and morals instead of military and economic power.
190.
guilds
- Association of artisans who control the practice of their craft in a particular town.
- In medieval Europe, guilds controlled much of the urban economy.
- Guilds provided social interaction through friendships, banquets, meetings, and drinking
parties.
- Inspected the production of all products for quality and determined who could enter the
practice.
191.
scholasticism
The combination of Greek philosophy and Christian values.
St. Thomas Aquinas was a famous scholastic theologian who believed that Aristotle’s
discoveries and Christian values complemented each other.
Refers to the study of philosophy and religion and their co-existence.
Revived science in Europe during the Medieval Age
192.
-
reconquista
The reconquest of Spain by Christians.
Christian forces slowly took back Spain from Muslim control.
In part led to the Crusades (holy war between Muslims and Christians)
Granada was the only Muslim part left until 1492.
After Christians gained control, they immediately set up churches and attempted to
convert local populations to Christianity.s
193. The Crusades:
 First Crusade started in 1096, the Spanish Crusade took place in 1492
 Meaning “holy wars”
 First issued by Pope Urban II to gain control of the Holy Land
 They had economic, social, and political goals, as well as religious motives
 The 4th Crusade ended in the capture of Constantinople
 Results: lessened the power of the pope, weakened the feudal nobility & increased the
power of kings, fall of Constantinople weakened the Byzantine Empire, Christians &
Jews’ relations with the Muslim leadership worsened for Jews, the Crusades were a time
for increased persecution
Chapter 20
194. Maya:
 Homeland stretched from Southern Mexico to Northern Central America
 Had independent city-states, ruled by a god-king, and served as a center for religious
ceremonies and trade
 Maya city-states were linked through alliance and trade






It was assumed that they practiced slash-and-burn agriculture but new evidence shows the
developed more sophisticated methods including planting on raised beds above swamps
and on hillside terraces
They developed social classes
Believed in many gods (of corn, death, rain, and water)
Worshipped by praying, making offerings of food, flowers, and incense, pierced and cut
their bodies, offered blood because they believed it would nourish the gods
Sometimes carried out human sacrifice, usually their captured enemies
They developed a 260-day religious calendar and a second 365-day solar calendar
195. Mexica/Aztec:
 Migrants drawn to central Mexico from northwestern regions in the middle of the 13th
century
 Referred to as the Aztecs because they dominated the alliance that built the Aztec empire
in the 15th century
 Had a reputation of disorderly behavior such as kidnapping women from nearby
communities and seizing land already cultivated by others
 They founded the city that would later become their capital—Tenochtitlan
 By the 15th century, they were powerful enough to overcome their neighbors and demand
tribute from their new subjects
 Joined forces with Texcoco and Tlaopan to create a triple alliance
 Through the Alliance the Mexica and Tenochtitlan exacted tribute from subject peoples
and received food crops and manufactured items.
 Aztec empire didn’t have an elaborate bureaucracy or administration nor did they
maintain military garrisons throughout the empire
 They left the local governance and the collection of the tribute in the hands of the
conquered people
 Mexica society was rigidly hierarchical with public honors and rewards going to military
elite
 Mexica women were subjected to strict authority of their fathers and husbands under the
law
 Also had a 365 day calendar, but not as sophisticated as that of the Mayas
196. ritual bloodletting:
 Like their predecessors, the Mexica believed that their gods set the world in motion
through acts of individual sacrifice
 They believed that the gods gave the earth the moisture it needed to produce crops by
letting their blood flow
 In order to ensure the continuation of the world, the Mexia honored their deities through
sacrificial bloodletting
 Many priests often performed acts of self-sacrifice by piercing their earlobes and genitals
 The religious beliefs of the bloodletting reflected the desire of the Mexica to keep their
agriculture stimulated
197. mound-building peoples:



Enormous earthen mounds that were located throughout the eastern half of North
America were the most impressive structures of the woodlands
Woodlands peoples used those mounds sometimes as stages for ceremonies, platforms for
dwellings, and occasionally as burial sites
Modern agriculture, road building, and real estate developments have destroyed most of
the mounds
198. Inca:
 They settled in the region around Lake Titicaca in about the mid-thirteenth century
 Their ruler, Pachacuti, worked to expand the Inca’s authority
 They ruled as a military and administrative elite
 Routinely sought to encourage obedience among subject peoples by taking hostages from
their ruling classes and forcing them to live at the Inca capital
 Incas sent loyal subjects as colonists to establish garrisons to maintain order
 When the conquered people rebelled, Inca armies forced them to resettle in distant parts
of the empire
 Panchacuti implemented taxes to support Inca rulers and organized a system of stateowned storehouses to stock agricultural surpluses and craft products
 Had an extensive and magnificent road system that enabled communication
 Long-distance trade fell under the supervision of the the central government
 Inca state didn’t allow individuals to become independent merchants so there was an
absence of a market economy and therefore no opportunity for a large class of artisans to
emerge
199. quipu:
 Inca administrators relied on this mnemonic aid to keep track of their responsibilities
 It consisted of an array of small cords of various colors and lengths, all suspended from
one large, thick cord
 Experts tied a series of knots in the small cords to help them remember certain kinds of
information
 Most recorded statistical information pertaining to population, state property, taxed, and
labor services
 It occasionally helped experts to remember historical information having to do with the
establishment of the Inca empire
Chapter 21
200. Marco Polo:
 The best-known long-distance traveler of Mongol times
 Lived from 1253 to 1324
 Accompanied his father and uncle on a trip to China in 1271
 The great khan took a special liking to Marco
 Khubilai allowed Marco to pursue his mercantile interests in China and also sent him on
numerous diplomatic missions
 The family of travelers later returned to Venice after 17 years in China


He was later on captured and made a prisoner of war during a conflict between Venice
and Genoa
Marco’s accounts of textiles, gems, and other goods encouraged European merchants
201. Ibn Battuta
 Best known of the Muslim travelers
 Lived from 1304 to 1369
 Had little difficulty finding government positions because of his legal credentials
 As qadi and advisor to the sultan of Delhi, he supervised the affairs of a wealthy posque
and heard law cases
 He obtained a post as qadi in the Maldive Islands and worked to promote proper
observance of Islam by using strict punishment
 Provided guidance in the ways of Islam in societies recently converted to the faith
202. Sufi missionaries
 In the early days of Islam, the Sufis traveled in order to gain a popular following for the
faith in India, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
 They emphasized piety and devotion to Allah rather than a strict understanding
 Even tolerated continuing reverences of traditional deities, the deities were treated as
manifestations of Allah and his powers.
 By taking a flexible approach to their missions, the Sufis spread Islamic values without
facing the resistance that unyielding and doctrinaire campaigns would likely have
provoked.
203. Gunpowder technologies
 Muslim merchants and travelers as well as Mongols helped to spread gunpowder
technologies west of China.
 Mongols adapted gunpowder into their armies after discovering them in China
 Europeans began to experiment with gunpowder-fueled rockets in mid-thirteenth century
 Fourteenth century, primitive cannons for China and Europe. This wasn’t accurate but it
was powerful enough to blow holes in defensive walls.
204. Bubonic plague
 Spread from the Yunnan region of southwestern China. Spread from the fleas of rats to
human victims
 Mongol military campaigns helped to spread the plague to China’s interior and then
along the trade routes west to Europe. Thrived in the oases and trading cities of central
Asia where domestic animals created a breeding ground for the fleas. Italian merchants
spread the bubonic plague to the Mediterranean.
 Victims developed inflamed lymph nodes and most died within a few days after the onset
of the symptoms. Caused black or purple swelling to occur, which was how the name
‘Black Death’ came around.
 Killed 60 to 70 percent of its victims. Could diminish an entire small village or town’s
population. Took a century or more to fully recover from the loss caused by the plague.


Birth rate increases to try and restore the population, but the plague spread to the new
victims.
Cold winters helped to keep the plague from spreading to the colder upper Europe. India
avoided serious difficulties and even had a small population growth during that time
period
205. Ming dynasty
 Started by eliminating all traces of Mongol rule and established a government on the
model of traditional Chinese dynasties. Reestablished the Confucian educational and civil
service systems to ensure a supply of talented officials and bureaucrats. Moved to
centralize authority more tightly by making the Ming emperors rule directly without the
aid of chief ministers and they closely supervised imperial affairs.
 Insisted on an absolute obedience to the policies and initiatives if the central government.
The employment of mandarins and eunuchs enhanced the authority of the central
government.
 New rulers constructed laborers to rebuild irrigation systems that had fallen into despair
which helped the surge of agricultural products. Also promoted the manufacturing of
porcelain, lacquerware, fine silk and cotton textiles.
 Sponsored a kind of cultural revival in china by actively promoting Chinese cultural
traditions while eradicating the Mongol ways.
206. Renaissance
 Refers to the rebirth of artistic and intellectual creativity that took place from the
fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries.
 Painter, sculptors, architects, and humanists thrived during this time and drew inspiration
from the classical Greek and Roman times.
 This was a prosperous time for Europe and this allowed for better trade and welfare of
society
207. humanism
 Deeply committed to Christianity. Also believed in a deep set of honor for faith and the
world around them.
 Scholars in this field were interested in literature, history and moral philosophy.
 Preferred the elegant polished language of classical Greek and Roman authors as well as
early church fathers.
208. Zheng He
 An admiral that lead an expedition to impose imperial control over foreign trade with
China and to impress foreign peoples with the power and might that the Ming dynasty
has restored to China.
 Embarked with an awesome fleet of vessels complemented by armed forces large enough
to overcome resistance in any port where the expedition called
 He liberally dispensed gifts of Chinese silk, porcelain, and other goods. He received rich
and unusual presents from his hosts.
 Zheng He and his companions paid respect to the local deities and customs they
encountered. And he sought to obtain his goals through diplomacy.
209. Prince Henry the Navigator (also in Ch. 23)
 Prince Henrique of Portuguese was in search of both Atlantic exploration and the search
for the sea route to Asian markets through the Indian Ocean.
 He embarked on an ambitious campaign to spread Christianity and increase the
Portuguese influence on the seas.
 He colonized the uninhabited Madeiras and Azores Islands where they soon began to
cultivate sugarcane often in collaboration with Italian investors.
 Portuguese fleets also explored Africa and early on traded Guns, textiles, and other
manufactured items for African gold and slaves. They changed the slave trade by
increasing its volume and by sending the slaves to new destinations.
 Opened up the Indian Ocean trade which caused a flourish back in Portuguese.