Unit 1 Overview

State Building in Song China, Dar-al Islam, South and Southeast

Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe
 Context Building

Before the year 1200, the world has already seen the rise and fall of many
empires all around the world setting the stage for new states to develop, new
religions to take hold, and new trade relationships to be built around the world.

Without the agricultural revolution (the neolithic revolution and the spread of
agriculture), these periods of state building would not have been possible.

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 Topic 1.1 - Song China

Context leading up to 1200: Bureaucracy in China:

∙ In a largely decentralized world, China had ∙ China had a centralized imperial
experienced decades of strong central bureaucracy which required members of
control that resulted in a very prosperous government to take merit exams.
China. ∙ Song China expanded the imperial
bureaucracy, making it easier to lower
∙ The Qin Dynasty (221 - 207) introduced a
class people to take the exam and
strong central bureaucracy that remained enter the government.
and expanded under Song China, showing ∙ This eventually hurt Song China, as the
an example of continuity in East Asia. large bureaucracy became too
∙ The Tang Dynasty improved agriculture, expensive to maintain.
roads, and canals, which encouraged
foreign trade and allowed Song China to ★ The Chinese Meritocracy system
be the economic powerhouse of the world provided more upward mobility than
in the post-1200 world any other government hiring system
in the world at the time.
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Innovation!
Song China innovated in many ways:
∙ 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.
∙ Created unique porcelain and silk luxury
goods that were highly desired trade
goods.
★ These innovations allowed fewer people to farm,
and more people to become artisans or laborers
who lived in urban areas.
○ This is called proto-industrialization.
★ China experienced massive technological
innovation which led to
advancements/innovation in agriculture and
manufacturing. This led to a population boom
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Religion in Song China Confucianism, Buddhism,
1. Confucianism - The first major religion in Song China, and Neo-Confucianism
spread around Asia
Confucianism emphasized filial piety
through trade and brought
a. This was the idea the men were the head of the with it new ideas, art, and
household and their needs came first. architecture.
b. When new religions entered China, the
government was hesitant to give up
Confucianism and this idea.
2. Buddhism - Came to China on the SIlk Road
a. Combined with Taoism to create
Zen-Buddhism.
b. Popular among Chinese people, but resisted by
the Confucianists.
3. Neo-Confucianism - Rose in Song China as a
response to the rise of Buddhism
★ Each of these impacted local areas like Korea, Japan,
and Vietnam.
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 Topic 1.1 - Song China

Social Stratification Tributary System:

∙ Song China was the most urbanized land ∙ States surrounding China had to pay a tribute to
in the world! China in the form of money or goods.
∙ There was some social mobility in China, ∙ This continued to increase Chinese prosperity.
with the emperor at the top, the scholar Japan, Korea, and Vietnam:
gentry (those educated in Confucian ∙ These regions were heavily influenced by China.
philosophy) up next, followed by farmers, ∙ Japan - adopted Buddhism and Confucianism, but
artisans and craftsmen, and the merchant was not as centrally governed.
class. At the bottom were peasants and ∙ Korea was very close to China with a centralized
the poor. system of government and the use of Confucianism
∙ Women deferred to men for all things. and Buddhism.
∙ Foot Binding ∙ Vietnam adapted the Chinese system of writing, but
resisted sinification due to their unique views on the
family and culture.
∙

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1.2
Dar-al Islam
1200-1450
Context Building

After the death of Muhammed, Islam spread

rapidly through military actions, merchants,
and missionaries (THREE M’S) from Spain to
India and from Egypt to Turkey.

After the fall of the pre-12oo Abbasid

Caliphate, there was not one unified Islamic
government, but regional Islamic empires
collectively known as Dar-al Islam (everything
Islam touches) made advances in math,
literature, and medicine. This was a cultural
region, with continued advancement.

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 Topic 1.2 - Dar-al Islam: Various Islamic Empires

The following groups established their own Muslim empires after attacking and fragmenting the once
unified Abbasid Caliphate.

Mamluk Empire al-Andalus in Spain

∙ Turkish slaves working in Egypt who ∙ Muslim empire in Spain that represents
attacked and seized control of the tolerance and collaboration between
numerous religions in Muslim occupied
Egyptian government created a Muslim
territories.
empire across North Africa known as ∙ al-Andalus today shows lots of Muslim
the Malmlu Sultanate influence in both its architecture and art.
Seljuk Turks:
∙ Muslim Turks who captured parts of the
Middle East including Baghdad.

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 1.2 - Dar-al Islam: Innovations and Centers of Learning

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah Medical Advances

Celebrated Islamic Scholar who The most prolific female Doctors and pharmacists begin
studying for certification tests, greatly
made advances in math that laid Muslim writer before the 20th
increasing standards of medical care
the groundwork for trigonometry. century!
Cultural Continuities:

Islamic scholars were known for taking

learning from numerous cultures and

building upon it.

1. Translated Greek classics into

Arabic
2. Studied math from India
3. Made paper from China
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 1.2 - Basic Beliefs of Islam

★ Monotheistic Sufism - Expanded Islam to

★ Follows the teaching of the common people through
prophet Muhammed mystic beliefs in spiritualism
★ Holy Text - Quran over tradition and ritual.
★ Abrahamic Religion ● Similar to the Bhakti
○ Islam, Judaism, movement in Hinduism.
Christianity
★ Spread through Merchants

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 “
1.3

South and Southeast Asia

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Context Building

In the pre-1200 world, the “Golden Age of

India” ended when the Gupta empire fell,
resulting in 1,000 years of decentralization.

South and Southeast Asia are characterized by

interactions between Islam and Hinduism, the
growth of trade, and the continuation of
decentralized systems of government.

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 Overview

1. South and Southeast Asia were largely decentralized with regional empires growing
over time. [South Asia: Delhi Sultanate (Islamic) Vijayanagara (Hindu); SE Asia: Srivijaya
Empire (Hindu) Majapahit (Buddhist) Khmer Empire (Hindu - Buddhist)]
2. This region was heavily influenced by the trade relationship it had with surrounding
regions.
a. Islam greatly influenced the region, with many merchants converting to
Islam to have a stronger trade relationships with Muslim nations.
i. Islam challenged traditional Hindu beliefs like the caste system.
b. Merchants are responsible for bringing Islam to Southeast Asia.
c. Some Hindus converted to Islam to escape the Caste system.
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 Basic Beliefs of Hinduism

1. Polytheistic ★ Hindu beliefs employee

2. Sacred Texts: The Vedas the idea that there is
Universal Principle of
3. Believes in a cycle of life
cause and effect. Action
a. Birth, life, death, potential reincarnation and reaction.
4. Dharma are good deeds committed in life that help you have positive
Karma
5. A soul with enough Karma will reach Moksha, or transcendents.
a. That will end the cycle of reincarnation
6. A person’s karma in a past life will dictate what caste they are in.
a. The caste system is immobile. You stay there for life.
b. Some Hindu’s in lower castes were enticed by the social mobility in
Islam.
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Topic 1.4 - State Building in the Americas

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 Topic 1.4 - Context

Aztecs (Mexica):
∙ Arose in the 13th Century near lake Texcoco
Pre-1200: which allowed for farming, fishing, and
∙ The first empire that grew in the Americas transportation.
was the Toltec. They were highly militaristic ∙ By 1434, Aztecs dominate the valley by
with a heavy focus on sacrifice. conquering other city-states and creating a
∙ The Toltec empire probably fell due to tribute empire.
repeated attacks by northern nomads ∙ They made surrounding regions pay
∙ The spread of corn, or maize, helped them prisoners, goods, and money
Mesoamerican empires grow. keeping the Aztecs rich and the others
∙ Similar to Champa Rice . poor.
∙ ∙ Capital city of Tenochtitlan was filled with
farming, vasy palaces, and exciting markets!
★ Rulers were considered gods on earth giving
them lots of power.
∙

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 Topic 1.4 - Inca Empire

1. Centered around Lake Titicaca in Peru

2. Highly Centralized with a main ruler over four provinces.
a. Local leaders rule, but defer to the Inca - Inca are conquerors
3. Created a Tribute Empire
4. Carpa Nan connected the large empire - one of the largest roads in the world at the
time, with checkpoints throughout.
5. Mit’a system of forced labor helped Incan rulers consolidate control and complete
these massive projects
6. Advanced irrigation made the Inca skilled farmers.
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Similarities MapsDifferences
Built on earlier empires that Aztecs have sophisticated traders and
preceded them markets VS Inca have no specialized
(Aztecs = Toltecs; Inca = Chimor) merchant class
Excellent imperial and military Aztecs have a writing system VS Inca
organizersour office do not
Highly organized agricultural
sector under state control
Ethnic groups allowed to survive
(Inca incorporate them into
empire; Aztecs rule them harshly)
Animistic religions
No draft animals for labor

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 Topic 1.4 - The Americas

1. Maya were decentralized with many Maya city-states spread throughout the
region. They were often at war with each other.
2. Known for art, architecture, calendar, and astronomical system.

Other Tribes in the Americas:

∙ Spread throughout the Americas, tribes were varied depending on their

environment.
∙ Most empires were weakened by European contact

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Topic 1.5
State Building in Africa

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Pre 1200:
● 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:
● 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.

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Trans-Saharan Trade
● Trade was improved by the use of camels and the camel saddle and caravans.
● Trade allowed empires to grow along the network through importing their goods and trading with
other kingdoms.

● 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.

● Central Africa:
○ Islam did not spread to this region. It was difficult to travel here, and states formed more slowly
without the Islamic influence.

● 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
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 ○ Ethiopia (Aksum)
■ Link between the Arab and Mediterranean world.
■ Exposed to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
■ LOTS of trade because proximity to Eurasia

● Global Connections:
○ Spread of Islam opened Africa up to global trade, but most of Africa developed
independently.

● Continuities after Asian/European arrivals

○ The integration of traditional African systems of government like elder councils
○ Participation in trade networks (particularly by coastal empires)

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Topic 1.6
Developments in Western Europe

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 Topic 1.6 - Developments in W. Europe

Pre-1200:

∙ After the fall of the Roman Empire, W.

Religion:
Europe was left mostly decentralized.
∙ The middle ages were a time of ∙ Christianity was the main religion

“backwardness” in Europe were throughout W. Europe, and while many

governments were weak and learning places traded with Asia, Africa, and

was slow compared to the rest of te Arab nations, there was a deep fear of

world. other religions.

∙ Around 1100 Europe slowly begins to

come out of the Middle ages.

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 Topic 1.6 - Western Europe

1. In a time of decentralization, religion held many places in Europe together.

a. The Catholic Church was highly organized and it became the most
powerful institution in Europe. It was highly corrupt in many places.
2. Christian crusades tried to end Muslim rule in the Holy Land. It was successful
in some places, but most importantly it opened the West up to trade.

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 Topic 1.6 - West Europe

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.
○ Very vulnerable to Viking raids due to their
isolation.
● Not the best system, but it did create a system of
local rule with regional aristocrats.

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 Topic 1.6 - West Europe

Feudalism:
● A military and political system that provided more
protection for elites from Viking Raids.
● Rules provide protection and aid to lesser lords
(vassals/nobles)
● Nobles employ Knights for protection. And
Peasants worked the land in exchange for
protection and somewhere to live.
○ They were essentially slaves to the king.
● A feudal monarch slowly grew and manors were
absorbed into larger kingdoms.
● Over time, feudalism created a very unhappy
population of peasants.

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 Topic 1.6 - West Europe

Results: The Plague!

● Over time, Feudalism slowly transforms into a ● Around 1300, the Black Death starts to
Monarchy, with many movements in place to limit spread around Europe.
both the Catholic Church and the Feudal system. ● ½ of the European population dies, and
● The High Middle Ages was a time where the labor force of Europe is slashed,
Feudalism decreased and industrialization making Feudal lords want a tighter hold
increased on their peasants.
○ This lead to an increase in education and ● Some places begin passing laws to force
urbanization. peasants into labor
○ Agriculture improves and technology begins ● Peasants start to revolt against their
to catch up with the rest of the world. . working conditions, and checks were put
in place against the Feudal lords.
● Many people form Guilds to control
working conditions.

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