APWH UNIT 1 (Part

1)
REFERENCE SHEET

EAST ASIA: Political Innovations/ Economics Cultural Environment Society

OVERVIEW BY Tech
THEME

CHINA -Song Dynasty Agricultural Internal Trade -Confucianism -Location: China -Scholar gentry
-Grand Canal -Grand Canal -Buddhism/Daoism -Farmers
Rules through: -Champa Rice -Proto-Industrialization -Neo-Confucianism -Resources: Coal -Artisans
-Bureaucracy -Manure, irrigation -Merchants
-Meritocracy systems, heavy plows External Trade -Technology, -Close to: tributary -Peasants/urban poor
-Civil Service Exam -More food = more -Silk Roads literature, visual arts states,
people -South China Sea thrived (well educated South China Sea, canal -Patriarchy
-Porcelain, textile, and population, contact networks, Silk Trade -Foot binding (1912
Other tea with foreigners) Routes end)
-Gunpowder/guns -Tributary system -Filial piety
-Steel -Woodblock printing,
-Compass -Charged taxes to paper used for
-Paper, woodblock build routes/control literature
printing trade

JAPAN, KOREA, VIETNAM: How similar/different to China? OVERVIEW AND DECLINE of SONG DYNASTY CHINA

JAPAN Song Dynasty China utilized trained officials in their government. Even
-SIMILAR BECAUSE: learned Buddhism and Confucianism and woodblock printing from China, peasants were allowed to study for and take the exams, leading to social
copied Chinese traditions in politics, art, literature during Heian Period mobility for those who could afford the time to study. The society itself
-BUT: continued traditional Shinto religion, wrote first novel: Tale of Genji, organized in a feudal was a patriarchy, with themes of filial piety and Confucian style respect.
system where landowning aristocrats (daimyo) battled for control of land while majority of workers Upper class women were subjected to foot binding, a form of beauty and
were farmers, lacked central government until 17th century, since after Heian court a new family upper class status.
took over and installed a shogun (military ruler) weakening the emperor
The Song Dynasty had a lot of innovations, many of which moved across
KOREA the Silk Roads as far as Europe. Things like gunpowder, guns themselves,
-SIMILAR BECAUSE: geographically close to China, so copied a lot of political and cultural traits, and paper/woodblock printing have a huge impact on other societies. The
centralized government (like China), adopted Confucian (educated elite) and Buddhist (peasant compass, ironically, will lead to the decline of the Silk Roads as it helps
masses) beliefs , adopted Chinese writing system navigation of the seas.
-BUT: kept their own language structure, gave up Chinese writing system for their own in 15th
century, politically, aristocracy was more powerful in Korea than China, so prevented lots of At this point in history, China is trading a lot outside its borders, expanding
reforms they didn’t like (for instance opening the civil service exam to peasants - Korea said no) its influence into Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Eventually overwhelming
corruption, issues with infrastructure, and invasions by the Mongols will
VIETNAM lead to the decline of the Song Dynasty, and major changes in China itself.
-SIMILAR BECAUSE: adapted Chinese writing system and architectural style
-BUT: least sinified of the three, rebelled against China often, Vietnamese women had greater
independence, preferred nuclear families, no political centralization, rejected social practices like
foot binding and polygyny

DAR AL Political Innovations/ Economics Cultural Environment Society

ISLAM: Tech
OVERVIEW BY
THEME

ISLAMIC EMPIRE -Abbasid -Golden Age -Trade Leads to: -Followers of Islam -Location: Middle -Merchants hold
Caliphate -House of Wisdom -Spread of Islam (Shia, Sunni, Sufi) East, religion high status
(Cultural in Baghdad (center -Spread of spreads into South
empire) -Later of learning between technology -Tolerant of other Asia/Southeast Asia -Slavery allowed but
-Mamluk, Seljuk cultures) -Rise in knowledge religions and could not enslave
Turks, Delhi -Ex. Nasir al-Din al- -Diffusion of culture cultures, women -Position helped link Muslims or
Sultanate Tusi’s contributions Afro-Eurasia protected peopls
-Evolves into in astronomy, law, -Trade Routes -Importance of (Jews, Christians,
Ottoman Empire logic, ethics, math, Include: learning helps usher -Location allows for Zoroastrians)
(Turkey), Safavid medicine -Silk Roads in renaissance major centers of
Empire (Persia), -Trans Sahara Trade learning like -Women had higher
Mughal Empire Route -Adopted paper Baghdad and status than
(India) -Al-Andalus -Indian Ocean making from China Cordoba Christian or Jewish
(Islamic control of Network women: could
Spain) also a -Literature and -Use of waterways inherit, divorce,
center of learning poetry, ex. ’A’ishah leads to advances in birth control, could
-Cordoba (capital) al-Ba’uniyyah’s sailing, navigation testify in court
had largest library contributions to
poetry -Limited as wives,
-They Contribute concubines
to:
-Math, medicine, -Typically tolerant,
philosophy, law, focused on the 5
astronomy, etc. Pillars of Islam and
-Their studies of so focused on
Greek/Latin works spreading through
preserves those for trade, missionaries,
the Renaissance/ but not forced
and Scientific conversion
Revolution

OVERVIEW DECLINE

The Islamic Empire included culturally Islamic regions The Islamic Empire faces several challenges, specifically
 throughout the Middle East and eventually farther. While there from its own groups. Eventually, however, the Mongols will
will be different political systems of leadership, culturally this take over the Islamic Empire, changing it slowly until they
empire is very similar. It tends to spread through trade, themselves are overthrown. The Islamic Empire will then
missionaries, and conquering, yet treats conquered territories be split into three sections - the Ottoman Empire, Safavid
with tolerance. Protected people had to pay a tax rather than
convert, and slaves could be free by buying their freedom or
Empire, and Mughal Empire.
conversion to Islam.

Islam itself focused on education, leading to medical

advancements, as well as advancements in mathematics,
literature, and law. If not for the Islamic Empire, the Renaissance
may never have occurred. If not for their connection across much
of the world, many cultures would not have been able to share
their knowledge and practices to one another.

SOUTH and Political Innovations/ Economics Cultural Environment Society

SOUTH EAST Tech
ASIA:
OVERVIEW BY
THEME

SOUTH ASIA -Southern India: -Developments in -Trade across Indian -Religion dominant, -Location: India -Caste system:
more stable than algebra and Ocean, connection before Islam arrives extremely strict,
North. Includes: geometry also via land (Silk most practiced -Close to: Indian rigid, cannot change
-Chola Dynasty Roads) Hinduism and Ocean trade status
-Vijayanagara -Arabic numerals Buddhism network, Silk Roads
Empire -Merchants treated
-Architecture with -Many convert to better due to
-Northern India geometric designs Islam to escape low importance of trade
-Less stable, often (ex. Qutub Minar, status, or due to than in other
at war, attack by tower over a merchants, or regions
Islamic forces. mosque) corruption within
Includes: their own religion
-Rajput Kingdoms -New language: (Buddhism)
-Delhi Sultanate Urdu -Bhakti Movement
to spread Hinduism

SOUTHEAST -Sea Based -Angkor Kingdom -Trade between -Angkor Kingdom -Strategically
ASIA Kingdoms had complex South and East Asia had Angkor Thom, important - sea
-Srivijaya Kingdom irrigation and capital with Hindu based and land
(hindu kingdom, drainage system for -SPICES artwork and based connecting
strong navy) rice, making it temples that turned South and East Asia
-Majapahit Kingdom prosperous Buddhist and added
 (controlled sea economically more artwork and
routes, Buddhist) temples
-Architecture
-Land Based -Hinduism,
Kingdoms Buddhism, and
-Sinhala Dynasties eventually Islam
-Khmer moves here
Empire/Angkor
Kingdom

APWH UNIT 1 (Part

2)
REFERENCE SHEET

OVERVIEW Political Innovations/ Economics Cultural Environment Society

BY REGION Tech
AND THEME

AMERICAS -Mayans -Mayans -Mayans -Mayans -Mayans -Mayans

-City states ruled by -Concept of zero -Taxes paid by citizens -Sacrifices used during -Southern Mexico, -Kings and priests
kings -Writing system with in the form of tribute religious ceremonies Belize, Honduras, most important
-Kings said they were glyphs (crops, etc). -Temples built for gods Guatemala -War typical between
descendants of gods -Linked science and -Rely on trade with -Polytheistic (multiple city states
(theocracy) religion with city states for survival gods) -Aztecs -Citizens required to
=No central astronomy -Same location as participate in military
government -Calendar decided -Aztecs -Aztecs Mayans, had to utilize -Women could rule if
when to go to war -Tribute system: -Religion important, aqueducts due to no male heir present
-Aztecs -Chichen Itza - capital collects crops, polytheistic swampy geography,
-Take over where important pyramid sacrifices, etc from -Human sacrifice floating gardens -Aztecs
Mayans used to be used for astronomy provinces and then (more than Mayans or (chinampas) to grow -Women could be
(generally) redistributes it as Inca) more resources wives, priestesses,
-Capital called -Aztecs needed (kind of like midwives, healers,
 Tenochtitlan -Aqueducts for water the Hunger Games) -Inca -Inca merchants, sometimes
-City states grouped -Architecture - -Pochteca: special -Less sacrifice than -Impressive empire, scribes
into provinces pyramid merchants trading Aztec, yet sacrificed due to mountainous -Emperor (Great
-Emperor in charge, -Floating gardens luxury goods children terrain in what is now Speaker) at top, then
divine representative called chinampas -Religion is polytheistic Peru. This is why land-owning nobles,
of gods (theocracy), -Inca and animistic (idea terraced farming and then scribes and
central gvmt. -Inca -Mita System: that anything can the roadways were so healers, then
-Used tribute for -Quipu - system of mandatory public have spirit/soul - ex. important to them. craftspeople and
control knotted strings for service (on things like God of thunder) traders, then peasants
numeric records roads) -Ancestor veneration, and soldiers, then
-Inca -terrace farming for -Trade limited mummified dead slaves
-Split into four crops rulers
provinces, each with -Carpa Nan (road -Temples built for gods -Inca
governor and network), also bridges (ex. Temple of the -No tribute, just labor
bureaucracy and other roads Sun) system
-Provinces linked by -Priests important
roads for military to -Agricultural
travel
-Used mita system for
people to show
loyalty/control
population

OVERVIEW DECLINE

The Mayans, Aztec, and Inca are extremely unique. Developing The Mayans decline due to disruption of trade, famine,
apart from the rest of the world, these groups in the Americas deforestation, and too much war (we think - we can’t know for
made their own achievements in architecture and science, while sure). The Aztecs, who moved into this territory, end up declining
revolving around systems of war and polytheistic worship. All due to rebellion against tribute and sacrifice (again, think the
three involve sacrificial ceremonies, though differ in who is Hunger Games) as well as disease and violence from the Spanish.
sacrificed. All three have theocracies, but differ on how those The Inca is divided after the death of their emperor, who leaves
theocracies governed. the empire to his sons, split in half. This causes a civil war, and
this, along with diseases and violence from the Spaniards, leads
to their decline.

OVERVIEW Political Innovations/ Economics Cultural Environment Society

BY REGION Tech
AND THEME

AFRICA -Kin based networks, -Iron (used a lot for -Trans Sahara Trade -Religiously animistic, -Depends on -Organized around
evolved into larger weapons), metallurgy Route links West Africa yet Christianity and location: kinship,, age, gender
kingdoms (ex. Hausa (ability to manipulate to Middle East and Islam spread to Africa
Kingdoms) metals) beyond -North: desert, arid, -Elders held more
-Stone architecture impacts trade routes respect as did males
-Ghana (in West -Swahili - blend of -Indian Ocean Trade (use of camels and (patriarchy)
Africa) centralized Bantu and Arabic (in links East Africa to the -Music, visual arts, caravanserai),
government East Africa) Middle East, South storytelling all connected to Middle -Men: specialized jobs
Asia, and East Asia important and part of East and Europe -Women: agricultural
-Mali (in West Africa) -Architecture like the entertainment and and domestic jobs
centralized, trading defensive walls (built -Indian Ocean Slave religion -West: grasslands, (unless griottes)
 society. Notable rulers: in Zimbabwe) made Trade many settle there
Sundiata, Mansa Musa without mortar -Griots/Griottes: -Slavery: several types
-Items Traded: historians and -East: coastal regions including chattel,
Other notable -Gold, Ivory, Salt (West storytellers as history (Swahili City States) domestic, and debt
kingdoms: Africa, mostly) was oral and not connected to Indian bondage (prior to
-Zimbabwe (in East -Gold and Slaves (East written Ocean and trade Europe starting slave
Africa) Africa, mostly) outside Africa trade abroad)

-Ethiopia -Central: rainforest

OVERVIEW DECLINE
Africa is a large continent and has a large history. Most societies started out as kin based societies, Most societies decline due to agricultural issues (ex. Zimbabwe with
with chiefs making important decisions yet whole societies based off familial networks. Eventually overgrazing) or overfarming; many will also break down or decline due to
many evolve into larger kingdoms, usually centralized with success based off of trade. warfare.
Economically, African societies have been linked to Asia, Middle East, and Europe for a long time
through the various trade networks they have. Items like gold and salt are typically most profitable.
Africa also sees its societies keeping their own traditions, sometimes accepting Islam as a religion
but typically holding onto their own animistic traditions.

OVERVIEW Political Innovations/ Economics Cultural Environment Society

BY REGION Tech
AND THEME

MEDIEVAL -Feudalism (kings, -Three Field System -Feudalism/Manorial -Great Schism: Roman -Due to increased -Feudalism: roles of
lords, knights, serfs) (leads to more people) System (serfs work on Catholi Church in trade, Black Death king, lord, serf,
EUROPE
manors owned by West, Orthodox (bubonic plague) peasant)
-Monarchs become -Begin using guns and nobles) Church in East spreads
stronger later on (ex. gunpowder from Asia -Antisemitism toward
France, Holy Roman -Europe mostly -Church important in: -Little Ice Age (lower Jews
Empire) agricultural at this art, feudal system, temp meant less
time, begins education, reform, war agriculture, so more -Discrimination toward
-Norman England: expanding in (think Crusades) disease and Muslims
forms English exploration (thanks to unemployment and
Parliament for more Crusades and -Crusades: Conflicts crime) -Patriarchal, women
representation, writes explorers) between Christianity only really have role if
Magna Carta to -Ex. Marco Polo and Islam joining the church
protect rights (increases interest in
Asia) -Renaissance (renewal
-Emergence of Kievan of Greek and Latin
Rus (what will be -New middle class arts, philosophy,
Russia) emerges (called literature)
bourgeoisie/burghers)

OVERVIEW DECLINE

Medieval Europe is a time of change. When we think of this Borders will shift, but there is not necessarily a decline just a
period, we think of feudalism, with kings, lords, knights, and shift in who is who...nations will begin to emerge later with
serfs. This is the basis of the political, economic, and social specific cultural boundaries. We just aren’t there yet.
system. As Europe begins to take an interest in trade beyond its
borders (like China) they start to evolve. Disease begins to
weaken the idea of feudalism. Religious challenges evoke conflict
with Muslims and Jews. Culturally, the Renaissance will lead to
the end of the Dark Ages and changes to political monarchies
(like in England) bringing more centralization and questions
about rights and society (ex. humanism). We are starting to see
the origins of boundaries that will be nations.