Key TermsKey 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• 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• Islamic holy law that offered detailed guidance on proper behavior in almost every aspect

of life.• Drew it’s inspiration from the Quran and the early historical accounts of Muhammad’s life

and teachings.• 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.• Transformed Islam from just a religious doctrine to a way of life including social and

ethical values derived from Islamic religious principles.

132. caliph• 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• The Sunni and the Shia were two different groups of Muslims that struggled for power after

the death of Muhammad.

134. dar al-Islam• A term that means “house of Islam” that refers to the lands under Islamic rule.

135. sakk• 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• 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.

• Sufis were so effective as missionaries because they emphasized devotion to Allah above mastery of doctrine.

• The Sufis easily won the respect of those the preached to due to the ascetic and holy lives they led.

137. ulama• Ulama were learned officials with religious knowledge that set moral standards in local

communities and resolved disputes. • Ulama sought to develop public policy in accordance with the Quran and sharia.

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138. Grand Canal• The most elaborate project under-taken during the Sui dynasty• Was the largest water-works project in the world before modern times. • 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. • 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.

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147. Delhi Sultanate

148. 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

149. 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

150. 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

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

151. 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

152. 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

153. 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

154. 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

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155. 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

156. 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 Slaviclanguage. 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 800-814. 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 easternEurope 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 Europe-

Chapter 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.

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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.

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183. Holy Roman Empire

184. 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 state-

owned 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

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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.