AP World UNIT 1 REVIEW (Everything you NEED to KNOW!)

Heimler's History・2 minutes read

The time period in AP World History from circa 1200 to 1450 focused on major civilizations like the Song Dynasty in China, which emphasized Confucianism and expanded the Imperial bureaucracy. In Dar al-Islam, the Abbasid Caliphate's decline by 1200 led to the rise of Turkic-led Muslim empires like the Seljuk Empire, with the period also marking a shift from Arab to Turkic dominance in Muslim empires.

Insights

  • The Song Dynasty in China utilized Confucianism, emphasizing societal hierarchy and filial piety to maintain power while limiting women's rights and expanding the Imperial bureaucracy through civil service exams.
  • The period from 1200 to 1450 witnessed a transformation in Muslim empires from Arab to Turkic dominance, with the rise of the Seljuk Empire and the establishment of Sharia law, alongside significant advancements in mathematics and translation of Greek works in the Islamic world.

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Recent questions

  • What was the focus of the Song Dynasty in China?

    Confucianism

  • What factors contributed to the thriving economy of the Song Dynasty?

    Commercialization, agriculture innovations, transportation improvements

  • How did the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate impact Muslim empires?

    Rise of Turkic-led Muslim empires

  • What role did Sharia law play in Muslim states?

    Legal code based on the Quran

  • How did the Byzantine Empire influence the Kievan Rus?

    Eastern Orthodox Christianity

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Summary

00:00

"AP World History: Circa 1200-1450 Major Civilizations"

  • The time period for unit one in AP World History is Circa 1200 to 1450, focusing on major civilizations and their state-building processes.
  • The Song Dynasty in China, ruling from 960 to 1279, emphasized Confucianism to maintain and justify their rule, promoting Neo-Confucianism to reduce Buddhist influence.
  • Confucianism highlighted societal hierarchy and filial piety, restricting women's rights and subjecting them to social limitations like foot binding.
  • The Song Dynasty also expanded the Imperial bureaucracy, requiring civil service exams based on Confucian principles for bureaucratic positions.
  • Chinese traditions influenced neighboring regions like Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, spreading state-building tactics and Confucian ideals.
  • Buddhism in Song China, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, encouraged broader participation and the assistance of bodhisattvas in achieving enlightenment.
  • The Song Dynasty's economy thrived due to commercialization, innovations in agriculture like Champa rice, and improvements in transportation, leading to a population explosion.
  • In Dar al-Islam, the Abbasid Caliphate's decline by 1200 saw the rise of Turkic-led Muslim empires like the Seljuk Empire, replacing Arab dominance.
  • Islam, Judaism, and Christianity coexisted in the Muslim world, shaping societies based on monotheistic beliefs and religious principles.
  • The period 1200 to 1450 marked a shift from Arab to Turkic dominance in Muslim empires, with the Seljuk Empire emerging as a significant power in Central Asia.

10:54

Islamic Influence on Scholarship and Trade

  • Sharia law was established as the legal code based on the Quran in Muslim states.
  • Nasir al-din al-tusi, a Muslim scholar, made significant advances in mathematics and invented trigonometry.
  • Arab scholars translated and commented on Greek philosophical works at The House of Wisdom in Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam.
  • The Renaissance in European history was influenced by Arabic translations preserving Greek and Roman manuscripts.
  • Dar al-Islam and Song China were centers of scholarship and wealth during this period.
  • Muslim rule expanded through military conquest, merchant activities, and Sufi missionary work.
  • South and Southeast Asia were influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
  • The bhakti movement in South India emphasized devotion to Hindu gods, challenging traditional hierarchies.
  • The Vijayanagara Empire in South India resisted Muslim rule from the Delhi sultanate.
  • In Southeast Asia, the Majapahit Kingdom controlled trade routes, while the Khmer Empire in Cambodia showcased a blend of Hindu and Buddhist influences.

21:49

Christianity and Feudalism Shaped Medieval Europe

  • The Byzantine Empire, representing the eastern part of the Roman Empire, practiced Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Kievan Rus adopted this faith in 988, uniting them and connecting them to a trade network in Afro-Eurasia.
  • In Western Europe, Roman Catholicism dominated, linking the decentralized states culturally through the church's hierarchy. Despite the widespread Christianity, Muslims and Jews also influenced European society, with Muslims conquering parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Jews facing anti-Semitism.
  • Europe's political organization revolved around feudalism, where powerful lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service. Peasants, known as serfs, worked the land in exchange for protection, with monarchs gradually centralizing power and diminishing the influence of the nobility over several centuries.
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