Notes from the Princeton Review

“Cracking the AP World History Exam”

 

600-1450

 

Early Medieval Europe

-“Middle Ages” – 500 – 1500ish

            *500 – 1000 – “Dark Ages”

 

Barbarian Invasions

- numerous invasions from N & E

- Germaine

            - Saxons, Anglos, Goths

- Asiatic

            -Mongols, Magyars (Hungarian)

- formed unsophisticated kingdoms

- transformation from nomadic to civilized played crucial role in development of European outside states

 

Feudalism

-         political system resulting from lack of centralized power after fall of Rome

-         Manorialism – economic system

-         Lords granted land (fiefs) to vassles in exchange for profits and military service

-         Serfdom – use of unfree peasant labour to harvest land – similar to slavery 

 

Early Nation-States

- formed by unity of ethnic, linguistic, cultured heritage

 

Holy Roman Empire

-         Charlemagne (768 – 814 CE)

-         King of Franks

-          

Early Islam & the Caliphates

Origins of Islam

-         Mohammed (570 – 632) formed in Mecca

-         Arabic is holy language

-         622, moved to Medina (Hegina)

-         Muslims aggressively converted Arabians into Muslims

-         Spread throughout Arabian by Muhummed’s death (632)

Expansion

-         Islamic leaders after Muhammed – caliphs (sucessors)

-         Vicious civil war b/w caliphs 656 – 661

-         Muslim armies conquered much b/w 600-700

-         Destroyed Sassamied Empire (Persia)

-         weakened Byzantium by taking land

-         conquered Middle East, N. Africa, S. Spain, Central Asia, Indian border lands (Pakistan)

Caliphates

-         Muslims considered political community identical to religious one – all ruled by Caliph

-         Umayyad (661 – 750)

-         Abbasid (750 – 1258)

Ummayid Caliphate

-         capital Damascus (Syria)

-         661 – 750

-         Conquered much of N Africa and Asian Minor

-         Favored Arabs, mistreated non-Arabs

      * Led to split in Islam (Sunni, Shiite)

-    Overthrown by rebellions

Abbasid Caliphate

-         750 – 1258

-         Capital in Baghdad

-         Allowed non-Arab Muslims equal treatment

-         Golden age of Islam

-         Caliph Haram al-Rashid (776 - 809)

-         Ruled from Spain to border of India (Pakistan)

-         Great science, literature, math compared to Europe

-         Goes down in 1000’s

 

Bantu Africa, Nubia & Ghana

Bantu

-         Linguistically based group that most resembles common cultural source in Sub-Saharan Africa

-         Emerged on Niger R. Basin (W-Central Africa)

-         1000 CE, descendants spread to S & E Africa

-         Played great role in developing Africa’s (Sub-Saharan) cultural, linguistic, ethnic

-         Spread knowledge of agric. & iron working to S & E Africa

-         Swazi, Sotho, Tswana, Shanu, Nebela, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

-         Dependant on cattle for wealth

Nubia & Ghana

-         1^st Major African civilizations not counting Egypt

Nubia

-         5 of Egypt, links Sub-Saharan w/ Med-Sen

-         Important trade-center, gold

-         Kingdom of Kush c. 1750 BCE

-         Largely dominated by Egyptian New Kingdom for 500 years

-         Empire created at Meroe in 8^th cent. BCE, collapsed 2^nd century

      * Big on trade of iron & wood products

      * collapsed as a result of changing trade on Red Sea & Soil Erosion (deforestation)

 

Ghana

-         “Land of Gold” – Atlantic Coast

* 500’s CE

* Trans-Saharan trade network

* Expanded to NW Africa over 500 years

* Major supplier of gold to Europe 1200s

* Koumbi Saleh – Muslim trade down

* Iron & copper very important trade to Africans

      - Caravaned across Sahara

* Ecological & Demographic conditions weakened Ghana – decrease in food production, increase in population, avid envir.

* Fell to Muslim conquest – sort of

      -Racked by Holy War and then fell

 

Early Americas

Mexico & Central

-         civilizations appeared around 1200’s BCE

-         each culture passed on traits to next

Olmec (c 1200 – 400 BCE)

-         East-Central (Gulf Coast)

-         “Mother of Civilization” for Central America

-         Art (big stone heads), architecture, religion impact on later peoples

-         Polytheistic, urban society, irrigation, writing, calendar

Teotihuacan

-         largest city in Mexico (pop. 200,000)

-         founded 150 – 100 BCE near present day Mexico City

-         eclipsed over by Maya’s 750 CE

Maya

-         250 – 400 CE

-         Territory is present-day Guatemala, Honduras, Belize & Southern Mexico

-         No single nation, independent city-states & rival kingdoms

-         Elaborate religion derived partly from Olemc and Teot.

·        Human sacrifice – worship serpent gods

·        Jaguar deities

·        Huge Pyramids (Chichen Itza)

·        Ritual Ball game

-         Excellent Astronomers & Mathematicians

-         Disease/ Envir. Factors brought about decline

-         Finished off by war in 900’s

Toltec

-         968 – 1156 CE

-         Created large state by means of aggression

-         Conquered by invaders from North

Andean Societies in South America

-         1^st City in Americas, Canal (Peru), 2600 BCE

-         Weaving, pottery, metalworking

-         Heavily urbanized societies that were socially gratified

-         Domesticated llama

-         Polytheistic

-         Societies:

·        Chouin

·        Mocho

·        Tiahanaco and Huari

·        China

 

North American Cultures

-Adena (500 B.C.E-100 C.E.)

-Hopewell (100-400)

-Mississippian (700-1500)

            *All Three in Ohio/Mississippi River Valleys

            *loose confederations

            *few large urban centers (Cahokia)

            *giant earth mammals (ceremonial)

-Anasazi

            -700 B.C.E SW

            -elaborate cliff dwellings

 

Cultural Diffusion: 200-600

            -trade routes flourished

            -merchants would spend nights with different pastoral communities, spread culture

            -merchants/invaders spread:

Disease:

      -Mongols- Black Death in China

      -Rome and China: Measles and smallpox

Religion

      -     Buddhism-East and South Eastern Asia

-         Christianity- Europe- 600, Britain

 

-         Entire groups on the move

                  -Angles and Saxons in Britain

                  -Hans in India

                  -China and East Asia unaffected on large scale.

 

Islam

-Mohammad- Mecca(630)- Medina(622)

-Qu’ran

-5 pillars

-Hijna

-Ka’ba

Muhammad died 632-Abu Bahr takes over

Caliphus-Abu Bahr, Ures, Uthman, and Ali

 

Umayyad Dynasty

-Damascus

-favored Arabs

-Standard monetary unit(gold/silver)

-“encouraged” people to be Muslim(non-Muslims paid a tax)

-732, Iberian Peninsula, S Italy

            -Charles Mantel, stopped Muslim advance to Paris

-Shiite/Suri split            (battle of tours)

-liked Arabs

 

Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258)

-Golden age- 800’s

-Baghdad

            -big on trade-established credit system

            -steel

            -medicine-Mohammad al-razi, red. Enciclopedia

            -math stuff they got from India; algebra

            -preserved Western Culture!

                        -translated Greek/Roman texts to Arabic

-Levant-Syria, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon

            -Christians found their new staff in Levant during Crusades

            -similar to Romans in that tolerant of conquered peoples(persecuted Jesus/Christians)

            -very flexible religion

            -emphasized personal relationship with Allah, not ritualistic, very adaptable

-Sufis- mystic Islamics-good missionaries

 

Women and Islam

-prior to Islam women in Arabia:

            -viewed ad property

            -little or no rights

            -lost downy in divorce

            -female infanticide

 

After Qu’ran (651-652)

            -remained subservient, but with dignity

            -considered equal before Allah

            -kept downy in divorce

            -men could have four wives as long as they provided will and treated equally

            -legally treated unfairly

            -veiled in public-began with Mesopotamia and Persia, Islam adopted/ adapted

            -duty was to family-well protected within family

            -more respected than before

 

Fall of Islamic Empire

-endured many internal struggles

-not cause for fall though

-1258, Mongols arrive, sack Baghdad

-smart people fled to Egypt

 

Europe and the Byzantines

Review- 286- Rome splits

            -313-Christianity accepted

            -330- Constantine converts- reunites empire

            -395- split again (Byzantine)

            -1054- Christianity splits (Catholicism, E orthodox)

 

The Byzantines

-Greek language

-stable currency

-highly centralized/secularized

-orthodox Christianity

-distinctive architectural

-absolute rule, especially with economy

            -used silk producing techniques from China

            -monopolized

-Justinian- 527-65- Codified laws

            -flourishing of arts/sciences

-Russia went largely unaffected by reformation-then Russian citizens lack tradition/example of questioning authorities as much as westerners docs treatment of women have to do with progress in civilizing (converting form hunter-gatherer to fixed society)

 

Orthodox Church

-ruled by secular leader, not Pope

-allowed use of vernacular, not Latin

-disagreed with Catholics over ……..priests worrying, use at vernacular

-very non centralized, more adaptive

            -allowed local ancestors to merge with Christianity

 

Middle Ages

West                                                    East

-centralized power with                         political unity (secular with religion attached)

Pope and small feudal kingdoms

                                   

Impact of Orthodoxy in Russia: Feast in the East

-         9^th Century: St. Cyril (For Your Eyes Only)

·        used Greek Alphabet to create Slavic language

·        converted Slavs from outside Byzantine (areas not ruled by, but influenced by Byz.)

-         Vladimir- Kievan prince – converted to Orthodoxy ‘cuz he could ead what he wanted, when he wanted, adaptive!

-         Russia went Orthodox, followed Byzantine (Persian, Greek, Romanish, Eastern European) traditions w/ Mongol influence = Russia is different from other superpowers who followed Roman tradition.

 

The Franks vs. the Muslims

-         Franks – Germanic tribe

·        united under King Clovis in 5^th cent.

·        Converted to Catholicism

·        Capital in Paris

·        Empire divided b/w sons after death

·        Solidified people of W. Europe under common culture

·        Easy to unify against Muslims (Charles Martel, defeated Muslims in Battle of Tours)

-         Carolingian Dynasty

·        Charles Martel

·        son  of Pepin, had succession certified by Pope, not cool

·        son of Charlemagne

·        962, HRE, Otto the Great

·        Charlemagne didn’t levy taxes, made empire weaker

·        Treaty of Verdan 843, empire split b/w Charlemagne’s grandson’s

·        Vikings & Magyars invaded several times, but converted to Christianity

·        Recurring trend of invaders merging w/ civilization & merging into common one in WE based on religion

 

Feudalism

-         Vassals – lesser lords

-         Fiefs – estates granted to vassals

-         Three-field system

-         “Great Clearing” – clearing of forests for farmland during Middle Ages

-         Agricultural surpluses created specialization of labour (much like ancient civilizations)

-         Code of Chivarly

-         Prigmogeniture

      * Women had few rights, viewed as property
- serfs (Peasants)

·        Arabs (Abbassid Caliphate) very worldly

·        Feudal Europeans very provincial

-         Bangkars – middle class merchants

-         Hanseatic League

Big Idea: As food production increased, people became skilled in other trades, which led to urbanization cities becoming interdependent which leads to nationhood

 

-         Crusades

-         Heresies

-         Scholasticism

-         Pope Innocent III, strict doctrine, unsuccessful 4^th crusade, short-lived Latin Empire

-         Pope Gregory IX, Inquisition

·        Universal Church, Church Militant

-         Thomas Aquinas – Summa Theologica

·        Faith, reason not in conflict

 

Nation-States

Germany

-         Not unified

-         Hanseatic League

-         HRE

England

-         William the Conquereor

-         Magna Carta

France

-         987, King Hugh Capet rules small area around Paris

-         French territory expanded over couple 100 years

-         England ruled lots of France

-         Joan of Arc, Battle of Orleans

-         Hundred Years’ War (1337 – 1453)

-         Bourbons (Louis IX)

Spain

-         Ferdinand and Isabella, 1469

-         Reconquista

-         Inquisition

Russia

-         1242, succumb ot Tartans

-         Princess of Muscovy

-         Ivan III, Czar, 3^rd Rome

-         Ivan the Terrible

China

-         T’ang begins ruling 618

-         Emperor Xuanzong

-         907, too big, collapses

-         960, Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu

-         Long period of peace & prosperity (Golden Age)

-         Fall to Jarchem à fall to Mongols

-         1279 Mongols establish Yuan Dynasty

-         1368 Ming Dynasty, traditional Chinese rule

-                                 -T’ang was big on poetry

-                                 -Song developed printing press (encyclopedia, dictionary…)

-                                 -stability in China due to civil service

-                                             -paper money, credit

-                                             -infrastructure

-         600-1200 population up due to intro of Champs rice (fast ripening) from Vietnam

-         Iron production is up, gun powder, compass, jurks(ships)

 

Women in China

-         1^st empress (T’ang) Wa Zhao

-         Foot binding

-         Very much like feudal European beliefs (weaker sex, possessism)

 

Religion in China

-         Influenced by many after fall of Han

-         -Nestrorians

-         Manicheans

-         Zoroastrians

-         Islam

-         Buddhism won

-                     -Confucianists thought that it drained treasury and work pool

-                     -Daoists saw it as rival

-         Mid 800’s Emperor Wuzong persecuted Buddhists, destroyed monostaries, influence went down

 

Japan

-         400’s Yamato clan (all emperors came from)

-         Shintoism – “the way of the Gods”

-         Kami – nature, way of nature

-         Goal is to become part of kami by following rituals

-         Yamato clan claims emperor is descendent of sun goddess à divinely appointed (sound familiar?)

 

Influence from China

- 522 Buddhist missionaries arrive, bring Chinese culture

- Buddhism spread but people were Shinto at the same time

- early 7^th century, Prince Shotoku adopts bureaucratical, legal reforms from T’ang, Chinese influence is up

- enacted after his death, Taika Reforms 645

- Japan wasn’t a Little China, rejected Confucianism because in Japan it was about birth, not ability

 

The Fujiwara: At home in Heian

-         794, capitol moved to Heian (From Nara)

-         Aristocratic influence is up

-         Fujiwara ruled with emperor as figurehead

-         Golden age under Fujiwara (especially lit.)

-         Aristocrats gained more and more power à feudalism (same time as Europe, but independently)

 

Japanese Feudalism

-         1192, Yoritomo Miramoto appointed Shogun (chief general) ruled with emperor as figurehead

-         Below below Shogun, daimyo, huge landowners, (like European lords), hierarchy band by land – for loyalty exchange

-         Code of Bushide

-         Japanese women lost all freedom

 

Compare and Contrast: Japanese and European Feudalism

-         similar in political and social structure, human code

-         different in legal arrangement and treatment of women

-         Europe feudal was a contract, in Japan it was understanding associated with birth rank

-         Both systems were based on culture

 

India

-         Muslim invasions of NW India (Pakistan) began in 700’s

-         1000, Muslims invade India

-         1022, Afghan warlords annexed Indian province of Punjap

-         1206, capture Delhi

 

The Delhi Sultanate

-         established  1206

-         ruled by Muhammad Ghuri (assass. 1206)

-         ruled by sultan Iltutrisk

-         introduced Islam to India

-         Muslims didn’t like Hinduism

-         Reached height under Muhammad ibn Tughluq (1323-37)

-         Began shrinking afterwards (sontarme states broke away)

-         Many Hindus converted, some persecuted

-         Some Hindu shrines destroyed

-         Built mosques, universities

-         Women treated better

-         S. India most likely remained Hindu

-         Part of Abbasid Caliphate until Baghdad sacked (1258)

-         Mongol invasion 1398 – Timur Lang

-                     Sacked Delhi, left 1399

-         Sultanate restored but weak

-         1520’s succumbed to new invaders from North

 

The Mongols

-         nomadic cavalrymen

-         internal problems (disunity) prevented earlier growth

-         early 1200’s, Genghis Khan united Mongols, he was a superb organizer and military leader

-         no culture just language and violent traditions

-         1234, Genghis led invasion of China

-         Split into hordes

-         Golden Horde in Russia

-         Kublai Khan in China

-         Didn’t allow Mongols to mix with Chinese

-         1279 Yuan Dynasty

-         1368 booted out, Ming Dynasty had traditional Chinese rule

-         Invasions characterized by violence followed by prosperity (Pax Mongolica)

-         1258,  sacked Baghdad à Islam went to Egypt

-         Mongols mixed with Muslims

 

Impact of Mongols

-         allowed  other people’s cultures to spread

-         by 1450 most of Eurasia linked by trade from unity under Mongols

-         made Russia different from Europe

-         Russians always looked East until Pyota Veliky

-         Magyars in Hungary, Fins, Estonians

 

Developments in Africa

-         Egypt

-         Carthage and Phoenician colony

-         Punic Wars

 

East Africa

Kush

-         same time as Egypt

-         S. Nile, Red Sea area

-         Conquered Egypt ca. 750 B.C.E.

-         Less than 100 years later,  went back to Capitol (Meroe)

-         Meroe – Iron works and trade

-         Went into decline ca. 200 C.E.

 

Axam

-         Gulf of Aden, Red Sea coast (Ethiopia)

-         Never conquered – traded gold and ivory a lot

-         4^th century – Christianity

-         7^th century – Islam

-         Illustrates how they were constantly in contact with other cultures

 

West Africa

Ghana (800-1000)

-         lots of gold

-         met Muslims in Sahara looking for NaCl

-         brought Islam to Mali

-         subjected to Holy War

-         defeated Islamic forces but too weak to continue

 

Mali

-         Mausa Musa built capitol at Timbuktu

-         1307 – pilgrimage à Mecca brought a lot of people to gold

 

Songhai

-         mid-fifteenth century

-         Sonni Ali conquered everyone (including Mali)

-         Lasted until about 1600

-         Major culture center with university that drew lots of Islamic scholars

 

African Arts

-         bid on oral literature

-         sculpture from pottery and broze

-         Benin culture (near Nigeria) mastered bronze sculpting