AP WORLD SECTION 1 (1200-1450(

Four major trends of 1200–1450

• Stronger states/empires
• Increased trade and connectivity
• Cultural diffusion
• Economic growth and social hierarchy changes

Why did states become stronger in this era?

Better bureaucracies, improved military technology (gunpowder), and stronger centralized governments.

What helped increase global connectivity in this period

Trade networks, migration, nomadic movements (Mongols), and improved technology.

Most common form of government (1200–1450)

Nonrepresentative governments such as monarchies and oligarchies.

Feudalism

Decentralized political system where land is exchanged for military service.

Examples of regions with feudalism

Medieval Europe and Japan.

Mandate of Heaven

Chinese belief that a ruler’s authority comes from divine approval.

Civil service exams

Tests used in China to select government officials based on merit.

Pax Mongolica

Period of stability under Mongol rule that increased trade across Eurasia.

Dar al-Islam

Regions where Islam was practiced and Muslim rulers governed.

Sharia Law

Islamic legal system based on the Quran and Islamic traditions.

Mali Empire

West African empire known for gold trade and ruler Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa

Wealthy ruler of Mali famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for economic growth, bureaucracy, and technological innovation.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol dynasty in China founded by Kublai Khan.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that restored Chinese rule after Mongols.

Ottoman Empire

Powerful Islamic empire that captured Constantinople in 1453.

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican empire centered in Tenochtitlán known for tribute and military power.

Inca Empire

Andean empire centered in Cuzco known for road systems and the mit’a labor system.

Scholasticism

Medieval European philosophy that tried to reconcile Christianity with classical philosophy.

Renaissance Humanism

Revival of classical Greek and Roman learning in Europe.

Sufism

Mystical branch of Islam focused on spiritual connection with God.

Bhakti Movement

Hindu devotional movement emphasizing personal devotion to gods.

Neo-Confucianism

Revival of Confucian ideas mixed with Buddhist and Daoist beliefs.

Bushido

Japanese samurai code emphasizing honor, loyalty, and discipline.

Gunpowder

Chinese invention that spread across Eurasia and revolutionized warfare.

Magnetic Compass

Navigation tool invented in China that helped long-distance sea travel.

Astrolabe

Tool used to determine latitude for navigation.

Movable-type printing press

Technology that allowed faster production of books and spread knowledge.

Lateen sail

Triangular sail allowing ships to sail against the wind.

Silk Road

Network of overland trade routes connecting East Asia to Europe.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

Sea routes connecting Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes across the Sahara linking West Africa with North Africa.

Hanseatic League

Commercial alliance of cities that dominated Baltic and North Sea trade.

Guilds

Associations of craftsmen that regulated trade and production.

Patriarchy

Social system where men hold primary authority.

Serfdom

System where peasants are tied to land owned by nobles.

Caste System

Social hierarchy in Hindu society.

Mit’a System

Labor tax system used in the Inca Empire.

Diaspora

Community of people living outside their homeland.

Black Death

Bubonic plague pandemic that killed millions in the 1300s.

Champa Rice

Fast-growing rice variety from Vietnam that increased Chinese food production.

Chinampa Agriculture

Floating gardens used by the Aztecs to grow crops.

Terracing

Farming technique using stepped hillsides.

Little Ice Age

Period of cooling climate beginning around the 1300s.