Dynasties
Occurring between 206 BCE and 220 CE. It's importance to AP world comes from its establishment of Confucianism, it's creation of the Silk Road, and it setting the precedent for a centralized bureaucracy.
What is the Han Dynasty?
Restored Han Chinese rule after the Mongols, built the Forbidden City, and initially funded maritime exploration (Zheng He) before moving toward isolationism.
What is the Ming Dynasty?
An ancient Chinese philosophy and religion emphasizing living in harmony with the Dao (The Way)—the natural, spontaneous flow of the universe. It advocates for wu wei(effortless action or non-interference), simplicity, and spontaneity, encouraging individuals to align with nature rather than resist it.
What is Daoism? (Taoism)
A system where the monarch has supreme authority (e.g., France under Louis XIV or modern-day Saudi Arabia).
Absolute Monarchy
The merging of different beliefs and cultures into something new
Syncretism
What is the Sui Dynasty
The final dynasty, founded by Manchu nomads. It saw massive territorial expansion but struggled with modernization and European imperialism in its later years.
What is the Qing Dynasty?
Prioritizes social stability and the preservation of established traditions, such as organized religion, the nuclear family, and existing social hierarchies.
Conservatism
A system where the monarch’s power is limited by a constitution (e.g., the United Kingdom)
Constitutional Monarchy
A person of combined European and Native American descent, primarily in Latin America.
Mestizos
This dynasty is known as the Chinese Golden age for Art, also this dynasty is important due to the Expansion of the Civil Service Exam and Tribute system
What is the Tang Dynasty?
T- This Dynasty A- Art Golden Age N- Nodding (Through Tribute) G- Guokao
Ren: Benevolence, humanity, or love for others, Li: Ritual, propriety, etiquette, and social norms, Yi: Righteousness or moral disposition to do good, Junzi: The concept of the "gentleman" or ideal person of virtue
What is Confucianism?
Emphasizes individual rights, personal freedom, and progress. It typically supports democratic governance and free-market capitalism.
Liberalism
A cultural or ethnic group that does not have its own independent country (e.g., the Kurds in Kurdistan).
Stateless Nation
A blend of Native American, African, and European influences found in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
Creole Culture
Known for economic revolution, commercialization, and key innovations (champa rice, magnetic compass, gunpowder). This Dynasty Introduced Neo-Confucianism and perfected the merit-based civil service exam, shifting power from hereditary aristocrats to scholar-gentry.
What is the Song Dynasty?
(Song due to the happy sings they were singing due to all the inventions)
It blended classic Confucian ethical concepts (filial piety, loyalty) with metaphysical questions about nature and the cosmos often explored in Daoism and Buddhism, Focuses on "eliminating personal desires" to align with universal heavenly principles.
What is Neo-Confucianism?
Focuses on social ownership and the reduction of economic inequality, often advocating for government intervention to ensure fair distribution of resources.
Socialism
Alliances where member states give up some sovereignty for a common purpose, often military or economic (e.g., NATO, Warsaw Pact, or the European Union).
Supranational Organizations
The Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita
Hinduism
Mongol-led dynasty (Kublai Khan) that disrupted traditional Chinese governance, allowed foreign advisors (Marco Polo), and connected China to the Eurasian-wide Mongol exchange system.
What is the Yuan Dynasty?
Buddhism is a 2,500-year-old religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in India, focusing on ending suffering (dukkha) and achieving enlightenment (nirvana). It teaches a "Middle Way" path of wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline (meditation) to break the cycle of karma and rebirth.
What is Buddhism?
A more radical form of socialism that aims for a classless society where the state or community owns all property and means of production.
Communism
A blend where the monarch retains significant political power alongside an elected government, such as in Morocco.
Mixed/Semi-Constitutional Monarchy
The Quran and the Hadith (sayings and traditions of the prophet Muhammad).
Islam