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Chinese philosophical system that focuses on creating an orderly and stable society by adhering to the five fundamental relationships. Education is highly valued in this philosophy.
Confucianism
Also known as the Aztec, these people built their capital at Tenochtitlan in central Mexico. They managed their territory, gained through warfare, by using the tribute system. Their religion relied on human sacrifice.
Mexica
The belief that there is only one god
monotheism
A west African empire founded in ca. 1200 CE and supported by trade, especially of gold, over the Trans-Saharan route. The leaders of this empire were Muslim, but some also incorporated aspects of traditional African religion to their rule.
Mali Empire
A monotheistic religion founded by Muhammad. Focuses on submission to Allah and encourages a pilgrimage to Mecca (called a "hajj") for all believers. The teachings of this religion are recorded in the Qur'an.
Islam
Ruled the Mali Empire from 1312 to 1337 CE. He became famous for his hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, during which travelled across north Africa with hundreds of servants and camels carrying piles of gold.
Mansa Musa
A society in which men hold power over women within the family, in the government, and/or in the economic system.
patriarchy
The political and social hierarchy of Europe (and Japan) during the Middle Ages. This system was based on loyalty to a king who granted land, called a fief or manor, to nobles in exchange for military service. The hierarchy also included vassals, knights, free peasants, and serfs.
feudalism
Refers to the period from about 500 to 1450 CE in Europe, marked by political decentralization and a strict social hierarchy. Europe was relatively undeveloped at this time, especially when compared to Asia and the Middle East, although this began to change around 1100 CE as Europe made more contact with the rest of Eurasia.
Middle Ages
A monotheistic religion based on the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth; followers of this religion believe that he is the son of God. The goal of this religion is to reach salvation through worshipping God and practicing love and service to others. This religion started in the Middle East then spread throughout Europe.
Christianity
A merchant from the Middle East, he founded Islam in the 7th century CE.
Muhammad
An overland trade route that spanned Eurasia, connecting the Mediterranean region to East Asia. In addition to a trade in luxury goods, cultural ideas, new technologies, and disease also spread along this trade route.
Silk Road
In Confucianism, the duty of children to respect and obey their parents and other elders.
filial piety
This disease spread to Europe from China over trade routes. In some parts of Europe it killed as many as 60% of people, causing a decline in population which led to the end of the feudal system and questioning of religion, specifically Catholicism.
bubonic plague
Located in modern-day Peru, this civilization managed their huge territory with a well-organized bureaucracy, a record-keeping device called a quipu, and a system of roads known as the Carpa Nan. As this civilization expanded, conquered people were required to assimilate to the dominant language and culture.
Inca
This collaborative organization of trade guilds was founded in Germany around 1200 CE. It dominated Northern European trade until the mid-1400s and helped lead to the rise of an urban middle class, known as the burghers.
Hanseatic League
Unified the Mongol tribes in 1207. Under his leadership, the Mongol Empire expanded rapidly throughout Eurasia.
Genghis Khan
This monotheistic religion believes that God has a covenant, or promise, with his chosen people, the Hebrews. In exchange for honoring and serving God, the Hebrews believe that God will help them reach heaven. Diaspora refers to the forced migration of the Hebrews out of the Middle East, where their religion was founded.
Judaism
A syncretic faith that integrated Buddhist thought about the soul and the individual with Confucian ideas about filial piety and fulfilling one's role in society. This new tradition was popular during the Song Dynasty.
Neo-Confucianism
Starting in the 400s and 500s C.E., trade across North Africa thrived thanks to an organized network of camel caravans carrying gold, salt, cloth, slaves, and other valuables. This allowed the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali to thrive, and as Islam spread to Africa, allowed its teachings to impact the lives of kings and traders.
Trans-Saharan Trade
A Chinese admiral during the Ming Dynasty, he led voyages of the treasure ships throughout the Indian Ocean to spread China's influence as far as Africa and Southeast Asia.
Zheng He
The traditional religion of Japan. An animist faith that believes in kami, or nature spirits, that interact with the human world.
Shinto
This religion from south Asia emphasizes a cycle of rebirth which can be improved by following one's duty (dharma). Dharma is determined by one's place in the caste system, or social hierarchy, of the religion. This religion's goal is to reach moksha, or freedom from rebirth
Hinduism
These people at the lowest level of feudalism's social hierarchy had very few rights. They were tied to the land of the manor and couldn't leave without their lord's permission. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, these people began to revolt against this strict social system.
Serfs
Introduced to China from Vietnam, this crop allowed the Chinese to dramatically increase their agricultural surplus, leading to significant population growth during the Song Dynasty.
champa rice
an Arabic term that means the "house of Islam," it refers to lands under Muslim rule
Dar al-Islam
A tax paid by non-Muslims living in the Dar al-Islam. Many people converted to Islam in order to avoid paying this tax, strengthening the Muslim government.
jizya
A temple in Southeast Asia, built to show the power of the Khmer rule. Architecture was one of the main ways rulers were able to prove their strength to their subjects before 1450 CE.
Angkor Wat
The social hierarchy of Hinduism.
caste system
Maritime trade route that connected East Africa, the Middle East, and India. This trade route became more heavily used after the invention of naval technologies such as the astrolabe and lateen sail. Before 1450 this trade route was dominated by Muslim merchants.
Indian Ocean Trade
Used in China, this system of government relied on skilled officials. Because these government workers generally remained in their posts even if the emperor changed, this was a very stable form of government.
bureaucracy
This Muslim empire with their capital at Baghdad was known for their scientific and artistic achievements which laid the foundations for the European Renaissance. This empire also developed many financial innovations, such as credit, which allowed for an expansion of trade.
Abbasid Caliphate
An east Asian nomadic tribe that unified vast portions of Eurasia during the early 1200s due to their superior ability with horses and archery.
Mongols
This kingdom, which gained their wealth by raising cattle and mining gold, is known for building a walled city in central Africa. They were involved in trade with the Swahili city-states, through which they were connected to the larger Indian Ocean trade.
Great Zimbabwe
A south Asian religion which attempts to explain why there is suffering in the world, as well as how to attain freedom from that suffering. The goal of the religion is to achieve nirvana, or enlightenment, by accepting the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path, a system for living virtuously.
Buddhism
East African city-states (such as Kilwa) founded by the Bantu people, with a language and culture heavily influenced by Muslim traders who were part of the Indian Ocean trade route. These city-states flourished as trade ports and were known for their coral architecture.
Swahili city-states
A difficult test based on Confucian (and later, Neo-Confucian) philosophy, used to determine who would become an official in the Chinese bureaucracy. All men could take the exam regardless of social status--earning a government job was based solely on merit. In reality, however, almost all men who took the test were wealthy.
civil service exam
System in which independent countries (Vietnam, Korea) and nomadic tribes in Asia acknowledged the supremacy of the Chinese emperor by sending ambassadors to the Chinese capital for an exchange of gifts. Helped keep peace in Asia without the need for warfare. Also used by the Aztec to control they territory they conquered.
tribute system
A Muslim state founded in India by Islamic invaders in 1206 CE. This state created universities, built mosques, and helped improve irrigation systems. But it was also sometimes intolerant of India's large Hindu population. Non-Muslims were forced to pay a tax and some Hindu temples were destroyed.
Delhi Sultanate
People who move from place to place, usually migrating with the seasons to find more bountiful areas for hunting and gathering
nomadic
A mystical form of Islam that stressed a personal relationship with Allah. Through tolerance and encouragement to create one's own form of worship, this branch of Islam gained many converts.
Sufism
Forced labor system in the Inca Empire which required men to contribute to public works, such as the system of roads called the Qhapac Nan. Men were often sent far away from their home villages to do this work and were required to speak in the Quechua languge.
mit'a system