Unit 1
What is a meritocracy?
A meritocracy is China's bureaucratic system. A meritocracy is based of skill and fairness versus the Divine Right of Kings. China required a Civil Service Exam to determine whether or not a person qualifies. This opened up chances for the less fortunate but good potential filled people
What is the silk road?
A system of linked trade networks. The extended from the Mediterranean Sea to Eastern China. The nomad population was very high along the silk road. They traded foods, rare animals, religion, and diseases.
What are the three gunpowder empires?
The Ottoman Empire, The Mughal Empire, and The Safavid Empire.
What is cartography?
Cartography is the act of mapmaking and the knowledge of current and wind patterns.
Who is Eli Whitney? Who is Baron Montesquieu?
Whitney came up with the idea of "interchangeable parts" during the industrial revolution. Montesquieu came up the idea of of "Separation of Powers."
What is a Social Hierarchy? What is the social hierarchy ladder in China?
A social hierarchy is people or groups ranked on status. Merchants -> Pheasants -> Nobility -> Scholar Gentry -> Emperor
What is a camel caravan? What is the reason for these?
A camel caravan is a group of many people on camels who are traveling together. Theives were plentiful along the silk road and if the people are together there is a lower chance of robbery. #SafteyInNumbers
What is absolutism?
Absolutism gave the central government unlimited power. It was especially good for the monarchs and dictators.
What is Christopher Columbus most known for?
Columbus is known for the his determination to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but he never did. Instead, he stumbled upon the Americas.
Which enlightenment thinker believed in Life, Liberty, and Property.
John Locke
What is fuedalism?
A system of exchanges of land for loyalty. European civilization in the Middle Ages was characterized by this.
Who are the Mongols? Why/How did they build the largest empire?
The Mongols are nomads. Their chosen leader is Genghis Khan. They were found in central Asia where there is a lack of water and many steeps. The Mongol's focused on their military: they would train young boys early and they had a unique way of fighting on horseback with bows. This unique way helped them become great fighters. Genghis Khan also did not care about religion and would accept anyone of any religion as long as it isn't threatening.
Who was the best leader of the Mughal Empire? Who was the worst?
Akbar was the best leader because the continued Babur's expansion until India was almost completely taken over. He focused on a centralized government. Akbar also had a high tolerance level. The worst leader of the Mughal Empire was Aurangzeb because he focused on killing everyone that was not Muslim.
Who is John Cabot?
Sponsored by England, he went on a voyage to North America. His purpose was to find a sea route to the East going west from Europe. He claimed land in Canada for Britain and established a shorter, more northerly route across the Atlantic than Columbus's route.
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
It gave France the idea that since the colonists won against Britain, they can to. The Declaration freed the colonists from Great Britain.
List the five pillars of Islam.
1. Praise Allah (Shahada)
2. Pray five times per day (Salat)
3. Give Charity directly to the lesser fortunate (Zakat)
4. Do not eat during Ramadan, one day in month (Sawn)
5. Go to Mecca at least once in a lifetime to pray, pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
What is the Indian Ocean Trade routes? How did the monsoon trade winds play a role?
They bought and traded things in bulk. The route connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. Monsoon trade winds were either beneficial if one knew about them or harmful if unknown. The winds could be used for speed.
What is the Scientific Revolution? Who are the important people?
The scientific revolution was a time of change in the scientific view points. The important people during the scientific revolution were Nicolaus Copernicus, he developed the theory of everything revolving around the sun, Galileo Galilei, he improved the telescope and he supported Copernicus' idea, Francis Bacon, empiricism, Rene Descartes, "everything should be doubted until proven with evidence."
What did Hernan Cortes do?
Hernan Cortez wiped out the Aztec empire. Cortez brought smallpox with him and none of the people that he gave them to were immune so it affected them worse.
What is the tennis court vote?
The third estates (peasants) got together and said that they are more powerful than the first estate because of their numbers. They wanted a new constitution (Life! Liberty! Fraternity!).
“What impact does the Civil Service Exam have on the social culture of Song Dynasty China”(who did this impact the most)?
The Civil Service Exam impacted the social culture of the Song Dynasty by no longer allowing the rich person with no skills for the job to be in the dynasty. It impacted the lower status people because they now have a chance to show they deserve the spot.
The AMSCO Word History book states, "One of emperor Song Taizu's great achievements was that he expanded the educational opportunities to young men of the lower economic classes so they could score well on the civil service exams" (3).
The lower status people began to be able or have access to learning and education. They were able to be ready for the exam. This exam has made China's government better because the people now have the right qualifications.
List and describe two key factors that led the Mongols to claim land from Poland to the far east coast of China ?
Two key factors that led the Mongols to claim land from Poland to the east coast of China are their military strategies and their ability to adapt.
The AMSCO World History states, "Mongolian soldiers were strong riders and proficient with the short bow" (86).
The Mongolians had an efficient and unique way of fighting, using horseback and bows. This leads to an unexpected and unlearned way of fighting leaving their enemies helpless.
How did Akbar promote tolerance in the Mughal Empire?
Akbar promoted tolerance in the Mughal Empire by continuing to expand land after Babur. Akbar was very religiously tolerant and accepted that other religions' opinions were also true and not just his own. Akbar also conducted a strong central government.
The AMSCO World History book states, "Akbar, Babur's grandson, achieved grand religious and political goals" (149).
A strong central government can lead to having a good military and a good economy because of taxes. He hires Hindus and Christians into his judicial courts, he also married a Hindu woman (he was Muslim).
What are the defining characteristics of someone serving as an indentured servant?
The defining characteristics of someone serving as an indentured servant is signing an indentures which are contracts that gives themselves away for seven years in turn for materials, land, or transportation. They are not payed but they are housed, clothed, and fed.
The AMSCO World History book states, "-indentured servitude, arrangements through which servants contracted to work for a specified period of years in exchange for passage" (218).
American plantations required a lot of work and relied on labor systems such as indentured servitude. Most of the servants never actually got what they were promised. Indentured servitude was better than slavery because the people had a choice to sign the contract and were able to have a home and safety. Slavery stole people from their homes and made them work till death.
What is the “Cult of Domesticity” and how did it impact the thoughts of Mary Wollstonecraft?
The Cult of Domesticity is where people believe that women belong at the house and should listen to and take of their husbands. Women were meant to just stay at home and do household responsibilities like taking care of the children and cooking. Mary Wollstonecraft believed the opposite of what the cult believed. She believed women do not get chances to show their intelligence because they are plucked out of school before they can really even learn anything important. "Women can do anything mean can do" was her mindset.
The AMSCO World History book states that Wollstonecraft "argued that females should receive the same education as males" (279).
Mary belived it wasn't fair that females do not get the same opportunities. She also published a book called A Vindication of the Rights of Women. She argued for universal education.