Africa
Americas
Asia
Middle East
Europe
100
This vast desert separated Africa from the rest of the world, but hardy animals like camels made it possible for brave merchants to trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean world.
What is the Sahara?
100
This empire built the largest civilization in South America, stretching thousands of miles along its western coast.
Who are the Incas?
100
This valuable Chinese cloth was sold for great sums of money throughout the rest of the world.
What is silk?
100
Many of these Muslim places of worship still survive from the late middle ages.
What are mosques?
100
These farmers were able to engage in trade and small business activities, but were still required to live and work on their lord's property.
Who were peasants (or serfs)?
200
This mineral nutrient was so valuable to Roman and medieval traders that they paid West Africans handsomely to sell it to them.
What is salt?
200
These Mesoamerican peoples developed a unified civilization over a thousand years ago, but were eventually subjugated by stronger Aztec armies.
Who are the Mayans?
200
This region of Asia would one day become influential, but remained relatively isolated during the Middle Ages since it was constantly consumed by fighting between rival daimyos.
What is Japan?
200
These Turkish rulers took control of the old lands of the Eastern Roman empire, forming a new, powerful kingdom that could even threaten Europe.
Who are the Ottomans?
200
The oldest of these institutions of higher learning were developed by the medieval church.
What are universities?
300
This great West African kingdom was the final major power in the region, losing control over its trade wealth once European sailors entered the picture.
What is Songhai?
300
The foothills of this great mountain range were the homeland for South America's greatest native civilization.
What are the Andes?
300
These famous plates, vases, and other fine "china" were, unsurprisingly, produced throughout medieval China.
What is porcelain?
300
Ulugh Beg built one of these scientific structures in Samarkand to study the stars and planets.
What is an observatory?
300
This social system bound farmers to their land, forced knights to fight in constant wars, and organized nearly every other aspect of medieval life in Europe.
What is feudalism?
400
This fantastically wealthy medieval king gave away huge quantities of gold to the poor on his pilgrimage to Mecca.
Who was Mansa Musa?
400
This Mesoamerican game challenged players to hit a ball through a ring on a wall without using their arms or legs to move it.
What is pok-ta-pok?
400
This huge walled section of Beijing was built during the 1400s to house the emperor, his family, and officials.
What is the Forbidden City?
400
These warriors - former slaves and mercenaries from throughout the world - joined together to defeat the Mongols and take over Egypt's government in the 1200s.
Who are the Mamluks?
400
Many of Europe's wealthiest cities and merchant guilds developed in the lands of this Central European power.
What is the Holy Roman Empire?
500
This was the first major kingdom to unite the major trading cities in West Africa.
What is Ghana?
500
This Aztec capital in the Mexihco valley eventually became the capital of New Spain (later Mexico).
What is Tenochtitlan?
500
This dynasty took over from the Mongols in the early 1300s, ushering in a new era of construction, trade, and exploration in medieval China.
Who are the Ming?
500
This Turkic dynasty ruled Persia for over a century, focusing on expanding trade, art, and scientific advancement in Central Asia.
Who are the Timurids?
500
Medieval Europeans drained huge swathes of these wetlands to open up new pastures and farmlands for growing populations.
What are marshes?