States & Empires (Political Developments)
This dynasty ruled China from 960–1279 and expanded the civil service exam system.
What is the Song Dynasty?
This branch of Buddhism became popular along the Silk Roads and blended local traditions.
What is Mahayana Buddhism?
This “peace” under Mongol rule revitalized the Silk Roads.
What is the Pax Mongolica?
This Chinese cash-crop from Vietnam boosted population growth.
What is Champa rice?
He was the most famous Venetian traveler who wrote about the Mongol Yuan court.
Who is Marco Polo?
This West African empire grew rich from gold and salt trade and was ruled by Mansa Musa.
What is Mali?
This faith spread into West Africa through merchants, not conquest.
What is Islam?
This innovation allowed merchants to travel across deserts with heavier loads.
What is the camel saddle?
This Chinese invention revolutionized warfare and spread to Europe.
What is gunpowder?
This Ming Dynasty admiral led seven voyages across the Indian Ocean.
Who is Zheng He?
This empire replaced the Abbasids in Persia and was ruled by Mongol khans.
What is the Ilkhanate?
This philosophy blended Confucian ethics with Buddhist and Daoist ideas.
This North African traveler described Mali as wealthy and well-organized during his visit, providing one of the most detailed outsider accounts of West Africa.
Who is Ibn Battuta?
This navigation tool, borrowed from the Arabs, helped sailors determine latitude.
What is the astrolabe?
This city in West Africa became a center of Islamic learning, with libraries and universities that attracted scholars from across the Muslim world.
What is Timbuktu?
This Southeast Asian empire built Angkor Wat as both a Hindu and later Buddhist site.
What is the Khmer Empire?
This Buddhist tradition, which emerged in China, emphasized meditation and discipline, blending elements of Daoism with imported Mahayana ideas.
What is Zen Buddhism?
This Indian port city was a key hub in Indian Ocean trade, attracting merchants from across Afro-Eurasia.
What is Calicut?
This technological transfer from the Mongols to Europe revolutionized record-keeping and communication, helping lay the foundation for the Renaissance.
What is paper-making / printing technology?
This Southeast Asian maritime kingdom (7th–13th c.) controlled the Strait of Malacca and grew wealthy by taxing passing ships before being replaced by Majapahit.
What is Srivijaya?
This Muslim dynasty in South Asia (1206–1526) controlled trade routes and spread Islam, but faced constant resistance from Hindu kingdoms.
What is the Delhi Sultanate?
This Jewish philosopher from Spain reconciled religion with Aristotelian philosophy.
Who is Maimonides?
This East African trade city became wealthy by exporting gold and ivory.
What is Kilwa?
This type of sailing technology used triangular sails to harness monsoon winds.
What is the lateen sail?
This Central Asian intellectual center thrived under Mongol patronage, attracting scholars and merchants, and is often described as a “crossroads of cultures.”
What is Samarkand?