Fall of Classical Civilizations
Both the Han Dynasty and Western Roman Empire collapsed partly due to this internal problem that weakened the government.
What is political corruption/high taxes/internal instability?
This trade route connected West Africa to North Africa and the Mediterranean.
What is the Trans-Saharan trade route?
This tax paid by non-Muslims helped discourage early mass conversions.
What is jizya?
This system exchanged land for military service.
What is feudalism?
This emperor created a comprehensive law code.
Who is Justinian?
The Eastern Roman Empire survived while the Western Roman Empire collapsed because the East maintained this political feature.
What is centralized authority with a strong capital at Constantinople?
This ruler of Mali became famous for his gold-filled pilgrimage to Mecca.
Who is Mansa Musa?
The Umayyad Caliphate expanded Islam primarily through this method.
What is military conquest?
This economic system organized peasants and lords around agricultural estates.
What is manorialism?
This religious tradition developed in the Byzantine Empire.
What is Eastern Orthodox Christianity?
Nomadic invasions such as those by Germanic tribes and the Xiongnu contributed to the collapse of these empires by weakening border security.
What are Rome and Han China?
Songhai replaced Mali by continuing control of this economic resource.
What is gold and salt trade?
The Abbasids moved the capital to this city, helping create a center of learning.
What is Baghdad?
The Pope crowned this Frankish ruler Emperor in 800 CE.
Who is Charlemagne?
The Byzantine political system where the emperor controlled church and state.
What is Caesaropapism?
Both the Gupta Empire and Western Roman Empire declined partly due to this elite social problem.
What is increased social inequality/elite dominance?
Camel caravans allowed African traders to overcome this environmental barrier.
What is the Sahara Desert?
Early Islamic tolerance allowed Muslims and Christians to share religious spaces, showing this policy.
What is religious tolerance?
The Catholic Church provided unity in Europe by preserving this language.
What is Latin?
The Justinian Code shows continuity of this Roman tradition.
What is codified law/legal bureaucracy?
Explain ONE similarity between the fall of Rome and the fall of Han China.
Both suffered from corruption and high taxes
Both faced invasions
Both experienced weakened central authority
The transition from Mali to Songhai best demonstrates this historical pattern.
What is continuity of state-building based on control of trade?
Explain ONE reason Arab elites initially resisted mass conversion.
Preserve tax revenue
Maintain elite privilege
Control political power
Explain ONE way the Roman Catholic Church provided unity in medieval Europe.
Shared beliefs
Church courts
Education
Preservation of classical knowledge
Explain ONE difference between Byzantine government and Western European political systems.
Byzantium was centralized
Western Europe was feudal and decentralized
Emperor had religious authority