What trade route connected China to the Mediterranean, facilitating cultural exchange?
The Silk Road
What system organized society in Medieval Europe into lords, vassals, and serfs?
Feudalism
What mathematical concept was developed during the Islamic Golden Age?
Algebra
What tactics did the Mongols use to conquer vast territories across Asia?
Psychological warfare, superior cavalry tactics, and adaptability in battle.
What was the primary cause of the spread of the Black Death in the 14th century?
The movement of traders and armies along trade routes, particularly the Silk Road, which carried infected fleas on rats across regions.
Which ocean route was vital for trade between East Africa and Asia?
The Indian Ocean trade route
What was the role of the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages?
A central institution providing spiritual guidance, education, and political influence.
What was one major medical advancement during this period?
Development of hospitals and advanced surgical techniques.
Who was the founder of the Mongol Empire?
Genghis Khan
What were two social impacts of the Black Death on European society?
A significant reduction in the population, leading to labor shortages, and a weakening of the feudal system as surviving workers demanded higher wages and better conditions
What trade network connected North Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa and facilitated the exchange of goods?
The Trans-Saharan trade network
What series of religious wars aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land?
The Crusades
Name one notable literary work produced during the Islamic Golden Age.
One Thousand and One Nights (also known as Arabian Nights)
What was one significant effect of Mongol rule on trade across Asia?
Increased safety and stability along the Silk Road, which facilitated greater trade and cultural exchange.
How did the Black Death affect the labor market in Europe?
By creating a labor shortage that increased workers' bargaining power, leading to higher wages and improved working conditions?
What was one major cultural impact of the Silk Road on civilizations it connected?
The spread of religions, such as Buddhism, from India to East Asia
How did feudalism impact the political structure of Medieval Europe?
Decentralizing power, creating a hierarchy of loyalty between kings, nobles, and vassals.
How did the Islamic scholars contribute to the preservation of ancient knowledge?
Translating and preserving Greek, Persian, and Indian texts in Arabic
How did the Mongol Empire promote cultural exchange among the nations it controlled?
Encouraging the movement of merchants, artisans, and scholars across its vast territory, leading to the sharing of ideas, technologies, and religions.
What long-term consequences did the Black Death have on European population dynamics?
Slowed population growth for generations and a shift in demographics that eventually led to urbanization and social mobility.
Name one significant idea or product that spread from Asia to Europe via the Indian Ocean trade network.
The spice trade (such as pepper and cinnamon).
What was the primary purpose of the Magna Carta, signed in 1215?
Limit the power of the monarchy and establish legal rights for nobles.
What city was the center of learning and cultural exchange during the Islamic Golden Age?
Baghdad
What was the Pax Mongolica, and how did it affect trade during the Mongol Empire?
A period of peace and stability under Mongol rule that facilitated safe and prosperous trade across the Silk Road
How did the Black Death contribute to the decline of feudalism in Europe?
By drastically reducing the population, which empowered surviving peasants to demand higher wages and better living conditions, weakening the traditional feudal bonds.