AP World History
Unit 1: c. 1200-1450
The Global Tapestry
Main Ideas of the Unit:
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Throughout the world, religion played an important role in politically unifying certain regions and kingdoms
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As kingdoms grew larger & started bordering each other, they fostered cultural & trade relations with each other
Main Ideas of the Topic
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Song Dynasty used traditional Confucian methods to create an imperial bureaucracy to maintain its rule
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Chinese culture flourished & shaped neighboring regions' cultures (Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc.)
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Buddhism spread to East Asia & influenced a variety of schools & practices
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Song Dynasty's economy flourished & became more commercialized → More trade with South & Southeast Asia
Main Ideas of the Topic
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Muslim empires (such as Abbasid Caliphate) had many intellectual innovations (especially in science & math)
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Islam spread throughout Afro-Eurasia via to merchants & missionaries (especially Sufis)
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Trade flourished due to Middle East's prime location
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Many commercial innovations helped boost trade
Main Ideas of the Topic
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States in South & Southeast Asia remained stable based on their state religion and the Indian Ocean Trade Route
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Indian cultural traditions & religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam) shaped Southeast Asian kingdoms
Main Ideas of the Topic
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Kingdoms used religion to unify their population
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Had social hierarchies with religious and political rulers at the top, and agricultural laborers at the bottom
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Developed unique ways to maintain control of their empires
Main Ideas of the Topic
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Kingdoms & merchants adopted Islam (but still retained their indigenous beliefs) to have better relations with Islamic merchants
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Religion was defined on a local scale and supported the kinship model of African society
Main Ideas of the Topic
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Western Europe was politically fragmented with feudalism and decentralized monarchies
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The Catholic Church (centered in Rome) was the main source of unity throughout Western Europe
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As monarchies started centralizing, more people moved to the cities, sparking a commercial revolution