Unit 2

• The Safavids were an Islamic Empire whose art and architecture reflected the adoption of a Shi'a identity
• They invested significantly in their capitol building and decoration of shrines
• Cultural blending through migration, trade, and conquest was prominent in the Safavid Empire
• Under Shah Abbas, the Safavids had religious tolerance
• The Safavids followed a dynastic / Theocracy cycle
• The Safavids created artillery and other firearms to aid in battle
• Safavid Iran was known for having a mechanical clock
• Shi'a belief in the Safavid Empire dictated that the leader should follow the lineage of Prophet Muhammad's family
• Safavid silk was renowned for its high quality, with Europeans importing large volumes of these silks
• The Safavids produced one of the richest eras of art production in Islamic history, spanning arts from books to rugs and monumental architecture
• The Ottomans, an Islamic Empire, were founded by Osman and led by a Sultan
• Under Suleiman the Lawgiver, the Ottomans reached their golden age and made advancements in astronomy, mathematics, architecture, and medicine
• The Ottomans weaponized gunpowder and granted worship for Christians and Jews
• The Ottomans located major trade routes and created opportunities for contact with different cultures, accumulating great wealth
• The Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire
• The Ming Dynasty in China, after removing the Mongols, returned to the Confucian model and received the mandate of heaven
• Founded by Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty established a strong central government ruled by an emperor
• Successor Yongle moved the Chinese capital to Beijing and built the Forbidden City
• The Ming Dynasty repaired, rebuilt, and expanded the Great Wall of China
• The Ming Dynasty practiced religious diversity and returned to isolationism in 1433
• The Silk Roads were popular trading routes that facilitated the spread of different cultures and ideas
• Silk was a significant commodity traded along the Silk Roads, and it played a key role in the spread of Buddhism
• Cultural diffusion occurs when different cultures and ideas mix with each other, often facilitated by trade
• Trading was crucial for obtaining goods that were not locally available, connecting various cultures and societies
• The Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals were significant Islamic empires in Asia
• The Mughals, a Sunni Islamic empire, reached their golden age under Akbar and had a population of 100 million
• The Mughals were considered a gunpowder empire and built the Taj Mahal
• The Mughals had a diverse culture that included paintings, fabrics, religious freedom, illustrated books, and dagger handles
• The Mughals were followed by western traders like Portugal, France, and England, who established port cities for trade in modern-day India and Pakistan
• Islam spread through the Middle East via trade and military conquest, with the Ottoman Empire playing a role in its expansion
• The Bantu people, originating in modern-day Nigeria, migrated southward along the Congo River, impacting agriculture techniques, ironworking, and social/political organization
• The Zimbabwe Bantu, known for 'stone houses,' thrived in southern Africa, serving as middlemen in trade between gold miners and ivory hunters
• The Zulu empire, a branch of the southern Bantu, occupied most of the eastern plains and had close ties with the Swazi and Xhosa, being the largest ethnic group using clicking in their language
• Salt and gold were valuable commodities: salt was used for food preservation, while gold served as currency
• The Songhai Empire emerged after the decline of the Mali Empire, expanding their territory and controlling trade routes, with leaders like Sunni Ali and Askia Muhammad
• Ghana, Mali, and Songhai controlled trade routes in North West Africa, with Ghana minting the first gold coins and serving as middlemen in trade
• Pax Mongolica was a period of peace under Mongol rule, allowing religious freedom and safe trade along the Silk Road
• The Mongols were harsh conquerors but ruled peacefully, valuing achievements over family lineage and establishing political structures with leaders called Khans
• Footbinding in China was a painful beauty standard where girls' feet were bound to fit into smaller shoes, signifying social status and attractiveness
• Chinese innovations include acupuncture and gunpowder, initially used for fireworks