APWH: Units 1 & 2

• China Dynasties:

  -1279-1368, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1368) collapsed and Emperor Hongwu started the Ming Dynasty.

  -By the 1640s, the Ming Dynasty had declined and been taken over by a peasant army, which established the short-lived Shun Dynasty. -The Manchu, a community of hunters, fishermen, and farmers from the lands to the northeast of China, soon ousted the Shun and established the Qing Dynasty.
• Effects of the Crusades

  • Total of four crusades spanning over a century
  • Jerusalem briefly conquered by Christian European forces (from the Muslims) in 1099
  • Sacking of Constantinople (Byzantine Empire), 1202-1204
  • Led to knowledge of the world beyond Western Europe as they encountered Byzantines and Islamic culture
  • This knowledge was lost when the Roman Empire collapsed (c. 400 CE)
  • Led to desire for Eastern goods and Greco-Roman learning
  • Introduced the Black Death to Europe via these trade routes
  • United European feudal groups who were fighting each other to then fight a common cause (the Muslims in the Holy Land)
  • Ideas that were preserved by the Muslims later led to the Renaissance (1300-1700)
• The black death effects:

  • Political, social, and religious upheaval from the death of ⅓ of the population
  • Decline in urbanization
  • Affected China, North Africa, Middle East, and Europe, but hit Europe the hardest
  • Created cult religions
  • Rise of cynicism
  • Dysfunctional governments and legal systems
  • Persecution of Jews as scapegoats for the disease
  • Decrease in population led to higher wages in Europe due to scarcity of workers (higher wages led to the end of feudalism)
• Spread of Islam Effects

  • Creation of Caliphates (Islamic Empires)
  • Spread of Arabic language and Arabic culture, architecture, arts
  • Promoted science and medicine
  • Spread literacy as people (men and women) were expected to read the Quran
  • Increased and strengthened trade networks (especially Indian Ocean and trans-Saharan)
  • North African conversions led to prosperity for cities along the routes to Mecca
  • Increased trade and prosperity in Middle East and Africa (North and East Africa)
  • Increased demand for African slaves as Muslims prohibited enslaving Jews, Christians, or other Muslims
  • Syncretic beliefs such Sikhism - syncretism with African traditions and Bantu language
  • Conversion of Hindus in India and Buddhists in Southeast Asia
  • Sunni & Shiite split / schism
  • Veiling and seclusion of women as Islam adapted to Persian beliefs and practices (fully enforced by 800 CE)
• Caliphates (Islamic Empires)

  • Umayyad
  • Abbasid
• Abbasid conquered Spain (Al-Andalus)
• Mali (replaced by Songhai), Swahili city-states converted to Islam
• Mongols Effects


  • Collected tribute from Russia
  • Disbanded the Civil Service Exam in China
  • Conquered: Middle East (Ilkhanate) by destroying the Abbasid Caliph and sacking/destroying Baghdad, Russia tribute state (Khanate of the Golden Horde), and China (Yuan Dynasty)
  • After the death of Genghis Khan, the creation of Khanates, a new type of political system
  • Decimation of ⅓ of European population
  • Spread of the Black Plague in the 14th century
  • Increased exchange of luxury goods from the East (Silk, porcelain, spices)
  • Reinstatement and protection of Silk Road trade
  • Creation of the largest land empire in history
  • Spread of Chinese technology (moveable type, magnetic compass, gunpowder) to the West
  • Pax Mongolica - Mongolian peace that led to stability and prosperity
• Reinstatement and protection of Silk Road trade

  Led to creation of the largest land empire in history
• Viking Attacks effects:

  • Contributed to decentralization (feudalism) and chaos in Europe and Russia
  • Decrease in Western European population
  • Decline of agriculture, trade, and general prosperity due to fear
  • Settled briefly in North America (Vinland) and established settlements aroundthe coasts of Europe.
  • End of European invasions led to INCREASE in population in Europe
• Silk Road Trade Effects:

  • Rise of powerful trading cities like Samarkand and Kashgar
  • Spread of ideas from East to West ( gunpowder, moveable type, compass)
  • Spread of diseases such as the Black Plague in the 14th century
  • Strengthened communication and power of the Mongol Khanates
  • Increased wealth for China as its luxury goods were in high demand (silk, tea, porcelain, spices)
• Trans-Saharan Trade Effects:

  • Spread of Islam to West Africa which also brought:
  • Syncretism w/ local African cultures
  • Rise of literacy rates for both men and women
  • Increase in trade connections
  • spread of Arabic
  • spread of Arabic architecture and cultural elements
  • Increased trade in gold, slat, ivory, and slaves
  • Supported and encouraged access to Mecca for the hajj (pilgrimage)
  • Growth of powerful states such as Mali (later conquered by the Songhai)
• Indian Ocean Trade effects

  • Rise of powerful states that were able to control and tax trade
  • Diasporic merchant communities spread religion and culture
  • Spread of luxury goods throughout the Indian Ocean
  • Transfers of knowledge, language, technology in the Southern hemisphere
• Powerful states that controlled and taxed trade

  • Swahili city-states like Kilwa in E. Africa
  • Great Zimbabwe
  • Srivijaya in SE Asia
  • Rajput Kingdoms in S. Asia
• Religions and cultures spread by diasporic merchant communities

  • Islam spread to Swahili city-states and SE Asia
  • Buddhism in SE Asia
  • Borobudur Temple
• Luxury goods spread throughout the Indian Ocean

  • Spices from SE Asia
  • Pepper from S. Asia
  • Porcelain
  • Silk
  • Tea from E. Asia
• Knowledge, language, technology transfers in the Southern hemisphere


  • Knowledge of zero
  • Use of astrolabe
  • Understanding monsoon winds
  • Magnetic compass
  • Lateen sails on dhow ships