Midterm Short Answer Flashcards
Explain how one system of belief and its practice affected society in the period from c. 1200 to 1450.
Confucianism, which was a cultural practice adopted in China, created 5 relationships of respect and hierarchy which was laid out in society. One of them was between men and women where women were submissive and seen as needing to respect men in society. This applied to other hierarchies that were seen as necessary in Confucianism.
Explain how one belief system and practice of South and Southeast Asia affected society over time.
As Hinduism was adopted with the caste system that it entailed, birth determined social position for most groups. For example, the priestly class Brahmins held a high rank and enjoyed vast societal privilege, whereas the untouchables class were considered to be sub-human.
Explain how the beliefs and practices of the predominant religions in Europe affected European society.
Since the predominant religion in Europe was Christianity, a feudal structure formed where priests were at the top of the social hierarchy and serfs were at the bottom.
Explain the similarities and differences in the processes of state formation from c. 1200 to 1450.
Islamic empires were formed through both military conquest (such as the Battle of Talas River and Battle of Manzikert) and cultural diffusion through trade. African states, on the other hand, (such as Great Zimbabwe, Mali Empire, and Hausa states) primarily formed through trans-Saharan trade routes.
Explain the causes and effects of growth of networks in one trade route after 1200.
In the Silk Roads, the causes of growth were the demand for luxury goods such as textiles and porcelain as well as innovations such as banking houses, paper money, bills of exchange, and caravanserai. The effects were that it led to new trading cities such as Samarkand and Kashgar and also led to the spread of religions such as Buddhism and Islam. It also, unfortunately, resulted in the spread of the Bubonic Plague.
Explain the significance of the Mongol Empire in larger patterns of continuity and change.
Continuity was that even though their conquest was relatively brutal, all religions always thrived under the Mongol rule due to their high religious tolerance. A change was that after their fall many new states emerged and grew in power such as Muscovy Rus, Ottoman Empire, and Ming China.
Explain the causes and effects of the growth of the trans-Saharan trade.
The causes of growth are that improvements of existing technologies and innovations such as camel saddles and caravanserai. The effects of the growth of the trans-Saharan trade were that it connected people in Africa to Indian Ocean trade such as Swahili States and Ethiopia (Aksum Kingdom).
Explain how the expansion of empires influenced trade and communication over time.
The expansion of empires caused new people to be drawn into the economies and trade networks. For example, eastward Russian expansion caused new places to be linked to Russia.
Explain how and why various land-based empires developed and expanded from 1450 to 1750.
Many land-based empires were able to develop and expand from 1450 to 1750 because of gunpowder, tax systems, and the development of military professionals. This enabled easier military expansion, conquest, and justification of rule.
