AP World UNIT 1 REVIEW (Everything you NEED to KNOW!)

Summary

This educational video script guides AP World History students through Unit 1, focusing on the period circa 1200 to 1450. It explores how various civilizations, including the Song Dynasty in China, Dar al-Islam, and the Aztec and Inca Empires in the Americas, built and maintained their states. The script delves into the influence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Islam on societal structures and governance, as well as the economic developments that contributed to state prosperity. It also touches on the Swahili Civilization in Africa and the feudal system in Europe, providing a comprehensive overview of global state-building strategies during this era.

Takeaways

• 📚 The time period for Unit 1 of AP World History covers Circa 1200 to 1450, focusing on how major civilizations built and maintained their states.
• 🌏 A 'state' in AP World History is defined as a territory politically organized under a single government, not a geographical location like a modern-day country.
• 🇨🇳 The Song Dynasty in China emphasized Confucianism to maintain and justify their rule, leading to a hierarchical society with a focus on filial piety and societal order.
• 👥 Women in Song Dynasty China experienced reduced legal rights and social restrictions, including the practice of foot binding, indicating a subordinate position in society.
• 📊 The Song Dynasty expanded the Imperial bureaucracy and used civil service examinations based on Confucian classics, promoting a meritocratic system for state jobs.
• 🌐 Chinese traditions influenced neighboring regions like Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, which adopted similar bureaucratic systems and cultural practices.
• 🕌 The term 'Dar al-Islam' refers to regions where Islamic faith was the organizing principle of civilizations, including the Abbasid Caliphate and later Turkic-led empires.
• 📘 The cultural and scientific innovations of the Muslim world, such as advances in mathematics and the preservation of Greek philosophy, had a significant impact on global knowledge.
• 🏛 The Mississippian culture in North America, with its large-scale civilization and monumental mounds, represents an early form of state building in the region.
• 🛶 The Swahili Civilization in East Africa was characterized by city-states with a shared culture and language, influenced by Muslim traders and becoming increasingly Islamic.
• 🏰 In Western Europe, feudalism and manorialism were the dominant social and economic systems, with land-owning nobility holding the central political and economic power.

Q & A

What is the time period covered in AP World History Unit 1?

The time period for Unit 1 of AP World History is from Circa 1200 to 1450.

What does the term 'state' refer to in the context of AP World History Unit 1?

In AP World History, 'state' refers to a territory that is politically organized under a single government, rather than referring to a geographical location like a province or country in modern terms.

How did the Song Dynasty maintain and justify its rule?

The Song Dynasty maintained and justified its rule primarily by emphasizing Confucianism, particularly through the revival of Confucianism known as Neo-Confucianism, and by expanding the Imperial bureaucracy.

What was the impact of Neo-Confucianism on the status of women in Song Dynasty China?

With the revival of Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, women were relegated to subordinate positions, stripped of legal rights, and endured social restrictions such as limited access to education and the practice of foot binding.

What was the significance of the civil service examination in the Song Dynasty's bureaucracy?

The civil service examination was significant because it was based on Confucian classics and allowed men from all socioeconomic backgrounds to earn bureaucratic positions based on merit rather than connections or lineage.

How did the spread of Chinese traditions influence neighboring regions during the Song Dynasty?

The spread of Chinese traditions, such as the civil service examination system and Buddhism, influenced neighboring regions like Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, leading them to adopt similar practices in their own state-building efforts.

What is the meaning of 'Dar al-Islam'?

'Dar al-Islam' can be translated as 'the house of Islam' and refers to all the places in the world where Islamic faith was the organizing principle of civilizations during the specified time period.

How did the Seljuk Empire come to power?

The Seljuk Empire came to power when Turkic warriors, initially brought in by the Abbasid Caliphate for military support, eventually saw weaknesses in the regime and fought against the Abbasids to establish their own empire.

What were the three main belief systems that shaped South and Southeast Asia during the period of 1200 to 1450?

The three main belief systems that shaped South and Southeast Asia were Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.

How did the Aztec Empire administer its vast territories?

The Aztec Empire administered its vast territories through an elaborate system of tribute states, requiring conquered peoples to provide labor and regular contributions of goods and resources.

What was the primary economic development of the Song Dynasty that facilitated trade and communication?

The primary economic development of the Song Dynasty that facilitated trade and communication was the expansion of the Grand Canal.