Unit 1: The Global Tapestry — Regional Deep Dive (c. 1200–1450)

Song Dynasty

A dynasty in China (960–1279) known for political stability, bureaucratic governance, and technological innovations.

Civil Service Examination

A rigorous exam system in China for entering the bureaucracy, grounded in Confucian texts.

Meritocracy

A political system in which individuals are rewarded based on ability and talent, allowing social mobility.

Scholar-Gentry

A new class of bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty who became more influential than the traditional landed aristocracy.

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening, drought-resistant rice strain introduced from Vietnam, leading to significant agricultural productivity in China.

Grand Canal

An extensive internal waterway transportation system in China, linking the Yangtze River valley with northern cities.

Gunpowder

An explosive substance that was initially used for fireworks and later adapted for military applications.

Woodblock Printing

A printing technique that reduced book costs and increased literacy, aiding the spread of Confucian texts.

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophical movement that harmonized Confucian rational thought with metaphysics from Taoism and Buddhism.

Filial Piety

A Confucian principle emphasizing respect and duty toward one's family and elders.

Foot Binding

A practice in Song-era China that restricted women's movement as a symbol of social status.

Sufism

A mystical branch of Islam focused on personal spiritual experience and connection with God.

Mamluk Sultanate

A political entity in Egypt (1250–1517) established by enslaved ethnic Turks who became rulers and traders.

Seljuk Turks

A group originating from Central Asia that conquered parts of the Middle East and diminished the Abbasid Caliph's power.

House of Wisdom

An academic center in Baghdad known for translating and preserving ancient knowledge until its destruction in 1258.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

An influential scholar during the Islamic Golden Age known for his contributions to astronomy and trigonometry.

‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah

A notable female Sufi writer and poet, highlighting women's active role in Islamic literary culture.

Jizya

A tax imposed by the Delhi Sultanate on non-Muslims living within their territory.

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu reform movement emphasizing personal devotion to a deity and egalitarian principles.

Srivijaya Empire

A wealthy Hindu-Buddhist kingdom in Sumatra that controlled trade through the Strait of Malacca.

Majapahit Kingdom

A Buddhist empire in Java that succeeded the Srivijaya, controlling sea routes in Southeast Asia.

Khmer Empire

An ancient state located in modern-day Cambodia, known for the Angkor Wat temple complex.

Angkor Wat

A vast temple complex in Cambodia, signifying the transition from Hinduism to Buddhism in the region.

Sinification

The process by which neighboring regions adopted Chinese cultural practices, influenced by China's dominance.

Decentralized Feudalism

A political structure in Japan characterized by local lords (Daimyos) and samurai, distinct from China's centralized bureaucracy.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and dominate roles in leadership, moral authority, and social privilege.

Political Fragmentation

The division and weakening of a central authority, often leading to the emergence of smaller, independent entities.

Caste System

A rigid social hierarchy in Hindu society, providing structure and stability, particularly in South Asia.