What was the government like that was set up by Wendi and his descendants?
Strong centralized government
What was the significance of the projects they started?
The projects provided trade by connecting rivers. They eventually lead to the downfall of dynasty due to higher taxes and endless labor made people turn on him.
What was the Tang bureaucracy like?
Only the wealthy could afford the education to pass tests to be promoted in government. Tests were only opened to men. Created an intelligent government class. Talent and education became more important than noble birth.
What kinds of political reforms did the Tang dynasty try to achieve?
Put Chinese land under government control, granted every peasant male land in exchange for labor, and created professional civil service to run the country.
What did they do to try and maintain their power? What was the impact of this?
They weakened their army to avoid coups which left them unable to defend external threats.
How did agriculture change under the Song rule?
Champa rice was introduced which grew fast and could resist droughts. Other new commercial crops were introduced like sugar, tea, bamboo, and hemp
Describe the basics of Confucianism.
Social order and good government comes from the 5 basic relationships. It emphasized Filal Piety (respect for parents and ancestors. More of an Ethical system than a religon.
How and where did Islam get started?
Founded by Muhammed when Angel Gabriel said he would be the messanger of Allah. People started preaching in Mecca.
What was the Ummah?
A new group of Muslims Muhammed formed when living in Medina after being forced to flee Mecca.
How did the spread of Islam also lead to the spread of the Arabic language?
The Quran was written in Arabic. Which is how muslims learned about the teaching of Allah.
Why did Islam split into Sunni and Shi’a?
Yazids (son of Caliph of Ummayad dynasty) army destroys Hussians (Alis son) which splits Sunni and Shi’a.
What impacts did the rise of the Abbasid have on Dar al-Islam?
Moved capital to baghdad to be near a trade route and made a bureaucracy.
How did the Song come to power?
Rebels led by general Taizo took over the Tang dynasty and turned it into the Song Dynasty.
Who was Toghril Bey? Why was he important?
He was a ruler of teh Seljuk Turks from 1037-1063. He wanted to restore Sunni dominance and in 1055 he captured Baghdad and overthrew buwayhds. He was the first Sultan.
What cultural impact did the Muslim empire have on its surrounding neighbors?
Influenced Art, Expanded Medicine and Science.
What was Islamic art like?
No images of living things, Calligraphy was an important style of art.
How did the Aryan invasion influence society in northern India?
Explain the concepts of Karma and Reincarntion and how they are related.
It started the basis of the Hindu religion. If you were a bad person in your past life you would receive Karma and be reincarnated (rebirthed) into a worse life. (Usually involved Caste system)
Why was Emperor Ashoka important?
He converted to Buddhism and promoted it in India and sent missoinaries which helped it grow into a large religon.
What was the Srivijaya empire like?
Island empire in Sumata. Grew wealthy taxing trade in their waters. It became a great center for Buddhist learning.
What was the Vigayanagara empire like?
Came to power in south India in the 1300s. Administrative and Ideological ties between State and Constitutes. Developed Nayaka State System.Tried to ward off Muslim incursions. (Defeated in 1565). Used Hinduism as a unifying factor. Supported the arts.
What was the Maya culture like?
Collection of City-States. Population of 80,000. It was connected to satellite settlements around it. Greatly influenced by Olmec people (Same Gods, sacred ball game, calendar). Developed a writing system.
What was the Mayan government like?
Kings ruled from the center of the city and were helped by a council of noblemen.
Why did the Mayan empire fall?
It went into decline in the 9th century. All major cities were abandoned.No one really knows why.
What did the Aztecs start out as?
Farming people from northern Mexico.
