Comparison in the Period 1200-1450 - AP World History
- What was a key feature of the Mongol Empire's governance?
- Religious tolerance and meritocracy. Mongols allowed local customs and promoted officials based on ability, not birth.
- Identify the empire known for its naval power in Southeast Asia.
- Srivijaya Empire. This maritime empire controlled strategic trade routes between India and China.
- Which Mesoamerican civilization used a calendar system with a 365-day cycle?
- Maya Civilization. Maya astronomers created highly accurate calendar systems for ritual use.
- What was the main language of administration in the Mongol Empire?
- Uyghur script for Mongolian language. Mongols adopted Uyghur script to write official documents in Mongolian.
- Which city served as a critical hub of trade in the Indian Ocean?
- Calicut. Calicut was a major spice trading port on India's western coast.
- Who was the leader of the Mali Empire during its peak?
- Mansa Musa. His famous pilgrimage to Mecca displayed Mali's immense wealth in gold.
- What was the major religion of the Delhi Sultanate?
- Islam. Muslim rulers established Islamic law and culture in northern India.
- What was the cultural and economic center of the Mali Empire?
- Timbuktu. This city became a major center for Islamic scholarship and trade.
- What was the primary method of record-keeping in the Inca Empire?
- Quipu. Knotted string systems recorded numerical and administrative information.
- Which empire is known for its contributions to algebra?
- Islamic Caliphates. Muslim mathematicians developed algebraic methods and notation systems.
- What was the primary economic activity of the Mali Empire?
- Gold and salt trade. Mali controlled Saharan trade routes linking North and West Africa.
- Which empire is known for its code of laws, the Yassa?
- Mongol Empire. The Yassa was Genghis Khan's legal code governing Mongol society.
- What innovation allowed for longer sea voyages during this period?
- The magnetic compass. The compass enabled navigation beyond sight of land using magnetic direction.
- Identify the architectural achievement of the Khmer Empire.
- Angkor Wat. This massive temple complex demonstrated Khmer architectural and engineering skills.
- What was the economic basis of the Song Dynasty in China?
- Agriculture and trade. The Song developed advanced farming techniques and commercial networks.
- What was the dominant religion in the Khmer Empire?
- Hinduism and later Buddhism. Angkor Wat reflected the transition from Hindu to Buddhist influence.
- Name a significant cultural contribution of the Islamic Golden Age.
- Advancements in mathematics and astronomy. Islamic scholars preserved Greek knowledge and made new discoveries.
- Identify the famous traveler from Morocco known for his extensive journeys.
- Ibn Battuta. His travels covered 75,000 miles across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
- What were the main trade routes in the period 1200-1450?
- Silk Road, Trans-Saharan, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean. These four networks connected major world regions through land and sea routes.
- Identify the empire known for its advanced road systems in the Andes.
- Inca Empire. The Inca built over 25,000 miles of roads through mountainous terrain.
- Which empire is known for its extensive use of terraced agriculture?
- Inca Empire. Mountain terraces maximized farmable land in steep Andean terrain.
- Which Asian empire was ruled by Kublai Khan?
- Mongol Empire. Kublai Khan ruled the Yuan Dynasty in China from 1260-1294.
- Which empire's decline led to the rise of the Ottoman Empire?
- Byzantine Empire. Ottoman expansion filled the power vacuum left by Byzantine weakness.
- Identify the empire known for its development of the Cyrillic script.
- Byzantine Empire. Byzantine missionaries created this alphabet for Slavic languages.
- What was the dominant political system in Europe during this period?
- Feudalism. Lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty.
- Which empire was centered around the city of Baghdad?
- Abbasid Caliphate. Baghdad served as the Islamic world's political and intellectual capital.
- Identify the famous Venetian traveler who visited Asia in this period.
- Marco Polo. His travels to China and Central Asia opened European eyes to Asian wealth.
- What was a key trade good from the Swahili Coast?
- Ivory. East African city-states exported elephant tusks to Indian Ocean markets.
- Identify the trade network connecting China with the Mediterranean.
- Silk Road. This 4,000-mile route carried luxury goods across Eurasia for centuries.
- What was the primary religion of the Byzantine Empire?
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Byzantium maintained Greek Orthodox traditions separate from Roman Catholicism.
- What was the impact of the Black Death on European societies?
- Significant population decline and social upheaval. The plague killed one-third of Europe's population and weakened feudalism.
- Which technological innovation aided maritime exploration in this period?
- The astrolabe. This instrument measured celestial positions for navigation at sea.
- Which Chinese dynasty ruled during much of the 1200-1450 period?
- Yuan Dynasty followed by Ming Dynasty. Yuan (1271-1368) under Mongols, then Ming (1368-1644) under native Chinese rule.
- What was the primary writing system used by the Aztecs?
- Pictographic writing. Aztecs used symbols and pictures to represent words and concepts.
- Which civilization is known for building Machu Picchu?
- Inca Civilization. This mountain citadel showcased Inca stonework and urban planning.
- Which empire was known for its capital city of Tenochtitlan?
- Aztec Empire. Tenochtitlan was built on Lake Texcoco in modern-day Mexico City.
- What was a major consequence of the Crusades?
- Increased cultural exchanges between Europe and the Middle East. The Crusades facilitated trade and knowledge transfer despite military conflict.
- Which empire's capital was Constantinople?
- Byzantine Empire. Constantinople served as the eastern capital of the former Roman Empire.