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

Main Ideas and Concepts

• Time Period and Focus:

  Unit 1 covers the time period from circa 1200 to 1450, focusing on major civilizations and their state-building efforts.

• Definition of 'State':

  In AP World History, a 'state' refers to a politically organized territory under a single government, not to be confused with U.S. states.

• China: The Song Dynasty:
  • Confucianism:

    The Song Dynasty (960-1279) revived Confucianism, particularly Neo-Confucianism, which emphasized a hierarchical society and filial piety. Women faced increased restrictions and loss of legal rights during this period, including practices like foot binding.

  • Bureaucracy:

    The expansion of the imperial bureaucracy, with jobs obtained through civil service examinations based on Confucian principles, helped maintain control.

  • Economic Growth:

    The economy thrived due to commercialization, innovations in agriculture (e.g., Champa rice), and improved transportation (e.g., Grand Canal).

• Dar al-Islam:

  Refers to regions where Islamic faith was the organizing principle, with a focus on the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate and the rise of Turkic empires like the Seljuk Empire. Cultural and scientific innovations emerged, including significant advances in mathematics and the preservation of Greek philosophical works.

• South and Southeast Asia:

  The decline of Buddhism in South Asia led to the rise of Hinduism and Islam, particularly with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate. The Bhakti movement in Hinduism emphasized devotion to a single god, challenging existing social hierarchies. In Southeast Asia, the Majapahit and Khmer Empires exemplified the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism.

• The Americas:

  The Aztec and Inca Empires represented major centers of civilization, with the Aztecs using a tribute system and the Incas employing a more intrusive bureaucratic approach. The Mississippian culture in North America developed around agriculture and monumental mounds.

• Africa:

  The Swahili Civilization emerged as a series of city-states engaged in trade, influenced by Muslim traders. West African empires like Ghana and Mali grew powerful through trade, with Islam primarily adopted by elites. Great Zimbabwe thrived through farming and trade without converting to Islam.

• Europe:

  Dominated by Christianity, Europe was politically fragmented, with feudalism and manorialism organizing society. The Byzantine Empire represented Eastern Orthodox Christianity, while Western Europe was influenced by Roman Catholicism.

Methodology and Instructions

• Study Tips:
  • Focus on understanding the significance of major civilizations and their state-building techniques.
  • Familiarize yourself with key terms and concepts, such as Confucianism, bureaucracy, and the structure of empires.
  • Use timelines to contextualize historical events and their impacts.
  • Engage with additional resources for practice, such as the AP World History Heimler Review Guide.

Speakers or Sources Featured

• Steve Heimler (Primary speaker and guide in the video).

Notable Quotes

— 11:14 — « If it weren't for those Arabic translations preserving those works, those Europeans would have been, as my grandpappy used to say, more confused than a fart in a fan factory. »

— 14:27 — « Religious conversion is not unlike a meatball sub sandwich; it only tastes good when it's not shoved down your throat forcibly. »

— 15:12 — « If you do shove a meatball sub down people's throats, then they're gonna probably throw it up and establish a rival Empire in the South. »

Category

Educational

Video