World History Study Guide: From Ancient Empires to Modern Times
World History Study Guide
Arab Empires
Political Stability
The caliphate system provided political stability to the Arab Empires.
Artistic Features
- Qu’ran
- 1001 Arabian Nights
- Arabesque
Scientific Features
- Zero as a mathematical concept
- Encyclopedia of disease
- Astrolabe
Economic Basis
The Arab economy was based on farming and trade.
Branches of Islam
After a revolt during the Umayyad period, Islam split into two branches: Sunni and Shia.
Mongol Empire
Military Success
The Mongols’ success in conquering larger armies was due to their:
- Domestication of horses
- Use of cavalry
- Small tactical teams
Control of China
Genghis Khan controlled the Chinese by:
- Adapting to the Chinese political system
- Providing economic stability and prosperity
- Utilizing bureaucrats
Significance of Trade
As nomads, the Mongols relied on trade for survival.
Benefits of Mongol Rule
- Political stability
- Economic prosperity
Collapse of the Mongol Empire
Factors contributing to the collapse include:
- Excessive spending on foreign conquests
- Corruption
- Increased internal instability
Impact of the Mongol Empire
- Created a European desire for Asian trade
- Initiated the Age of Exploration
- Influenced the development of the modern world
Black Death
Origins
Theories about the origins of the plague include:
- Outbreak in the Tatar army in South Russia
- Origin in China and transmission via caravan routes
- Transmission by fleas on rats aboard ships
Economic Impact in Europe
- Wage increases
- Price increases
- Decline in trade
Religious Impact in Europe
- Weakening of the Catholic Church’s power
- Increased secularism
- Agitations leading to the Protestant Reformation
Chinese Dynasties
Economic Basis
The economy of Chinese dynasties was based on farming and trade.
Political Stability
A common factor for achieving political stability was an emperor with a central bureaucracy.
European Expansion
Motives
The chief motives for European expansion were gold, glory, and God.
Spice Trade Control
The Portuguese controlled the spice trade between Europe and Asia for much of the 1500s.
Explorers
- **Ferdinand Magellan:** First to circumnavigate the globe
- **Francisco Pizarro:** Conquered the Incas and founded Lima
- **Hernan Cortes:** Conquered the Aztecs and Mexico
- **Vasco da Gama:** First European to reach India by sea
- **Zheng He:** Chinese naval explorer
Columbian Exchange
Definition
The global transfer of foods, plants, and animals during the colonization of the Americas.
Effects
- Transformed diets in both hemispheres
- European nations benefited from trade
- Indigenous populations were decimated
Social Hierarchy in Latin America
- **Peninsulares:** Spanish-born, ruling class
- **Creoles:** Descendants of Spanish-born, born in Latin America
- **Mestizos:** Mixed Native American and European ancestry
- **Mulattoes:** Mixed African and European descent
Encomienda System
A system granting land and the right to use Native American labor.
Atlantic Slave Trade
Effects
- Increased warfare in Africa
- Depopulation of African villages and towns
- Destruction of African family units
Middle Passage
The journey of slaves from Africa to the Americas.
Ming Dynasty
Achievements
- Expansion into Mongolia and Central Asia
- Increased food production and population growth
- Growth of manufacturing and favorable trade balance
Reasons for Fall
- Weak rulers
- Corruption
- High taxes
Qing Dynasty
Founded by the Manchus.
Spread of Ideas in Asia
Ideas were primarily spread through trade.
Sikh Religion
A blend of Islam and Hinduism.
India’s Economic Ties
India’s location on trade routes fostered strong economic ties with various nations.
Russian History
Peter the Great’s “Window to the West”
St. Petersburg served as Peter the Great’s “window to the west.”
Mongol and Byzantine Influences
- Adherence to Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- Building techniques
- Methods of taxation
Peter the Great’s Achievements
- Europeanization of Russia
- Creation of St. Petersburg
- Establishment of Russia’s navy
Enlightenment and Revolutions
Absolutism
A form of government where the ruler has absolute power.
Rationalism
The belief that reason is the primary source of knowledge.
Scientific Method
A systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence.
Inductive Reasoning
Reasoning from specific facts to general principles.
Enlightenment
A movement emphasizing science and reason.
Influence on Government
The United States’ three branches of government were inspired by Montesquieu’s ideas.
French Revolution
The French Revolution was ended by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Influential Ideas
Enlightenment ideas influenced both the American Constitution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen.
Causes of the French Revolution
- Social inequality
- Excessive spending by the aristocracy
- Economic collapse
Revolutions in Austria
Revolutions broke out in Austria due to its multinational composition and desires for self-government.
Industrial Revolution
Effects on Society
- Emergence of a new middle class
- Growth of cities
- Creation of unions
Haitian Revolution
Haiti became Latin America’s first independent nation after a slave revolt led by Francois-Dominique Toussaint-Louverture.
Renaissance
Causes
- Black Death
- Breakdown of feudalism
- Increased trade
Political and Social Impact
- Increased power of the nobility
- Development of the middle class
Second Industrial Revolution
Impact on Gender Roles
Gender roles were reinforced during the Second Industrial Revolution.
Increased Sales of Manufactured Goods
Factors contributing to increased sales include:
- Increased wages
- Decreased prices
- Mass production
Labor Unions
Workers joined unions to improve working conditions.
Strikes
Workers used strikes to pressure employers to meet union demands.
World War I
Key Figures
- **William II:** German emperor
- **Francis Ferdinand:** Archduke of Austria-Hungary
- **Alfred von Schlieffen:** German Chief of Staff
- **Czar Nicholas II:** Last czar of Russia
Key Terms
- **Reparations:** Payment for war damages
- **Mandates:** Territories administered by other countries
- **Armistice:** Agreement to stop fighting
- **Self-determination:** Right to choose one’s own government
- **League of Nations:** International organization
Causes
- Militarism
- Alliances
- Imperialism
- Nationalism
- Industrialization
Modern Warfare
World War I was considered a modern war due to the use of machine guns, poison gas, airplanes, and tanks.
Stalemate on the Western Front
The machine gun contributed significantly to the stalemate on the Western Front.
Post-War Mandates
Iraq and Palestine became mandates after World War I.
Cold War
Key Events and Policies
- **Yalta Conference (1945):** Meeting to plan for the post-war world
- **Potsdam Conference:** Meeting where Truman threatened Stalin with the atomic bomb
- **Truman Doctrine (1947):** US support for Greece and Turkey
- **Marshall Plan (1948-1952):** US economic aid for European reconstruction
- **Atomic Bomb:** Sparked the arms race between the US and USSR
- **Containment:** US policy during the Cold War
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