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Period: 1200 to 1533
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire was one of the biggest empires in Latin America. This empire was very intelligent in the sense to how advanced they were on their own. They believed in the sun, moon, and corn god. The Incas also did sacrifices because they believed it will help keep crops growing. The Incas also mummified the remains of those who died, build bridges around the Andes mountains, had road systems with relay runners, Quipu, the Mita System, and Terrace Farming. The Incas were conquered by Pizarro. -
Period: 1206 to 1368
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire was one of the biggest empires but it didn't last long. This empire was well known for its commerce along the Silk Road where there was much cultural diffusion due to the appeal of merchants to travel along the Silk Road due to the Mongols making it appealing to merchants. They did this by promoting paper money and hostels which appealed to many merchants. The Mongols were welcoming to those of different backgrounds and treated everyone as equals. -
Period: 1206 to 1526
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate was a series of 5 dynasties that ruled in Northern India that repelled the Mongol Empire. It was established by central Asian Islamic Turks. With the Delhi Sultanate, Islam was the big religion but the people were not forced to be Islamic, although those who were didn't have to pay Jizya (tax). During this dynasty there was much cultural blending with Hindu and Islamic cultures. The lasting effect of this dynasty were music, architecture, literature, and religion. -
Period: 1235 to
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire was an empire in Western Africa that was famous for trade and flourished with the gold and salt that was found in the region. The Mali Empire was a stop along the Trans-Saharan Trade route where many traveled to trade on caravans. The Mali empire was one of the richest empires in Africa. That being because of the taxes placed on those who traveled through the empire for trading purposes. The Mali empire was also famous for it's architecture and spread of culture due to trade. -
1258
Abbasid Caliphate
The Abbasid Caliphate was the third caliphate to succeed Muhammad who was the Islamic prophet. Under this caliphate, the House of Wisdom moved the Baghdad which was the capital. Baghdad became one of the richest trade cities of the Pre-Mongal Era. Baghdad was a rich capital for education due to the universities found there and the many Roman and Greek texts which were translated to Arabic. Baghdad also flourished in medicine, math, science, literature, and became well known for the architecture. -
Period: 1271 to 1368
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty is known for having ended the Civil Service Exam, expanded the Great canal and road systems, having brought Buddhism into China and rejecting Confucianism. Kublai Khan, the ruler, didn't allow Chinese in top government. He also encouraged foreign trade and merchants into China. The decline of the Yuan Dynasty being military defeats in the failed invasion of SE Asia and Japan, which led to the increase in taxes to pay for the debt. -
1279
Tang and Song Dynasty
The Tang and Song Dynasty are well known for the practice of foot binding on women in China. This practice was spread widely among elite families in order to show the image of "beauty" during this time. The practice of Confucianism also came back. Although during this time, there was subordination of women to men, there was also academic inventions such as the movable type which lead to the printing press, gunpowder, porcelain, textile industries, steel and iron production, and champa rice. -
Period: 1299 to
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman was one of the three "Gunpowder Empires", meaning it was one of the first empires to revolutionize gunpowder in warfare. It was the biggest empire that took after the Mongol Empire, and it was located in the Middle East region. It was of Turk-Mongol descent. The Ottoman Empire was Islamic, and it created the Ghazi Ideal where warriors followed traditional nomadic culture. They used immense violence to conquer. Samarkand came from the Ottoman Empire which was a major trading center. -
Period: 1300 to 1521
Aztec Empire
The Aztec Empire was a big empire located primarily where modern day Mexico is. The Aztecs were very advanced in their civilization with famous architecture of giant pyramids. The Aztecs had chinampas as a type of farming. They also did sacrifices brutal sacrifices. Aztecs are also known for their hieroglyphic writing and the Sun stone. They also lived in a class society. When the Spanish came into Latin America, Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs although the Aztecs fought back but still lost. -
Period: 1342 to 1353
Bubonic Plague
The Bubonic plague was also known as the "Black Death". This was an illness that rapidly spread from rats that journeyed in the items traded from China to Europe along the Silk Road. This illness brought much death across Europe and arose much callous not just with the deaths caused but with the conflicts of the Catholic Church. That is because there weren't answers for the cause of the Black Death that many believed it was a punishment from God, so they turned to the Church. -
Period: 1368 to
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty was ruled by Hong Wu who a peasant before becoming a ruler. His ruling lead to the distribution of land to increase agriculture. He also wanted to limit trade in order to limit foreigners. With Hong Wu's ruling, the Civil Service Exam came back meaning that Confucianism was also brought back. With this, Mongol clothing, style, and building were destroyed. In place, Confucianism laws were enforced. Much of Hong Wu's decisions were influenced off his background of being a peasant. -
1400
Fuedalism in Europe
Feudalism became a form of government that emerged as many kingdoms began to show centralized units of government where there were different classes of peasants and surfs at the bottom, knights, lords and nobles, and at the top the king. This was a decentralized form of government. One of the main functions was that the king would give a fief (land grant) to a noble or lord in exchange for their loyalty. This form of government quickly collapsed after the Black Plague. -
Period: 1400 to 1500
Age of Exploration
The Age of Exploration was promoted by Prince Henry who explored for Portugal who explored the coastline of Africa. Others explorers were Bartholemeu Diaz who reached the Cape of Good Hope (1450), Vasco de Gama who reached India (1498), and Columbus who explored for Spain and found the New World (1492) which lead to the colonization of the New World in the time period of 1520-1540. This led to England establishing the 13 colonies in the New World in attempt to grow wealth through mercantilism. -
Period: 1400 to
European Renaissance
The Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural movement that began in the 14th century in Italy. The name of this era is French meaning "rebirth" which is fitting for the major developments of astronomy, humanist philosophy, the printing press, vernacular language (Shakespeare), paintings and sculptures, and world exploration that came of it. The major ideal of this era was Humanism which is the believe that humans can improve society and learn of the natural world. -
Period: 1492 to
Spanish Colonial Empire
Spain set out to conquer the New World after the explorer Columbus had found the New World for Spain in 1492. The Spanish conquered the Aztecs and began colonization using the native Indians to their advantage. The Spanish set up what was known as the Encomienda System which was an organized colonial system similar to the Feudal system of Europe. The Spanish had also established an Hacienda System which was large plantations where the natives were pressed into slavery. -
Period: 1500 to
Portuguese Trading Post Empire
The Portuguese Trading Post Empire was established when Prince Henry who explored Portugal explored to coastline of Africa. Portugal had trade outposts established not to control resources but to force merchants to pay taxes or buy a safe-conduct pass for wanting to trade on the territory that became Portugal's. Alfonso d'Alboquerque led the Portuguese Trading Post Empire hoping to control the Indian Ocean Trade. Because of this, they had access to luxury goods such as ivory, animal skin & gold. -
Period: 1500 to
Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade was the trade route in which slaves were transported from the Old World to the New World. It was a traingular trade route that went through the Middle Passage; it began in Europe where textiles were shipped to Africa, from Africa salves were sent to the Americas, and from the Americas goods such as sugar and coffee were shipped back to Europe. This trade route traded between 10 to 12 million slaved Africans. -
Period: 1517 to
The Reformation
The Reformation was a movement that began with Martin Luther when he challenged the Catholic Church when he wrote the 95 Theses in 1517. With Martin Luther challenging traditional views, it lead to many people losing their faith in the Catholic Church and realizing much of the corruption that came from the church. Because people were losing their faith, it forced the church to readjust their morals. The big impact of this was that it created Protestant Christians. -
Period: 1526 to
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was another of the three "Gunpowder Empires", and it was founded by Babur who descended from Timur. This empire ruled most of India and Pakistan. Although the Mughals were Muslim, they ruled over a large Hindu majority. The Mughal Empire was successful in spreading Muslim art and culture, as well as building extensive road systems and consolidating Islam in South Asia. -
Period: to
Tokugawa Shogunate
The Tokugawa Shogunate was a feudal military government in Japan during the Edo time period. Because it was a military based government system, this allowed for Tokugawa Shogunate to assert control allowing him to unify Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate also lead Japan to becoming more industrialized which allowed for economic growth. Another factor of the Tokugawa Shogunate was that it banned Christianity and didn't allow for Catholic missionaries into Japan, as well as killed those who practiced. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty began when the Manchu people invaded regions of China ending the Ming Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty kept the isolation policies as the Ming Dynasty's but they were just not as strictly applied. Important accomplishments are that art flourished as well as prosperity and peace, the territory expanded into Tibet and central Asia, Confucianism, Buddhism, and the Civil Service Exam remained, Manchu cultural style became staples in Chinese society, and isolationism limited trade. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a movement where intellectuals gave importance to reasoning, freedom, and science. Important intellectuals from this time were John Locke who believed in natural rights, Thomas Paine wrote the book "Common Sense" where he states that people have the right to rebel against the government when the government abuses their power, Mary Wollstonecraft who was feminist, Adam Smith who was the father of capitalism, and more. Many of these ideas set pathways to many revolutions. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the bringing of new technologies such as steam engines, spinning jenny, telegraphs, new factories, the use of coal as a power source and more of which allowed for much advancements. Because this revolution brought of very valuable technologies, there was much change in many aspects such as economy and socially. With the use of factory labor and new power sources, production was much faster with more goods. As for socially, it allowed for the spread of ideas. -
Period: to
American Revolution
The American Revolution happened because of the French and Indian War that left Britain in great debt. Because of this debt, the colonies had to pay taxes. The colonies didn't disagree with the taxing, but just believed that they should be given representation in the parliament, but they weren't given representation. This angered the colonists against Britain which caused this revolution against Britain to gain independence. This created the United States and the Deceleration of Independence. -
Period: to
French Revolution
The French Revolution occurred when the 3rd estate made itself the National Assembly then created the Deceleration of the Rights of Man and Citizen and declared that men are born and remain free and equal in rights. This arose sharp conflicts within the French society where the citizens challenged the monarchy and the feudal system. The Reign of Terror occurred during this time (1793-1794). In 1799 Napoleon led France to social equality and liberty where he spread ideas using military campaigns. -
Period: to
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was the first slave revolt. It was a population mostly consisted of slaves ruled by France. This revolution was led by Toussaint Louverture. Although the French Revolution was successful, it was a violent revolt that lasted for more than a decade. But the success of the Haitian Revolution did inspire other slave rebellions and it also boosted the abolitionist movement. -
Period: to
Tanzimat Reforms
The Tanzimat Reforms were reforms placed by the Ottoman Empire in hope to prevent the extinction of their Empire due to the competition of the growing, modernized empires around them. Because of the Ottoman's rejection of industrialization at first, it led to the Ottoman Empire becoming the "The sick man of Europe". This made for the Ottoman's to accept Westernization which became known as the Tanzimat Reforms. This is where they followed European governments, educations, and other ways of life. -
Period: to
Opium Wars
The first Opium War was between Britain and China. This was came of because China wanted suppress the opium trade, and the British didn't like this since they had been exporting it from India to China. Because the British didn't like this, they set war with China. The British won the first Opium War which allowed for them to continue exporting Opium into China. This ultimately showed imperialism in China due to Britain exploiting China for their gain. -
Period: to
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a rebellion fought against the Qing Dynasty in China. This was a revolt of religious conviction in hope to convert the Chinese people to a version of Christianity. The Taiping forces were led by a group called the God Worshiping Society. It resulted with the rebels taking control of the city Nanjing. Eventually the Taiping Rebellion failed, and it only resulted with the deaths of more than 20 million people. -
Sepoy Mutiny
The Sepoy Mutiny was a revolt of India against Britain in order to gain independence. This revolt began when the East India Company, which controlled India, began bringing in many Christian missionaries and taking control of territories where the rulers have died. This made the people of India feel offended. Because of that it led to the revolt. The British were able to maintain control, and dissolved the East India British Company. This left for Britain to take direct control of India. -
Meiji Revolution
The Meiji Revolution was a revolution that occurred against the Tokugawa Shogunate because the Samurai believed that reform and modernization where needed for Japan. Then in 1869 the Shogunate was abolished and the Emperor was restored as the head of state. Which then lead to modernization and westernization reforms being introduced in Japan during the late 19th century. Much of this included having an organized military, industrialization, government and removing Daimyo and Samurai classes. -
Period: to
Scramble for Africa
The Scramble for Africa was a competition between the European powers over territorial claims in Africa, primarily for the raw materials found in Africa. The raw materials were rubber, palmi oil, ivory, cotton, tin, gold, and diamonds. This competition led to tension between the European powers. This of which eventually led to the Berlin Conference organized by Germany's chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, in 1884. -
Period: to
Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference was a meeting held between major countries such as Germany, Russia, Spain, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, the United States, and more in order to divide Africa's land in order to avoid future conflicts. During this conference, the leaders agreed to allowing free trade between the colonies This conference also allowed for slave trade. It also stated that waterways were considered neutral. Colonization benefited the major countries, it had a negative impact on Africa.