Period 1: Cram Sheet Words

Erosion of soil

• Overuse of land led to the decline of Great Zimbabwe, feudal Europe, and the Mayans.

• Increased rainfall and flooding improved agricultural productivity.

• Soil conservation techniques prevented land degradation in ancient civilizations.

• The introduction of crop rotation enhanced soil fertility in feudal Europe.

Aztec Human Sacrifices

• A tribute system where other groups pay tribute to Aztecs with goods and human blood.

• A religious ceremony involving only animal sacrifices.

• A method of taxation based on land ownership.

• A form of entertainment for the Aztec nobility.

Volun-told

• A system of voluntary service in modern organizations

• A Mit'a system of the Inca: citizens have mandated service days to help with farming, roads, construction projects, etc.

• A type of community service program in the United States

• A method of forced labor used in ancient Egypt

Wandering Nomadic Groups

• Use military superiority to launch massive empires

• Primarily engage in agriculture and settled life

• Focus on trade and commerce in urban centers

• Establish permanent cities and states

Religious Mysticism

• personal, emotional, and spiritual practices; Sufi Islam, Theravada Buddhism, and Bhakti Hinduism help attract followers.

• strict adherence to religious texts and doctrines.

• a focus on communal worship and rituals.

• the rejection of all forms of spirituality.

Religion is Politics

• The Catholic Church was the most influential institution in Europe.

• The Protestant Reformation had no impact on politics.

• Kings ruled without any influence from religious leaders.

• Religion had no role in the daily lives of Europeans.

Neo-Confucianism

• A syncretic belief combining Buddhism with Confucianism and Daoism

• A purely Confucian doctrine without external influences

• A form of Buddhism that rejects Confucian values

• A Daoist philosophy that opposes Confucian teachings

Required Tribute Systems

• Aztec (Mexica) demand tribute from conquered peoples in the form of goods, sometimes unreasonable expectations

• Song - demand tribute (taxes, goods, services) from nearby groups/countries but send back more goods to tributaries to demonstrate wealth (kowtow)

• Vijayanagara - known for their extensive trade networks and lack of tribute systems

• Chola - primarily focused on military conquest rather than tribute collection

Exchange fees

• Taxes and tributes along routes create wealth and government centralization

• Exchange fees are only applicable to international trade

• Exchange fees are a form of currency

• Exchange fees do not affect government revenue

Song Dynasty innovations

• Gunpowder

• Silk Weaving

• Compass Navigation

• Porcelain Production