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v China

Scholar-gentry: the educated class (passed the examination) who would get special privileges in law and social position. The scholar-gentry maintained local law and order, conducted Confucian ceremonies, assisted in the government's collection of taxes, and preached Confucian moral teachings.

Granaries: Bins for storing grain built in large cities, used to reserve food supply in case of famine. Built by Wendi in the Sui-Tang era to gather local support.

Chang’an: Capital during the Tang era-> Population at 2 mill, larger than any other city in the world at that time. Spread of commerce and increasing populationàUrban growth.

Civil Service Exam: designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. There was a higher passing rate during the Song Era than the Tang.

Empress Wu: Tang Empress that supported Buddhism and almost made it a state religion

Neo-Confucianism: Revival of Confucianism during Song era. Known for hostility towards foreign ideas, stifled innovation, and reinforced class, gender, and age restrictions

Jurchens: Nomads who overthrew the Liao and established the Qin kingdom: Southern Song Dynasty. Conquered much of Yellow River basin. Capital at Hangzhou.

Grand Canal: Engineering feat during Tang-Song era

Junks: Trading ships, best ships in the world.

Flying Money: Merchants deposited money for credit vouchers, a result of Tang conquest in Central Asiaàcommercial expansion

Foot-binding: Girls’ feet bound early so that their feet would be the preferred shapes by maturity, limited mobility àeasier to confine women to house. Adopted by upperclass.. 

Silk Road: paths for cultural, commercial, and technological exchange between traders, merchantsàpeople were able to transport goods throughout Asia

White Lotus Society: Secret religious sects in China during Mongolian invasion dedicating to overthrow the Mongol dynasty by claiming magical powers.

v  Japan

Kami: Central objects of worship for the Shinto faith

Shinto: It is a depiction of the creation of the Japanese Islands. Shinto is the fundamental connection between the power and beauty of nature (the land) and the Japanese people. 

Heian: The capital where the Buddhist emperor (married to Empress Koken) fled to abandon Taika reforms (making the Japanese monarch into an absolutist Chinese-style emperor.)

The Tale of Genjii: Japanese literature, world’s first modern novel

Bushi: Warrior leaders who ruled from forts and built  loyal armies. Hired for imperial control to provide order. Led to emergence of warrior class.

Samurai: Warriors that made up the armies of the Bushi. Able to devote life to work on fighting b/c peasants supported them with food + necc. Used war long boys until 12th century until swords.

Seppuku: Code of conduct based on honoràheroic warfare 

Bakufu: Military government at Kamakaraà beginning of feudalism in Japan. 

Shogun: Military leaders of the bakufu 

Daimyo: Bushi leaders who controlled 300 split kingdoms of Japan after Shogunate lost authority to local lords 

v  Korean & Vietnam:

Tribute: Tribute states- basically vassals to China 

Sinification: Neighbouring cultures to China have been influenced by Chinese culture and language without being assimilated. (Korea/Vietnam)

Koryo: Korean Sovereign state conquered by Silla in 668 with help from Tang Dynasty.

Trung Sisters: The Trung Sisters led an unsuccessful revolt against the Chinese. The rebellion is significant àwomen’s role in the resistance, as well as Vietnam’s determination to free themselves from their oppressor.

Angor Wat: World’s largest religious building, located in Cambodia, originally Hindu (dedicated to Vishnu) then Buddhist

v  Mongols:

Chinggis Khan: Mongol leader who united the nomadic people and made largest kingdom in Asia. After death, his empire was divided into four “khanates”, Yuan China, Chaghadai, Ilkhanate, and the Golden Horde.

Khanate: Mongol kingdom

Khan: Leader of the Khanate, successors of Chinggis Khan

Kublai Khan: Leader of Mongol Khanate in Souther Song, later changed name to Yuanà Distinction between Chinese and Mongolian/fascinated by culture

Kuriltai: Meeting of all Chieftains of the Mongol khanate

Serfs Hulegu: Hulegu-grandson of Chinggis Khan, ruler of Ilkhan Khanate, under his reign, peasants would become serfs under regional rulers for protection against mongol forces.

Marco Polo: Visited the Yuan court, noted tolerance of all religions

Timur: Last nomadic power after Mongols

v  Americas:

Calpullis: Aztec clans

Chinampas: Floating islands borrowed from the Mayans

Pochteca: Professional, long-distance traveling merchants

Machu Pichu: Long suspension bridge

Quipu: Numerical records using a system of knots

Splits Inheritance: Process in which a ruler's chosen successor obtained all political power and rights, while the ruler's other male descendants received all the monetary treasures.