The Ming also supported major naval expeditions by Zheng He.ĪP WORLD HISTORY KEY TERMS: PERIOD 1 (1200-1450) The Ming Dynasty experienced a cultural flowering that resulted in great works of art. The Italian city-states grew prosperous enough to support the burgeoning Renaissance, which was partly inspired by ancient Greek works recovered from Islamic scholars. Western Europe and China saw significant economic and political recoveries.The Mongol Conquests led to a massive death toll from Korea to Russia to the Middle East, weakening many regions for centuries to come as European powers expanded outward. The Black Death killed over a third of the European population, and the resulting labor shortfall increased the bargaining power of peasants, diminishing the system of feudalism. War, disease, and famine caused massive social and political upheaval throughout Eurasia.Interregional cultural exchanges, represented by early world travelers like Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo, increased due to the Mongol Conquests. Trade through the Silk Road, the Indian Ocean, the trans-Saharan routes, and the Mediterranean Sea led to the spread of ideas, religions, and technology. Technological developments such as the compass improved shipbuilding technology, and gunpowder shaped the development of the world. There was tremendous growth in long-distance trade.The recovery from the Mongol period introduced political structures that defined many areas for centuries to follow. Turkic peoples founded the Mumluk and Delhi Sultanates. Traveling groups, such as the Turks and Mongols, disrupted much of Asia’s existing political structure. The movement of people greatly altered the world politically and demographically.The peoples of the Americas saw new, large-scale political structures develop, such as the Inca Empire in the Andes and the Mississippian culture in North America.

Centralized empires like the Arab Caliphates and the Song Dynasty built on the successful models of the past, while decentralized areas (Western Europe and Japan) developed political organization to more effectively deal with their unique issues.Christianity and the Catholic Church served as unifying forces in Europe. Islam created a new cultural world known as Dar al-Islam, which transcended political and linguistic boundaries in Asia and Africa. Throughout East Asia, the development of Neo-Confucianism solidified a cultural identity. The spread of religion, aided by the increase in trade, often acted as a unifying social force.AP World History: Modern Key Takeaways - Period 1 (1200-1450)

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