wuare made Benin into a major West African state by building a powerful army
Why couldn't pack animals travel very far in West Africa?
because of harsh desert conditions, and because of no rest and water
Describe how the Ghanaian king ruled his kingdom in 800.
he controlled trade and commanded a large army, he could demand taxes and gifts from the chiefs of surrounding lands
What three titles did the Ghanaian ruler possess?
religious leader, chief judge, and military commander
How was Sundiata a great leader in "peace as he had been in war?"
because he took over the kingdom of Ghana and the trading cities of Kumbi and Walata
In terms of military technology, explain the advancements of 9th century, 1304 and 1591.
a gun was built that shot arrows; gunpowder and cannons; swords and spears
~in different parts of Japan, people honored thousands of local gods
~their varied customs and beliefs eventually combinded to form Japan's earliest religion
~Shinto was based on respect for the forces of nature and on the worship of ancestors
~the worshipers believed in kami, divine spirits that dwelled in nature
~any unusual or especially beautiful tree, rock, waterfall, or mountain was considered the home of a kami
~by the A.D. 400s, the Yamato clan had established itself as the leading clan
~they claimed to be descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu
~by the 7th century, the Yamato chiefs called themselves the emperors of Japan
~the early emperors did not control the entire country, or even much of it, but the Japanese gradually accepted the idea of an emperor
~Japan had both an emperor who served as a figurehead and a ruling power who reigned behind the throne; this dual structure became an enduring characteristic of Japanese government
~since wars between rival lords were commonplace, each lord surrounded himself with a bodyguard of loyal warriors called samurai
~samurai means "one who serves"
~they lived according to a demanding code of behavior called Bushido or "the way of the warrior"
~they were expected to show reckless courage, reverence for the gods, fairness and generosity toward those weaker than himself
~dying an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life
Explain the etymology of the name Japan.
Comes from the Chinese word ri-ben, which means "origin of the sun" or "land of the rising sun"
Explain how Shinto and Buddhism "merged" in the 10th century Japan.
Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals, and some Shinto gods and goddesses were worshiped in Buddhist temples
Why did Japan not adopt the Chinese civil service system?
Prince Shotoku planned a strong central government like that of the Tang rulers. He also tried to introduce China's civil-service system. However, this attempt failed. In Japan, noble birth remained the key to winning a powerful position.
How did noble "rules dictate every aspect of court life" in medieval Japan? [Include discussion of weaponry and wardrobe.]
Gentlemen and ladies of the court filled their days with elaborate ritual and artistic pursuits. Rules dictated every aspect of court life- the length of swords, the color of official robes, and forms of address, even the number of skirts a woman wore. Etiquette was also extremely important. Laughing aloud in public was frowned upon.
St. Francis of Assisi
~founded another order of friars, the Franciscans
~he treated all creatures, including animals, as if they were his spiritual brothers and sisters
~in 1212, a woman named Clare and her friend Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order for women
~It was known as the Poor Clares
~in the early 1100s, this new style of architecture evolved throughout medieval Europe
~the term Gothic comes from a Germanic tribe named the Goths
~unlike the heavy, gloomy Romanesque bu9ldings, Gothic cathedrals thrust upward as if reaching toward heaven
~light streamed in through huge stained glass windows; other arts of the medieval world were evident around or in the Gothic cathedral- sculpture, wood-carvings and stained glass windows
~All of these elements were meant to inspire the worshiper