Ruler of the Mali Empire, known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and promotion of Islam.

Song China had a large, centralized bureaucracy, while Japan was feudal and regional.

Abbasid Caliphate used Islam to solidify power, while Western Europe saw kingdoms separating from the Catholic Church's direct power.

Swahili Coast was highly interconnected via trade routes, while Western Europe experienced slower development due to limited access to major trade routes.

The Silk Road connected large empires like Song China and the Abbasid Caliphate, while Western Europe lacked land-based trade routes for development.

Europe used three-field crop rotation, boosting populations, while China used Champa rice, leading to larger populations.

Both the Mali Kingdom and the Abbasid Caliphate used Islam to unite diverse peoples.

In the 1200s, feudalism dominated and the Catholic Church held immense power. By the 1400s, the Renaissance emerged, shifting towards individualism and humanism, and the Church faced challenges.

In the 1200s, Africa and the Middle East were trade powerhouses. By the 1400s, Europe began to rise in global trade with voyages of exploration.

Both were Muslim empires, but the Mamluks were centered in Egypt and ruled by slave soldiers, while the Delhi Sultanate was in India and introduced new ideas and practices to the region.

The Aztecs were in central Mexico and known for their culture and government, while the Incas were in the Andes Mountains and known for their advanced government and engineering.

A decentralized political system where land is exchanged for service and loyalty.

A Renaissance philosophy emphasizing human potential and achievement.

A syncretic philosophy blending Confucianism with Buddhist and Taoist ideas in Song China.

A system of government where decisions are made by state officials rather than elected representatives.

An Islamic state led by a supreme religious and political leader known as a caliph.

A period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the time between the 14th and 17th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas and achievements of classical antiquity.

The process by which different cultures share ideas, traditions, and technologies, often leading to syncretism or modification of existing practices.

The process by which new states or empires emerge, consolidate power, and establish systems of governance and administration.

Independent urban centers that function as autonomous political entities, often controlling surrounding territories and engaging in trade and diplomacy.

The blending of different religious beliefs and practices, often resulting in new hybrid forms of religious expression.