25 Points Complete the chart using the information you learned from the module. Some answers are provided for you.

S. P.R. I.T. E. Chart

Asia: Tang, Song, Mongols and Ming

Africa: East Africa and West Africa

Social

The Mongols were nomad herders of horses and sheep from the steppes of Central Asia. Rival clans often battled one another. The great chieftain Genghis Khan united the tribes in the early 1200s. The tribes spread out to conquer a huge empire, including China.

Mongol warriors lived in the saddle. They were so skilled at life on horseback that Marco Polo commented: ". . . they will go or stay for a whole month without provisions, drinking only the milk of a mare and eating wild game of their own taking."

Political

The Song created a true civil service system, which was based on merit. This system reflected Confucian ideals and showed great respect for learning. The Mongols ended the civil service system and had corrupt leaders. The Ming brought back the Confucian principles of government that had been lost during Mongol rule.

Religion

Christianity was the official religion of Axum in East Africa. Islam began to spread along eastern coastal cities. The civilizations in West Africa practiced solely Islam.

Intellect

The West African kingdom of Mali was home to an important center of learning in the 1400s. The city of Timbuktu was the ending point for caravans that had crossed the Sahara. From Timbuktu, trade continued along the upper Niger River. When the city was conquered by the powerful Songhai Empire, it reached its height as a trading and religious center. Merchants traded in salt, gold, and slaves. The Sankore Mosque, seen here, was a leading Islamic academy.

Leo Africanus had this to say about the city: "There are in Timbuktu numerous judges, teachers and priests, all properly appointed by the king. He greatly honors learning. Many hand-written books imported from Barbary are also sold."

Technology

The Tang and Song dynasties of China produced many wonders of technology. Gunpowder was made from saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. It was used in fireworks first, and later in weapons. Mechanical water-powered clocks like the one shown in this drawing were created in the 700s.

During the Tang, a full page of characters was carved onto a wooden block to create block printing. The Song dynasty improved on this invention. They used movable type. Precut characters were arranged to form a page.

Other advances were a smallpox vaccine, the spinning wheel, and the use of arches in building bridges. Were these part of the Tang or Song dynasties?

African civilizations contributed to metal working by learning how to smelt.

Economy

Early Ming rulers sent Chinese ships called junks like the one shown here on great voyages. Zheng He commanded the first of seven voyages in 1405. Almost 30,000 men accompanied him. These voyages allowed Chinese merchants created trading centers in Southeast Asia and India. Zheng He explored the coasts of Southeast Asia and India and found entrances to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

Reflection Questions. Using the module and chart, choose four questions to answer in three or more sentences

Describe the impact drought had on West Africa.

Explain the positive and negative impacts of trade on the Kingdoms of Axum and Kush.

Explain the impact of cultural diffusion on the spread of different religions across Africa.

Choose two geographical features to visit in Africa. Tell about the feature and why would you visit?

The Song dynasty impacted education through the invention of movable type. Choose and describe a modern-day invention that has a similar influence.

How did the mining of gold and planting of cotton impact the economy and ecosystem in West Africa?

Rank the Mongol leaders from least important to most important based upon what you learned in the lesson. Explain the rank of each person and the reason for their ranking.

The module provides various examples of how ecosystems can be destroyed by humans and natural disasters. Describe one way an ecosystem can be destroyed by humans AND one way it can be destroyed naturally.