← Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200–1450)
State-Building Across Regions
Empires and states in this era (Song China, the Delhi Sultanate, Mali, the Aztec and Inca) each developed distinct methods of political and religious legitimacy.
Overview
Compare how states justified their rule: Mansa Musa's Mali drew legitimacy partly from Islam and control of gold-salt trade; the Inca used a mit'a labor system and claimed descent from the sun god; China's imperial bureaucracy relied on Confucian civil service exams. Cross-regional comparison is the core skill this unit tests.
Practice Quiz
Question 1 of 1Score so far: 0/0
Which best explains a common method rulers across different 1200-1450 societies used to legitimize their authority?