AP World Semester 1 Vocab Review

Western Christendom

Branch of Christianity practiced in Western Europe, with the Roman Catholic Church as its influential organization.

Silk Roads

Famous network of trade routes connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean world, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.

Angkor Wat

Largest religious structure in the premodern world, located in present-day Cambodia and a symbol of the Khmer Empire's grandeur.

Swahili Civilization

Civilization that rose from commercial city-states along the East African coast, known for its trade and cultural exchange with the Indian Ocean world.

Song Dynasty

Ancient Chinese dynasty known for its economic revolution and ruling over Chinese civilization.

Hangzhou

Capital of the Song Dynasty, considered the finest city in the world during that time.

Foot Binding

Chinese practice of mutilating women's feet for aesthetic purposes.

Hangul

Phonetic alphabet developed for writing the Korean language.

Chu Nom

Vietnamese variation of Chinese writing system.

Bushido

Distinctive set of values followed by warriors in feudal Japan.

Abbasid Caliphate

Arab dynasty that ruled the Islamic world from 750 to 1258 CE.

Seljuk Turkic Empire

Turkic empire in the Islamic Middle East during the 11th and 12th centuries.

Ottoman Empire

Turkic warrior group that brought political unity to the Islamic Middle East and North Africa, ruling from 1299 to 1922.

Al-Andalus

Muslim name for Spain, known for its cross-cultural encounters.

Byzantine Empire

Sophisticated and powerful Christian empire that lasted from 330 to 1453 CE.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire, known for its strategic location and cultural significance.

Caesaropapism

Relationship between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine state, where the emperor had control over religious matters.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Branch of Christianity practiced in the Byzantine Empire, known for its rich traditions and religious art.

Crusades

Series of military campaigns initiated by the Catholic Pope against forces of Islam in the Holy Land.

Kievan Rus

Modest state in the 9th century, named after its largest city, Kiev, and known for its trade and cultural connections with Byzantium.

Maya Civilization

Dominant civilization in modern-day Guatemala and Mexico, known for its advanced writing system, mathematics, and architecture.

Aztec Empire

Last and largest of the Mesoamerican states, known for its complex social structure and human sacrifice rituals.

Inca Empire

Larger than the Aztec state, the Inca Empire stretched across the Andes and was known for its extensive road system and centralized government.

Sea Roads

Transoceanic trade routes prior to 1500, connecting various regions across the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Srivijaya

Early example of the connection between commerce, state building, and religious change in Southeast Asia.

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful state linked to gold trade and wealth from cattle, located in present-day Zimbabwe.

Zheng He

Muslim captain of the Chinese fleet during the early 15th century, known for his extensive voyages and diplomatic missions.

Sand Roads

Trade routes crossing the Sahara Desert and linking North Africa with West Africa, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

Arabian Camel

Species introduced to North Africa and the Sahara, enabling trans-Saharan trade and transportation.

West African Civilization

Civilization stretching from the Atlantic Coast to Lake Chad, known for its diverse cultures and states.

Ghana

City-state rich in gold and a major center of trade in West Africa during the medieval period.

Mali

City-state with a monopoly on trade, known for its wealth and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to Mecca.

Trans-Saharan Slave Trade

Slave trade across the Sahara Desert to Islamic North Africa, involving the capture and transportation of African slaves.

Timbuktu

Intellectual center of Islamic learning in West Africa, known for its prestigious universities and libraries.

House of Wisdom

Academic center in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, where scholars from various cultures translated and preserved ancient knowledge.

American Web

Interconnected web of commerce and cultural exchange in the Americas, facilitated by indigenous trade networks.

Chaco Phenomenon

Rapid cultural development in Chaco Canyon, characterized by impressive architecture and complex social structures.

Pochteca

Professional Aztec merchants who played a crucial role in long-distance trade and the spread of goods and ideas.

Temujin/Chinggis Khan

Mongol leader who initiated the Mongol World War and established the largest empire in history.

Khubilai Khan

Ruler of China during the Yuan Dynasty, known for his efforts to integrate Mongol and Chinese cultures.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol-ruled dynasty in China, lasting from 1271 to 1368, characterized by cultural exchange and economic growth.

Black Death

Major outbreak of the bubonic plague in Asia, North Africa, and Europe, causing widespread death and social upheaval.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644, known for its maritime expeditions and cultural achievements.

Safavid Empire

Shi'ite Muslim dynasty that ruled Persia from 1501 to 1736, known for its artistic and architectural achievements.

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Mongol empire that ruled southern Russia and parts of Eastern Europe from the 13th to the 15th centuries.

Hulegu

Grandson of Chinggis Khan and ruler of the Ilkhanate, known for his conquests and patronage of the arts.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico.

The Great Dying

Devastating impact of European-borne epidemic diseases on the indigenous populations of the Americas.

Little Ice Age

Temporary cooling period between the 13th and 19th centuries, leading to agricultural challenges and social disruptions.

General Crisis

Series of famines, epidemics, uprisings, and wars caused by the Little Ice Age, leading to significant social and political changes.

Columbian Exchange

Exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Christopher Columbus' voyages.

Mercantilism

Economic policy that encouraged exports and the accumulation of bullion to increase a nation's wealth and power.

Mestizo

Person of mixed European and Indian ancestry, often resulting from the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Mulattoes

People of African and European descent, often resulting from the transatlantic slave trade and European colonization.

Settler Colonies

British colonies established in the Americas, primarily for the purpose of settlement and resource extraction.

Russian Empire

Empire in Russia with Moscow as its capital, known for its expansion and diverse population.

Yasak

Tribute demanded by Russian rulers from the native peoples of Siberia, often in the form of furs.

Qing Expansion

China's expansion into Central Asia during the Qing Dynasty, resulting in territorial gains and cultural influence.

Mughal Empire

Muslim state that ruled most of India from the 16th to the 18th centuries, known for its architectural achievements and cultural synthesis.

Akbar

Most illustrious sultan of the Mughal Empire, known for his religious tolerance and administrative reforms.

Aurangzeb

Successor of Shah Jahan, reversed previous policies of the Mughal Empire, leading to its decline.

Ottoman Empire

Muslim empire based in Turkey, known for its expansion and cultural diversity.

Devshirme

Process that converted young Christian boys into Turkish soldiers and administrators in the Ottoman Empire.

Indian Ocean Commercial Network

Massive web of commerce in the Indian Ocean, connecting various regions and facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

Trading Post Empire

Imperial dominance based on control of trade, often established through the establishment of trading posts and colonies.

Philippines

Archipelago of islands in Southeast Asia, named after Spanish king Philip II, and a site of Spanish colonization.

British East India Company

Joint-stock company that controlled most of India and played a significant role in British imperialism in South Asia.

Dutch East India Company

Government-chartered company that controlled the spice trade and played a major role in Dutch imperialism in Southeast Asia.

Silver Drain

Flow of silver from Europe to China as a result of trade imbalances, leading to economic changes in both regions.

Piece of Eight

Standard Spanish coin used for trade, often associated with the Spanish colonies in the Americas.

Potosi

Rich silver mining center in Bolivia, which became one of the largest cities in the Americas during the colonial period.

Fur Trade

Trade of animal furs, particularly important in North America during the colonial period.

Transatlantic Slave System

Transportation of African people across the Atlantic Ocean for the purpose of slavery, resulting in the African diaspora.

African Diaspora

Separation of Africans from their homeland through forced removal, resulting in the spread of African cultures and influences worldwide.

Maroon Societies

Communities formed by escaped slaves, often in remote areas, as a form of resistance against slavery.

Signares

Mestizo French-African women in French Senegal who played a significant role in trade and cultural exchange.

Benin

Kingdom in West Africa that resisted European imperialism and was known for its artistic achievements.

Dahomey

West African kingdom that exploited the slave trade and developed a highly centralized and militaristic society.

Feudal

System of vassals and lords, characterized by the exchange of land for military service and loyalty.

Shogun

Military commander and ruler of Japan, holding the real power while the emperor had a ceremonial role.

Daimyo

Feudal lord in Japan, holding power and land under the shogunate.

Bullion

Gold and silver in the form of bars or coins, often used as a medium of exchange and a measure of wealth.

Protestant Reformation

Schism within Christianity that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of Protestant churches.

Martin Luther

German priest who initiated the Protestant Reformation with his Ninety-Five Theses, criticizing the Catholic Church's practices.

Thirty Years' War

Catholic-Protestant struggle in Europe that lasted from 1618 to 1648, resulting in significant political and religious changes.

Counter-Reformation

Internal reform of the Catholic Church in response to the Protestant Reformation, aiming to address corruption and regain followers.

Taki Onqoy

Religious revival movement in Peru during the 16th century, blending indigenous beliefs with Christianity.

Jesuits in China

Missionaries who sought to integrate into Chinese culture and spread Catholicism in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Wahhabi Islam

Islamic movement advocating an austere lifestyle and strict adherence to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith.

Wang Yangming

Ming thinker who emphasized introspection and contemplation as a means to attain moral self-improvement.

Kaozheng

Chinese intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing evidence and analysis in the pursuit of knowledge.

The Dream of the Red Chamber

Famous popular novel in 18th-century China, depicting the decline of a noble family and exploring themes of love, fate, and social change.

Mirabai

Beloved bhakti poet in India, known for her devotional songs and her challenge to traditional gender roles.

Sikhism

Religious tradition combining elements of Hinduism and Islam, founded by Guru Nanak in the 15th century.

Scientific Revolution

Intellectual and cultural transformation in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, marked by advancements in scientific thought and methodology.

Copernicus

Polish mathematician who argued for a sun-centered universe, challenging the prevailing geocentric model.

Galileo

Italian scientist who made observations challenging established understandings of the cosmos and supported the heliocentric model.

Newton

English scientist who formulated laws of motion and mechanics, contributing to the development of modern physics.

European Enlightenment

Intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century, applying the lessons of the Scientific Revolution to human affairs and advocating for reason, liberty, and progress.

Voltaire

French writer and philosopher of the Enlightenment, known for his advocacy of civil liberties and religious tolerance.