AP WORLD HISTORY VOCAB

Animism

Attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects

Annexation

Forcible acquisition of one State's (country's) territory by another State (country); action taking over land. The seizure of land, to incorporate a country or territory within the domain of a country/state.

Assimilate

To absorb into the cultural tradition of a population or group/take on the characteristics of a dominant culture.

Authoritarian

Relating to/favoring blind submission to authority; relating to/favoring a concentration of power in a leader/elite not constitutionally responsible for the people.

Bias

A one-sided point of view with experience (developing preferences after experience)

Bureaucracy

Government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority

Chiefdom

A region or a people ruled by a chief

City-State

An autonomous state consisting of a city and surrounding territory

Colonization

Taking over territory and claiming it as your own without regard to original occupants, forming a colony

Communism

A system where goods are commonly owned and available to all as needed; a theory advocating elimination of private property; all property/resources owned by everyone; "classless society"

Culture

The customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; the characteristic features of everyday existence (such as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time; the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an institution or organization.

Cultural Diffusion

The spreading and sharing of ideas from one area or group to another

Democracy

Government by the people, especially rule of the majority; supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections

Demographics

The statistical characteristics of human populations, such as age or income used especially to identify markets

Discrimination

Differentiating between people and groups based on real or perceived differences

Dynasty

A succession of rulers of the same line of descent; powerful group or family in power for a long time

Egalitarian

A belief in human equality, especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs; a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among people

Ethnocentrism

judging others based on the standards and culture of your own group; the attitude that one's own group, ethnicity, or nationality is superior to others (NOT the same as fascism)

Feudalism

the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries, having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal (vassal: a person in medieval Europe who was granted land by a lord in exchange for loyalty, military service, and protection)

Geopolitics

Study of the influence of geography, economics, and demography on politics

Globalization

When countries come together to trade; the interconnectedness in world markets

Hierarchy

Classification of a group according to ability, standing, status, or authority (people pyramid)

History

The study of change over time AFTER written records

Imperialism

Policy, practice, or advocacy of extending a nation's power/dominion by direct territorial acquisition or indirect control over politics or economic life of other areas

Institution

A long-lasting pattern of organization in a community (e.g., school, church, government)

matriarchy/matriarchal

Female-dominated society

Missionaries

People sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity abroad

Monotheistic

The belief in one God

Nationalism

Loyalty and devotion to a nation

Nomadic

Roaming about from place to place aimlessly, frequently, or without fixed pattern

Pastoralism

Social organization based on livestock raising as the primary economic activity; the raising and grazing of livestock

Patriarchy/Patriarchal

A male-dominated society

Polytheistic

The belief in more than one God

Prejudice

A one-sided point of view without experience, usually negative

Primary Sources

First-hand, tangible evidence of an event created by a participant or observer

Secondary Sources

Information researched and written after an event by someone who did not participate/observe

Sphere of Influence (SOI)

Area where a country has power to affect developments without formal authority