AP World History Vocabulary Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards for AP World History, including key terms and their definitions.

Feudalism

A political and economic system where land was traded for military service and loyalty.

Serfdom

A form of labor where peasants were tied to the land they worked on for a lord in exchange for protection.

Decentralized Government

A political system where local leaders have more power than a central power.

Caliphate

An Islamic state led by a caliph, the political/religious successor to Muhammad.

Dar-al-Islam

Regions where Muslims can practice their religion freely, known as the 'house of Islam'.

Confucianism

A Chinese philosophy emphasizing hierarchy, respect for elders, and proper behavior to benefit society.

Filial Piety

The Confucian belief of respecting and honoring one's elders.

Civil Service Exam

A political position in society that anyone can take, based on Confucian principles and merit.

Tributary System

A system where smaller countries support larger ones through trade, typically for protection.

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening, drought-resistant variety of rice that increased production in China.

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu religious movement emphasizing devotion to a personal god and rejecting caste distinctions.

Sufism

A mystical form of Islam focused on an individual's search for God and spiritual connection.

Silk Roads

A network of trade routes connecting East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe known for silk and cultural exchange.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns along trading routes where travelers and their animals could rest.

Paper Money

Currency in China that facilitated trade and reduced the need to carry metal coins.

Banking Houses

Places where merchants could store money, receive credit, or exchange currency.

Credit

An agreement where goods could be bought with a promise of future payment.

Bills of Exchange

A written order used in trade that promised payment at a later date, an early form of a check.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds that shaped trade patterns in the Indian Ocean, making travel quicker.

Diasporic Communities

Settlements of people living outside their homelands, maintaining traditions while influencing others.

Indian Ocean Trade

A key maritime trade network connecting East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade across the Sahara Desert involving gold, salt, and slaves between West Africa, North Africa, and the Islamic world.

Luxury Goods

High-value items like silk, porcelain, and spices traded across long distances.

Gunpowder Empires

Empires such as the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal that used gunpowder weapons to expand and control territories.

Divine Right

A political doctrine that asserts that rulers derive their right to rule directly from the will of God.

Absolutism

A form of government where the ruler holds total power, often associated with the divine right.

Zamindars

Local officials in the Mughal Empire responsible for collecting taxes and controlling territories.

Devshirme

An Ottoman system where Christian boys were taken, converted to Islam, and trained for military or bureaucratic service.