AP World History Unit 1.1 & 1.2 Key Terms (East Asia and Dar al-Islam)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Unit 1.1 (Developments in East Asia, c. 1200–c. 1450) and Unit 1.2 (Developments in Dar al-Islam) to help review major concepts and their significance.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960–1279) under Song Taizu; world’s wealthiest and most innovative empire of its time; developed bureaucratic government and expanded education.

Grand Canal

Internal Chinese waterway extending over 30,000 miles; linked north and south, enabling trade and economic integration.

Champa rice

Fast-ripping, drought-resistant rice from Champa; allowed cultivation in new lands (lowlands, riverbanks, hills) and boosted agricultural output.

Tributary system

Arrangement where states paid tribute or provided goods to honor the Chinese emperor; promoted stability and expanded trade.

Kowtow

Ritual bow to the Chinese emperor, with the forehead touching the ground as a sign of extreme respect.

Scholar Gentry

Elite scholar-official class in imperial China; educated in Confucian philosophy and led the bureaucracy.

Foot Binding

Practice of binding girls’ feet tightly to alter bone growth; signified social status and desirability in Song China.

Zen Buddhism

School of Buddhism emphasizing direct experience and meditation; Chan in China; influenced East Asia, including Japan.

Filial piety

Confucian duty requiring family members to subordinate personal desires to those of the male household head and ruler.

Neo-Confucianism

Syncretic philosophy blending Confucian ethics with Buddhist and Daoist ideas; influential in East Asia.

Imperial bureaucracy/meritocracy

Merit-based civil service system where officials are selected for skill; maintained by exams; central to Song governance.

Sinification

Process by which Chinese culture, institutions, and governance spread to and influence other East Asian societies (Japan, Korea, Vietnam).

Silk Road

Ancient trade network linking China with the Middle East and Europe; facilitated exchange of goods, technology, and ideas.

Steel

Advances in iron and steel production in Song China; improved weapons and tools and supported economic growth.

Silk

High-value Chinese fabric; major export along trade routes; symbol of luxury and wealth.

Porcelain

Fine, high-fired ceramic ware; a major Chinese export and technological achievement.

Tea

Beverage produced in China; significant Song export and cultural staple.

Commercialization

Increase in market-based exchanges and urban commerce; shift toward a monetized economy in Song China.

Free peasant labor

Song economy relied on free peasants and artisans for agricultural production and taxation.

Proto-industrialization

Pre-industrial phase of rural manufacturing and workshops contributing to economic growth.

House of Wisdom

Renowned center of learning in Baghdad founded in the late 8th century; facilitated translation and knowledge transfer across Afro-Eurasia.

Hijab

Veil or headscarf worn by some Muslim women covering hair, neck, and chest; expresses modesty.

Swahili

Bantu-based lingua franca along the East African coast; used in commerce and culture; official status in several countries.

Battle of Tours

732 CE battle where Charles Martel halted Umayyad expansion into Western Europe; reinforced Christian dominance.

People of the Book (Dhimmi)

Non-Muslim communities with scripture living under Islamic rule; protected but taxed (jizya) and often treated as minorities.

Buddhism

Religious tradition from India with branches including Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan; spread along trade routes into East Asia.

Theravada

Early Buddhist tradition emphasizing monastic discipline and personal enlightenment; prominent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Mahayana

Buddhist tradition emphasizing universal salvation and bodhisattvas; widespread across East Asia.

Tibetan Buddhism

Buddhist tradition in Tibet and the Himalayas blending doctrine with local practices; influential in Central Asia.