AP World Identifying Terms

Delhi Sultanate

A Muslim kingdom that ruled large parts of India from the 13th to 16th centuries, known for its cultural and architectural achievements. It contributed to the spread of Islam through converting Indians.

Egyptain Mamluk Sultanate

A political and military entity established in Egypt by former slave soldiers, influential from the 13th to 16th centuries, notable for its combat against the Crusaders and Mongols.

Vijayanagara Empire

South Indian kingdom that practiced Hinduism, traded with the Chola kingdom in India

Aztecs

Located in central Mexico, ruled indirectly with the tribute system

Incans

Located in South America, relied on the mit’a system to enforce mandatory public service

Caste system

A hierarchical social structure in India, dividing people into rigid groups based on occupation and birth.

Pastorals

Located in Central Asia, successful societies that rely on the herding of domesticated animals for subsistence and economic activity.

Kashgar and Samarkand

Important trade cities on the Silk Road, vital for commerce and cultural exchange between the East and West.

Bills of Exchange

A financial promise to pay back a sum at a later date in a different country or currency

Uyghur script

A writing system used in Mongolic and Turkic writing systems

City-states of the Swahili Coast

Trading hubs that thrived on maritime commerce, connecting Africa with the Middle East and Asia.

Gujarat

A region in western India known for its vibrant trade, cultural diversity, and historical importance as a center for maritime commerce.

Sultanate of Malacca

A historical kingdom in present-day Malaysia, known for its strategic location along trade routes and as a center of Islam and cultural exchange in Southeast Asia.

Ibn Battuta

A Moroccan scholar and explorer who traveled extensively across the Islamic world and beyond during the 14th century, documenting his journeys in the "Rihla."

Margery Kempe

An English writer and explorer. She wrote about her spiritual experiences and pilgrimages in the 15th century.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer known for his travels to Asia in the late 13th century, his accounts influenced European knowledge of the East.

Mongols

A Central Asian nomadic group that established one of the largest empires in history under Genghis Khan in the 13th century, renowned for their military prowess and trade expansion.

Pax Mongolica

The period of peace and stability across the Mongol Empire during the 13th and 14th centuries, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Genghis Khan

The founder of the Mongol Empire, he united the Mongol tribes and expanded the empire across Asia, known for his military strategies and innovative tactics.

Safavid-Mughal conflict

A series of wars and territorial disputes between the Safavid Empire (Shi’a) and the Mughal Empire (Sunni) in the 16th and 17th centuries, primarily over control of areas in present-day India and Iran.

Zamindar

A land revenue collector in South Asia during the Mughal Empire, responsible for collecting taxes from peasant farmers.

Ottoman tax farming

A system where the Ottoman government auctioned the right to collect taxes, allowing individuals or groups to profit from tax collection in exchange for a fee.

Protestant Reformation

Religious dispute about the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, which led to the creation of Protestant churches and significant changes in Christian theology and practice. (16th century)

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion that centered around equality, developed from interactions between Hinduism and Islam.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese in the 15th century, significant for exploration.

Carrack

A large, ocean-going ship that emerged in the 15th century, it was used by Portuguese explorers for long voyages and trade.

Fluyt

A type of Dutch cargo ship developed in the 16th century, designed for efficient transport and trade.

Lateen sail

A triangular sail that, when mounted on a ship's mast, allows for better sailing against the wind, widely used in the Mediterranean by the 15th century.

Gujaratis

Indian merchant who traded along Indian Ocean routes

Javanese

Indonesian merchants who traded along Indian Ocean routes

Omanis

Arab merchants who traded along Indianxxxx x Ocean routes

Mercantilism

Prioritizing exports over imports, large ideology within sea-based empires, wanted maximum amount of wealth from minerals.

Dutch East India Company

A trading company established in the early 17th century to control trade in the Indian Ocean, particularly in spices, and to secure Dutch colonial interests.

Fronde Resistance Movement

A series of civil wars in France during the mid-17th century, primarily involving nobles and the Parlement against the centralizing policies of Cardinal Mazarin and the young King Louis XIV.

Pueblo Revolt

A rebellion of indigenous Pueblo people against Spanish colonizers in 1680, aimed at resisting Spanish oppression and reclaiming their autonomy.

Queen Ana Nzinga’s Resistance

was a series of military campaigns led by the queen of Ndongo and Matamba against Portuguese colonization in the early 17th century, focused on defending her kingdoms and promoting diplomacy.

Maroon societies

refers to groups of escaped enslaved people in the Americas, who formed independent communities to resist slavery and colonial oppression, often maintaining their cultural heritage. Numerous in the Caribbean and Brazil.

Stono Rebellion of 1739

was a slave uprising in South Carolina that involved a group of enslaved Africans seeking to escape to Florida, resulting in violent confrontations with local militia and leading to more stringent slave codes.

Cossack revolts

were a series of uprisings by Cossack communities in Russia and Ukraine during the 17th and 18th centuries, aimed at resisting serfdom and asserting autonomy from the central government.

Maratha conflict with Mughals

was a series of battles and territorial disputes in India during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, where the Maratha Empire sought to expand its influence and independence against the Mughal Empire.

Metacom’s War

was a conflict between New England colonists and Native American tribes led by Metacom, also known as King Philip, during the 1670s, aiming to resist colonial expansion.

Boyars

were the noble class of Russia, serving as landowners and influential figures in the Russian political system, particularly during the period before the rise of the tsars.

Timars

were land grants given to soldiers and administrators in the Ottoman Empire as a form of compensation and to ensure loyalty.

Seneca Falls Confrence

was the first women's rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, focusing on promoting equal rights for women, including suffrage. Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott.

Balkans

a geopolitical region in Southeast Europe, known for its cultural diversity and historical conflicts, including the complex nationalistic tensions and wars in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corperation (HSBC)

is a global financial services organization headquartered in London, providing a wide range of banking and financial services worldwide.

Haitian Revolution

was a successful insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue from 1791 to 1804, leading to the establishment of Haiti as the first independent black republic.

Latin American Independence Movements

were a series of uprisings across Latin America during the early 19th century, resulting in independence from Spanish colonial rule and the establishment of several sovereign nations.

Letter from Jamaika

was a significant document written by Toussaint Louverture that outlined his thoughts on governance and colonialism, reflecting the aspirations of the Haitian Revolution.

Laissez-faire capitalism

is an economic system where transactions between private parties are free from government intervention, allowing the market to regulate itself. Created by Adam Smith

Meiji Era Japan

refers to the period of Japanese history from 1868 to 1912, during which Japan underwent significant political, economic, and social transformation, modernizing its state and society in order to compete with Western powers.

Karl Marx

was a philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist whose writings, especially "The Communist Manifesto," critiqued capitalism and proposed a classless society.

Imperialism

is the policy or practice of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means. It often involves the domination of smaller nations by larger ones for economic and political gain.

Túpac Amaru II’s rebellion in Peru

was an uprising against Spanish colonial rule in the late 18th century, led by Túpac Amaru II in 1780, aiming to address grievances of indigenous people and challenge colonial authority.

Samory Touré’s military battles in West Africa

were a series of conflicts in the late 19th century led by Samory Touré as he sought to resist French colonial expansion and unify the Mandinka people.

Yaa Asantewaa War in West Africa

was a conflict from 1900 to 1901, led by Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of the Ejisu-Asante, against British colonial rule. It aimed to protect the Ashanti kingdom's independence and cultural heritage.

1857 rebellion in India

was a major uprising against British rule, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, that began in May 1857. It involved various Indian soldiers and marked a significant point in the struggle for independence.

Ghost Dance

was a spiritual movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century, aiming to restore their way of life and remove European influence, particularly following the upheaval caused by westward expansion and military repression.

Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement

was a mass movement among the Xhosa people in the 1850s, where they destroyed their cattle and crops in hopes of prompting the return of ancestors and the removal of European settlers. This event was rooted in resistance against colonial oppression and a longing for cultural revival.

Mahdist Wars

were a series of conflicts in the 19th century, led by Muhammad Ahmad in Sudan, aiming to establish a puritanical Islamic state and resist British-Egyptian control over the region.

Port of Buenos Aires

was a significant trading hub in Argentina, playing a vital role in the Spanish colonial economy and later becoming crucial for exports and imports during the 19th century as Argentina sought independence and modernization.

Chinese exclusion act

was a U.S. federal law enacted in 1882 that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers. It was the first significant legal restriction on free immigration in U.S. history, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment.

White Australia policy

was a set of historical policies that aimed to restrict non-white immigration to Australia, particularly targeting people from Asia and the Pacific Islands, and promoting a racially homogenous population.

The New Deal

was a series of programs and reforms implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s to combat the Great Depression, focusing on recovery, relief, and reform in the American economy.

Facism

is a far-right authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, centralized control, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

League of Nations

was an international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries, though it ultimately failed to prevent future conflicts.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Shpere

was a concept promoted by Japan during World War II, aiming to create a bloc of Asian nations led by Japan to free them from Western colonial powers, but it often resulted in exploitation and occupation.

Indian National Congress

is a political party in India founded in 1885, which played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British rule, advocating for self-rule and civil rights. 1

Young Turks

was a revolutionary group in the early 20th century that sought to modernize and reform the Ottoman Empire, promoting nationalism and constitutional government.

Final Solution

The plan devised by Nazi Germany during World War II to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe, resulting in the deaths of six million Jews.

Nuremberg Laws

were antisemitic laws enacted in 1935 by Nazi Germany that institutionalized racial discrimination against Jews, stripping them of citizenship and legal rights.

The Cambodian Genocide

refers to the mass killing of an estimated 1.7 million people in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 under the Khmer Rouge regime, driven by its radical communist ideology.

Mexican Revolution

a conflict from 1910 to 1920 that resulted in significant political and social change in Mexico, including the end of dictatorship and the redistribution of land. It was marked by the struggle between various factions, aiming to address issues like poverty and land reform.

The Five Year Plan

a series of centralized economic plans implemented in the Soviet Union aimed at rapidly industrializing the economy and increasing agricultural production, primarily during the late 1920s through the 1930s.

Sukarno in Indonesia

was the first President of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. He played a crucial role in declaring Indonesia's independence from Dutch colonial rule and was a prominent figure in the Non-Aligned Movement.

Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana

was the first Prime Minister and later President of Ghana, serving from 1957 to 1966. He was instrumental in leading Ghana to independence from British colonial rule and advocated for pan-Africanism.

The Non-Aligned Movement

is a group of states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc, aimed at promoting peace and cooperation among nations during the Cold War. Examples being Indonesia and Ghana.

Korean War

was a conflict between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by the United Nations, particularly the United States, from 1950 to 1953. The war ended in an armistice, resulting in the division of Korea along the 38th parallel, which remains today.

Angolan Civil War

was a multi-faceted conflict in Angola that lasted from 1975 until 2002, involving various factions including the MPLA, UNITA, and others, with significant foreign interventions from countries like Cuba and the United States. The war stemmed from the struggle for power after Angola's independence from Portugal, rooted in ideological differences and control over Angola's vast resources.

Sandinista-Contras conflictinNicaragua

was a civil conflict in Nicaragua during the 1980s between the Sandinista government and the Contra rebels, which were funded by the United States. This conflict was part of broader Cold War tensions and debates over U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.

Proxy War

is a conflict where two opposing countries or parties support combatants in a third country, often to achieve their political or strategic goals without direct involvement. Examples include Korean War and Angolan Civil War.

Communist Revolution for Vietnamese independence

was a series of events culminating in the rise of communist leadership in Vietnam, leading to the defeat of French colonial rule and the establishment of North Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh in 1954.

Mengistu Haile Mariam in Ethiopia

was a Marxist-Leninist leader who came to power after the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, establishing a communist regime that led to a devastating civil war and famine in Ethiopia.

Land reform in Kerala and other states within India

refers to the policies and practices implemented to redistribute agricultural land to improve equity and productivity, particularly during the mid-20th century in the context of social reforms within India.

White Revolution in Iran

was a series of reforms launched in 1963 by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi aimed at modernizing and westernizing Iran's economy and society, including land reforms, nationalization of forests, and improved education and healthcare.

Indian National Congress

is a political party in India that played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement against British rule, advocating for civil rights, self-rule, and democratic governance.

Ho Chi Minh in French Indochina (Vietnam)

was a communist revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in the struggle for Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule and later the establishment of a communist government in North Vietnam.

Kwame Nkrumah in British Gold Coast (Ghana)

was a prominent political leader who led Ghana to become the first African nation to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957 and was a key advocate for Pan-Africanism.

Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt

was a prominent Egyptian leader and a key figure in the Arab nationalist movement, known for nationalizing the Suez Canal and promoting socialism in Egypt during the mid-20th century.

Countries that Negotiated Independence

India from the British Empire, The Gold Coast from the British Empire, French West Africa

Independence through armed struggle

Algeria from the French empire, Angola from the Portuguese empire, Vietnam from the French empire

Muslim League in British India

a political party that played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of Muslims in British India and ultimately sought the creation of Pakistan.

Quebecois separatist movement in Canada

a political movement seeking independence for Quebec, advocating for the province's autonomy and recognition of its distinct culture and language.

Biafra secessionist movement in Nigeria

a political and military movement aimed at establishing the Republic of Biafra, driven by ethnic, economic, and political tensions in Nigeria.

States created by redrawing of political boundaries

Israel from Palestine, Cambodia from Indochinese Union, Pakistan from the British Indian Empire, and South Sudan from Sudan.

Migrations during the Cold War

South Asians to Britain, Algerians to France, Filipinos to the United States, and East Germans to West Germany.

Shining Path

a radical Maoist guerrilla group in Peru responsible for violence and terrorism in the 1980s and 1990s, aiming to establish a communist state.

Al-Qaeda

a militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden, known for its global jihadist agenda and involvement in terrorism, including the September 11 attacks.

1918 influenza pandemic

a global outbreak of influenza that resulted in millions of deaths worldwide, originating from soldiers returning home after World War I.

World Trade Organization

an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade, aiming to ensure trade flows as smoothly and predictably as possible.