AP World History Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on technological innovations, key commercial states, Mongol Khanates, travelers, and biological transfers from Unit 2.

Caravan seraq

Large rest stops along trade routes where merchants could get supplies, rest their horses and camels, and safely store trade goods.

Astrolabe

A navigational device used on Indian Ocean trade routes that allows sailors to determine their latitude.

Lateen sails

Sails designed to allow ships to sail against the wind, facilitating easier travel across the Indian Ocean.

Stern rudders

Maritime technological innovations that allow sailors to better steer their ships.

Camel saddle

An innovation used on the Trans-Saharan and Silk Roads primarily for loading camels with heavier amounts of cargo.

Paper money

A currency technology developed in China during the Song dynasty that allowed merchants to conduct trade without carrying heavy gold and silver.

Banking houses

Financial institutions developed in Europe during the 1300s where merchants could safely keep money and redeem bills of exchange.

Bill of exchange

An official written document stating that a merchant could retrieve gold and silver from a banking house.

Kashgar and Samarkand

Central Asian trading cities located on the Silk Roads that grew powerful through trade.

Mali

A West African state that grew rich and powerful by controlling the lucrative gold trade along the Trans-Saharan trade routes.

Mansa Musa

The most famous leader of Mali who brought so much gold on his Hajj to Mecca that he destabilized the economy of Egypt.

Sultanate of Malacca

A Muslim state located in Southeast Asia that profited by charging fees on every trade ship passing through the Indian Ocean.

Gujarat

One of the Hindu Rajput kingdoms in India that encouraged and benefited from maritime trade in the Indian Ocean.

Yuan dynasty

The Mongol Khanate in China founded by Genghis Khan's grandson that adopted centralized imperial bureaucracy but excluded ethnic Han Chinese from top government roles.

Golden Horde

The least centralized Mongol Khanate, based in Russia, which maintained nomadic traditions while raiding and collecting tribute.

Ilkhanate

The Mongol Khanate in Persia where local Persian bureaucrats handled administration and the Mongol rulers eventually converted to Islam.

Uighur script

A written script adapted by the Mongols to write their own language.

Marco Polo

A Christian traveler whose book detailing his journey to China inspired Europeans to seek greater trade with Asia.

Marjorie Kemp

A traveler who mostly stayed in Europe and recorded her travels in a book.

Bananas

A calorie-rich food crop originating in Southeast Asia that was introduced to Africa by Indonesian seafarers, causing population growth.

Caravanserai

Large rest stops along trade routes where merchants could get supplies, rest their animals, and safely store trade goods.

Compass

A navigational technology used on Indian Ocean trade routes that helps sailors determine direction.

Astrolabe

A navigational device used on Indian Ocean trade routes that allows sailors to determine their latitude.

Lateen sails

Triangular sails designed to allow ships to sail against the wind, facilitating easier travel across the Indian Ocean.

Stern rudders

Maritime technological innovations that allowed sailors to better steer larger ships.

Camel saddle

An innovation used on Trans-Saharan and Silk Road routes primarily designed for loading draft animals with heavier cargo.

Paper money

A currency technology developed in Song dynasty China that enabled merchants to conduct business without carrying heavy metal coinage.

Banking houses

Financial institutions established in Europe during the 1300s where merchants could safely deposit money and redeem bills of exchange.

Bill of exchange

An official written document stating that a merchant could retrieve gold or silver from a banking house.

Kashgar and Samarkand

Central Asian trading cities located along the Silk Roads that grew wealthy and powerful through commercial traffic.

Mali

A West African empire that grew rich and powerful by controlling the lucrative gold and salt trade along Trans-Saharan routes.

Mansa Musa

The ruler of Mali whose famous Hajj to Mecca demonstrated massive wealth in gold and briefly destabilized the Egyptian economy.

Sultanate of Malacca

A Muslim state in Southeast Asia that profited by charging fees on trade ships passing through the Strait of Malacca.

Gujarat

A Rajput kingdom in India that actively encouraged and benefited from maritime commercial activities in the Indian Ocean.

Zheng He

A Ming dynasty admiral who led massive trade, tribute, anti piracy voyages, and diplomatic expeditions across the Indian Ocean.

Yuan dynasty

The Mongol Khanate in China founded by Kublai Khan that utilized centralized imperial bureaucracy while excluding Han Chinese from top administration roles.

Golden Horde

The Mongol Khanate based in Russia that retained a nomadic lifestyle while raiding and collecting tribute from local princes.

Ilkhanate

The Mongol Khanate in Persia where local Persian bureaucrats handled administration and rulers eventually converted to Islam.

Uighur script

A written writing system adapted by the Mongols to transcribe their spoken language.

Marco Polo

A Christian traveler whose written account of his journey to Yuan China inspired European interest in Asian trade goods.

Ibn Battuta

A Muslim scholar and traveler who visited vast areas of Dar al-Islam and documented his experiences in the Rihla.

Margery Kempe

An English mystic whose autobiographical writings recorded her pilgrimages throughout Europe and the Holy Land.

Bananas

A calorie-dense crop originating in Southeast Asia that was introduced to Africa by Indonesian seafarers, stimulating population growth.

Bubonic plague

A deadly epidemic disease, also known as the Black Death, that spread along Afro-Eurasian trade routes and caused massive population declines.

Timbuktu

A major West African city in the Mali Empire that developed into a prominent center of Islamic learning and Trans-Saharan trade.

Swahili coast city-states

East African coastal urban centers, such as Kilwa and Mombasa, that tied into Indian Ocean trade and created a shared Islamic culture.

Champa rice

A drought-resistant, fast-ripening crop introduced to China from Vietnam that allowed double-cropping and fueled massive demographic growth.

Citrus fruits

Agricultural items originating in Southeast Asia that spread along Afro-Eurasian trade networks throughout Dar al-Islam and into Southern Europe.