Unit 1 Vocab AP World History

The Mexica people, a Mesoamerican culture that established a powerful empire in central Mexico from roughly 1325 to 1521 CE

Aztec Empire

A movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society (challenging the caste system) by adopting the method of devotion to achieve salvation

Bhakti Movement

A philosophy and religion focused on understanding and overcoming suffering

Buddhism

The rule or reign of a caliph or chief Muslim ruler following the death of the Prophet Muhammad

Caliphate

A rigid social system in India that gives every Indian a particular place in the social hierarchy from birth

Caste System

An Indian quick-maturing, very resistant rice that could be harvested twice in one growing season

Champa Rice

a system of testing designed to select the most studious and learned candidates for appointment as bureaucrats in the Chinese government

Civil Service Exam

The system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.

Confucianism

a Chinese philosophy based on the teachings of Lao Zi which taught that people should turn to nature and give up their worldly concerns; was largely a spiritual alternative to Confucianism

Daoism

Refers to the regions of the world where Islam is the dominant religion and where Muslims can practice their faith freely

Dar-al-Islam

A series of five short-lived Islamic empires that ruled over a significant portion of India from 1206 to 1526 CE

Delhi Sultanate

a land system in which a king owned all the land a granted tracks to nobles in exchange for military loyalty, and nobles granted parts of their land to vassals or serfs who worked the land

Feudalism

a Confucian virtue of respect, obedience, and care for one's parents and elderly family members

Filial Piety

The Chinese practice of tightly wrapping girls feet to keep them small, prevalent in the Song Dynasty and later; and emphasis on small size and delicacy was central to views of female beauty

Foot Binding

an over 1,000 mile-long transportation waterway that allowed China to be the most populous trading area in the world during the Song Dynasty

The Grand Canal

Officially divided the Christian Church into the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

Great Schism of 1054

A complex and diverse religious and philosophical system that has significantly shaped South Asian culture and beyond

Hinduism

largest imperial state in the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries. The empire spanned almost the entire coast of western South America

Inca Empire

Refers to the extensive maritime trading network that connected various regions around the Indian Ocean, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between East Africa, The Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia from ancient times throughout the medieval period.

Indian Ocean Trade

A monotheistic religion centered on the belief in one God, Allah, and the teachings revealed to Muhammad in the Quran. It spread rapidly through military conquest, trade, and missionary work, establishing vast empires and influencing cultures across vast regions, from the Middle East to North Africa, parts of Europe, and India.

Islam

trading empire that flourished in western Africa from the 13th to the 16th century and was known for its wealth

Mali Empire

Enslaved soldiers from the Abbasid era

Mamluks

Italian merchant and explorer known for his travels to Asia, particularly his time at the court of Kublai Khan in China

Marco Polo

Established a series of independent states and city-states in Mesoamerica

Mayans

The Christian church centered in Rome, led by the Pope

Roman Catholic Church

Confucian educated social class that became the most influential social class of China

Scholar Gentry

Had limited freedoms and were tied to the land, meaning they could not leave without permission and often faced restrictions on their lives

Serfs

The Chinese dynasty (960-1279 CE) that rose to power after the Tang dynasty. During the Song dynasty, an explosion of scholarship gave rise to Neo-Confucianism, and a revolution in agricultural and industrial production made China the richest and most populated country on the planet

Song Dynasty

An Indonesian Buddhist sea-based empire based on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia which was an important trade center

Srivijaya Empire

Blended language that combined Bantu and Arabic languages and is still spoken today

Swahili

A significant network of exchange that linked West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean world, facilitating the movement of goods, people, and ideas

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

A religion that actively seeks to convert people worldwide, transcending ethnicity and cultural boundaries

Universalizing Religion

Chinese admiral and diplomat during the Ming Dynasty, known for leading seven massive naval expeditions throughout the Indian Ocean in the early 15th century.

Zheng He