AP World Summer Work Vocab

Aristocracy

A form of government in which power is held by the nobility or a privileged class, often based on hereditary titles and land ownership.

Autonomy

the right or condition of self-government

Bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Centralized

controlled by a single authority or managed in one place.

Decentralized

controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.

Coerced

persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.

Democracy

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Demographic

a particular sector of a population.

Diaspora

the dispersion or spread of a people from their original homeland.

Deity

a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion).

Divine

of, from, or like God or a god.

Diverse

showing a great deal of variety; very different.

Doctrine

a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.

Egalitarian

relating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Empire

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.

Hierarchy

a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.

Homogeneous

of the same kind; alike.

Ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Indigenous

originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

Imperial

relating to an empire, or the authority and power used by an empire to control other territories.

Meritocracy

government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.

Monarchy

a form of government with a monarch (king/queen) at the head.

Pagan

a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized religions.

Patriarchy

a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.

Matriarchy

a system of society or government ruled by a woman or women.

Polygamy

the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time.

Secular

denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.

Sedentary

tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive.

Stratify

form or arrange into strata.

Suffrage

the right to vote in political elections.

Surplus

an amount of something left over when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply over demand.

Syncretism

the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.

Animism

the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.

Buddhism

a widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama in northeastern India in the 5th century BC.

Caliphate

the rule or reign of a caliph or chief Muslim ruler.

Caste System

a hierarchical social structure in India dividing society into distinct classes based on birth, occupation, and ritual purity.

Christianity

the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.

Confucianism

a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius and developed by Mencius.

Crusades

1. each of a series of medieval military expeditions made by Europeans to the Holy Land in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.

2. a vigorous campaign for political, social, or religious change.

Dynasty

A line of hereditary rulers of a country

Feudalism

the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.

Guild

A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power

Hegemony

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.

Hellenistic

relating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31 BC. During this period Greek culture flourished, spreading through the Mediterranean and into the Near East and Asia and centering on Alexandria in Egypt and Pergamum in Turkey.

Hinduism

A major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, which developed from Vedic religion.

Vedic Religion

An ancient Indian religion that predates and is considered a precursor to Hinduism. It is characterized by the worship of various deities, particularly those associated with the sky and natural phenomena, and the performance of elaborate rituals and sacrifices.

Islam

The religion of the Muslims, a monotheistic faith regarded as revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah.

Judaism

An Abrahamic, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jewish people.

Manorialism

Medieval European economic and social system where a lord’s estate, or manor, was the center of economic and social life.

Maritime

Connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring commercial or military activity.

Monasticism

Religious way of life characterized by the renunciation of worldly pursuits and a commitment to spiritual activities, often involving celibacy, simplicity, and detachment from material possessions.

Monotheism

The doctrine or belief that there is only one God.

Polytheism

The belief or worship of more than one god.

Neo Confucianism

A movement in religious philosophy derived from Confucianism in China around AD 1000 in response to the ideas of Taoism and Buddhism.

Nomadic

living the life of a nomad; wandering

Pastoral

Used for or related to the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul in a new body.

Sinicization

make Chinese in character or form.

Stateless society

Society that does not have a centralized government or state apparatus with the power to enforce laws and regulations over a specific territory.

Transoceanic

Crossing an ocean.

Tribute System

A formalized structure where subordinate states or entities offer gifts and demonstrate deference to a dominant power, often an empire, in exchange for recognition, trade opportunities, or protection.