AP World History – Unit 1 (1200-1450): China & Surrounding Regions

Key vocabulary for mastering the 1200-1450 East Asia unit, emphasizing dynastic order, belief systems, social structures, and major figures.

SPICE-T

Analytical framework for AP World History: Social, Political, Interaction with Environment, Cultural, Economic, Technology.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960-1279) that begins AP World’s focus period; noted for economic growth, technological innovation, and dominance of Confucian ideals.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol-ruled dynasty (1271-1368) founded by Kublai Khan; replaced the Song and integrated vast parts of Eurasia under Mongol control.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (1368-1644) that succeeded the Yuan; known for maritime voyages, porcelain trade, and a revival of Han Chinese culture.

Qing Dynasty

Manchu-led dynasty (1644-1911); China’s last imperial house before the 1912 Republic.

Republic of China (1912-1949)

Post-dynastic government established after the Qing collapse; eventually challenged and replaced on the mainland by communist forces.

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Chinese Communist Party; victorious in civil war and founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Confucianism

Chinese ethical-philosophical system emphasizing hierarchy, filial piety, and social harmony; core ideology of Song China.

Neo-Confucianism

Song-era revival blending Confucian ethics with Buddhist & Daoist ideas; spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Filial Piety

Key Confucian virtue requiring respect and obedience toward parents, elders, and rulers.

Scholar-Gentry

Educated elite who passed civil-service exams; dominated politics and created laws to benefit their class.

Foot Binding

Practice of tightly shaping female feet to display status and reinforce female dependence; emblematic of Song-era gender norms.

Genghis (Chinggis) Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire; initiated conquests that created history’s largest contiguous land empire.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan; conquered China and founded the Yuan Dynasty.

Sui Dynasty

Short-lived dynasty (581-618) preceding the Tang; reunited China and built the Grand Canal—useful context for later periods.

Tang Dynasty

Dynasty (618-907) celebrated for cultural flourishing; sets context for the Song through innovations and expansion.

Mongol Empire

13th-century empire spanning Eurasia; facilitated cultural exchange and trade, influencing China, Korea, and beyond.

East Asia

AP World region including China, Korea, and Japan; primary setting for Unit 1 discussions.