WHAP key terms unit 2

Indian Ocean trade

Safe routes connecting ports in western India to Persian Gulf and eastern Africa; dominated by Persians and Arabs; required technology for monsoon seasons.

Silk Road

Ancient trade network connecting East and West; important under Mongols for trade of silk, porcelain, and cultural exchange.

Bubonic Plague

Deadly epidemic spread through commerce and trade; destroyed European social structures and shifted economy toward commerce.

Pax Mongolica

13th–14th century stability under Mongols; increased Silk Road trade with safe routes.

Oasis towns

Bustling rest stops and trade hand-off points for merchants.

Monsoon season

Seasonal winds enabling merchants to sail across Indian Ocean trade routes.

Lateen sail

Triangular sail allowing maneuverability and use of monsoon winds.

Qanat system

Persian irrigation system using sloped tunnels to divert groundwater.

Diaspora

Group of people with shared heritage scattered away from homeland.

Dhow

Lateen-sailed vessel used in Indian Ocean trade.

Camel caravan

Groups using camels to cross African deserts; carried goods and religion.

Caravanserai

Inns along desert trade routes for caravans to rest.

Silk

Valuable Chinese good traded along Silk Road.

Mongols

Nomadic conquerors from Northern Eurasia; formed vast empire under Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan

Unified Mongol tribes; military genius; established largest empire in history.

Mongol Empire

Empire spanning Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe under Genghis Khan.

Khanate

Mongol hordes divided after Genghis Khan’s death.

Golden Horde

Turkic Khanate ruling Russia for over two centuries; included Tatars.

Kublai Khan

Successor to Genghis Khan; founded Yuan dynasty in China after Song conquest.

Tamerlane

Timurid Empire founder; aimed to revive Mongol Empire by conquering Central and Western Asia.

Mansa Musa

Malian ruler; expanded empire; famous pilgrimage to Mecca with wealth and entourage.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant; documented travels in China; stimulated European interest in Asia.

Ibn Battuta

Muslim legal scholar; wrote about travels across Islamic world.

Mali Empire

Islamic empire in Africa influential in gold and salt trade.

Swahili City-States

Powerful Islamic trade centers connected to Eurasian trade routes.

Tang/Song China

China’s Golden Ages; trade involvement and technological innovations like compass, paper money, gunpowder.

Yuan Dynasty

First foreign-led Chinese dynasty founded by Kublai Khan.

The Crusades

Western Christian expeditions to reclaim Holy Land and counter Muslim expansion.

Timbuktu

Mali Empire city; major trading post on Trans-Saharan routes.