AP World! Lesson 1 Words

Abu Bakr

Closest companion, advisor, & father-in-law of Muhammad; leader of the Islamic Community from 632-634 CE.

Islam

An Abrahamic religion based on the Quran & the teachings of Muhammad.

Caliphate

A form of Islamic government led by a ruler called a caliph, who is a political leader.

Quran

The Holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the divine word of God.

Shi'ites

Followers of Shia Islam, the second largest branch of the Islamic religion.

Umayyad Caliphate

The first actual government under Islam, which spread through an empire.

Sunnis

Followers of Sunni Islam, making up about 86.1% of all Muslims worldwide.

Abbasid Caliphate

The second major caliphate in Islamic history, which spread to Spain and Central Asia.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of Muhammad.

Muhammad

An Arab religious, military, & political leader; the founder of Islam.

Sultan

A Muslim sovereign who holds power over a state without claiming religious authority.

Shari'a

The moral, ethical, & religious guidance that shows Muslims how God wants them to live. *Code of law*

Mamluks

A political and military class in Islamic society, often of slave origin.

Nomadism

A way of life where people do not live in one permanent home.

Yuan Empire

A Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1271 to 1368 AD.

Bubonic Plague

An infectious bacterial disease spread by fleas on rodents.

Il-khan

A Mongol state established in Persia, founded by Hülegü Khan in 1256.

Golden Horde

A Mongol khanate established in Russia by Batu Khan.

Timur (Tamerlane)

A powerful Central Asian conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in Persia.

Rashid al-Din

A prominent Persian physician & historian.

Nasir al-Din Tusi

A Persian polymath & astronomer who developed advanced mathematical tools.

Khubilai Khan

The last Mongol Great Khan, who founded the Yuan Dynasty.

Ming Empire

Chinese state established after the overthrow of the Yuan Dynasty.

Zheng He

A Muslim eunuch admiral leading maritime voyages during the Ming Dynasty.

Ashikaga Shogunate

The second military government ruling feudal Japan.

Yi Dynasty

Korean Dynasty that succeeded Koryo dynasty following period of Mongol invasions; established in 1392

Kamikaze

typhoons that smashed attacking Mongol ships, stopping invasions of Japan.

Yongle

The third emperor of the Ming Empire (r. 1403 - 1424). He sponsored the building of the Forbidden City.

Muslim

a follower of the religion of Islam

Ali

the fourth caliph of Islam who is considered to be the first caliph by Shiites. Cousin/ Son in law of Muhammad

Seljuks

Turkish group that migrated into the Abbasid Empire in the 10th century and later established their own empire

(Their leader is the Sultan)

Sufi

The branch of Islam that believes in a more mystical connection with Allah.

Mongols

An East Asian ethic group that when united ended up creating the largest single land empire (at one point of time). Under Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan

Founder and first Khan of the Mongol Empire.

Alexander Nevskii

Prince of Novgorod, Russia(1236-1263). He submitted to the invading Mongols in 1240 and received recognition as the leader of the Russian princes under the Golden Horde.

Tsar

The Russian term for ruler or king; taken from the Roman word caesar.

Ottomans

Turkic people who advanced from strongholds in Asia Minor during 1350s; captured Constantinople in 1453; conquered by the Byzantine Empire in 1453

lama

In Tibetan Buddhism, a teacher.

Beijing

China's northern capital, end of silk road.