AP World History Chapter 1

Paleolithic Era

Paleolithic Era

(Old Stone Age) a long period of human development before the development of agriculture. Human societies sustained themselves with gathering, hunting, and fishing.

Agricultural Revolution

The time when human beings first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering. This led to farming and Pastoral Society.

Patriarchy

A social system of which women have been made subordinate to men in the family. Often developed of plow-based agriculture, intensive warfare, and private property.

Hinduism

Religion based on the many beliefs and practices, sect, rituals and philosophies in India.

Upanishads

Indian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 B.C.E.

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

The Indian prince turned ascetic (ca. 566-ca. 486 B.C.E.) who founded Buddhism. His exposure to human suffering led him to develop a path to enlightment that became the basis for the religion.

Theravada Buddhism

"Teaching of the Elders," the early form of Buddhism according to which the Buddha was a wise teacher but not divine; emphasizes practices rather than beliefs.

Mahayana Buddhism

"Great Vehicle," the popular development of Buddhism in the early centuries of the Common Era, which gives a much greater role to supernatural beings and to compassion and proved to be more popular than original (Theravada) Buddhism.

Bhakti Movement

Means "worship" Hindu movement began in south India and moved Northward between 600 and 1300. Involved intense adoration of and identification with a particular deity through songs, prayers, rituals.

Confucianism

The Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.

Han Dynasty

Chinese Dynasty emerged after the Qin Dynasty collapsed, establishing political & cultural patterns that lasted into the 20th century.

Daoism

Chinese philosophy or popular religion that advocates a simple and unpretentious way of living and alignment with natural world, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.

Judaism

A monotheistic religion developed in the middle east by the Hebrews, emphasizing a sole personal god (Yahweh) with concerns for social justice.

Saint Paul

early convert and missionary who helped popularize Christianity, especially among Gentils (non-Jews); also, the author of most of the New Testament

Perpetua

Christian martyr (one who was killed for their beliefs) from Carthage. Educated and wealthy, she died being fed to leopards. She was an inspiration to early Christians.

Muhammad

The prophet and founder of Islam whose religious revelations became the Quran, bringing a radically monotheistic religion to Arabia & around the world.

Quran

the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina

Umma

The community of all believers in Islam, bound by common belief rather than territory language tribe.

Ulama

Islamic Religious scholars, both Sunni and Shia who shaped transmitted the core teaching of Islamic civilization.

Sharia

Islamic Law, dealing with political, economic, social, and religious life. Translates to "a path of water" which is considered the source of all life.

Madrassas

Formal colleges for higher institutions in the teaching of Islam as well as in secular subjects founded throughout the Islamic world in beginning in the 11th century.

Sufism

Saw the success of Islam as a distraction and deviation from purer spirituality. They wanted to achieve spiritual Union with Allah.

Silk Roads

Land-based trade routes that linked many regions of Eurasia. They were named after the most famous product traded along these routes.

Sea Roads

The world's largest sea-based system of communication and exchange before 1500 C.E. Centered on India, it stretched from southern China to eastern Africa.

Sand Roads

A term used to describe the routes of the trans-Saharan trade in Africa.

pastoral society

alternative kind of food-producing. emerged in the afro-Eurasian world where settled agriculture was difficult. People here led their animals to seasonal grazing grounds, rather than settling.

Jesus of Nazareth

A peasant/artisan "wisdom teacher" and Jewish mystic (ca. 4 B.C.E.-29 C.E.) whose life, teachings, death, and alleged resurrection gave rise to the new religion of Christianity.