AP World History Vocabulary List #1

A set of practice flashcards covering vocabulary terms from the AP World History lecture preparation, focused on societal structures, governance, and early civilizations.

Patrilineal

relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line

Matrilineal

relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the maternal line

Ziggurat

a massive, stepped tower built in acient Mesopotamia

Pyramid

a shape or structure with a flat base and flat sides that meet at a point.

Cuneiform

one of the oldest known systems of writing.

Animism

world view that non-human entities possess a distinct spiritual essence, soul, or life force.

Paleolithic

first use of simple stone tools, and early humans survived by hunting and gathering.

Upanishads

ancient Indian spiritual text

Sanskrit

ancient and classical language of India

Religion

an organized system of beliefs, practices, and values that connect people to a spiritual, sacred, or higher power

Ideologies

a set of core beliefs, values, and ideas that shape how a person or group sees the world.

Empire

a large political state or group of territories and diverse peoples ruled by a single supreme authority.

Dynasty

a series of rulers or leaders who come from the same family

Bureaucracy

an administrative system of non-elected officials organized in a clear hierachy to manage policies, laws, and daily operations for governments, or large institutions,

Centralized Government

a system where a single, centras authority holds most of the political power and makes decisions for the whole country.

Decentralized Government

shifts power, duties, and choices away from one main national group

Continuity

an uninterupted connection, flow or consistency without sudden breaks, gaps, or major changes

Domestication

the multi-generational process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use through selective breeding and care

Agrarian

relating to farming, land use, or rural life

Caste

fixed social class that a person is born into, where status, job, and way of living life are strictly set for life with little to no chance of change.