AP WORLD HISTORY UNIT 2 VOCAB

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes.

Zheng He

Chinese Ming dynasty admiral who led treasure voyages to the Indian Ocean, expanding trade and tribute networks.

Sand Roads

Trans-Saharan trade routes linking West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean, exchanging gold, salt, and slaves.

Arabian Camel

Dromedary camel used for long-distance desert travel and transport in North Africa and the Middle East.

West African Civilization

Series of kingdoms and cultures in West Africa (e.g., Ghana, Mali, Songhai) known for trade and Islam.

Camel saddle

A saddle mounted on a camel allowing riders and loads to be carried across deserts.

Mansa Musa

Mali emperor famed for his lavish pilgrimage to Mecca and support of education and mosques.

Ghana

West African empire (c. 5th–13th c.) dominant in gold-salt trade along the Sahara.

Mali

West African empire that rose after Ghana; amassed wealth from gold, with Timbuktu as a major center.

Swahili

East African coastal culture and language blending Bantu with Arabic, active in Indian Ocean trade.

Margery Kempe

English medieval mystic and author who wrote one of the earliest autobiographies and documented pilgrimages.

Arab Dhow

Arab sailing vessel used for long-distance Indian Ocean trade, often with a lateen sail.

Lateen sail

Triangular sail on a short mast enabling ships to sail against the wind; used widely in trade routes.

Trans-Saharan slave trade

Trade in enslaved people across the Sahara, linking West Africa to North Africa and beyond.

Timbuktu

Mali city famed as a center of learning and caravan trade on the Sand/Salt routes.

House of Wisdom

Abbassid-era library and academy in Baghdad for translation, study, and scholarship.

Chaco Phenomenon

Expansion of Ancestral Puebloan settlements in Chaco Canyon with large public buildings.

Samarkand

Major Silk Road city in present-day Uzbekistan; hub of trade and culture.

Kashgar

Oasis city on the Silk Road in Xinjiang, important trading post linking East and West.

Junk ship

Large Chinese sailing vessel used in ocean trade with multiple masts and full rigging.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns along Silk Road routes where caravans rested and resupplied.

Flying cash

Early form of credit in Song China—paper-based money that moved value over distances.

Gobi Desert

Vast desert in northern China and southern Mongolia, known for its harsh climate.

Pochteca

Aztec professional merchants who conducted long-distance trade and served as envoys.

Ibn Battuta

14th-century Moroccan traveler and scholar who journeyed widely and wrote about his travels.

Temujin (Chinggis Khan)

Founder of the Mongol Empire who united the Mongol tribes and launched conquests.

Mongol world war

Series of campaigns that expanded Mongol control across Eurasia.

Khubilai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan; established the Yuan dynasty in China and promoted trade.

Yuan dynasty

Mongol-ruled Chinese dynasty, 1271–1368.

Ming dynasty

Chinese dynasty after the Yuan; known for voyages of Zheng He and eventual isolation.

Hulegu

Ilkhanate founder who conquered Baghdad in 1258, ending the Abbasid Caliphate.

Safavid Empire

Shia Muslim Persian empire in Iran (1501–1736); capital Isfahan.

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Mongol-ruled state in Russia and Eurasia; western wing of the Mongol Empire.

Bubonic Plague

Yersinia pestis pandemic known as the Black Death in the 14th century.

William of Rubruck

13th-century Flemish missionary who traveled to the Mongol court and documented its life.

Pax Mongolica

Era of relative peace and stability allowing trade and travel across Eurasia under Mongol rule.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant who traveled to Yuan China and documented his experiences.

Indian Ocean

Maritime trade network connecting Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and China.

Monsoons

Seasonal winds driving Indian Ocean trade and shaping sailing schedules.

Emperor Yongle

Ming emperor who moved the capital to Beijing, built the Forbidden City, and sponsored Zheng He.

Deforestation

Removal of forests leading to environmental impacts such as erosion and habitat loss.

Soil erosion

Wearing away of soil by wind and water, often accelerated by deforestation and overgrazing.

Champa Rice

High-yield rice from Champa (Vietnam) introduced to China, boosting agricultural output.