AP World Chapter 3 Vocab

Caravan

A group of merchants, travelers, or pilgrims traveling together for safety across hazardous trade routes, particularly across arid or isolated regions.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns and rest stations established along major trade routes that provided food, shelter, water, and security for merchants, draft animals, and cargo.

Commercial

Relating to the buying, selling, and exchange of goods, services, and commodities on a local, regional, or international scale.

Conservatism

A political, social, or religious philosophy that favors traditional customs, institutional continuity, and opposition to abrupt change.

Cross-cultural

Involving or comparing interactions, exchanges, and influences between two or more distinct culture groups or civilizations.

Crusades

A series of holy wars sanctioned by the Latin Church to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule (initiated at the very end of this period in 1095 CE).

Dar al-islam

"House of Islam"—> [term that describes] regions of the world where Islamic law was dominant and Muslim rulers held power, unifying diverse populations under a shared religion and legal framework.

Demographic

Relating to the structure, distribution, density, growth, or movements of human populations over time.

Economic revolutions

Fundamental transformations in a society's system of production, trade, financial institutions, and division of labor.

Epidemic

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease within a community or region at a particular time.

Feudalism

A political, military, and social system based on land grants (fiefs) given by lords to vassals in exchange for loyalty, military service, and protection.

Indigenous

Originating, occurring, or living naturally in a particular region or environment; native to a land prior to foreign conquest or migration.

Infrastructure

The fundamental physical facilities, public works, and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or economy.

Intercultural

Occurring between, or involving, multiple distinct culture groups through trade, diplomacy, migration, or conflict.

Mamluks

Enslaved soldiers, predominantly of Turkic origin, purchased by Islamic caliphates and dynasties who eventually rose to form powerful military and political elites.

Manorialism

The economic system of Middle Age Europe organized around self-sufficient agricultural estates (manors) worked by bound peasant labor (serfs) under a lord's control.

Mercantile

Relating to merchants, international trade, or commercial activities driven by profit and market exchange.

Migration

The movement of people or entire ethnic groups from one region or habitat to settle in another.

Missionary

An individual sent by a religious group to promote its faith and convert people in foreign lands or non-believing communities.

Monetization

The process of converting an economy or exchange system from bartering or tribute goods into a system reliant on standard coin or paper currency.

Papacy

The office, jurisdiction, and central authority of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Plague

A deadly bacterial infection (frequently Yersinia pestis) causing high mortality rates and social disruption when widespread.

Schism

A formal division or split within a religious body caused by disagreements over doctrine, authority, or ritual.

Sinification

The process by which non-Chinese societies adopt Chinese culture, language, political structures, social customs, and religious beliefs.

Statecraft

The art, skill, and methods involved in governing a state, conducting diplomacy, and maintaining political power.

Urbanization

The growth of cities and the movement of populations from rural farming areas to urban commercial, administrative, or cultural centers.

Xenophobic

Showing intense prejudice, fear, or hatred against foreign individuals, customs, or religions.