AP WORLD HISTORY VOCAB

Dar al-Islam

Region where Islam is the dominant religion, uniting diverse cultures and societies by Islamic beliefs.

Sufi

Islamic mystics who seek direct experience of God through various spiritual practices.

Tang Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (618-907) known for cultural flourishing and Silk Road trade.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960-1279) marked by economic prosperity and urban growth.

Champa rice

Fast-maturing rice from Vietnam that supported agriculture in China.

Grand Canal

Major waterway in China facilitating trade between northern and southern regions.

Wu Zhao

First and only female emperor of China during the Tang Dynasty.

Neo-Confucianism

Philosophical revival that integrated Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist ideas.

Muhammad

Founder of Islam and its last prophet, establishing its religious foundations.

Sharia Law

Islamic legal system governing public and private life based on the Quran.

Umayyad Caliphate

First major Islamic caliphate (661-750) that expanded across a vast territory.

Abbasid Caliphate

Islamic caliphate (750-1258) known for cultural achievements and intellectual exchange.

Sultanate of Delhi

Islamic kingdom in India (1206-1526) that contributed to Indo-Islamic culture.

Monsoon winds

Seasonal winds that affect South Asian agriculture and climate.

Kingdom of Axum

Ancient African kingdom noted for its trade and early Christianity.

Swahili coast

East African trade region connecting Africa with the Indian Ocean trade network.

Mali Empire

Wealthy West African empire controlling gold trade and promoting Islamic scholarship.

Mansa Musa

Famous ruler of Mali, renowned for his wealth and grand pilgrimage to Mecca.

Great Zimbabwe

Ancient city in southern Africa known for its stone structures and trade.

Uyghurs

Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia significant in Silk Road trade.

Chinggis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire, known for military campaigns and unification.

Mongol Empire

Largest contiguous empire in history, promoting trade and cultural exchange.

Kubilai Khan

Grandson of Chinggis Khan and founder of the Yuan dynasty in China.

Yuan Empire

Mongol dynasty ruling China (1271-1368), promoting cultural exchange.

4 Khanates

Division of the Mongol Empire into four regions ruled by Chinggis Khan's descendants.

Gujarat

Region in India famous for trade and commerce in the Indian Ocean.

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican civilization recognized for agriculture and religious rituals.

Bloodletting

Ritual practice of blood extraction in Aztec religion as an act of sacrifice.

Incan Empire

South American empire noted for engineering and efficient agricultural systems.

Quipu

Incan record-keeping method using knotted strings.

Silk Road baggage

Goods transported along the Silk Road, including luxury items like silk.

Osman I

Founder of the Ottoman Empire, establishing a ruling dynasty.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan traveler who documented his extensive journeys and experiences.

Marco Polo

Italian merchant known for his travels and experiences in Asia.

Bubonic Plague

Deadly pandemic causing widespread death and social disruption across continents.

Astrolabe

Instrument used historically for navigation and solving astronomical problems.

Byzantine theme system

Military and administrative structure organizing territories in the Byzantine Empire.

Ottoman Empire

Significant Islamic empire (1299-1922) known for its political and cultural influence.

Devshirme

Ottoman practice of recruiting boys from Christian populations for service.

Jannisaries

Elite infantry units in the Ottoman Empire known for loyalty and discipline.

Divine right of rule

Belief that monarchy is sanctioned by God, justifying absolute authority.

Hanseatic League

Commercial alliance of northern European cities promoting trade and cooperation.

St Thomas Aquinas

Theologian integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian beliefs.

Reconquista

Efforts to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule by Christian kingdoms.

Renaissance

Cultural revival in Europe emphasizing classical learning and artistic innovation.

Protestant Reformation

Movement challenging Catholic Church authority, leading to new Christian denominations.

Catholic Reformation

Response by Catholic Church to reform practices and counter Protestantism.

Mughal Empire

Muslim empire in India known for cultural achievements and syncretism.

Safavid Empire

Persian empire promoting Shia Islam and engaging in religious conflicts.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty marked by trade expansion and cultural achievements.

Zheng He

Chinese explorer known for his expansive maritime expeditions.

Dutch East India Company

Trading company established to manage Asian trade and exert influence.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of goods and cultural exchange between the Americas and Europe.

Joint-stock company

Business entity with shares owned by shareholders pooling capital for ventures.

Seven Years War

Global conflict (1756-1763) influencing political alignments and colonial empires.

Printing Press

Invention enabling mass production of books, promoting literacy and knowledge dissemination.

Glorious Revolution

Overthrow of King James II, leading to a constitutional monarchy in England.

Peter the Great

Russian czar known for modernizing Russia and expanding its territories.

Peace of Westphalia

Treaties ending the Thirty Years' War, establishing sovereignty principles.

Capitalism

Economic system based on private ownership and free market principles.

Scientific Revolution

Period of significant advancements in scientific thought and methodologies.

Viceroy

Governor ruling a colony on behalf of a monarch, overseeing administration.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Agreement dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.

Mit'a system

Incan labor system requiring public labor contributions for state projects.

Encomienda

Spanish system demanding labor and tribute from indigenous populations.

Social Classes in the New World

Hierarchical structure based on race and origin reflecting colonial dynamics.

Maroon societies

Communities established by escaped slaves in remote areas of the Americas.

Mercantilism

Economic theory emphasizing trade and wealth accumulation to maximize profit.

Indentured labor

System where workers contract for passage in exchange for future freedom.

Bartolome de las Casas

Advocate for indigenous rights in colonial America against exploitation.

Kingdom of Kongo

Central African kingdom known for its trade and cultural exchanges.

Triangle Trade

Transatlantic trade route linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

African diaspora

Dispersal of Africans across the globe due to slavery and colonization.

Olaudah Equiano

Former slave and abolitionist writer advocating for slave trade exposure.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Feudal regime in Japan centralizing power from 1603 to 1868.

Enlightenment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, natural rights, and individualism.

Natural Rights

Philosophical concept of inherent rights such as life and liberty.

Social Contract

Theory that government authority derives from the consent of the governed.

French Revolution

Revolution leading to the overthrow of monarchy and promoting democratic ideals.

Declaration of Rights of Man

Document asserting citizens' rights during the French Revolution.

Declaration of the Rights of Woman

Advocacy for women's rights during the French Revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French leader who rose to power and spread revolutionary ideals across Europe.

Simon Bolivar

Leader of Latin American independence from Spanish rule, advocating for unity.

Haitian Revolution

Successful slave revolt leading to Haiti's independence.

Giuseppe Mazzini

Italian nationalist promoting the unification of Italy.

Guiseppe Garibaldi

Key figure in Italian unification, leading military campaigns.

Congress of Vienna

Meeting aimed at restoring stability in Europe after Napoleon.

James Watt

Inventor credited with improving the steam engine.

Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith's work advocating for free markets and capitalism.

Karl Marx

Philosopher advocating for socialism and class struggle.

Charles Fourier

Socialist thinker promoting cooperative societies and communal living.

Robert Owen

Social reformer advocating for workers' rights and improved living conditions.

Thomas Malthus

Economist known for theories on population growth and resources.

Father Miguel Hidalgo

Leader of Mexican War of Independence advocating for social justice.

Caudillo

Military or political leader in Latin America often practicing authoritarianism.

Francisco (Pancho) Villa

Mexican revolutionary leader fighting for land reforms.

Mahmud II

Ottoman sultan known for modernization and reforms.

Young Turks

Reformist group in the Ottoman Empire advocating for modernization.

Decembrist Revolt

Failed uprising in Russia advocating for constitutional reform.

Crimean War

Conflict revealing Russia's military weaknesses and prompting reforms.