AP World Review

Syncretism

Syncretism

The purposeful blending of cultures and ideas from different places. (In China, the there was a mixture of Buddhist doctrine and Daoist traditions that created the syncretic faith called Chan/Zen.

This is significant because we can see how the different cultures interact with one another to form new ones).

Imperial

Relating to an empire. (China had an imperial bureaucracy that carried out the empire's policies. This is significant because it helps identify any crucial information that relates to an empire).

Bureaucracy

A large organization that has appointed officials to carry out policies. (The Chinese government first established This during the Qin dynasty.

This is significant because during the Song dynasty China's bureaucracy expanded and strengthened the dynasty).

Commercial

Relating to commerce and trade. (China grew from local consumption to market production, selling tea, porcelains, and textiles.

This is significant because with the help of the Grand Canal and naval technology China was able to control trade in the South China Sea).

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening and drought resistant strain of rice from the Champa Kingdom. (It was developed through experiment and can allow farmers to grow two crops of rice per year in some areas—which led to more people being fed and double the population.

This is significant because it is an innovation of Postclassical China that greatly expanded China's agricultural production).

Caliphate

The rule of a chief Muslim ruler, or calif. (New states in Dar-al-Islam adopted Abbasid practices and was led by Arabs and Persians.

This is significant because it represent the political aspect of Dar-al-Islam at the time).

Sultan

A Muslim supreme ruler. (A sultan is like a monarch.

This is significant because the Seljuk leader deemed himself this and in the process reduced the role of the highest ranking Abbasid).

Dar-al-Islam

Everywhere Islam is, or "House of Peace". (This is significant because it shapes the society. Islam beliefs such as women's roles affected the society socially and the Islamic following of Muhammad resulted in great knowledge).

Sufism

The belief in grasping truths that they believed could not be understood through learning. (Theywere unlike muslims because Muslims focused more on intellectual pursuits.

This is significant because these types missionaries played an important role in the spread of Islam).

Qu'ran

The Islamic book believed to be the word of God as said by Muhammad. (It's basically the Bible for Muslims.

This is significant because many religious, political, social, and cultural beliefs are derived from this book. Even some of Dar-al-Islam's economical success was as a result of this

Sharia

Islamic canonical law based on the teachings of the Qu'ran and traditions of the Prophet. (It describes religious and secular duties and even penalties for breaking the law.

This is significant because it acts as the legislative system of Islam).

Angkor Wat

An ornate and majestic Buddhist temple complex. (In 1431 the Sukothai Kingdom invade the area of the temple.

This is significant because although there are only ruins remaining, it testifies to the sophistication of the Southeast Asian culture and represents the influence of Indian culture).

Quipu

A system of knotted strings developed by the Inca Empire. (The quipu was used to record numerical information and for recording messages.

This was significant because it was an Inca innovation that impacted trade, engineering, and communication within the empire).

Mit'a

Mandatory public service in the Inca civilization. (Contrary to the Aztecs, conquered men between the ages of 15 and 50 provided labor relating to agriculture and construction instead of offering tribute.

This is significant because it is a crucial piece of the Inca Empire's government, economy, and society).

Chinampas

Floating gardens created to increase the amount of space for food production. (On Lake Texcoco during the Aztec Empire, Aztecs dug ditches to use lake water to irrigate fields and also drain parts of the lake for land.

This is significant because it was a crucial agricultural technique used for the Aztec's capital city Tenochitlan).

Griots

Storytellers in Sub-Saharan Africa. (They were both respected and feared.

This is significant because they preserved history, passed history down, helped kings, and even provided women with a sense of empowerment in a patriarchal society).

Matrilineal

Based on kinship with the mother or the female line. (Sub-Saharan Africa did not centralize power under one leader or central government so they formed kin-based networks in their communities.

This is significant because these networks based on familial relationship were a great part of the society's political structure which further impacted other aspects of civilization).

Coercion

Persuading someone to do something by using force or threats. (This was used somewhat in the Manorial system; peasants known as Serfs were ties to the land and only able to do certain things if their lords allowed them to. By threatening to take basic human rights away unless they work for them, they used coercion.

This is significant because the manorial system, which used this, provided the civilization with economic self-sufficiency and defense).

Feudalism

A decentralized political organization based on a system of exchanges of land for loyalty. (The entire system was based on agriculture; wealth was measured in land rather than cash.

This is significant because it was a major political system and affected society greatly—like the lack of women's rights).

Mongol Empire

The empire resulting from the conquering of the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258. China also became under the control of the This in the 14th century.

This is significant because part of the Silk Roads became unified in a system under this. The Silk Roads also increased in safety due to them improving the roads and punishing bandits.

Chinese Junk (Boat)

A boat developed during the Han Dynasty—similar to the Southwest Asian dhow—that had multiple sails and was as long as 400 feet. It was at least triple the size of a typical ship in that time and the hull was divided into compartments.

This is significant because the walls that allowed for the compartments strengthened the boat and made it safer to go on rough trade voyages without sinking.

Samarkand

A stopping point on the Silk Roads between China and the Mediterranean. It had a presence of diverse religions like Christianity, Buddhism, etc.

This is significant because it was a center for both cultural exchange and trading goods along with centers of Islamic learning, mosques, and was known for its Artisans.

Flying Cash

A system of credit that was developed because copper coins became too difficult to carry. Merchants could deposit paper money in one location and withdraw in another location.

This is significant because locations with this became the models for modern day banking and it made it easier to trade across multiple places.

Money Economy

An economy that used money rather than exchanging other commodities. They would use copper coins but that later changed as well.

This is significant because it made it easier to manage trade, especially when trade increased in the region.

Magnetic Compass

A device that shows the directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It uses a magnetized needle to point to the direction.

This is significant because it helped with aiding navigation and ship control for trade.

Kashgar

A city located at the western edge of China. This city was located where the northern and southern routes of the Silk Roads intersected and led to place such as Central Asia, Indian, Pakistan, etc.

This is significant because travelers depended on its abundance of water and food—since it was watered by the Kashgar River—and it became a center of Islamic learning.

Caravanserai

Inns or pit stops along the Silk Roads. They were established once the Silk Roads became stabilized and were about 100 miles apart.

This is significant because travelers were able to rest both themselves and their animals. They were even able to trade their animals as well.

Banking House

A place where a person could go to with a document that legally promised them a set amount of money on a certain date—known as a bill of exchange—and receive that money.

This is significant because due to its stability of institutions and convenience, it helped to encourage and support trade

Hanseatic League

A commercial alliance formed from cities in Northern Germany and Scandinavia in the 13th century. The league controlled trade in the North and Baltic Sea while driving out pirates and monopolizing trade in certain goods. The league would also pick up goods from Arab caravans.

This is significant because it helped to protect merchants and increase trade until the mid-17th century.

Pax Mongolica

A period of Eurasian history where the mongols rules most of the area in the 13th and 14th centuries.

This is important because it was a period of peace and tolerance in Eurasia. Trade and freedom of religion were expanded upon and protected.

Indian Ocean Slave Trade

A series of trade in the Indian Ocean where slaves from East Africa were traded to North Africa, the Middle East, and India.

This was significant because it spread African customs across the world, with slaves developing communities and becoming a part of the work force

Stern Rudder

A Chinese maritime invention which gave ships stability, making them easier to maneuver.

This is significant because it made ships move faster and more easily, helping to expand exploration and trade across Afro-Eurasia.

Il-Khanate

A Kingdom in the Southwest Mongol Empire, which took over Baghdad and ended the Abbasid Caliphate. Eventually, it converted to Islam and began persecuting Christians and Jews.

This is important because it upset and changed Persia's political climate by ending Abbasid rule, persecuting non-Muslims, and spreading Islamic knowledge and tradition.

Monsoon Trade Winds

Winds that blew from the Northeast in the winter and fall, but in the opposite direction for the rest of the year.

This are important because they made merchants decide the setting to set sail in based on the wind patterns.

Lanteen Sails

Sails with a triangle shape, usually used by Arab soldiers.

These are significant because they easily caught winds from all directions. Meaning, they were great tools for navigating the Indian Ocean.

Golden Horde

An army serving Batu that conquered Russia, forcing them to become tributes for the Mongols.

This is important because they weakened Russia, inspiring it to improve its military organization and improve centralized leadership. Russian culture also became distinct due to its separation from the rest of Europe.

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

A system of widespread trade across the Sahara that spread goods from a number of nations.

This is important because many items like gold, ivory, slaves, salt, textiles, and Islams were exchanged in it.

Camel Saddles

Since camels couldn't be ridden bare-back, many different saddles with different purposes were crated for them.

These were significant because they allowed merchants to carry heavy loads and easily travel through the Sahara.

Boyars

The noble landowning class. At this time, they were at the top of the pyramid in Russia.

This because it shows the social hierarchy of Russia at this time and the boyars were experiencing tension with the rulers.

The Casta System

A system of racial classification created by Spanish colonies. This system was created when people with mixed ancestry were coming into the world.

This is significant because it determined a person's social importance in Spanish colonies.

The Enlightenment

A shift in society that emphasized the importance of reason, individualism, and self-determination. This began in the 17th century due to the increase of interaction among people.

This is significant because it changed societies, challenged monarchs and the church, and caused revolutions/rebellions.

Empiricism

The belief that knowledge comes from sensed experience. This belief came from Francis Bacon in the 17th century.

This is significant because it is an example of the new ideas and beliefs that were spreading during the Enlightenment.

John Locke

An English philosopher who believed citizens had the right to revolt against unjust governments and the right to life, liberty, and property. He also came up with tabula rasa ( people are born with a blank slate ).

This is significant because it ties into the political and innovation themes. He is also someone who challenged governments and false beliefs during the Enlightenment.

Social contract

When citizens give up some of their rights in return for safety and security, provided by the central government.

This is significant because it shows the basis of governments at this time, and the advantages and disadvantages of joining them.

The Philosophes

A group of French intellectuals in the 18th century who were thinkers and writers. They explored theories that dealt with different aspects of the world in new ways.

This is significant because they popularized concepts that used scientific thought.

Adam Smith

An influential thinker in the 17th and 18th centuries. He believed trade should be freer and the government should let consumers and businesses make their own decisions.

This is significant because it shows a shift in people's thoughts, specifically about politics and economics. It also shows people wanting more from their governments.

Laissez-faire

The idea that the government should play as little of a role in economic affairs as possible. Adam Smith advocated for this idea.

This is significant because it ties into the political and economic themes. This idea was a part of the foundation for capitalism.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership of capital. Adam Smith's ideas were the foundation of this.

This is significant because it shows people at this time wanted more rights and money. It also shows that people were starting to stick up for themselves politically.

Socialism

A system in which society owns and controls the means of production. This developed in the 19th century.

This is significant because it shows that people were working towards a better social and economic future.

Deism

A popular belief in the Enlightenment era that says there is a God, but he isn't directly involved in people's lives.

This is significant because it shows people's views on God were changing with the knew information/beliefs that were spreading. This would affect regions with strong religious leadership

Classical liberalism

A belief in natural rights, constitutional government, laissez-faire economics, and reduced spending on armies and churches.

This is significant because the people a part of this pursued many important economic and political changes.

Abolitionist

The movement to end slavery and the Atlantic slave trade. The Atlantic slave trade was banned first, and slavery in general followed.

This is significant because it's a reform movement that wanted to give rights and equality to slaves. This change influenced the social systems in many regions.

Weimer Republic (Germany)

The Weimar Republic was Germany's government from 1919 to 1933, the period after World War I until the rise of Nazi Germany. It was named after the town of Weimar where Germany's new government was formed by a national assembly after Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated.

This important because it was the first time in history Germany was a constitutional federal republic

Lebensraum

Hitler's expansionist theory based on a drive to acquire "living space" for the German people

This is important because it was the reason behind Hitler's actions and hatred towards Jewish people

Munich Agreement (1938)

An agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland; it is widely regarded as a failed act of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.

This is important because it was an act to satisfy Nazi Germany and end the war

Winston Churchill

A noted British statesman who was the Prime Minister of Great Britain during WWII and who led Britain throughout most of World War II and along with Roosevelt planned many allied campaigns. He predicted an iron curtain that would separate Communist Europe from the rest of the West.

This is important because he helped lead Britain to defeat Hitler and the Nazi's

Battle of Stalingrad

(1942) World War II battle between invading German forces and Soviet defenders for control of Stalingrad; each side sustained hundreds of thousands of casualties; Germany's defeat marked turning point in the war

This is important because it was a major turning point in the war and severely weakened the German regime

Island Hopping

A military strategy used during World War II that involved selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands that were light in defense and bypassing others that were heavily fortified

This is important because it was a strategy used in Japan that led to the conquering of several islands and a decreased amount of casualties

Ethnic cleansing (genocide)

Cleansing involves the effort to rid a country or region of everyone of a particular ethnicity either through forced migration or genocide. Genocide is a premeditated effort to kill everyone from a particular ethnic group.

This is important because it resulted in the deaths of millions around the world and was what the Nazi regime pushed for

Rwandan Genocide

The killing of more than 500,000 ethnic Tutsis by rival Hutu militias in Rwanda in 1994. The conflict between the dominant Tutsis and the majority Hutus had gone on for centuries, but the suddenness and savagery of the massacres caught the United Nations off-guard. U.N. peacekeepers did not enter the country until after much of the damage had been done.

This is important because it is an example of mass genocide that even the UN couldn't stop

Postdam Conference

This is the conference where Stalin, Truman, and Churchill came together to decide how Germany would be administered. Their goals were to establish order, settle peace treaty issues, and deal with the effects of WWII.

This is important because it was the plan as to how to handle Germany after WWII and restore order

United Nations (UN)

an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security after the events of WWII

This is important because it stopped any other world wars from happening and continues to do so and it allows for nations to voice issues and such to each other so they can work together.

Containment Policy

Established by the Truman administration in 1947 to contain Soviet influence to what it was at the end of World War II by offering support, aid, and resources to countries that were threatened by communist efforts.

This is important because it helped stop communist movements in regions that couldn't defend themselves from said movements

Truman Doctrine

1947, President Truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology, mainly helped Greece and Turkey

This is important because it was a key factor to the Vietnam war and anti-communist movements

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

a doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender

This is important because it was the only reason why nuclear war didn't happen because it would lead to the destruction of both countries no matter what.

Mao Zedong

(1893-1976) Leader of the Communist Party in China that overthrew Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists. Established China as the People's Republic of China and ruled from 1949 until 1976.

This is important because he pushed the communist movement in China

Iranian Revolution

(1978-1979) a revolution against the shah of Iran led by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which resulted in Iran becoming an Islamic republic with Khomeini as its leader

This is important because it led to the topple of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran

Organization of African Unity (OAU)

An organization started in 1963 by thirty-two newly independent African states and designed to prevent conflict that would lead to intervention by former colonial powers that was headed by Kwame Nkrumah and other African leaders.

This is important because it helped stabilize a previously colonized Africa and prevent European powers from recolonizing

Ho Chi Minh

Communist leader of North Vietnam

This is important because he spear-headed the communist movement in North Vietnam

Viet Cong (VC)

A Communist-led army and guerrilla force in South Vietnam that fought its government and was supported by North Vietnam.

This is important because they were the ones pushing for communism in Vietnam and were the main combatants in the Vietnam War

The Suez Crisis

crisis in which Britain and France attempted to seize control of the Suez canal from Egypt

This is important because it made Britain a second-tier power in the world and freed Egypt from English and French rule

SALT Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

freeze the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles that Soviets and US could keep to prevent nuclear war

These are important because they helped control the amount of weapons each nation had to prevent from nuclear war and mutual assured destruction

Nelson Mandela

ANC leader imprisoned by Afrikaner regime; released in 1990 and elected as president of South Africa in 1994.

This is important because he fought against the Apartheid government and for civil rights in South Africa as well as the United Sates

Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

A Nazi organized wave of violence carried out against the Jews where mobs ransacked more than seven thousand Jewish shops and synagogues, 91 died, 30,000 were sent to concentration camps.

This is important because it showed how powerful Nazi Germany was and how willing they were to get rid of the Jews

Nuremberg Laws

1935 laws defining the status of Jews as different and withdrawing citizenship from persons of non-German blood.

These are important because they completely devalued Jewish people and gave them no rights or citizenship in Germany

European Nationalism

The loyalty of a people to their common culture, traditions, ethnicity, geographic territory, and the idea of self-rule.

This is significant because it led to the unification of Italy and Germany.

Tenements

A building in which several families rent rooms or apartments, often with little sanitation or safety. They're also located in slums.

These are significant because they were built to hold the groups of immigrants that came to the United States in the 1840s to 1850s.

Human Capital

The skills and knowledge gained by a worker through education and experience.

This is that it helped economies grow and develop.

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods.

This is significant because it allowed goods to be made and transported quicker.

Interchangeable Parts

Identical components that can be used in place of one another in manufacturing.

These are significant because it allowed relatively unskilled workers to produce large numbers of weapons quickly and at lower cost, and made repair and replacement of parts infinitely easier.

Agricultural Revolution

The transformation of human existence caused by the deliberate cultivation of particular plants and the deliberate taming and breeding of particular animals.

This is significant because it set the foundation for what we know as modern human life.

Ottomanism

Its a concept which developed prior to the 1876-1878 First Constitutional Era of the Ottoman Empire. Its proponents believed that it could create the social cohesion needed to keep millets from tearing the empire apart.

This is significant because it was one of the largest and most long-lasting empires in world history.

Otto von Bismarck

He was a German politician, the president-minister of Prussia and the chancellor of the German Empire.

This is significant because under his leadership Prussia united various German smaller states, grew to become a European power, and finally became the basis for the German Empire.

Realpolitik

A political system that's not based on beliefs, doctrines, ethics, or morals, but rather on realistic, practical ideas.

This is significant because it suggests a pragmatic, no-nonsense view and a disregard for ethical considerations.

Propaganda Movement (Philippines)

It was the first Filipino nationalist movement, led by a Filipino elite and inspired by the protonationalist activism of figures such as José Burgos and by his execution at the hands of colonial authorities.

This is significant because it generated a political consciousness that fed into the nationalist revolution of 1896 and the struggle for independence that followed.

Declaration of Independence

The founding document that expressed the grievances the American colonists had with the British government and why they were breaking away from British rule.

Significance: shows the influence of Enlightenment ideas in the 18th century. It also pronounced the separation of the American colonies from Britain.

Trans-Siberian Railroad

a railway that connects european russia to the russian far east. It is the longest railway line in the world. This is significant because it extended russian influence into east asia and to capture global trade from british hands.

Coal Power

a source of fuel that provided a cheap and efficient source of power for steam engines, furnaces, and forges across the US. This was significant because the coal industry was a major foundation for american industrialization in the 19th century.

2nd Industrial Revolution

A wave of late 19th century industrialization that was characterized by an increased use of steel, chemical processes, electric power, and railroads. This period also witnessed the spread of industrialization from Great Britain to western Europe and the United States. This was Sighificent because it created rapid advances in the creation of steel, chemicals, and electricity helping fuel production, including mass-produced consumer goods and resources.

Steam Engine

A machine that turns the energy released by burning fuel into motion. Thomas Newcomen built the first crude but workable one in 1712. James Watt vastly improved his device in the 1760s and 1770s. It was then applied to machinery. This was significant because steam engines improved production and technology, and allowed the creation of smaller and better engines.

Transcontinental Railroad

Railroad connecting the west and east coasts of the continental US. This was significant because it connected
the two america coasts which made
economic export of western resources to eastern markets easier
than ever before.

Labor Units

an organization that brings together workers in the same trade, or job, to fight for better wages and working conditions. This is sighificant because it improved wages and working
conditions for all workers.

Hundred Day Reform

The Hundred Days' Reform was a failed 103-day national cultural, political and educational reform movement from 11 June to 21 September 1898 in late Qing dynasty China. It was undertaken by the young Guangxu Emperor and his reform-minded supporters. This is
significant because the goal was to abolish the traditional examination system.

Working class

comprises those engaged
in manual labour occupations or
industrial work who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts.
This was significant because this class, created the goods and
provided the services that created a societys wealth.

Imperialism

the policy of extending a
countries power and influence by exploiting another country through diplomacy militarily force for economic gain.

This is significant because it was responsible for reforming the european alliances.

Alliances

a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.

This is significant because alliance can improve both deterrence and defense.

Marco Polo

Marco Polo was an Italian merchant and explorer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. Polo then returned to Italy and wrote a book detailing his travels, specifically about China.
This was significant because his descriptions of China's wealth and beauty greatly increased European interest in Chinese luxury goods, which encouraged European trade with Asia.

Storming the Bastille

This event happened on July 14, 1789, in Paris France. This was because the King did not approve of revolutionist having a meeting which led to the king threatening to arrest their leader. The people did not like this, so the people decided riot at the Bastille. The Bastille was a prison that symbolize the corruption within the government. This was significant because it forced the king to adopt a new government the National Assembly.

Reign of Terror

A period that the government had executed the enemies of the revolution, including the King and Queen. This was significant because it supported the revolution. Forcing anyone that opposed to either support or die.

Devshirme

A selection system used by the Ottoman Empire to staff their military and government. This system forced Christian boys age 8-20 to serve the Ottoman military after giving them an advanced education.
This was significant because it granted the Ottoman empire a cheap and powerful military full of people that were fiercely loyal to the Sultan. (It also helped centralize, consolidate and legitimize power.)