AP World History General Vocab

Absolutism

A political system where single ruler has complete and unrestricted power over a country

Agriculture

The science or practice of farming

aristocracy

The highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices

bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state Officials rather than by elected representatives

civilization

The stage of human social and cultural development as well as organization that is considered most advanced

cultural diffusion

The process by which idea, ideas, beliefs, and cultural elements spread from one group to another either within the same culture or different cultures

demography

The statistical study of human populations, including statistics such as births, deaths, and income to illustrate change

diaspora

The dispersion or spread of people from their original homeland

dynasty

A line of hereditary rulers of a country

egalitarianism

The philosophy that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities, regardless of economic status

feudalism

A medieval European political system were land, was granted by a Lord in exchange for loyalty, military service, and labor

globalization

The process of increasing economic, cultural, and social independence between countries and populations worldwide

indentured servant

A person who has signed a contract to work for a fixed number of years without pay in exchange for passage, debt repayment, or food and shelter

kingdom

A country, state, or territory ruled by king or queen

medieval

Of, relating to, or characteristic of the middle ages

merchant

A person that sells goods or services for profit, connecting producers, and consumers in the commerce ecosystem

mercantilism

The economic practice of building a wealthy and powerful state/nation by maximizing exports, minimizing, imports, and accumulating resources

monotheism

A religious belief that there is only one God

nationalism

An ideology of loyalty to a nation, while emphasizing the importance of one’s nation above all

nobility

The quality or state of being noble in character, quality or rank

nomad

A person with no permanent abode who has traveled from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock

pastoralist

A person who is way of life revolves around the herding and raising of domesticated animals

patriarchal

Relating to or characteristic of a patriarch; relating to or characteristic of a society or government controlled by men

periodization

An act or instance of dividing a subject into historical eras for purposes of analysis and study

polytheism

The belief or worship of more than one God

revolution

A forceful overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system

serf

an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on their Lords estate

slave

A person who is forced to work for and obey another is considered to be their property

social hierarchy

A system that ranks people into a stratified order of importance, status or power, often based on factors like wealth, education, race, gender, or occupation

sovereignty

The supreme ultimate authority within a territory

steppes

A large area of flat grassland without trees; commonly found in Europe and Asia

syncretism

The combining of different forms of belief or practice creating a new hybrid whole

theocracy

A form of government where God or divine guidance is considered the ultimate source of authority and religious leaders or text are used to govern the state

urban

In, retaining to, or characteristic of a town or city