World History AP Vocab

Ultimate vocab

1. Bureaucracy

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

2. Meritocracy

A system in which individuals are rewarded and advanced based on their talents, abilities, and performance rather than their social status or background.

3. Scholar gentry

A social class in ancient China composed of educated elites who often held government positions and were influenced by Confucian values.

4. Artisans

Skilled workers who craft goods by hand, often producing items like pottery, textiles, or metalwork.

5. Merchants

Individuals involved in trade and commerce, often seen as a vital but sometimes socially lower class in agrarian societies.

6. Imperial

Related to an empire or emperor, often indicating centralized authority over vast territories.

7. Tributary state

A state that is subordinate to a more powerful state and pays tribute in goods or services as a sign of submission.

8. Foot binding

A Chinese custom of binding young girls' feet to alter their shape, symbolizing beauty and social status but also restricting mobility.

9. Civil Service Exam

A rigorous examination system in imperial China used to select candidates for government positions based on Confucian teachings.

10. Song Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty (960-1279 CE) known for advances in technology, commerce, and culture.

11. Confucianism

A philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing filial piety, moral values, and social harmony.

12. Filial piety

A Confucian value emphasizing respect and duty to one's parents and ancestors.

13. Neo

Confucianism - A revival of Confucian thought during the Song Dynasty, incorporating elements of Buddhism and Daoism.

14. Sinification/Sinicization

The process of adopting Chinese culture, language, and practices, often by neighboring states.

15. Nuclear family

A family unit consisting of two parents and their children, typically living together.

16. Polygyny

A form of marriage in which a man has more than one wife.

17. Heian period

A Japanese era (794-1185 CE) characterized by courtly culture, art, and the dominance of aristocratic families.

18. Theravada Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism focused on the original teachings of the Buddha and personal spiritual discipline.

19. Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism emphasizing the role of bodhisattvas and the possibility of enlightenment for all beings.

20. Chan/Zen Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism emphasizing meditation, self-discipline, and direct experience over scripture or rituals.

21. Tibetan Buddhism

A form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, incorporating rituals, monasteries, and the leadership of the Dalai Lama.

22. Monasticism

A religious way of life involving renunciation of worldly pursuits to fully dedicate oneself to spiritual work.

23. Gunpowder

An explosive substance that revolutionized warfare, first developed in China.

24. Proto

industrialization - The early phase of industrialization characterized by small-scale production using simple tools.

25. Woodblock printing

A method of printing text, images, or patterns, originating in China, involving carving designs into wood blocks.

26. Champa Rice

A drought-resistant rice from Vietnam that significantly boosted agricultural yields in China.

27. Grand Canal

An extensive canal system in China facilitating trade and integration between northern and southern regions.

28. Flying Money

A system of credit or early form of banknote used in Tang Dynasty China to simplify trade.

29. Muhammad

The founder of Islam, regarded as the last prophet in Islamic tradition.

30. Mamluk Sultanate

A medieval Muslim state in Egypt and the Levant, ruled by former slaves who became military leaders.

31. Mongols

Nomadic peoples from Central Asia who established one of the largest empires in history under leaders like Genghis Khan.

32. Seljuk Turks

A group of nomadic Turks who established a large empire in the Middle East and played a key role in the Crusades.

33. Abbasid Caliphate

An Islamic caliphate (750-1258 CE) known for cultural, scientific, and intellectual achievements during its Golden Age.

34. House of Wisdom in Baghdad

A renowned center for learning and scholarship during the Abbasid Caliphate.

35. jizya

A tax levied on non-Muslims in Islamic states in exchange for protection and religious freedom.

36. Sufism

A mystical form of Islam emphasizing personal devotion and spiritual experiences.

37. Al

Andalus - The Islamic state in the Iberian Peninsula, known for its cultural and scientific advancements.

38. "People of the book"

A term in Islam referring to Jews, Christians, and other religious groups with a revealed scripture.

39. Delhi Sultanate

A Muslim kingdom in India (1206-1526 CE) that influenced Indian culture and religion.

40. Bhakti Movement

A devotional movement in India emphasizing love and devotion to deities, transcending caste distinctions.

41. Proselytize

To actively seek to convert others to one's religion or beliefs.

42. Caste system

A hierarchical social structure in India dividing people into hereditary classes.

43. Chola Dynasty

A South Indian dynasty (9th-13th centuries) known for its naval dominance and cultural achievements.

44. Vijayanagara Empire

A Hindu empire in South India (14th-17th centuries), known for its resistance to Islamic expansion.

45. Rajput Kingdoms

A group of Hindu states in northern India, known for their warrior culture and resistance to Islamic rule.

46. Srivijaya Empire

A maritime empire in Southeast Asia that controlled trade routes and was a center of Buddhist learning.

47. Majapahit Kingdom

A Southeast Asian empire known for its influence in Indonesia and promotion of Hindu-Buddhist culture.

48. Sinhala dynasties

Dynasties in Sri Lanka known for their Buddhist heritage and contributions to trade and culture.

49. Khmer Empire

A powerful Southeast Asian empire centered in modern-day Cambodia, known for Angkor Wat.

50. Feudalism

A decentralized political system in medieval Europe involving lords, vassals, and serfs.

51. Daimyo

Powerful feudal lords in Japan who controlled large territories and were vassals to the shogun.

52. Shogun

The military leader of Japan who held actual power, while the emperor was a figurehead.

53. Samurai

A class of warriors in feudal Japan who served the daimyo and followed the code of Bushido.

54. Vassal

A person granted land in exchange for loyalty, service, and military aid to a lord in feudal systems.

55. Serf

A peasant in medieval Europe bound to the land they worked on and subject to the lord's authority.

56. Fief

A piece of land granted to a vassal by a lord in exchange for loyalty and service.

57. Manorialism

An economic system in medieval Europe centered on large estates (manors) where lords and serfs lived and worked.

58. Code of chivalry

A set of moral and social codes that knights in medieval Europe were expected to follow, emphasizing honor and loyalty.

59. Estates General

A legislative assembly in pre-revolutionary France representing the three social classes: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

60. Bourgeoisie

The middle class in medieval and early modern Europe, often consisting of merchants, artisans, and professionals.

61. Burghers

Town dwellers in medieval Europe who were part of the growing merchant class.

62. Magna Carta

A charter signed in 1215 by King John of England, limiting royal power and establishing certain legal protections for nobles.

63. English Parliament

A legislative body in England that evolved to represent the interests of the nobility, clergy, and eventually commoners.

64. The Hundred Years' War

A conflict (1337-1453) between England and France over territorial claims and the right to the French throne.

65. Primogeniture

A system of inheritance in which the eldest son inherits the family estate or title.

66. Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer whose travels to Asia and accounts of the Yuan Dynasty inspired European interest in the East.

67. Holy Roman Empire

A multi-ethnic complex of territories in Central Europe that existed from the early Middle Ages to 1806.

68. Mali

A West African empire (1235-1600 CE) known for its wealth, trade in gold, and rulers like Mansa Musa.

69. Swahili

A Bantu-speaking culture and region along the East African coast, known for trade and a mix of African and Arab influences.

70. Great Zimbabwe

A powerful and wealthy trading state in Southern Africa known for its impressive stone structures.

71. Ethiopia

A Christian kingdom in East Africa known for its ancient traditions and resistance to Islamic expansion.

72. Chattel slave

A form of slavery in which individuals are considered property and can be bought, sold, or inherited.

73. Domestic slave

A slave who performs household duties such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare.

74. Griot/Griotte

Oral historians and storytellers in West African societies who preserve and transmit cultural traditions.

75. Kin

based network - A form of governance in African societies where families or clans share responsibilities for social and political organization.

76. Mississippian culture

A Native American culture known for its mound-building and complex societies in the Mississippi River valley.

77. Cahokia

A major urban center of the Mississippian culture, known for its large mounds and trade networks.

78. Matrilineal

A system of inheritance and lineage tracing through the mother's side of the family.

79. Patrilineal

A system of inheritance and lineage tracing through the father's side of the family.

80. Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and dominate roles in politics, economics, and family.

81. Theocracy

A system of government in which religious leaders rule in the name of a deity or religious principles.

82. Animism

A belief system that attributes spiritual essence to natural objects, animals, and the environment.

83. Maya city

states - Independent city-states in Mesoamerica, known for their advanced architecture, astronomy, and writing.

84. Aztec/Mexica

A Mesoamerican civilization known for its capital Tenochtitlán, human sacrifices, and tribute-based empire.

85. Chinampas

Floating agricultural gardens used by the Aztecs to grow crops on shallow lake beds.

86. Syncretism

The blending of different cultural or religious traditions into a new practice or belief system.

87. Greek philosophy

A body of knowledge developed by Greek thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, emphasizing reason and inquiry.

88. Mita system

A labor system used by the Inca, requiring citizens to perform work for the state for a certain period.

89. Waru Waru agriculture

An ancient farming technique used in the Andes involving raised beds and water channels to improve irrigation.

90. Three

field system - A medieval agricultural practice in Europe involving rotating crops across three fields to improve soil fertility.

91. Crusades

A series of religious wars initiated by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control.

92. Antisemitism

Prejudice and discrimination against Jewish people.

93. Renaissance

A cultural and intellectual revival in Europe (14th-17th centuries) emphasizing art, science, and humanism.

94. Humanism

A Renaissance movement focusing on human potential, individualism, and the study of classical texts.

95. Great Schism

The split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054.

96. Roman Catholic Church

The largest branch of Christianity in medieval Europe, centered in Rome and led by the Pope.

97. Coercive labor

A system in which people are forced to work, often under harsh conditions, without fair compensation.

98. Kievan Rus

A medieval state in Eastern Europe, heavily influenced by Byzantine culture and Orthodox Christianity

99. Silk Roads

A network of trade routes connecting East Asia, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas.

100. Indian Ocean Trade

A maritime trade network connecting Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa, driven by monsoon winds.