ap world basic vocab

agriculture

agriculture

science or practice of farming

agrarian

relating to the cultivation of land or cultivation land

analyze

examine thoroughly and in detail

animism

a religious belief that focuses on the roles of supernatural powers involved in the natural world and human events

art

the expression of human imagination and creativity, usually in visual form

belief system

a set of principles that form the basis of religion, philosophy, or a moral code

bureaucracies

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

caste

a hereditary class (common in Hindu society)

civilization

the stage of human social and cultural development and organization that is considered most advanced

climate

the average weather conditions for a particular location over a long period of time

continuity

the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time

coup

a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government

culture

the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group

demography

the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations

diaspora

the dispersion or spread of a people from their original homeland

diffusion

the geographical and social spread of the different aspects of one culture to different ethnicities, religions, nationalities, regions, etc.

domestication

the process of taming plants and animals for human use

economy

an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services

egalitarianism

the doctrine that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

elite

a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society

emigration

the act of leaving one's own country to settle permanently in another; moving abroad

empire

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority

epidemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time

filial piety

an attitude of respect for parents and ancestors in societies influenced by Confucian thought

gender

the male sex or the female sex, especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences

geography

the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere

hierarchy

a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority

history

the study of past events, particularly in human affairs

ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy

imperial

relating to an empire

kinship

blood relationship

maritime

connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring commercial or military activity

matriarchy

a system of society or government ruled by a woman or women

matrilineal

of or based on kinship with the mother or the female line

migration

seasonal movement of animals from one region to another

nation

a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory

neolithic

relating to or denoting the later part of the Stone Age, when ground or polished stone weapons and implements prevailed

nomadic

living the life of a nomad; wandering

paleolithic

relating to the early phase of the stone age

pastoral

used for or related to the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle

patriarchy

a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it

periodization

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

philosophy

the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline

political structure

the way in which a government is run

pop culture

a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output and objects that are dominant or prevalent in a society at a given point in time

pre-history

period of time before written records

religion

the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods

revolution

a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system

rural

relating to the countryside

secession

the action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state

secular

the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion

science

the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained

social class

a grouping based on similar social factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation

social structure

the distinctive, stable arrangement of institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together

state

a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government

suffrage

the right to vote in political elections

surplus

having more of something than is necessary, extra

syncretism

the combining of different religions, cultures, or ideas

technology

machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge

tribute

payment made periodically by one state or ruler to another, especially as a sign of dependence

trade

exchange (something) for something else, typically as a commercial transaction

urban

in, relating to, or characteristic of a town or city

urbanization

the process of making an area more urban