AP MODERN WORLD HISTORY PROPER NOUNS 2026 (1/9)

complete study guide including all the proper nouns that one may need to know in the upcoming AP Modern World History exam

Champa Rice

A quick-ripening, drought and flood resistant bi-annual variety of rise that was offered to Chian by Vietnam. It provided stable food supplies and encouraged people to go and farm land that could not support traditional rice. All this drastically increased the populations of China and other areas that it spread to.

Proto-Industrialization

A pre-industrial economic system run by cottage industries and long, decentralized trade such as the Silk Road.

Artisans

Skilled craftworkers who provided highly processed (for the time) items such as steel, porcelain, and silk products. Highly sought after and valued in their communities.

Scholar Gentry

A new social class that arose in the post-classical era of China. They soon became the majority, and was influential because of its numbers and education. It was below the aristocracy, but above merchants, artisans, and farmers.

Filial Piety

An idea founded in Confuciust ideals in which people submit to the power above them, and those with power in turn ought to care for those below them. Relations such as a mother and child, wife and husband, or peasant and emperor.

Grand Canal

A canal built by the Song Dynasty that was over 30,000 miles long. This transport system allowed China to be the most populous trading area in the world (during the dynasty’s lifetime).

Song Dynasty

An ethnic Han Chinese Dynasty that allowed art and trade to flourish from 960 BCE ~ 600 BCE.

Imperial Bureaucracy

An organization within China’s government wherein appointed officials enforce the empire’s laws, starting in the Qin Dynasty and continuing the help the Song Dynasty.

Meritocracy

A system of government in China in which those in power gain their position through merit, which is earned based on how well they score on the Civil Service Exam.

Woodblock Printing

First developed in China, it allowed ideas to spread quickly because they could be printed multiple times with wood prints on paper and distributed. Also assisted with the development of paper money.

Foot Binding

A practice were young girls’ feet are bound so that they do not grow naturally. Signifies high class and seen as desirable by suitors because they could not walk, and a wife who doesn’t walk doesn’t work. And showing that you didn’t need a wife to work proved how wealthy you were.

Buddhism

Religion that came to China from India because of the Silk Road. It then became widespread in the Tang Dynasty (just before the Song Dynasty). Many kinds: Theravada, Mahyana, Tibetan, and Chan Buddhism

Theravada

A form of Buddhism focused on personal spiritual growth by means of self-discipline and silent meditation. Concentrated in southeast Asia.

Tibetan

A form of Buddhism that utilizes chanting to find enlightenment. Focused in…you guessed it, Tibet.

Mahayana Buddhism

Form of Buddhism centered around spiritual growth for all living things and on service. Strongest in China and Korea.

Syncretic

Descriptor for something made from two or more combined ideas into soemthing new.

Chan (Zen) Buddhism

A form of Buddhism combined with Daosim (another belief system found in China) that focuses on meditation and spiritual experience over traditional studying. Very popular in China (much to the Tang Dynasty’s dislike).

Neo-Confucianism

Developed from Confucianism in China 770-840 AD. Mix of Daoism and Buddhism that centers around ethics instead of God and nature. Very popular in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Heian Period

A time between 794-1185 where Japan resembled China in terms of tradition, politics, art, and literature.

Nuclear Families

A family unit comprised of just the wife, husband, and their children with no extended family members. Preferred by Vietnamese in the period 1200-1450

Polygamy

the practice of a man having more than one wife at a time. This, and foot-binding, made Vietnamese (who preferred nuclear families) resent the Chinese women considered to be their superiors.

Mamluk Sultanate

The governmental power in Egypt from 1250-1517 made by the previously enslaved Mamluks (Turks from central Asia). Controlled trade of cotton and sugar between Islamic world and Europe.

Seljuk Turks

Muslim Turks who conquered land in Central Asia from the Middle East to western China. Called their leader the “sultan”, which undermined the power of the highest-ranking Abbasid (leader of of the Islamic world).

Sultan

the name used to refer to the leader of the Seljuk Turks

Mongols

Conquerors from central Asia that finished off the Abbasid Empire in 1258 when they stormed Baghdad, stopping Seljuk Rule. They continued spreading westward until they were stopped by the Mamluks. With their land stretching from there to the Pacific ocean, they were the largest continuous power to ever exist in the world.

Abbasid Caliphate

rulers of Dar al-Islam from 750-1258. they focused on education and faced many invasions from both Europe and Central Asia, which eventually led to their decline.

Mamluks

Turkish people from central Asia that were initially sold as slaves in Egypt, but overpowered and ruled over them under the Mamluk Sultanate. They practiced Turkish customs, but were also Muslims.

Muhammad

The founder of Islam, whose death in 632 caused it to break into two factions: the Shia and Sunni. The religion also spread rapidly due to military campaigns and merchant activity. His teachings shaped Islamic culture, which then influenced the rest of Afro-Eurasia through Dar al-Islam. They focused on education because of his words.

Crusaders

European Christians who attacked holy sites and major cities in order to reclaim areas Muslims restricted access to.

Sufis

Muslims who focused on spiritual pursuits rather than intellectual ones, like most of the Islamic world. Because of their abstract interpretations, they were very good at connecting Islam to local beliefs in the places they traveled to, converting many.

House of Wisdom

A renowned learned center in Baghdad where Islamic scholars traveled to under the Abbasid Empire in the pursuit of knowledge. It was destroyed by the Mongols in 1258. Many important works from the classical era were translated and kept alive because of the scholars’ efforts.

Baghdad

A city in modern day Iraq that boasted world-class universities and famous scholars. It was an integral center for commerce and learning.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

One of the most important Islamic scholars. He made advancements in astronomy, logic, ethics, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine. He laid the groundwork for trigonometry. Lived from 1201-1274.

‘A’ishah al-Ba’ Uniyyah

The most prolific female Muslim writer in the period 1200-1400, and was also a Sufi poet and mystic. Her most famous work, Clear Inspiration, on Praise of the Trusted One, honors Muhammad. Her poems often included mystical elements, which draw attention to the difference between Sufi and regular Muslims.

Vijayanagara Empire

(1336-1646) Translates to “Victorious City”. Founders were brothers sent from the Delhi Sultanate to expand the empire, but, as they were forced to convert to Islam when they were conquered, instead chose to revert back to Hinduism and found their own empire once they were safe from the Delhi in southern India. It was later overthrown by Muslim kingdoms.

Rajput Kingdoms

A series of conflicting Indian empires in Northern India. Area was divided after the fall of the Gupta Empire, and this lack of organization led to it falling to Muslim invasions, who went on the form the Delhi Sultanate. It was also very diverse, being home to both Buddhists and Hindus.

Delhi Sultanate

Named after the city of Delhi and reigning from 1200s - 1500s. It was a Muslim Empire that enforced the jizya on local Buddhists and Hindus. Struggled to lead the divided regions of Northern India and Pakistan, whose leaders fought to keep control. Mongols were fought off (with the help of the Himalayan Mountains), but the Mughals (knock-off Mongols) took control in 1526.

Srivijaya Empire (Sumatra)

(670-1025) Sea-based kingdom based in Sumatra that prospered because of fees collected from ships going between China and India. Also had a strong naval force and the main religion was Hinduism.

Majahapit Kingdom (Java)

(1293-1520) Sea-based kingdom based in Java with many tributaries (rivers/streams) which, along with the sea, allowed it to become prosperous from controlling trade routes. It’s main religion is Buddhism.

Sinhala Dynasties (Sri Lanka)

Land-based kingdoms with very high reverence for Buddhism. Founded from merchants from Northern India. Had good economics due to canals for crops, but ultimately fell because of invaders from India and conflict between the monarchy and Buddhist priests.

Khmer Empire (Cambodia)

(AKA Angkor Kingdom) (802-1231) Economics flourished because of great irrigation and drainage systems around Mekong River, which controlled monsoon rain damage to crops. One of the most prosperous empires in Southeast Asia at the time. It was originally Buddhist, but it’s rulers converted to Hinduism between 1100-1200 because Buddhist depictions were added to temples (without Hindu motifs being removed, interestingly). Made Angkor Wat, an impressive Buddhist Temple still standing today.

Sukhothai Kingdom (Thailand)

Overtook the Khmers in 1431, taking over land with Angkor Wat. Mainly Theravada Buddhism. Became independent from Khmers in 1238 and later conquered them. First modern Thai kingdom.

Proselytize

the act of actively seeking out and converting people into a religion. Muslims attempted to do this to Hindus and Buddhists in the period 1200-1400, but were unsuccessful for the most part.

Bhakti Movement

An Hindu movement started in the 1100s. Like Sufis, they focused more on the spiritual side of their religion, and helped it to spread because abstract beliefs could relate to those of local religions. Popular because it included women and the lower class.

Qutub Minar

Huge building with Hindu art and Islamic architecture in Delhi. Built by the Delhi Sultanate, it is the tallest building in India today and exemplified power over India in the time its’ creators were alive.

Urdu

A syncretic language developed by Muslims in South Asia that combined the vocabulary of Arabic, grammatical structure of Hindi from North India, and elements of the Persian language Farsi. Still the official language of Pakistan today.

Mississippian

A civilization around the Mississippi River Valley. Chiefs, “Great Suns” rule large towns. Largest was Cahokia, a major trading center. Matrilineal society. (~700-~1600).

Matrilineal Society

A social structure in which the woman’s side of the family determines one’s status.

Cahokia

Mississippian mound roughly 12 football fields large and 100 feet tall in South Illinois. Also the center of Mississippian culture and North American trade before about 1450.

City-States

A system of government in which one ruler governs an area contained within and around a central city. The city itself and its outskirts are the entire state.

Mexica

(AKA the Aztec Empire) theocracy in central Mexico from North Mexico. Created Tenochtitlán, their capital city and now Mexico City, and nearly the largest city in the world at the time. Had aqueducts, huge temples of stone, and floating gardens called “chinampas” to grow food on lakes.

Theocracy

A system of government dictated by religion

Human Sacrifice

Because the Aztecs believed their gods sacrificed themselves for them, they repaid the debt with bloodletting and human sacrifice. Their theocratic governments enforced this, and victims were collected from conquered tribes, making them resent their rulers. The degree of human sacrifice was likely augmented by the Spanish, however.

Pachacuti

Creator of the Incan Empire who founded in in Cuzco, Peru in 1438 by conquering tribes with his son.

Incan Empire

Tribes brought together by Pachacuti who formed a state. Split into four provinces with government and bureaucracy in each. Tribe leaders who were loyal were rewarded. they did not have tributes, but rather the mit’a system. this organization was achieved mainly by Huayna Capac, Pachacuti’s grandson.

Mit’a System

System in the Incan Empire akin to taxes or tributes wherein man from ages 15-50 were required to help with public tasks such as constructing roads or agricultural work.

Carpa Nan

A huge roadway system constructed by captive labor that spans 25,000 miles. Consists of roads and bridges that were primarily used by the government and military.

Temple of the Sun

Central place of worship for the Incan Inti, the Sun god, and ancestors in Cuzco. People believed in the Sun god’s power, which gave emperors and priests power the unified the empire.

Animism

A system of beliefs in which things or objects in the tangible world are venerated because they hold supernatural powers or identities.

Kin-Based Networks

An organizational system in Sub-Saharan Africa wherein families in a community govern themselves, which a chief in charge of one network of families. Groups of communities were called districts, and were led by the decisions of all their respective chiefs coming together. As populations increased, these mostly fell in favor of kingdoms.

Swahili

A syncretic language that formed in East Africa as a result of the Indian Ocean Trade Network, and consists of Bantu and Arabic. Still spoken in the region today.

Zanj Rebellion

An event between 869-883 wherein “Zanj”, enslaved East Africans in Mesopotamia, rebelled against their masters and captured the city of Basra for 10 years. One fo the most successful slave rebellions in history.

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

A trading network that spans from Egypt and Tripoli (Northern Africa) across the Sahara to West Africa. Africa traded gold and ivory for salt and other supplies. Brought Islam to the west.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

A trade network that connected East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. Food, spices, slaves, silk, porcelain, etc. were traded and spread many customs, religions, and language (such as Swahili).

Indian Ocean Slave Trade

Trade between the Middle East and East Africa where slaves (Zanjs) were transported in response to the high demand for slaves in the Middle East.

Great Zimbabwe

The capital city of the East African kingdom of Zimbabwe. It was surrounded by a 30 ft. tall and 15 ft. thick wall that still stands today. Buildings inside were also built of stone. At its height, it had 20,000 people before being abandoned due to overgrazing of livestock by the end of 1400s.

Hausa Kingdoms

Seven states, or kingdoms, created by ethnic Hausa people before 1000. Had no central authority and only somewhat connected through kinship networks. Each city-state had a specialty. Situated in what is now Nigeria, they prospered from trans-Saharan trade.

Ghana

West African kingdom between tropics and the Sahara (not where the country of Ghana is today) founded in the 400s. Peaked in 700s-1000s via trading gold and ivory to Muslims for salt, copper, cloth, and tools. Captial in Koumbi Salch and centralized government. Eventually fell by being weakening by warring with neighboring groups.

Mali

Another land-trading society that arose in Ghana’s place that prospered due to it’s founder, Sundiata, being a Muslim and having relations with other Muslim kingdoms in Africa and the Middle East. This, and rich gold mines, led to Sundiata’s nephew being the richest person to ever live (Mansa Musa).

Zimbabwe

An East African state founded in the 800s and known for its stone architecture and thriving gold trade with the Indian Ocean trading route. One of the most powerful societies between 1100s-1400s in East Africa. Capital city, Great Zimbabwe, was surrounded by a massive stone wall.

Ethiopia

A predominantly Christian kingdom, though it was unique from Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. First started as the Axum kingdom before 1100s. Created huge church to display their immense power and wealth, which they gained through trade.

Magna Carta

the first constitution written in Europe. It weakened the power of the king by forcing him to respect laws that governed the people of Britain. King John was forced to sign in 1215. Gave rights to those under the monarchy because of those laws.

English Parliment

An early form of representative government created in Britain in 1265. However, it only represented and helped nobility, not common peasants. Still limited the power further.

Manorial System

A system wherein a lord rules over land and serfs, people who are tied to said land. They are allowed to farm and provide for themselves off of the land, as well as gaining protection from the lord. In exchange, they provide a (typically large) portion of their crops, labor, or, rarely, coins as tribute. These units hardly ever interacted with those outside it. The serfs were also tied to the land, and stayed when ownership the land changed.

Three-Field System

An agricultural system used to maximize soil health and efficiency. One field grew typical crops (wheat, rye, etc.). A second field hosted legumes like beans, lentils, or peas. These reimburse nitrogen back into the soil after food crops use it. The third field is left to be reclaimed and replenished by nature before the cycle continues again.

Feudalism

A decentralized organizational system wherein peasants were given land by lards in exchange for their loyalty and military service.

Serfs

People who were tied to the land they farmed and inhabited, which was owned by lords. They mostly organized themselves, but had to ask permission from the lord for minor things. They offered crops, labor, or currency in exchange for protection from the lord.

Primogeniture

An inheritance system wherein the eldest son inherited his family’s assets, while younger brothers and sisters were left with very little. His eldest son would get his things, and every child after that, before his siblings.

Bourgeoisie

Between the peasants and nobles, this was a middle class that often consisted of shopkeepers, merchants, and small landowners.

Burghers

A more general term for lower-class people who still has some rights that was a precursor for “bourgeoisie”

Estates-General

A group consisting of representatives of each of the three social classes (“estates”) in France. Summoned in times of crisis to advise the king.

Estates

The three levels of social hierarchy found in France in the peroid 1200-1450. The clergy (religious officials) > nobles > commoners

Otto I

(AKA Otto the Great) A German King who became the Holy Roman Emperor in 962. His successors lived through the power struggle with church officials over the lay investure controversy.

Crusades

A series of military campaigns backed by the Roman Catholic Church that aimed to reclaim the Holy Land in the Middle East. All but the first one failed, but it led to advancements in Europe.

Marco Polo

An Italian who chronicled his travels to Asia (though exaggerating his feats) and published them in Europe. this sparked interest in foreign lands, mapmaking, and exploration.

Renaissance

A period in Europe wherein interest in classical (Greek+Roman) art and cultures was renewed.

Humanism

An aspect of the Renaissance period, it was a movement where people sought education and reform instead of religious insight. Focused on humans as individuals rather than just one of many made to serve god.

Lay Investiture Controversy

A controversy within the Holy Roman Empire from 1000s-1100s wherein there was debate over whether secular leaders had the power to appoint a bishop rather than the pope. Eventually resolved by Concordat of Worms of 1122, which granted the church autonomy from state power.

Great Schism

The divide between the Roman Catholic Church, which remained strong in most of Europe, and the Eastern Orthodox Church, which kept hold of Greece and Russia.

Antisemitism

The negative view or treatment towards Jews, which was predominantly kept by Christians who thought they were foreign and untrustworthy.

Little Ice Age

A period between ~1300 - 1800 where global temperatures cooled, which lessened agricultural productivity, which hurt trade, increasing unemployment and unrest, and slowed development in cities.

Magnetic Compass

An invention of the Han Dynasty that greatly improved sea travel, this making sea trade (particularly the Indian Sea Route in the South China Sea) easier. This device uses a free-spinning magnet that picks up on the earth’s magnetic field so as to always point north towards the north pole.

Rudder

An invention of the Han Dynasty that aided in the steering of vessels. This flat piece was placed vertically near the front of the boat, and controls how water flowers through its underside.

Junk

An invention of the Han Dynasty, it was a massive boat that could be as long as 400 feet. It utilized compartments in the hull to prevent flooding and strengthen the ship, despite it’s large size. It could carry quantities of goods and people not yet seen before, quickening trade.

Kashgar

A city at the western edge of China that served as an oasis for tired travelers. The Kashgar River allowed for many foods and goods to be produced, and materials for talented artisans to make textiles, rugs, leather goods, and pottery. Originally Buddhist, but later became a hub for Islamic scholars along the Sink Roads.

Samarkand

A Silk Road trading stop in the Zeravshan River Valley in present-day Uzbekistan. It was a center for artisans and merchants, as well as a diverse ecosystem of religion including Buddhism, Christianity, Zoastrianism, and Islam. It became another center for Islamic education, schools, and ornate mosques, and later still became the center of operations for Tamerlane.

Caravanserai

Inns typically around 100 miles apart along the Silk Road (typical distance camel could go without water) that offered respite to weary travelers and their animals. Animals could actually sometimes be traded for well rested ones to continue the journey. Caravanserai = “caravan” + “palace” in Persian

Money Economy

An economy first developed in China wherein currency is assigned value as money in trade and used rather than bartering. This was more portable than heavy, unwieldy, or otherwise cumbersome

Flying Cash

A financial system developed in China wherein one could deposit money at one location, receive an official document for their dues, and then cash in that paper at another location. This greatly increased convenience for merchants and went on to serve as the model for banks in the modern era.

Paper Money

Currency derived of paper that was given value rather than something with inherent value such as copper coins that allowed for easier transportation and storage of money, particularly in later “flying money” systems.