APWH Unit 1 Vocabulary Terms

For Mr. Shak's class

State building

process of creating and developing a political entity that is recognized as a sovereign state

Bureaucracy

The administration portion of the government composed of appointed officials

Meritocracy

a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement

Woodblock printing

a type of printing in which text is carved into a block of wood and the block is then coated with ink and pressed on the page

Proto-industrialization

a set of economic changes in which people in rural areas made more goods than they could sell; precursor to industrialization

South China Sea

a tropical arm of the western Pacific Ocean near southeastern Asia subject to frequent typhoons

Textile

A fabric made by weaving, used in making clothing

Porcelain

A hard, fine ceramic material used to make a variety of products

Tribute/Tributary System

Arrangement primarily used during Imperial China where other states had to pay money or provide goods to honor the Chinese emperor

Canal networks

Human-made waterway networks that are used for transportation and trade; the Grand Canal is a large canal network in China constructed during the Sui Dynasty

Scholar gentry

a highly-ranked social class of individuals who were educated in Confucian philosophy and proved their role through the civil service examinations

Artisans

Individuals who were skilled in creating various goods; they were third in the "four categories of the people," a job classification system used during Imperial China

Merchants

Individuals who bought and sold goods; they were fourth in the "four categories of the people," a job classification system used during Imperial China

Peasants/urban poor

Individuals are part of the lowest tiers of Chinese society

Patriarchy

A social system where men held primary power and dominance in the family, government, and economics

Foot binding

Practice among women in aristocratic families where girls wrapped their feet so tightly to where the bones grew unnaturally to signify social status, common during the Song Dynasty

Filial piety

A concept in Confucianism in which people had a duty to respect their ancestors and elders

Buddhism

a religion/philosophy that was founded in northern India by Siddhartha Gautama; it preached the path to reaching enlightenment and nirvana, which ended the cycle of suffering that is reincarnation

Daoism

a Chinese philosophy founded by Lao Tzu where it preaches being in harmony with the way of nature, representing an ideal way to how life should be lived

Syncretism

the mixing of two culture to create a new hybrid culture that has characteristics of both

Chan Buddhism

aka Zen Buddhism, its a result of the syncretism between Buddhism and elements of Daoism where meditation and experience are emphasized rather than formal learning by the scripture

Neo-Confucianism

Philosophical movement that is the result of syncretism between core Confucian beliefs with elements of Daoism and Buddhism; emerged during the Song Dynasty

Heian Period

(794-1185) period in Japan where there was a flourishing in art, culture, and politics; they were heavily influenced by Chinese culture during the Tang Dynasty

House of Wisdom

scholars traveled from far away to Baghdad to study at a renowned center of learning during the Abbasid Caliphate

Cordoba

the designated capital city of the Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus) established by the Umayyad Caliphate

Trans-Sahara Trade Route

a network of trade routes that connected Sub-Saharan and North Africa across the Sahara where various goods and religions were spread

Indian Ocean Network

a network of maritime trade routes that crossed between regions around the Indian Ocean including Africa, the Arabian peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of Asia

Shia (Shiite)

a branch of Islam where they believe the fourth caliph, Ali, was the rightful leader that succeeded Muhammad because he was blood-related, disregarding the first three caliphs of the Rashidun Caliphate; believes in rightful successors by familial relations

Sunni

a branch of Islam where they believe the first four caliphs of the Rashidun Caliphate were rightful leaders despite not being blood-related, believes in rightful successors by electoral vote

Sufi

a branch of Islam where Islamic teachings are performed by experience rather than learning through the Qu'ran, perceived as a mystical experience but won many converts through adapting with local cultures

Afro-Eurasia

landmass that combines Africa, Europe, and Asia

Baghdad

capital of modern-day Iraq and held intellectual and cultural significance as a center of learning during the Abbasid Caliphate

5 Pillars of Islam

the code of behavior for Islamic followers which includes charity, daily prayer, profession of faith, Ramadan fasting, and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca

Silk Road

a major trade network that connected China to the Middle East and Mediterranean

Mamluks

enslaved people, usually of Turkish descent, who eventually seized control of the Ayyubid Sultanate government, establishing the Mamluk Sultanate

Sultanate

a state ruled by a sultan, an Islamic monarch; an empire/kingdom

Turks/Seljuk Turks

an ethnic group that came from Central Asia that controlled Turkey during the 11th-12th centuries; they were Muslim and were partly responsible for the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate

Persians

an ethnic group that originated in Persia, they were people of the Achaemenid/Persian Empire which was expanded from the Aegean Sea to the eastern border of India

Arabs

a group of people who came from the Arabian peninsula and are associated with Arabic culture and language

Mongols

a group of people that came from Central Asia who established an empire conquered the remaining Abbasid Empire in 1258 and took most of the Asian continent at its peak

Crusades

European Christian military expeditions between the 11th and 13th centuries to retake the Middle Eastern Holy Lands occupied by the Muslims

Qutub Minar

A towering minaret in Delhi, India, constructed during the Delhi Sultanate to symbolize the Islamic victory over Hindu rulers

Urdu

A language that developed in the Indian subcontinent under the Delhi Sultanate, mixing Persian, Arabic, and Turkish with local Hindi languages

Hinduism

A major polytheistic religion of India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation, karma, and a social hierarchy known as the caste system

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu religious movement that emerged in southern India, emphasizing a personal and emotional devotion to a particular deity, often challenging the strict rituals of the traditional caste system

Caste System

A rigid social hierarchy in India based on birth and defined by one's occupation. It divides people into four main classes or varnas and thousands of sub-castes

Spice Kingdom

A term used to refer to the islands of Southeast Asia (specifically the Maluku Islands in modern-day Indonesia), known for being the world's sole source of valuable spices like cloves and nutmeg, which were highly sought after by European traders

City-States

Independent, sovereign cities that controlled the surrounding territory. This was the primary political unit for the Mayans in Mesoamerica

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests or religious leaders rule in the name of a god or a deity

Polytheistic

The belief in or worship of more than one god. This was a common religious practice for many pre-Columbian American civilizations

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, built on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco. It was known for its magnificent temples, extensive markets, and complex network of canals and causeways

Capac Nan

The extensive road system of the Inca Empire, stretching over 25,000 miles and used to facilitate communication, troop movement, and trade

Mita system

A mandatory public service system in the Inca Empire, which required citizens to contribute labor to large-scale public works projects like roads, terraces, and buildings

Concept of Zero

A mathematical concept developed by the Maya, representing the absence of value. This was an advanced idea that was independent of and earlier than its development in Europe

Mayan Calendar

A complex and highly accurate system of calendars developed by the Maya, used for both religious and civil purposes to track time and predict astronomical events.

Chichen Itza

A large, pre-Columbian city built by the Maya, located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is known for its massive stone temples and pyramids

Aqueducts

Structures used to transport water from a source to an urban area, a feat of engineering used by civilizations like the Aztecs and Romans

Chinampas

A type of farming technique used by the Aztecs in which small, rectangular plots of fertile land were created on shallow lake beds. These "floating gardens" were highly productive

Quipu

A method used by the Inca to keep records and communicate information using a system of colored and knotted strings

Terrace Farming

A method of farming where sloped land is converted into a series of leveled steps or terraces, used by civilizations like the Inca to prevent soil erosion and increase agricultural output.

Pochteca

A long-distance merchant class in the Aztec Empire who traded valuable goods and also served as spies for the emperor

Animistic

A belief system in which spirits reside in natural objects and phenomena, such as animals, plants, and rivers. This was common among indigenous peoples of the Americas

Temple of the Sun

A major temple in the Inca capital of Cuzco, dedicated to the sun god, Inti. It was the most sacred shrine in the Inca Empire

Kin based network

a social system where families governed themselves; the male head of the family, a chief, controlled affairs

Metallurgy

the science and technology of extracting and refining metals

Mortar-less walls

dry stone walls constructed without mortar; demonstrated by the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe

Griots

storytellers or oral historians who held knowledge of family lineages and the lives of great leaders; they carried these stories out by performing, usually singing with instruments

Caravanserai

inn or rest station for caravans or camel, emerged along the Silk Road

Chattel slavery

a form of slavery where people/enslaved were the legal property of the owner; common in the Americas from 16th-19th centuries

Feudalism

political, hierarchical system land was granted in exchange with loyalty and service

Serfs

farmers/peasants tied to the land under the feudal system, given land in exchange for service to their lord

Peasants

agricultural laborers; on the lower parts of the society structure

Monarchs

sovereign ruler of a state or kingdom, holds power for life and is usually passed down hereditarily

Parliament

a government's legislature body, responsible for making laws for its state or kingdom

Magna Carta

a document signed by King John in 1215 that limited the power of the English monarchy and respected citizens' rights

Three-Field System

a rotational system of agriculture that allowed for increased food output efficiency

Crusades

a series of European military campaigns in the Middle East between 1095 and the 13th century, primarily to stop the advancement of Muslim rule

Bourgeoisie/burghers

class of self-employed businessmen; included shopkeepers, merchants, craftspeople, and small landholders

Great Schism

separation of the Christian Church in Europe between the Western Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox in 1054

Renaissance

also known as "rebirth", it was a period characterized by the revival of classical Greek and Roman literature, art, culture, and civic virtue; followed the Middle Ages

Black Death/Bubonic Plague

an outbreak of a bacterial infection that killed upwards of 1/3 of the European population during the 14th century

Little Ice Age

five-century period of climate cooling beginning in the 1300s which hindered urban growth and agricultural productivity, led to issues like increased disease, unemployment, and social unrest

Antisemitism

prejudice against Jewish people; widespread among Christians across Europe