Fall AP World Study Guide - Google Docs

Paleolithic Era

A long period during which human societies gathered, hunted, and did not practice agriculture.

Neolithic Era

The New Stone Age where people switched from gathering and hunting to settled agriculture and domesticating plants and animals.

Pastoral Society

A nomadic group of people who rely on herding domesticated animals and base their movements on seasons.

Agricultural Revolution

The switch from hunting and gathering to the domestication of plants and animals.

Hinduism

One of the world's largest and oldest religions, mainly in India, is polytheistic with beliefs in karma, moksha, and dharma.

Bhakti

A Hindu movement that involved intense admiration of particular deities through song, prayers, and rituals.

Vishnu

The main Hindu god who is considered the preserver.

Upanishads

Indian mystical and philosophical works written in 800-400 B.C.E.

Brahman

The Indian idea of the universal soul and the source of all existence.

Moksha

The end goal of the rebirth cycle, the liberation of the soul.

Samsara

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth where the actions of a person (karma) affect their reincarnated life.

Karma

The Hindu idea that a person's actions in this life affect their fate in their next life.

Buddhism

A popular religion in East and Southeast Asia focused on achieving enlightenment and reaching nirvana.

Theravada Buddhism

Original form of Buddhism focusing on the individual and practical belief in karma and reincarnation.

Mahayana Buddhism

A secondary form of Buddhism that focuses on achieving enlightenment for all beings.

Tibetan Buddhism

Form of Buddhism focusing on Siddhartha Gautama, the journey to find the cause of suffering.

Nirvana

The ultimate liberation and enlightenment of the soul in Buddhism.

Confucianism

The main religion in China emphasizing hierarchies based on family relationships and authority.

Confucius

The creator of Confucianism who emphasized social harmony, filial piety, and ethical conduct.

Filial Piety

The main concept of Confucianism; respect for elders.

Daoism

A religion in China founded by Laozi that emphasizes nonmaterialism and simplicity.

Yin and Yang

Represent the interconnectedness of opposites, emphasizing harmony in life.

Judaism

A monotheistic religion that developed in the Middle East and follows the laws of the Torah.

Islam

A monotheistic religion founded by Muhammad based on the teachings of the Quran.

Mecca

The birthplace of Muhammad and the holiest city of Islam.

House of Wisdom

An academic center for research and translation of foreign texts in Baghdad.

Muhammad

The main figure of Islam, regarded as Allah's messenger.

Quran

Muhammad's revelations which became one of Islam’s sacred texts.

Umma

The community of those who believe in Islam, where men and women are considered equal.

Sunni

One of the two branches of Islam that believes leaders should be from Muhammad's bloodline.

Shia

One of the two branches of Islam that holds leaders do not need to be from Muhammad's bloodline.

Ulama

Teachers of Sharia.

Sharia

Islamic law considered the source of all life.

Madrassa

Formal colleges established to teach the Quran and spread Islamic learning.

Sufism

A nonofficial branch of Islam emphasizing personal experiences of God.

Song Dynasty

The golden age of China known for economic and cultural achievements.

Foot Binding

The Chinese practice of binding women's feet as a symbol of femininity.

Hangul

A phonetic alphabet developed in Korea.

Samurai

Japanese warriors.

Bushido

The way of the warrior referring to the morals and code of conduct of the Japanese samurai.

Kami

The Japanese spirits.

Chu nom

A variation of Chinese writing used in Vietnam to differentiate from China.

Dar Al Islam

“House of Islam,” referring to regions dominated by Islam.

Abbasid Caliphate

A major Islamic caliphate known for cultural and scientific advancements.

Seljuk Turkic Empire

An empire in the 11th and 12th centuries in Persia and Iraq.

Ottoman Empire

One of the largest Islamic empires known for its military strength.

Caliph

A political and religious leader in an Islamic community.

Sultan

The title of a Muslim ruler.

Khanates

Separate political divisions of the Mongol empire after Genghis Khan's death.

Jizya

A tax placed on non-Muslims in Islamic states.

Al-Andalus

The Muslim-controlled region in the Iberian Peninsula.

Swahili Civilization

A collection of independent city-states in East Africa.

Empire of Mali

A wealthy Islamic empire in West Africa.

Mansa Musa

Ruler of Mali known for pilgrimage and wealth.

Timbuktu

A trade city and center of learning in West Africa.

Songhay Empire

An expansion of Mali known for trade and connections with Portugal.

Sonni Ali

Founder of the Songhay Empire.

Byzantine Empire

Christian Empire in Eastern Europe, known for Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Renaissance

A movement in Europe promoting art, literature, and learning from ancient cultures.

Maya Civilization

A Mesoamerican society known for advancements in math, astronomy, and writing systems.

Aztec Empire

An ethnic group known for human sacrifices and aqueduct systems.

Inca Empire

An empire in the Andes known for architectural achievements.

Chinampas

Floating islands for farming used by the Aztecs.

Quipus

A system of knotting strings for record keeping in Inca civilization.

Quechua

Refers to the indigenous people in the Andes.

Mongol Empire

The largest land-based empire in history known for trade connections.

Chinggis Khan

Original ruler who united the Mongol tribes.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Chinggis Khan who ruled after him.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for returning to traditional values.

Yongle

Ming emperor who moved the capital and commissioned maritime expeditions.

Zheng He

Great Chinese admiral who explored the Indian Ocean.

Qing Dynasty

The last empire of China ruled by the Manchu people.

Great Zimbabwe

Southern African state that grew from gold trade.

Sand Roads

Trade routes linking West Africa to the Mediterranean.

Sea Roads

Sea trade routes connecting India, Southern China, and East Africa.

Silk Roads

Land trade routes connecting Eurasia.

Black Death

A huge pandemic that spread through Eurasia along trade routes.

Tariqa

A Sufi order that guides spiritual practices and pathways.

Cahokia

A site in present-day New Mexico known for large mounds.

Chaco Canyon

A canyon in present-day New Mexico.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Aztec empire.

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Inca Empire.

Great Dying

Describes the diseases spread from Europeans in the Americas.

Little Ice Age

An extremely cold period that caused widespread crop failures.

Columbian Exchange

A network of transatlantic communication and trade.

Mercantilism

Economic theory focused on exports and accumulation of precious metals.

Encomienda

Spanish labor system granting conquistadors rights over indigenous people.

Hacienda

A Spanish labor system where landowners controlled laborers.

Creoles

People of European descent born in the Americas.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals in the colonies, at the top of social hierarchy.

Mestizo

Multiracial individuals in the Americas, placing them below Creoles.

Mulattoes

Term describing mixed African and European ancestry individuals.

Casta system

Rigid social hierarchy in Spanish colonial Americas based on racial ancestry.

Russian Empire

A state centered in Moscow emerging from Mongol rule.

Yasak

A system of tax on Siberian peoples by the Russian Empire.

Devshirme

Ottoman practice of collecting Christian boys for military and conversion.

Timar

A land grant system in the Ottoman Empire linked to military duty.

Janissary

Infantry soldiers in the Ottoman Empire, often converted Christian boys.

Safavid Empire

A major Turkic empire known for converting its population to Shia Islam.

Mughal Empire

A state founded by Muslim Turkic-speaking groups in India.