AP World History Vocabulary

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms in AP World History.

Dar al-Islam

Areas where Muslims can practice their religion freely and Islamic law prevails.

Filial Piety

A central virtue in Confucianism emphasizing love, respect, and support for one's parents and ancestors.

Feudalism

A system in which knights/vassals protected a lord's land in exchange for land (fiefs), tilled by peasants in exchange for taxes.

Serfdom

Labor system in which laborers work the land in return for protection, binding them to the land and their ruler.

Foot Binding

The painful binding of young women's feet to stunt growth, symbolizing feminine attractiveness and upper-class extravagance in Imperial China.

Greco-Roman Philosophy

Philosophies of the Greek and Roman empires often based upon logic, empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchy.

The Silk Road

An ancient trade route connecting Asia with Europe, facilitating cultural, economic, and political exchange.

Indian Ocean Trade

A rich maritime trading network that forged economic, social, and religious ties and aided the rapid expansion of Islam.

Diasporic Communities

Communities formed when merchants introduced their own cultural traditions into indigenous cultures.

Inca Roads

A network of roads connecting the Inca Empire, used to maintain control, move armies, and facilitate trade.

Marco Polo

A European traveler who journeyed to eastern China in the 13th century, opening cultural and economic trade, and inspiring future explorers.

Bubonic Plague

A devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s, killing 1/3 of Europe's population and helping end feudalism.

Mercantilism

An economic system focused on creating political power through the economy, regulating trade, and colonial expansion to maintain political supremacy.

Ivan (IV) The Terrible

Russia's first tsar who confirmed the power of the tsarist autocracy, expanded the empire, and established contacts with western European commerce and culture.

The Ming Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) marked by population growth, expansion of trade, and developments in Chinese culture, drama, literature, and porcelain.

The Qing Dynasty

The final imperial dynasty of China (1644-1911) that propelled China further into powerhouse status, known for cultural leaps and isolationism.

The Manchu Empire

The people of Manchuria who revolted and started the Qing Dynasty, celebrating their culture while facing pressure from European powers.

The Ottoman Empire

A long-lasting dynasty created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia that grew into an Islamic superpower, controlling regions of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa.

95 Theses

A document posted by Martin Luther containing 95 suggestions designed to correct the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church, igniting the Protestant Reformation.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transportation, enslavement, and sale of African people by white slave traders to the Americas, following the triangular trade route and the Middle Passage.

United Fruit Company

A U.S. company that dominated the international fruit and banana trade, influencing the politics and economics of many Latin American nations.

Cash Crop

A crop grown for cash instead of subsistence, often leading to detrimental effects on the environment, local economy, and the health of many populations.

Joint-Stock Companies

Companies formed in the 15th century in which European businessmen, investors, and politicians came together to invest in companies premised upon stock ownership.

East India Company

An English company that gained influence in East and Southeast Asia, establishing political strongholds and acting as an agent of British imperialism in India.

Pueblo Rebellion

An organized revolt of Pueblo Indians against Spanish Rule in New Mexico due to forced Catholicism, severe punishments, and the burning of their land and sacred objects.

Montesquieu

An Enlightenment thinker who helped to coin the term despot and celebrated republican visions of the separation of powers and constitutionalism.

American Revolution

A revolution in which American colonists, fed up with abuses from Great Britain, declared independence, influencing Enlightenment ideals.

French Revolution

A revolution in France that tried to topple France's ruling class during the 18th century due to Louis the XVI despotic reign and widespread abuses.

A Vindication of the Rights of Women

A work written by Mary Wollstonecraft in 1792, containing one of the earliest arguments for feminist philosophy.

Social Darwinism

A sociological theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals.

Spheres of Influence

Areas in which countries have some political and economic control but do not govern directly.

Karl Marx

A German philosopher whose works inspired the foundation of many communist regimes and revolutionary movements.

Convict Labor

The practice of drafting criminals into public service and manual labor, with living and working conditions reminiscent of slavery.

Chinese Exclusion Act

An act designed to stop the influx of Chinese immigrants to the United States, suspending immigration for ten years and declaring them ineligible for naturalization.

Great Depression

A worldwide economic stagnation and depression that began with the collapse of the US stock market in 1929.

Fascism

A form of far-right, authoritarian hyper-nationalism characterized by dictatorial centralized power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Paris Peace Conference

An international meeting held in January 1919 at Versailles designed to establish peace after WWI and rebuild Europe.

The Holocaust

A methodical plan orchestrated by Adolf Hitler during WWII to ensure German/Aryan supremacy, resulting in the systematic murder of millions.

Russian Revolution of 1917

A revolution that occurred in two successions, toppling the imperial government and placing the Bolsheviks in power.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride and devotion toward one's country, which can lead to war in the extreme.

Spanish Civil War

A conflict called a "dress rehearsal for WWII" that involved class struggle, war of religion, and a struggle between dictatorship and republican democracy in Spain.

Indian National Congress

A broadly based political party of India that began advocating nonviolent noncooperation against the British government.

Decolonization

The undoing of colonialism, as nations in Asia and Africa achieved autonomy or independence from their European colonial rulers.

Ho Chi Minh

The Vietnamese Communist revolutionary leader during the Vietnam War and the symbol of decolonization efforts across the globe.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Violent conflict between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, as both argued and fought for total sovereignty.

Proxy War

Armed conflict between two states or non-state actors acting on behalf of other parties not directly involved.

Military-Industrial Complex

The intimacy between the defense industry and the nation's military, potentially leading to serious and dangerous policy decisions.

Pan-Africanism

An intellectual movement built around the notion that all people of African descent have a shared history and destiny.

Green Revolution

A revolution in the technology of agriculture that altered how food was grown and produced across the world.

World Health Organization

A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

North American Free Trade Agreement

An agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, which created a trilateral trade bloc in North America.