AMSCO - AP World History - Unit 1 Key Terms

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening and drought-resistant strain of rice from the Champa Kingdom in present-day Vietnam, which greatly expanded agricultural production in China.

Proto-industrialization

A set of economic changes in China under the Song dynasty in which people in rural areas made more goods than they could sell, and relied more on home-based or community-based production using simple equipment.

Artisans

Skilled craftworkers that produced steel and other products in widely dispersed smelting facilities under the supervision of the imperial government.

scholar gentry

A new social class composed of individuals educated in Confucian philosophy that was created by the bureaucratic expansion in China; became the most influential social class in China.

filial piety

The Confucian idea that constitutes the duty of family members to subordinate their desires to those of male head of the family and to the ruler.

Grand Canal

An inexpensive and efficient internal waterway transportation system that extended over 30,000 miles.

Song Dynasty

Replaced the Tang in 960 and ruled for more than three centuries; ruled a smaller region than the Tang, but had a more prosperous reign under which the arts flourished.

imperial bureaucracy

A vast organization in which appointed officials carried out the empire's policies; helped build up China's strength.

meritocracy

The China's bureaucratic system that allowed officials to obtain their positions by demonstrating their merit on the civil service exams.

woodblock printing

A system of printing in the 7th century invented by the Chinese.

foot binding

A distinctive constraint on women's activities in China in which girls had their feet wrapped so tightly that the bones did not grow naturally; became common among aristocratic families during the Song Dynasty--signified social status and limited women's role in the public sphere.

Buddhism

A religion that had come to China from its birthplace in India via the Silk Roads; its popularity became widespread during the Tang Dynasty.

Theravada Buddhism

Focused on personal spiritual growth through silent meditation and self-discipline; became strongest in Southeast Asia.

Mahayana Buddhism

Focused on spiritual growth for all beings and on service; became strongest in China and Korea.

Tibetan Buddhism

Focused on chanting and became strongest in Tibet.

Syncretic

A fused faith (different doctrines and traditions from different origins).

Chan (Zen) Buddhism

A syncretic of Buddhist doctrines combined with elements of Daoist traditions.

Neo

Confucianism - Evolved in China between 770 and 840; a syncretic system that combined rational thought with the more abstract ideas of Daoism and Buddhism.

Heian period

(794-1185) A time in which Japan emulated Chinese traditions, politics, art, and literature.

nuclear families

Families made up of only a wife, husband, and their children; preferred by the Vietnamese while the Chinese preferred extended families.

polygyny

The practice of having more than one wife at the same time.

Mamluk Sultanate

Egyptian Mamluks seized control of Egyptian Mamluks seized control of Egyptian government and facilitated trade in cotton and sugar between Islamic world and Europe

Seljuk Turks

Seljuk Turks from Central Asia who were Muslims created an empire known as the Seljuk empire that extended almost as far as Western China

Sultan

The ruler of a Muslim country (especially of the former Ottoman Empire). True leaders of dar al-Islam, set up a puppet state. Caravanserai.

Mongols

Came from Central Asia and conquered the Abbasid Empire in 1258

Abbasid Caliphate

Empire that experienced a Golden Age of Islam and had their capital in Baghdad. They overthrew the Umayyads in 750, but were eventually conquered by the Mongols in 1258

Mamluks

Ethnic Turks from Central Asia who were enslaved people in Arab society. They acted as bureaucrats or soldiers, but eventually took over Egypt and started the Mamluk Sultanate

Muhammad

The prophet and dfounder of Islam who lived from 570 to 632

Crusaders

Christians who invaded Seljuk Turks territory in order to gain back the Holy Land

Sufis

Muslims who emphasized introspection to grasp truths they believed could not be understood through learning

House of Wisdom

Located in Baghdad, was one of the largest libraries in all of the known world at the time

Baghdad

Capital of the Abbasid Empire that was a renown center for learning

Nasir al Din al Tusi

Islamic scholar who contributed to astronomy, law, logic, ethics, math, philosophy, and medicine. He built one of the most accurate observatories in his time and is the father of trigonometry.

'A'ishah al Ba'uniyyah

A prolific female poet whose writing portrayed her broad education and learnings about Sufism. Her most famous poem was "Clear Inspiration, on Praise of the Trusted One" and refers to Muhammed.

Vijayanagara Empire (Southern India)

Took name from "victorious city" that was created by two Hind brothers. It came after the Chola Dynasty

Rajput kingdoms (North India)

Hindu kingdoms that formed in northern India and present-day Pakistan

Delhi Sultanate

Islamic state made by Turkish people that invaded northern India

Srivijaya Empire (Sumatra)

Hindu sea-based kingdom that prospered by charging fees on ships passing from India and china

Majahapit kingdom (Java)

Buddhist sea-based kingdom that prospered by charming fees on ships passing from India to China

Sinhala dynasties (Sri Lanka)

Land-based kingdom that was Buddhist

Khmer Empire (Cambodia)

Also known as the Angkor Kingdom that was situated near the Mekong River. It had a complex draining and irrigation system. It's capital was at Angkor Thorn and was originally Hindu, but then Buddhist

Sukhothai Kingdom (Thailand)

Invaded the Khmer empire and forced them out in 1431

Proselytize

To actively seek converters

Bhakti Movement

Started in Southern India that appealed to many believers because it did not discriminate against women or people of low social status . It placed less emphasis on strict adherence to traditional rituals and beliefs and appealed to many people by focusing on a strong attachment to a particular deity

Qutub Minar

Gigantic leaning tower that is the tallest structure in India today that combines common Hindu temples with domes common in Islamic mosques

Urdu

Language that combined the grammatical pattern of Hindi with the vocabulary of Arabic and some elements of Farsi

Mississippian

First large-scale civilization in North America (specifically located in eastern US, or Mississippi River Valley) that emerged in the 700s or 800s; known for enormous earthen mounds

Matrilineal Society

Social standing was determined by a woman's side of the family; Seen in Mississippian society (when Great Sun died, title is passed to a sister's son)

Cahokia

Largest of earthen mounds in Mississippian culture; located in southern Illinois

City

states - Main form of Mayan government; ruled by a king and consisting of city + surrounding territory; wars were common between city-states; most rulers were male, but some were female;

Mexica

Another name for the Aztecs; originally hunter gatherers who migrated to central mexico from north in 1200s; created large empire with capital at Tenochtitlan

Theocracy

Rule by religious leader; present in Aztec government (Great Speaker was the emperor and the divine representative of the gods)

Human sacrifice

Since gods had sacrificed themselves in order to create the world, killing of humans and blood-letting was repayment and atonement for human sin; demonstrated great might of Aztec Empire in dramatic fashion (present in Mayan, Aztec, and Inca culture)

Pachacuti

means "transformer" or "shaker" of the earth; tribal leader that began conquering tribes living near Cuzco, Peru, and combined them into the Incan Empire

Incan Empire

state formed from military conquests of Pachacuti and his son; extended from present-day Ecuador to Chile)

Mit'a System

mandatory public service; men between 15 and 50 provided agricultural and other forms of labor (alternative to tribute system in Aztec Empire)

Carpa Nan

Massive roadway system (25,000 miles) in Inca Empire; made with captive labor; used mainly by government and military

Temple of the Sun

Temple constructed in Cuzco to honor the sun and venerate royal ancestors; core of Incan religion

Animism

Belief that elements of the physical world have supernatural powers; called huaca and could be large geographic features (ex. river) or small objects (ex. stone, built bridges)

Kin

based networks - The political structures of inland Africa in which families governed themselves.

Swahili

The blended language of Bantu and Arabic that evolved in East Africa by traders.

Zanj Rebellion

The series of revolts between 869 and 883 by the zanj slaves from East Africa and other Arab workers.

Trans

Saharan Trade - A network of trading routes across the great Sahara desert in North Africa.

Indian Ocean Trade

A trade route that connected East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia.

Indian Ocean Slave Trade

The trading of slaves between East Africa and the Middle East that resultes from a strong demand in the Middle East for enslaves workers.

Great Zimbabwe

The capital city of Great Zimbabwe that was surrounded by a massive wall of stone by the end of the 13th century that was 30 feet tall and 15 feet thick.

Chief

A male head of the kin-based networks that mediated conflicts and dealt with neighboring groups.

Hausa Kingdoms

An ethnic group of seven states that were loosely connected through kinship ties, and established prospering city-states, each with a specialty.

Ghana

A kingdom nestled between the Sahara and the tropical rain forests of the West African coast, believed to be found during the 5th century, and reaching its peak of influence from the 8th to the 11th centuries. Sold gold and ivory to Muslim traders in exchange for salt, copper, cloth, and tools.

Mali

One of the trading societies that replaced Ghana after its fall, founded by Sundiata. Mansa Musa of Mali made a pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca where his lavish displays of gold left a lasting impression.

Zimbabwe

Coming from the Bantu word for "dwellings," it was one of the most powerful of all East African kingdoms between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Ethiopia

A region in which the kingdom of Axum developed, which was later influenced by the spread of Islam. In the 12th century, a Christian-led kingdom emerged.

Magna Carta

A document of 1215 that King John was forced to sign by the rebellious barons, which required the king to respect certain rights.

English Parliament

Formed in 1265, consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Manors

Large fiefs or estates of the manorial system.

Manorial System

Provided economic self-sufficiency and defense, producing everything people living on it required, limiting the need for trade or contact with outsiders.

Three

field system - A system of agriculture in which crops were rotated through three fields.

Feudalism

A decentralized political organization characterized by the European civilization in the Middle Ages that was based on a system of exchanges of land for royalty, consisting of kings, lords/vassals, knights, and peasants/serfs.

Serfs

Peasants part of the manorial system in which they were tied to the land they worked.

Primogeniture

English laws that only eldest sons could inherit land, younger sons had to earn a living for themselves.

Bourgeoisie

The middle class between the elite nobles and clergy and the mass of peasants.

Burghers

Same as the bourgeoisie.

Estates

General - A body to advise the French king that included representatives from each of the three legal classes/estates.

Estates

The three legal classes of France: the clergy, nobility, and commoners.

Otto I

The German king crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962.

Crusades

A series of European military campaigns in the Middle East between 1095 and the 1200s.

Marco Polo

An Italian native from Venice that visited the court of Kublain Khan in Dadu, modern-day Beijing.

Renaissance

A period characterized by a revival of interest in classical Grrek and Roman literature, art, culture, and civic virtue.

Humanism

The focus on individuals rather than God.

Lay investiture controversy

A dispute over whether a secular (non-religious) leader, rather than the pope, could invest bishops with the symbols of office.

Great Schism

A split in the Christian Church in Europe in 1054, divided into two branches: Roman Catholic and Orthodox.

Anti

semitism - Anti-Jewish sentiment that was widespread among Christians.

Little Ice Age

A five-century cooling of the climate known as the Little Ice Age, which hampered urban growth after about 1300.