Unit 2 Vocab AP World History

Banking House

Issued bills of exchange; model for modern banks

Bubonic Plague

A massive pandemic that swept through Eurasia in the early 14th century, spreading along the trade routes within and beyond the Mongol Empire and reaching the Middle East and Western Europe by 1347

Caravanserai

Inns that popped up about 100 miles apart (The distance camels could go before they needed water) along the routes of the Silk Roads

Crusades

A series of holy Christian holy wars conducted against nonbelievers

Flying Cash

A system of credit developed in China that allowed a person to deposit money at a location and withdraw it at another

Genghis Khan

Name meaning “ruler of all” given to Temujin when he was elected khan of Mongolian Kingdom; also spelled Chinggis Khan

Gujarat

A region of western India famous for trade and manufacturing; the inhabitants are called Gujarati

Indian Ocean Basin

Largest sea-based trade network at the time

Junk

Chinese sailing ship that developed during the Song Dynasty

Kashgar

Trading city located at the western edge of China where northern and southern routes of the Silk Roads crossed

Khanates

The four regional Mongol kingdoms that arose after the death of Genghis Khan

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan that sought to conquer China and finally achieved it in 1271 and established the Yuan Dynasty

Lateen Sail

Triangular shaped sail that could catch wind from many different directions

Malacca

A Muslim city-state that became wealthy by building a navy and collecting fees from ships that passed through the Strait of Malacca

Mansa Musa

Brought Mali to its peak of power and wealth from 1312 to 1337; displayed Mali’s wealth during an extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca

Marco Polo

An Italian native who traveled to China in the late 13th century and wrote about travels

Money Economy

Using money rather than bartering with commodities like cowrie shells or salt

Mongul Empire

The largest continuous land empire in history, established by Genghis Khan in the early 13th century after uniting nomadic clans, which ultimately grew to span across Eurasia from the pacific to Black sea

Monsoon

Heavy winds that affected trade routes in the Indian Ocean

Pax Mongolica

The period of Mongolian peace between the 13th century and 14th centuries

Silk Road

Land-based trade routes that linked many regions of Eurasia. They were named after the most famous product traveled along these routes

Songhai Empire

An Islamic empire established in the 1400’s after the decline of the Mali Empire in West Africa

Spice Islands

Term for the islands of modern day Malaysia and Indonesia that exported spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamon

Swahili City States

Thriving city states along the East coast of Africa created by India Ocean trade

Timbuktu

A very wealthy and world-renowned center for Islamic learning

Yuan Dynasty

Established by Kublai Khan in 1271 and was tolerant towards various religious groups in China