AP World History Vocab

Secular

Secular things are not religious. Anything not affiliated with a church or faith can be called secular.

Sect

Divisions within a religious group. For example, there are two main sects in Islam- Sunni and Shia.

Meritocracy

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

Theocracy

Government run by religious leaders

Suffrage

The right to vote

Patriarchy

A form of social organization in which males dominate females

Egalitarian

Supporting or following the idea that all people are equal and should have the same rights and opportunities

Hierarchy

A system in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.

Divine

Related to a god

Monotheism

Belief in one god

Syncretism

A blending of two or more religious traditions. For example, when Christianity was adopted by people in a new land, they often incorporate it into their existing culture and traditions.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Urbanization

Growth of cities

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Autocracy

A system of government in which the power to rule is in the hands of a single individual

Oligarchy

A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

Decentralized

Government authority at local or regional level

Marginalized

A person or group treated as insignificant or peripheral

Infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

Centralized

Unified control under a single government authority.

Dynasty

A line of hereditary rulers of a country

Imperial

The rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries

Diaspora

The dispersion of any people from their original homeland

Communal

Social organization, shared resources

Migration

A movement from one country or region to another

Empire

A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler

State

A politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory.