World History Modern AP Edition – Prologue to 1200 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Prologue through the Postclassical era as presented in the notes.

City-state

Independent political unit consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

Mauryan Empire

First major unification of South Asia (c. 322–187 BCE); centralized bureaucracy; Ashoka at peak.

Gupta Empire

South Asia’s Golden Age; centralized government in Pataliputra; advances in math, medicine; Hinduism supported.

Mandate of Heaven

Chinese political and religious concept that justified the rule of an emperor as long as he governed benevolently.

Qin Dynasty

First Chinese imperial dynasty; unified China; standardized script and measures; built canals and roads.

Han Dynasty

Chinese Golden Age; growth and peace; inventions like magnetic compass, paper; civil service exam; Silk Road expansion.

Persian Empire

Vast ancient Near Eastern empire (c. 550–330 BCE) known for effective administration, extensive road networks, and cultural tolerance.

Greece

Ancient civilization comprised of independent city-states, foundational to Western philosophy, democracy, and classical art.

Roman Empire

Powerful ancient empire (c. 27 BCE – 476 CE in West) originating from Rome, known for its law, military might, and engineering marvels.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire centered in Constantinople; survived after the fall of the West.

Abbasid Caliphate

Islamic caliphate (750–1258) centered in Baghdad; golden age of culture; trade and science.

Sui Dynasty

Short-lived Chinese dynasty that reunified China; built Grand Canal.

Tang Dynasty

Chinese dynasty; expansion, renewed golden age; gunpowder, paper money; Silk Road growth.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty; meritocracy; advances in iron, silk, porcelain; magnetic compass; urban growth.

Ghana

Early West African kingdom (c. 7th–13th c. CE) that benefited from trans-Saharan trade.

Great Zimbabwe

West/East African kingdom; wealth from gold; decline attributed to various factors.

Twelve Tables

The earliest codified law of the Roman Republic, forming the basis of Roman civil law.

Stone tools

Primitive implements made by early humans from various types of stone, fundamental for survival and technological development.

Cuneiform

First writing system developed by Sumerians in Mesopotamia; wedge-shaped marks on clay.

Ziggurat

Massive stepped temple towers in Mesopotamian cities.

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing system using pictorial symbols for sacred and monumental inscriptions.

Complex math

Advanced mathematical knowledge developed by ancient civilizations for purposes like engineering, astronomy, and calendrical systems.

Pyramids

Monumental tombs for pharaohs; symbols of royal power and engineering prowess.

Stirrups

Foot supports for riders on horseback, significantly enhancing stability and effectiveness in cavalry warfare.

Camel Saddle

Ingenious technological innovation allowing for efficient transport and trade across desert regions, notably for trans-Saharan routes.

Agricultural Revolution

Around 10,000 BCE transition to farming and domestication; surplus enables specialization.

Monsoon Winds

Powerful seasonal wind systems, especially prominent in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, crucial for agriculture and maritime trade.

Hinduism

Religious tradition with origins in the Vedic period; diverse beliefs; dharma, reincarnation, and caste.

Judaism

Monotheistic faith of Israelites; covenant with Yahweh; Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).

Buddhism

Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama; promotes suffering cessation and universal appeal; monastic tradition.

Confucianism

A comprehensive philosophical system developed by Confucius in China, emphasizing ethics, social harmony, and duty.

Daoism

An ancient Chinese philosophy and religion advocating simplicity, naturalness, and harmony with the universe (the Dao).

Christianity

Monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Jesus; spread across the Roman Empire; Constantine’s support.

Islam

Monotheistic faith revealed to Muhammad; Qur'an; Five Pillars; sharia; rapid expansion across Dar al-Islam.

Dar al-Islam

The 'House of Islam'; refers to territories under Islamic rule or where Islam is widely practiced.

Shinto

Indigenous Japanese religion honoring ancestors and nature spirits; coexists with Buddhism.

Roman Catholic

The largest Christian church globally, characterized by its hierarchical structure and the spiritual authority of the Pope.

Orthodox Church

A collection of self-governing Christian churches located primarily in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, tracing their origins to early Christian communities.

Teotihuacan

Major Mesoamerican city near Mexico City; grid layout; monumental temples; flourishing trade.

Mayans

Mesoamerican civilization known for writing system, calendar, and concept of zero.

Mississippian

A mound-building Native American culture that flourished in the central and southeastern United States from around 800 CE to 1600 CE.

Toltecs

Central Mexican civilization influencing the later Aztecs; polytheistic/animistic beliefs.

Silk Roads

Network of trade routes linking China with the Mediterranean and beyond; exchange of goods and ideas.

Indian Ocean Trade Route

Vast maritime exchange network connecting East Africa, Arab lands, South Asia, and East Asia, facilitating trade of goods, ideas, and cultures.

Trans-Saharan trade

Trade across the Sahara linking West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Taxation

A compulsory financial charge levied by a government on an individual or an organization to fund public expenditures.

Entrepot

A port, city, or trading post where goods are imported, stored, and then re-exported, often without import duties.

Patriarchy

Social system in which males hold primary power; shown in early hunter-gatherer societies.

Civil Service Exam

Merit-based examination to select government officials in Han China; promoted bureaucratic governance.

Diaspora

The scattering or dispersion of a people from their original homeland, often resulting in communities settled in new places.

Shogun

Military ruler in Japan who held real political power under a feudal system.

Daimyos

Powerful feudal lords in Japan who controlled land and recruited samurai.