AP World History Summer Assignment Review

These flashcards cover the foundational vocabulary, core religious beliefs, and historical concepts regarding early cities and empires as outlined in the AP World History summer assignment transcript.

Mesopotamia and Egypt

The geographic locations where the author states that the first cities first appeared.

Urban archipelago

A metaphor used by the author to describe a group of cities that were all connected and worked together as a system or group through trade.

Ashoka

An emperor who built and inscribed pillars to demonstrate that his city was a place of peace and stability under Buddha.

Assur

The god of the Neo-Assyrian Empire; his cult was included in the worship of conquered territories to increase the emperor's authority.

Money and cohesion

The two general factors identified by the author that usually contribute to the fall of an empire.

Artaxerxes lll

A ruler known for a cruel reign who was assassinated, followed by the assassination of his young son Artaxerxes IV, leading to a weak empire inherited by Darius III.

Shruti and Smriti

The names of the important texts used in the practice of Hinduism.

Brahman

A core belief in Hinduism that also incorporates the concepts of the cycle of rebirth and karma.

Torah

The important text of Judaism, also referred to as the Jewish Bible.

Analects

The collection of works by Confucius which serves as the important text for Confucianism.

Nirvana

The state achieved by ending desire and living ethically, according to Buddhist belief, which helps end the suffering involved in life.

The Holy Trinity

A Christian belief that Jesus is the son of God and that both are part of this tripartite divine essence.

The Quran and the Hadith

The holy book containing the word of God and the documented actions of Muhammad, respectively, which serve as important texts in Islam.

The Five Pillars of Islam

A set of core religious practices in Islam consisting of Shahada, Salah, Sawm, Zackat, and Hajj.

agrarian

Relating to agriculture and farming, including the ownership and/or use of the land.

agricultural revolution

A massive transformation in farming practices that changed society.

aristocracy

A form of government where power is held by a small, ruling class.

bureaucracy

A system of administration characterized by a structured hierarchy, a clear division of labor, and standardized rules.

centralization

Activities being concentrated within a particular group or location.

civilization

Any complex or highly organized human society.

commercial

Broadly relates to commerce, business activities, or the buying and selling of goods and services.

demography

The statistical study of human populations.

diaspora

A scattered population living outside their geographic homeland who maintain strong cultural, emotional, or political ties to their place of origin.

dynasty

A succession of rulers or leaders who all belong to the same family.

empire

A large-scale political entity or sovereign state that exercises control over a diverse array of territories, countries, or peoples.

feudalism

A social, political, and economic system in medieval Europe where land ownership was exchanged for loyalty, labor, and military service.

interregional

Something occurring, existing, or traveling between two or more different regions.

kingdom

A sovereign territory, population, or community governed by a monarch.

merchant

A person or business that trades, buys, and sells goods or services for profit.

meritocracy

A system where advancement, wealth, and power are distributed based on individual talent, ability, and effort rather than inherited wealth or social class.

monotheism

The belief in the existence of one supreme deity, or God.

nomad

An individual or member of a community who does not have a permanent home.

patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, and social privilege.

peasant

A small-scale agricultural laborer, farmer, or member of a low social class in a pre-industrial agrarian society.

polytheism

The belief in, and worship of, multiple deities or gods.

primary source

An original, first-hand account or raw piece of evidence created by someone who directly experienced or participated in an event.

rural

Areas, populations, and territories located outside of densely populated urban and suburban areas.

secondary source

Any information that interprets, analyzes, summarizes, or draws conclusions from original, first-hand accounts.

secular

Relating to the physical world, worldly matters, or things that have no connection to religion or spirituality.

serf

A peasant laborer in medieval Europe who was legally bound to work a specific plot of land for a feudal lord.

state

A complex, organized political community living under a single system of government.

syncretism

The blending of diverse religious, cultural, or philosophical beliefs and practices to create a new, hybrid system.

theocracy

A form of government where a deity is recognized as the supreme ruling authority, and state officials govern according to divine guidance.

urban

Human settlements characterized by high population density, permanent architecture, and complex social structures.