AP Work History Unit 1

Islam

Major world religion based on the belief that Allah (God) transmitted his words to the faithful through the prophet Muhammad

Shiite

Sect of Islam that believes Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali, was the rightful heir to the Ummayad empire; does not believe in drawing the leader from the people

Sunni 

Sect of Islam that believes the leaders of the Ummayad empire should be drawn from a broad base of people

Qu’ran (Koran) 

The Holy Book revered by Muslims to be the exact words of Allah (God)

Five Pillars of Islam

Five commands that Muslims must follow: confession of faith, prayer five times a day, charity to the needy, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during one’s lifetime (if financially able)

Caliphate

An Islamic theocracy that is ruled by a central authoritative figure called a caliph

Orthodox Christianity

Separate branch of Christianity influenced by Eastern culture and

originating from the Byzantine Empire

Code of chivalry

An honor system that strongly condemned betrayal and promoted mutual respect

Feudalism

The strict, hierarchical European social, economic, and political system of the Middle Ages

Serfs (peasants)

The people belonging to the lowest level of the feudal hierarchy who had to work on and were usually “tied” to the land

Bubonic plague

A deadly epidemic transmitted through new forms of commerce and trade; destroyed traditional social structures, facilitating the shift toward a commercial economy

Magna Carta

A document that reinstated feudal rights of the nobles, but also extended the rule of law to other people in the country, namely the growing class of Burghers (middle merchants); laid the foundation for the Parliament

Tribute system

A system utilized by the T’ang dynasty in which independent countries acknowledged the supremacy of the Chinese emperor and sent ambassadors to the city with gifts

Bureaucracy

A system of government where the decisions are made by state officials rather than elected representatives; utilized by Chinese dynasties through civil service examinations

Civil service

The administrative system founded by the Han dynasty in which government officials (bureaucrats) were selected through competitive examination

Foot binding

A practice born out of Confucianism that forced women to bind their feet in order to make them seem more beautiful; first used as subordination of women in elite families, but eventually to many poor families as well

Code of Bushido

A strict code of conduct in Feudal Japan that stressed loyalty, courage, and honor

Delhi Sultanate

The kingdom established in northern India by Islamic invaders under a central leader, the sultan.

Jizya tax

A tax paid by non-Muslims who refuse to convert to Islam while living in a State governed by Islamic law

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion originating in the Punjab region that is comprised of values from both Islam and Hinduism, but disavows the caste system

Chinampas

A type of agriculture utilized by the Aztecs that consisted of small rectangular areas of fertile land cut into the hills to grow crops; essential to the Aztecs given the hilly landscape surrounding the civilization not ideal for agriculture

Quipu

An ancient Inca device for recording information, consisting of variously colored threads knotted in different ways

Animism

The idea that all things—animate and inanimate—possess a spirit or an essence; prevalent in ancient indigenous tribal cultures that emphasized human spiritual development

Daoism

A 6th century Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu, who taught that humans must follow the Cosmic Dao, an all-encompassing guide to life that emphasized harmony

Muhammad

The central prophet of Islam, who Muslims believe transmitted the words of

Allah (God)

Mecca

The city where Muhammad grew up; gave Muhammad exposure to many different beliefs due to its position on the trade routes between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean

Baghdad

Capital city of the Abbasid Dynasty, an Islamic empire that oversaw a Golden Age for the arts and sciences; became one of the great cultural centers of the world

Sufis

Islamic mystics that were very effective missionaries due to their emphasis on Islam begin a personal relationship with Allah rather than a form of ritual; framed Islam as highly adaptable to different backgrounds and beliefs

Hagia Sophia

An enormous cathedral built by in the Christian empire of Constantinople; evidence of the flourishing of the arts and sciences in Constantinople

Vikings

Raiders from Scandinavia who used highly maneuverable, multi-oared boats to raid far beyond their borders; economy also depended on merchants and commercial fisheries

Hundred Years’ War

The war between England and France that lasted from 1337-1453; liberated France from England, who prior to the war had claimed the entire French territory

Mansa Musa

One of the greatest rulers of the Islamic Mali empire; made a pilgrimage to Mecca complete with an entourage of hundreds of gold-carrying servants and camels

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztecs, also known as the Mexica, who were known for their expansionism and professional army that established a tribute system with other conquered civilizations

Maya

A civilization comprised of several city-states ruled by a single king but were often at odds with one another; known for their architecture, mathematics, and fully developed written

language

Teotihuacán

A powerful city-state that operated as a religious hub and a wealthy trade metropolis; became powerful by 400 A.D., but eventually collapsed and was found later by the Aztecs

Jesus Christ

The religious leader and teacher who Christians believe is the Son of God and whose teachings form the basis of Christianity

The Buddha

The title given to Siddhartha Gautama, the religious leader and teacher who eventually founded Buddhism after attaining Enlightenment