AP World Unit 1

Context

The bigger picture. Every historical event gains significance from its inclusion in some larger framework. Cultural

Change

Broad historical shifts. Focusing on change helps us grasp the intricacies of history. Cultural

Comparison

Finding similarities and differences. It serves as an effective tool to counteract Eurocentrism. Cultural

Connections

Cross-cultural interactions. It shows how different societies and civilizations influenced each other over time. Cultural

Paleolithic era

Old Stone Age. It represents the vast majority of human history characterized by hunting and gathering. Interactions with the Environment

Agricultural Revolution

Shift to farming. It provided the foundation for growing populations and complex civilizations. Interactions with the Environment

Pastoral society

Nomadic animal herders. Their mobility allowed survival in difficult terrains and facilitated exchange with farmers. Social

Patriarchy

Male-dominated social system. This enduring institution shaped almost every dimension of private and public life globally. Social

Hinduism

Indian polytheistic religion. It provided a unifying cultural framework for the Indian subcontinent. Cultural

Upanishads

Sacred Hindu texts. They developed the philosophical concepts of karma and reincarnation. Cultural

Siddhartha Gautama

Founder of Buddhism. His teachings offered an alternative path to enlightenment that challenged the caste system. Cultural

Theravada Buddhism

Early Buddhist branch. It viewed the Buddha as a wise teacher rather than a divine figure. Cultural

Mahayana Buddhism

Later Buddhist branch. It offered salvation to all and viewed the Buddha as divine. Cultural

Bhakti movement

Devotional Hindu movement. It made Hinduism more accessible through intense devotion to a specific deity. Cultural

Confucianism

Chinese philosophical system. It became the leading political and social ideology in China. Cultural

Han dynasty

Classical Chinese empire. It consolidated China's imperial state and established Confucianism as the official ideology. Political

Daoism

Chinese naturalistic philosophy. It urged followers to immerse themselves in nature rather than political life. Cultural

Judaism

Monotheistic Middle Eastern religion. It established the foundation for both Christianity and Islam. Cultural

Jesus of Nazareth

Founder of Christianity. His teachings emphasized love and compassion and sparked a massive global religion. Cultural

Saint Paul

Early Christian missionary. He was instrumental in spreading Christianity beyond Jewish communities. Cultural

Perpetua

Christian martyr. Her death highlighted the intense persecution early Christians faced in the Roman Empire. Cultural

Muhammad

Founder of Islam. He received revelations that formed the Quran and unified Arabia under a new faith. Cultural

Quran

Islamic holy book. It serves as the ultimate authority and sacred text for all Muslims. Cultural

Umma

Global Islamic community. It gave a unifying sense of identity to all Muslims regardless of background. Social

Ulama

Islamic religious scholars. They served as teachers and preservers of Islamic law and tradition. Social

Sharia

Islamic law. It regulated every aspect of life for believers. Political

Madrassas

Islamic educational institutions. They preserved and transmitted Islamic learning across generations. Cultural

Sufism

Mystical Islamic branch. It focused on a direct and personal experience of the divine rather than strict laws. Cultural

Song dynasty

Chinese imperial dynasty. It oversaw China's economic revolution and a surge in cultural flourishing. Political

China's economic revolution

Massive economic growth. It made Song China the richest and most commercialized country on earth. Economic

Hangzhou

Song dynasty capital. It was a massive and cosmopolitan urban center boasting over a million people. Social

Foot binding

Chinese patriarchal practice. It physically restricted women and emphasized traditional beauty standards. Social

Hangul

Korean phonetic alphabet. It helped Korea maintain cultural independence from China. Cultural

Bushido

Japanese warrior code. It emphasized martial values and loyalty among the samurai class. Cultural

Tribute system

Chinese foreign policy. It required non-Chinese authorities to acknowledge Chinese superiority. Political

Chu nom

Vietnamese writing system. It provided the basis for an independent national literature in Vietnam. Cultural

Srivijaya

Malay kingdom. It dominated the critical Strait of Melaka and controlled Indian Ocean trade. Political

Madjapahit

Southeast Asian empire. It succeeded Srivijaya in dominating regional trade networks. Political

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire. It survived the fall of Rome and remained a major center of Christendom. Political

Ottoman Seizure of Constantinople

Fall of Byzantium. It marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the triumph of the Ottomans. Political

Roman Catholic Church

Western Christian branch. It operated separately from Eastern Orthodoxy and dominated medieval Europe. Cultural

Inca Empire

Massive Andean state. It was the largest state ever built in the pre-Columbian Americas. Political

West African Civilization

Series of African states. They developed major wealth and power by leveraging trans-Saharan trade. Economic

Mali

Prosperous African empire. It built immense wealth through its ability to tax and conduct trade. Political

Trans-Saharan Slave Trade

Enslaved people exchange. It highlighted the cultural disconnects and social hierarchies of the era. Economic

Timbuktu

West African commercial city. It thrived as a massive center of Islamic scholarship and trade. Cultural

Silk Roads

Eurasian land routes. They connected diverse cultures and facilitated the exchange of luxury goods. Economic

Dunhuang

Silk Road oasis city. It became a major center of Buddhist learning and art in China. Cultural

Temujin / Chinggis Khan

Unifier of the Mongols. His leadership directly led to the creation of the largest land-based empire in history. Political

Mongol world war

Series of military campaigns. It resulted in the massive expansion of the Mongol Empire across Eurasia. Political

Khubilai Khan

Mongol ruler of China. He established the Yuan dynasty and integrated Mongol rule with Chinese traditions. Political

Ming dynasty

Chinese ruling dynasty. It restored traditional Chinese rule and sponsored massive maritime voyages after Mongol collapse. Political

Black Death

Massive Eurasian pandemic. It killed vast amounts of people and reshaped economies and societies. Interactions with the Environment

Sea Roads

Indian Ocean trade networks. They linked diverse peoples and facilitated vast commercial exchange. Economic

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful southern African state. It capitalized on the growing gold trade and flourished in the interior. Economic

Melaka

Muslim port city. It became a powerhouse of trade and spread a syncretic form of Islam. Cultural

Zheng He

Chinese naval admiral. He led massive maritime voyages to enroll distant states in China's tribute system. Political

Sand Roads

Trans-Saharan trade routes. They linked interior West Africa to the Mediterranean world. Economic

Arabian camel

Desert transport animal. It made trans-Saharan commerce physically possible by surviving days without water. Technological

House of Wisdom

Baghdad academic center. It preserved ancient texts and fostered major scholarly research. Cultural

Crusades

Western Christendom holy wars. They caused immense bloodshed but unified Western Christians and stimulated trade. Political

American web

Network of American trade. It provided a vital means for exchange across the pre-Columbian Americas. Economic

Chaco Phenomenon

Ancestral Puebloan settlement. This society successfully built hundreds of miles of roads and large pueblos. Interactions with the Environment

Pochteca

Aztec long-distance merchants. They facilitated trade and amassed immense wealth and power. Economic