AP World History – East Asia, South and Southeast Asia (1200–1450 CE)

Vocabulary flashcards covering Song-era governance, Neo-Confucianism, Chinese cultural influence, major empires, and South/Southeast Asian states and religions (1200–1450 CE).

Neo-Confucianism

A Song-era philosophical movement that blended Confucian ethics with Buddhist and Daoist ideas, becoming a state-supported philosophy and shaping governance and education.

Champa rice

A fast-rilling rice from Champa (Vietnam) introduced to China, boosting agricultural yield and supporting population growth.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960–1279) known for bureaucratic reform, civil service exams, economic innovations, and eventual conflict with Jin and Mongol forces.

Jin invasion

Invasion by the Jurchen Jin dynasty that forced the Song to retreat south, leading to the Southern Song period.

Southern Song

The Song period after 1127 when the capital moved south; continued centralized governance and economic development until the Mongol conquest.

Mongols

Central Asian nomadic group who conquered vast territories, establishing the Yuan Dynasty in China and promoting Pax Mongolica.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol-led Chinese dynasty (1279–1368) that maintained Chinese bureaucracy, top-heavy Mongol rule, and a four-tier social system.

Grand Canal

An extensive waterway system linking northern and southern China to facilitate trade, tax collection, and military movement.

Compass

Chinese invention aiding navigation, crucial for maritime trade and exploration.

Jingdezhen

Porcelain capital of China known for producing high-quality ceramics during the Song and Yuan eras.

Porcelain

Fine ceramic ware highly prized in global trade; a hallmark of Song and Ming production.

Silk

A major Chinese export; silk production and trade expanded dramatically during the Song era.

Paper money

A form of currency widely used in Song China, enabling larger-scale commercial transactions.

Credit systems

Early financial networks and practices that allowed merchants to borrow and extend credit for larger deals.

Hanzi

Chinese characters used in writing; the standard script across China and influenced neighboring regions.

Hangul

Korean alphabet developed later; Korea initially used Chinese characters (hanzi) before Hangul’s invention.

Kanji

Japanese use of Chinese characters in writing, forming a mixed system with native scripts.

Silk Road

Ancient network of trade routes linking China with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, facilitating cultural and technological exchange.

Abbasid Empire

Islamic caliphate centered in Baghdad (c. 750–1258) that connected vast regions through trade, science, and culture.

Mamluks

Enslaved soldiers from among various ethnic groups who rose to power in Egypt, founding the Mamluk Sultanate.

Seljuk Turks

Turkic Muslim rulers who expanded into the Middle East, challenged Abbasid authority, and facilitated Crusades.

Crusaders

European Christian soldiers seeking control of holy sites in the Middle East, prompting sustained religious conflicts.

Dhows

Arab sailing ships used for long-distance maritime trade across the Indian Ocean.

al-Andalus

Muslim-ruled territories in Iberia (Spain) where learning and culture flourished, later influencing Europe.

Hijab

Modest dress or head covering worn by Muslim women, reflecting cultural and religious practices.

A’ishah al-Ba’uniyyah

Prolific 15th-century female Sufi writer celebrated for spiritual and devotional writings.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

Noted Persian scholar who advanced astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, and Islamic law.

Ibn Khaldun

Arab historian and sociologist who laid foundations for historiography and social theory.

Vijayanagara Empire

Major Hindu kingdom in southern India (1336–1646) known for centralized administration and trade networks.

Hampi

Capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire, site of impressive architecture and urban planning.

Rajput kingdoms

Northwestern Indian warrior states; organized around Kshatriya warriors, fortresses, and regional courts.

Sukhothai

Thai kingdom (c. 1238–1438) that established Theravada Buddhism as state religion and developed a distinctive script.

Khmer Empire

Cambodian empire (Angkor era) famous for Angkor Wat, irrigation systems, and Hindu-Buddhist cosmology.

Angkor

Religious and political center of the Khmer Empire, featuring monumental temple complexes.

Angkor Wat

Iconic temple complex in Angkor, symbolizing Khmer architectural and religious achievement.

Srivijaya

Maritime empire centered on Sumatra that controlled key trade routes and fostered Mahayana Buddhism.

Majapahit

Indonesian maritime empire that dominated trade across the Indonesian archipelago and blended Hindu-Buddhist traditions.

Theravada

Early form of Buddhism predominant in mainland Southeast Asia, emphasizing monastic discipline.

Mahayana

Buddhist tradition emphasizing universal salvation and diverse philosophical traditions, widespread in East Asia.

Sufism

Islamic mysticism that spread ethico-spiritual practices through centers like khanqahs and saint veneration.

Madrasas

Islamic religious schools that educated scholars and helped disseminate law and theology.

Dharmaraja

Buddhist political theory of a righteous king who governs according to dharma and protects the sangha.

Sangha

Monastic community in Buddhism responsible for preserving texts, teaching, and merit-making.

Bhakti movement

Hindu devotional movement emphasizing personal love and devotion to a deity, often challenging caste barriers.

Mirabai

Renowned Bhakti poet-saint from Rajasthan whose devotion to Krishna challenged social norms.

Sinhala dynasties

Buddhist rulers in Sri Lanka who preserved Buddhist temples, texts, and monastic networks.