AP World Units 1 & 2 Vocab - 600 to 1450

Neo Confucianism

A blending of Buddhist and (some) Daoist ideals, made to create social harmony and a holistic view to Confucianism while also appealing to the masses who converted to Buddhism.

Censorate

An agency that watched over public officials, looking for character and competence

Hangzhou (Song capital)

The capital of the Southern Song Dynasty; rose to prominence after the fall of the Northern Song.

Foot binding

A Chinese custom involving the mutilation of womens’ feet to alter shape & size, creating strict beauty standards and control over women.

“middle kingdom”

The Chinese concept that China was the center of civilization in the world; this belief contributed to China’s tendency to isolate itself.

Kowtow

A specific act of deep respect and submission; includes kneeling, touching head to the ground, etc. towards a status symbol/figure.

Xiongnu

A powerful confederation of nomadic people living in China; including skilled horsemen & archers, frequently raiding and posing military threats.

Sultanate of Delhi

A large Muslim empire based in Delhi which ruled a major part of the Indian subcontinent for over 300 years. It shifted the subcontents religious landscape as the first dominant Islamic state in India.

Sufis

Islamic mystics who served as missionaries that would spread islam. They would often incorporate local traditions, cultures, and gods into their teachings to make islam appealing for people. They worked in Southeast Asia, India, and Sub

Kabir

Indian saint and poet that taught tolerance between Hinduism and Islam. He was a key figure in the Bhakti movement and influenced both Hinduism and islam.

Sikhism

A faith founded in Punjab during the Mughal era which incorporated both hindu and islamic elements

Timbuktu

A historic West African city that served as a key hub in trans saharan trade and Islamic learning in the Mali and Songhai empires.

Mexica

Nahuatl speaking indigenous people who established the dominant Aztec empire in Mesoamerica. They had complex agriculture, culture, and military.

Triple Alliance

A military and political coalition between Tenochtitlan (Mexica), Texcoco, and Tlacopan in the Valley of Mexico. It established the Aztec empire and brought prosperity to the states.

Tenochtitlan

Capital of the Aztec empire built on a lake in Texcoco. Showcased advanced urban planning such as canals and causeways. Its fall to Spanish marked a major turning point in the conquest of the Americas.

Chinampas, aka “floating gardens”

Artificial agricultural islands built by Aztecs on shallow lake beds to grow crops. Demonstrated innovative agricultural tech and how they adapted to their environment.

Huitzilopochtli

The primary deity of the Aztec people who corresponded with the sun and warfare. Religious practices contained and justified sacrificing humans to keep the sun alive.

Quechua

Family of indigenous spoken in the Andes and the primary language used by the Inca empire. Was the unifying language across the Inca empire.

Gender Parallelism

Social system where men and women have separate but equally important roles in a society. Prominent in Andean societies like the Incas, shaping governance and labor division.

Yuan Dynasty

Yuan dynasty was the period where the Mongols ruled China. Represents expansion of Mongol power into East Asia and the blending of cultures. It also facilitated and increased trade along the silk roads.

Khubilai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of Yuan dynasty. Finished Mongol conquest of China and established a new ruling system morphing Mongol and Chinese practices. Promoted trade and cultural exchange.

Hulegu

Grandson of genghis khan who conquered persia & established the ilkhanate, brought mongol rule to the middle east and destroyed baghdad in 1258

Khutulun

A mongol wrestler princess, daughter of mongol ruler kaidu khan (ruler of central asia/ cousin of kublai khan)

Kipchak Khanate/ Golden Horde

Mongol khanate that ruled russia, controlled russia, indirectly collected tribute, influenced russian politics

Monsoon winds

Seasonal winds in the indian ocean, allowed predictable and efficient maritime trade between africa, india, and asia

Swahili language

Bantu based language with heavy arabic influence, lingua franca (a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different) of east african coast, symbol of indian ocean cultural blending

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful east african kingdom known for stone architecture, controlled trade of gold and ivory, linked africa to indian ocean commerce

Jenne Jeno

An ancient West African city located in the Niger River valley, known as one of the earliest urban centers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Established around 250 BC, Jenne Jeno was a bustling hub of trade and culture, part of the trans-Saharan trade network. The city featured advanced architecture with mud brick structures and had a complex social organization. It is notable for its role in the spread of agriculture and ironworking in the region, influencing nearby communities and contributing to the development of the Malian Empire.

Camel caravans

Groups of traders crossing the sahara using camels, enabled trans saharan trade of gold, and salt and spread to islam