AP Summer Vocabulary

Absolutism

Political philosophy about divine right of kingship

Allude

A reference in a literary work that pulls events, figures, or elements from history

Aristocracy

A form of gov’t in which power is held up by the nobility

Bias

The POV the creator is taking in order to explain a historical event

Bureaucracy

A vast organization in which appointed officials carried out the empire’s policies

Capitalism

An economic system in which private parties make goods/services on a free market

Communism

A political and economic system in which the major productive resources in a society (such as mines, factories, and farms) are owned by the public or the state

Continuity

A consistent detail over a period of time

City-State

Urban areas that controlled surrounding agricultural regions and were connected in broader political structure

Colonialism

When a powerful country takes control of another

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population on a specific groups within it

Depict

To represent or show something

Divine

Something related to a god or God

Doctrine

A set of beliefs that is taught

Economic Elites

A group of individuals who hold significant wealth or power in the economic sector

Empire

A political construct in which one state dominates over another state

Epidemic

An outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and effects many individuals at the same time

Exports

The sale of goods and services to other countries

Facilitated

Processes and systems that enable the smooth exchange of goods and services between regions and culures

Feudalism

Decentralized political organization based on a system of exchanges of land for royalty

Genocide

Systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race

Globalization

Breaking down of traditional boundaries in the face of increasingly global financial + cultural trends

Ideology

A set of beliefs, values, and ideas that shape the way individuals or groups understand the world and place around it

Imperialism

Associated w/ expansion of European powers and conquest/colonization of Africa

Imports

A product of service that is produced in one country and purchased in another

Mercantilism

Economic theory advocating a nation’s strength directly related to its wealth. Promoted gov’t regulation through balance of trade

Merchant

An economic group consisting of individuals engaged in trade

Mitigate

Making something mild or less severe

Monotheism

Belief in only one god

Nation

Historical, cultural, and socio-political factors that define a collective identity shared by a group of people

Nationalism

Ideology based on the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state

Nobility

Highest social class in pre-modern societies

Papacy

The office and jurisdiction of the pope

Pastoral

Tending to sheep and goats

Patriarchal

Social organization marked by supremacy of the father

Periodization

The act of dividing a period of time into shorter periods

Polytheism

The belief in more than one god

Prestige

The respect, admiration, and high regard accorded to a person

Revolution

A radical change in the established order

Rural

Relating to the country, country people, or agriculture

Secular

Not overly or specifically religious

Sentiments

A view or attitude toward a situation or event'; and opinion

Serf

Not slaves, but people tied to land

State

Political Organization of society or the body politic

Suppress

To put down by authority or force

Syncretism

Combination of different forms of belief or practice

Theocracy

Rule by religious leaders

Tribute State

State provides resources to a more powerful state for support

Urban

Relating to or designating a city or town

Socialism

system where industries and the means of production are socially owned and controlled, rather than privately owned