Unit 2 Vocab AP World History Collins

Astrolabe

A navigational instrument used by astronomers and sailors to measure the altitude of celestial bodies, allowing for improved navigation and understanding of latitude.

Junk Ship

A large Chinese sailing ship used for maritime trade, characterized by its flat bottom and stern-mounted rudder.

Lateen Sail

A triangular sail attached to a long yard arm that allowed ships to sail against the wind (tack).

Magnetic Compass

A Chinese invention that used a magnetized needle to indicate direction, revolutionizing open-sea navigation.

Rudders

Steering devices mounted on the stern (back) of a ship that allowed for precise steering and handling of large vessels.

Bills of Exchange

Written orders require one party to pay a specified sum of money to another at a future date; a precursor to modern checks.

Camel Saddle

An invention that allowed camels to carry heavy loads over long distances, which revolutionized desert trade.

Caranvanserai

Roadside inns along major trade routes (like the Silk Road) where travelers and their pack animals could rest, eat, and secure their goods.

Trade Cities

Commercial hubs that grew wealthy and powerful due to their strategic locations along trade routes (e.g., Calicut, Malacca, Samarkand).

Trans-Saharan Trade

A network of trade routes spanning the Sahara Desert, primarily linking West Africa (rich in gold) with North Africa and the Mediterranean (rich in salt).

Genghis Khan

The brilliant and ruthless military strategist who united the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia and founded the Mongol Empire.

Khanates

The four political realms or provinces into which the Mongol Empire was divided after Genghis Khan's death (e.g., Ilkhanate, Golden Horde). Mongol kingdoms that ruled over vast territories and facilitated trade and cultural exchange across Asia and Europe.

Kublai Khan

The grandson of Genghis Khan who conquered China, founded the Yuan Dynasty, and became the Great Khan.

Nomadism

A lifestyle characterized by moving from place to place rather than settling permanently, typical of the pastoral Mongol tribes.

Pax Mongolica

A period of relative peace and stability across Eurasia (13th–14th centuries) under Mongol rule, which greatly secured and boosted trade.

Uyghur Script

A writing system adopted by Genghis Khan to create a unified written language for the Mongol Empire.

Yuan Dynasty

The imperial dynasty established by Kublai Khan in China (1271–1368), which combined Mongol rule with Chinese bureaucratic traditions.

Diaspora

The dispersion of a group of people from their original homeland, often resulting in communities established in various foreign regions.

Ibn Battuta

A Moroccan Muslim scholar and traveler known for his extensive journeys across the Islamic world (Dar al-Islam), Africa, and Asia.He is famous for his detailed accounts of his travels, which provide valuable insights into the cultures and societies of the 14th century.

Marco Polo

An Italian merchant traveler from Venice whose book about his journey to China and time in Kublai Khan's court amazed Europe and stimulated interest in Asian goods.

Zheng He

A Chinese court eunuch and admiral who led seven massive naval expeditions during the Ming Dynasty to project China's power and collect tribute from various states across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Africa.