AP World History Units 1 & 2 Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from AP World History Unit 1 and Unit 2 lecture notes.

Post-Classical Era

The period from 1200 to 1450, following the fall of most ancient empires and preceding the rise of gunpowder empires and major European expansion, characterized by flourishing regional civilizations and booming trade networks.

Filial Piety

A Confucian concept emphasizing respect and honor for parents and ancestors.

Neo-Confucianism

A new version of Confucianism developed during the Song Dynasty that blended traditional Confucian ideas with Buddhism and Daoism.

Imperial Bureaucracy

A government system comprised of trained officials who manage different parts of the state, expanded significantly during the Song Dynasty.

Civil Service Exam System

A merit-based system in Song China where men could obtain bureaucratic jobs by passing a challenging exam based on Confucian texts.

Tributary System

A foreign relations system where other states recognized China as superior, offering tribute in exchange for trade rights, prestige, and protection.

Syncretism

The blending of different religions or cultures.

Commercialization

Refers to the Song Dynasty's economy which produced surplus goods that were sold for profit using market-based activities and early banking practices.

Champa Rice

A drought-resistant and fast-growing rice variety from Vietnam that led to significant population growth in China during the Song Dynasty.

Dar al-Islam

The 'House of Islam,' referring to regions where Islam was the dominant religion and Islamic law (Sharia) and culture shaped society.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five core practices required of Muslims: Faith (Shahada), Prayer (Salat), Charity (Zakat), Fasting (Sawm), and Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Sharia Law

Islamic religious law based on the Qur'an.

Caliphate

An Islamic state ruled by a caliph, considered the leader of the Muslim community.

Sufism

A mystical and flexible form of Islam that spread through love, music, and spiritual practice, making it accessible to people of different cultures.

House of Wisdom

A world-class university and library in Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam, where scholars from many cultures studied.

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu movement emphasizing personal devotion to one god, rejecting the caste system and open to all.

Sufism

Islamic Mysticism which spread Islam through personal devotion.

Mita System

Inca labor system where conquered people owed mandatory labor to the state.

Swahili City-States

Independent city-states along the East African coast that grew rich through Indian Ocean trade and the adoption of Islam by the elites.

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

A system of trade routes crossing the Sahara Desert that connected North Africa with West Africa, facilitating the spread of goods, wealth, and Islam.

Feudalism

A system of loyalty and land exchange prevalent in Western Europe, involving kings, lords, vassals, knights, and serfs.

Manorialism

A local economic system in Western Europe where peasants (serfs) worked the land in return for protection.

Silk Roads

A network of trade routes across Eurasia, mainly for luxury goods, enabling cultural diffusion and economic exchange between China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Pax Mongolica

A period of peace and stability under Mongol rule that facilitated trade and cultural exchange across Eurasia.

Khanates

The regions the Mongol empire split into after Chinggis Khan's death such as the Yuan Dynasty.

Caravanserai

Inns placed about a day’s journey apart on trade routes providing safe resting places for merchants.

Yam System

Relay station postal system in the Mongol empire used for communication, administration, and diplomatic missions.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of beliefs, ideas, and culture between people, greatly facilitated by trade routes like the Silk Roads and Mongol Empire.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

A system of sea routes connecting countries across East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia through trade, becoming the most important sea-based trade network between 1200–1450.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean influencing trade routes.