AP World History Units 1-4

Confucianism

A philosophy that teaches human society is hierarchical by nature with unequal relationships, emphasizing filial piety.

Filial Piety

The practice of honoring one’s ancestors and parents.

Neo-Confucianism

A revival that incorporates Buddhist and Daoist philosophical ideas.

Imperial Bureaucracy

A large system in the Song Dynasty that ensured obedience to the emperor, with positions awarded based on merit.

Foot Binding

A cultural practice in the Song Dynasty where women’s feet were bound to be smaller, often to signify elite status.

Tributary Relationship

A system maintained by Korea with China, adopting various cultural aspects, including Confucian principles.

Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism emphasizing compassion and available to all, contrasting with Theravada which is restricted to monks.

Champa Rice

A drought-resistant and high-yield crop introduced during the Song Dynasty leading to significant agricultural output.

Pax Mongolica

Period of peace and stability across the Mongol Empire, facilitating trade and cultural exchange.

House of Wisdom

A research and educational center established in Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam, preserving classical knowledge.

Zamindar System

A Mughal system where local landowners collected taxes, used to manage the Muslim rule in a primarily Hindu region.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice against Jews, often leading to marginalization and persecution throughout European societies.

Feudalism

A decentralized system of governance in Europe where land was exchanged for loyalty and service.

Manorialism

An economic system in the Middle Ages where peasants worked the land in exchange for protection from lords.

Silk Roads

A network of trade routes facilitating exchange and cultural diffusion across Eurasia.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief system emphasizing personal experience of the divine, contributing to the spread of Islam.

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

Trade routes connecting North Africa to sub-Saharan Africa, facilitating the exchange of goods like gold and salt.

Chattel Slavery

A system where individuals are treated as property who can be bought and sold, becoming hereditary.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the importance of accumulating wealth through a favorable balance of trade.

Casta System

A hierarchical structure in colonial Spain's Americas based on race and heredity.