AP History Final Exam Terms

132 Terms

Temujin/Genghis Khan

The birth name of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire

Safavid Empire

Shi’a Muslim empire in Persia known for cultural blending and military strength

Chaco Phenomenon

Complex society in the American Southwest with roads, trade, and large buildings from 850 to 1250 CE, known for its Puebloan culture and elaborate kivas.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan; founded the Yuan Dynasty in China

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Mongol-rules region in Russia

Black Death

A devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the 14th century, leading to significant population loss and social upheaval.

Yuan Dynsatsy

Mongol-led dynasty in China established by Kubilai Khan

Srivijaya

Southeast Asian kingdom that controlled key trade routes

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that restored native rule after Mongol rule

Timbuktu

Major center of trade and Islamic learning in West Africa

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful African kingdom know for stone structures and trade

Angkor Wat

Large Hindu temple complex in Cambodia

Zheng He

Chinese admiral who led major naval expeditions under the Ming Dynasty

Swahili Civilaztion

Coastal East African culture based on trade and Islam

Ghana

Early West African culture based on trade and Islam

American Web

A term describing the network of trade routes connecting the indigenous cultures of North America, Mesoamerica, and South America.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for economic growth and technological innovation

al-Andalus

Muslim-rules region of Spain known for cultural exchange

Inca Empire

Powerful Andean empire with road systems and a central government that dominated western South America from the 15th to 16th century.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman empire centered in Constantinople

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican empire known for human sacrifice and military power

Western Christendom

Western European Christian civilization after the fall of Rome

Seljuk Turks

Muslim nomadic warriors who conquered parts of the Byzantine Empire and established a powerful state in the Middle East during the medieval period

Maya Civilization

Mesoamerican civilization known for writing, math, and astronomy

Caesaropapism

Political-religious system where the ruler is also head of the church

Roman Catholic Church

Western branch of Christianity led by the Pope, with a rich tradition of rituals, sacraments, and a hierarchical structure.

Ottoman Empire

Powerful Muslim empire that lasted from the 1300s to early 1900s known for its vast territorial expanse, diverse cultures, and significant influence in Europe and the Middle East.

Crusades

Series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims

Bushido

Code of honor and morals developed by Japanese samurai

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztecs

Settler colonies

colonies where people moved to permanently settle (ex: North America)

The Great Dying

Massive population loss of Indigenous Americans due to disease

Little Ice Age

a period of cooler temperatures that lasted from the 14th to the 19th century, impacting agriculture and societies in the Northern Hemisphere.

Yasak

Tribute demanded by the Russian Empire from conquered peoples, especially furs

Devshirme

Ottoman practice of recruiting Christian boys for military/government service

Quing Expansion

Territorial growth of the Chinese Quing Dynasty

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between Old and New Worlds that occurred after Columbus's voyages.

Mughal Empire

Muslim empire in India know for tolerance and architecture

Mercantilism

Economic policy where colonies exist to benefit the mother country

Akbar

Tolerant ruler of the Mughal Empire: encouraged cooperation between Hindus and Muslims

Mesitzo

A person of mixed European and Indigenous American descent, often associated with the social hierarchy in colonial Latin America

Potosi

a major silver mining city in colonial Bolivia, important for its wealth and economic impact on Spain

Maroon Societies

Communities of escaped slaves in the Americas

Pieces of Eight

Spanish silver coins that became widely circulated in international trade during the colonial period

African Diaspora

Forced spread of Africns across the world through slavery

“Silver Drain”

flow of silver from the Americans to Asia, especially in China and its impact on global trade patterns and economies

Transatlantic Slave Trade

Forced transport of Africans to the Americas for labor on plantations and in mines, drastically affecting populations and economies

Dutch East India Company

Dutch joint-stock company involved in trade and colonization

“Soft Gold’

Term for valuable animals furs traded in early modern world that significantly boosted economies and fueled exploration.

British East India Company

A British joint-stock company established for trade in the East Indies, instrumental in establishing British colonial rule in India and various trade routes

Fur Trade

Global trade of animal pelts, especially beaver, which was vital to European economies. Traded especially in North America and Sibieria

Protestant Reformation

religious movement challenging Catholic Church practices

Martin Luther SA

German monk who began the Protestant Reformation

Sikhism

a monotheistic religion founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region of India, emphasizing equality, service, and devotion to one God. Blending Hindu and Muslim beliefs

Thirty Years’ War

Conflict involving major European powers from 1618 to 1648, primarily fought in central Europe, and rooted in religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants.

Copernicus

Polish astronomer who proposed heliocentric theory, suggesting that the Sun is at the center of the universe and that the Earth revolves around it.

Newton

Scientist who formulated the laws of motion and gravity

Voltaire

Enlightenment thinker who promoted freedom of speech and religion

Wahhabi Islam

Conservative reform movement within Islam that seeks to return to a strict interpretation of Islamic teachings and practices.

Enlightment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, liberty, and progress

Jesuits

Catholic missionary group; spread Catholicism worldwide

Galileo

Astronomer who supported heliocentrism; challenged church authority

Industrial Revolution

shift from hand production to machines; increased output and urbanalization

Capitalism

economic system based on private ownership and profit

Communism

System aiming to eliminate class differences through common ownership of the means of production and establishment of a classless society.

Socialism

economic system with social ownership and welfare programs that seeks to reduce inequality and provide basic needs for all citizens.

opium wars

Conflicts in the mid-19th century between China and Western powers, primarily Britain, over trade and diplomatic relations, primarily concerning the opium trade.

Meiji Restoration

Period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan, beginning in 1868, that transformed the country into a major world power.

Tanzimat Reforms

A series of governmental reforms in the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century aimed at modernization, increasing central control, and improving relations with European powers.

Nationalism

Belief in unity and superiority of a people based on shared identity and cultural heritage, often leading to the desire for self-governance or independence.

Imperialism

Domination of one country by another through political, economic, or military means

Scramble for Africa

European colonization of Africa during the late 1800s that resulted in the rapid partitioning of the continent among European powers, often disregarding existing cultural and political boundaries.

Indian Rebellion of 1857

Revolt against British rule in India, also called Sepoy Rebellion and marked a significant, although ultimately unsuccessful, uprising against British colonial authority.

Boxer Rebellion

Chinese uprising against foreign influence in the late 19th century, aimed at ending foreign imperialism and missionary activity.

Taiping Uprising

Massive Chinese rebellion against Qing Dynasty led by Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, which lasted from 1850 to 1864, aimed to establish a new dynasty and radically reform Chinese society.

Suffrage Movement

Campaign to win voting rights for women

Social Darwinism

Misuse of Darwin’s ideas to justify imperialism and racism, arguing that stronger nations had the right to dominate weaker ones.

Marxism

Theory by Karl Marx about class struggle and revolution advocating for the working class to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a classless society.

Steam Engine

Key invention of the Industrial Revolution that powered machines and transport, made by James Watt and others.

Urbanization

Growth of cities due to industrial jobs and migration of people from rural areas.

Labor Unions

Worker organizations fighting for better wages and conditions through collective bargaining and strikes.

Abolition Movement

Campaign to end slavery in the United States and promote equal rights for African Americans.

Creole Elites

American-born Europeans who led independence movements in Latin America and promoted political and social reforms.

Simon Bolivar

Leader of Latin American independence from Spain who played a key role in liberating several countries, including Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, often called "The Liberator."

Haitian Revolution

Successful slave revolts led to independence from France and the establishment of Haiti as the first black-led republic in 1804.

American Revolution

Rebellion of colonies leading to U.S independence and the establishment of the United States, marked by key events such as the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

French Revolution

Overthrow of monarchy and rise of republican ideals in France that began in 1789, leading to radical social and political change, including the Reign of Terror.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

French revolutionary document promoting equality and individual rights for all citizens, asserting civil liberties and the principle of popular sovereignty.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French military leader who spread revolutionary ideas through conquest and established the First French Empire, ultimately becoming Emperor of the French.

Congress of Vienna

Meeting to restore balance after Napoleon’s defeat and establish a framework for European stability, involving major powers to negotiate territorial changes and alliances.

Muhammad Ali (Egypt)

Modernized Egypt in the 19th century by implementing reforms in the military, economy, and education, and is often referred to as the founder of modern Egypt.

Banana Republics

Central American countries dominated by U.S. fruit companies that relied on banana exports and often supported by U.S. intervention, leading to political instability and economic dependence.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility or prejudice against Jews that has manifested in discrimination, violence, and scapegoating throughout history.

Apartheid

South African policy of racial segregation and discrimination that enforced racial separation in all aspects of life, institutionalizing inequality for non-white citizens from 1948 until the early 1990s.

Appeasement

Anglo-French policy to avoid WWII by conceding to Hitler and the Axis powers, believing that satisfying their demands would maintain peace in Europe.

Arab Spring

Series of uprisings across the Middle East starting in 2010 against authoritarian regimes, demanding political reform and greater freedoms.

Authoritarianism

strong central government with limited political freedoms and little to no personal liberties, often characterized by oppressive rule and lack of democratic processes.

Climate change

ongoing alteration in global climate patterns primarily due to human activities, especially greenhouse gas emissions, leading to consequences such as global warming and extreme weather.

Cold War

Political rivalry between U.S. and USSR after WWII marked by military tension, proxy wars, and ideological conflict until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Collectivization

soviet policy consolidating individual farms into state-run enterprises to increase agricultural productivity and control production.