APWH Unit 1 Study Terms

Study terms from unit 1 of the textbook

Battle of Manzikert

A decisive clash in which the Turks defeated the Byzantine empire, leading to the empire’s weakening and Anatolia and paving away for Turkish expansion in the region in 1071.

Capetian

A French royal dynasty that ruled from 987 to 1328 establishing the foundations of the modern French state through a line of monarchs beginning with Hugh Capet.

Frederick Barbarossa

The holy Roman Emperor from 1155 to 1190, known for his ambitious attempts to consolidate imperial power in Germany and Italy and for his involvement in the third Crusade.

Holy Roman Empire

A multi ethnic complex of territories essential Europe, existing from 800 (or 962) to 1806, with a decentralized structure of states under an elected emperor, aiming to revive the Roman Empire’s legacy under Christian leadership.

Investiture Contest

A conflict between the prophecy and the holy Roman emperor over who held the authority to appoint church officials, ultimately leading to a shifted power toward the prophecy in the separation of church and secular governance in Europe from 1076 to 1122.

Marco Polo

A Venetian explorer in merchant whose travels to Asia, documented in “The Travels of Marco Polo” provided Europeans with one of the first comprehensive accounts of the cultures, economies, and geography of the Far East, especially China, in the late 13th century.

Otto I

The holy Roman emperor from 962 to 973, known for consolidating the German kingdoms and strengthening the empire through his military successes and alliance with the Catholic Church, which laid the foundation for the holy Roman Empire.

William the Conqueror

Duke of Normandy, who after winning the battle of Hastings in 1066 became the first norman King of England, profoundly shaping English culture, language, and governance.

Theme system

A Byzantine military and administrative structure where land was granted to soldiers in return for military service, helping to defend the empire and decentralize governance.

Chivalry

A medieval European code of conduct for knights and rulers, emphasizing bravery, honor, loyalty, and protection of the weak and the Christian faith.

Bogomils

A religious sect in medieval Eastern Europe that combined elements of Christianity and dualistic beliefs, rejecting the authority of the Orthodox Church and advocating for a simple, ascetic lifestyle.

Cathars

A Christian dualistic sect in southern France that rejected the Catholic Church’s authority and promoted a strict, ascetic lifestyle.

Cathedral schools

Medieval educational institutions attached to cathedrals, where clergy and eventually lay students were trained in religious and secular subjects, laying the groundwork for European universities.

Crusades

A series of military campaigns from the 11th to 13th centuries, initiated by European Christians to reclaim Jerusalem and other holy sites from Muslim control.

Dominicans

A Catholic monastic order founded by Saint Dominic in the 13th century, focused on preaching, combating heresy, and promoting education.

Eleanor of Aquitaine

A powerful and influential queen of France and later England, known for her political acumen, support of the arts, and role in the Second Crusade.

Franciscans

A Catholic monastic order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi, emphasizing poverty, humility, and service to the poor.

Guilds

Associations of artisans or merchants in medieval Europeans towns that regulated trade, set standards for quality, and protected the economic interests of their members.

Hanseatic League

A powerful commercial and defensive alliance of Northern European cities, primarily German, that dominated Baltic and North Sea trade from the 13th to 17th centuries.

Aboriginal peoples

Indigenous communities native to a region, particularly in Australia, with distinct cultures and traditions predating colonization.

Ali’i Nui

The high-ranking Hawaiian chiefs or nobility who held political and spiritual power in ancient Hawaiian society.

Ayllu

A traditional form of community organization among Andean societies, where groups shared land, labor, and resources.

Aztec Empire

A powerful Mesoamerican civilization in central Mexico, known for its vast territory, complex society, and monumental architecture until the Spanish conquest.

Cahokia

A major pre-Columbian Native American city near present day St. Louis, known for its large earthen mounds and complex social structure.

Calpulli

A social unit in Aztec society, often based on kinship, responsible for local governance, land management, and religious duties.

Chinampa

A type of agricultural system used by the Aztecs, consisting of small, fertile, man-made islands in shallow lake beds for crop cultivation.

Chimu

A powerful Andean civilization that flourished on the northern coast of Peru before being conquered by the Inca.

Chucuito

A pre-Inca kingdom in the Andean highlands near Lake Titicaca, known for its agricultural and llama-herding economy.

Cuzco

The capital city of the Inca Empire, located in modern day Peru, and regarded as the empire’s political and religious center.

Huitzilopochtil

The Aztec god of war and the sun, central to Aztec mythology and worship, and believed to lead them to established Tenochtitlan.

Inca Empire

A vast South American empire based in the Andes, known for its sophisticated administration, road systems, and cultural achievements before Spanish conquest.

Inti

The sun god worshipped by the Inca, regarded as their supreme deity and symbol of authority and prosperity.

Iroquois

A powerful confederation of indigenous tribes in northeastern North America, known for its complex political system and long house societies.

Itzcoatl

The fourth Axtec ruler, who expanded the empire significantly and established the foundation of Aztec dominance in the Valley of Mexico.

Kapu

The traditional Hawaiian system of laws and taboos that governed social conduct and maintained order, especially among nobility.

Maori

The indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, with a rich culture known for its oral traditions, warrior society, and navigation expertise.

Marae

A square or similar open area before a Maori tribal or family meetinghouse used for formal reception of guests or other formal functions.

Mexica

A Nahuatl-speaking people of the Valley of Mexico who were rulers of the Triple Alliance, more commonly referred to as the Aztec Empire.

Motecuzoma I

Reigned from 1440 to 1469, was the fifth ruler of Tenochtitlan and is known for expanding the Aztec Empire through military conquests, infrastructure development, and cultural advancement.

Nan Madol

An ancient city built on a series of artificial islets off the coast of Pohnpei in Micronesia, known for its impressive stone architecture and as the ceremonial and political center of the Saudeleur dynasty from around the 12th to 16th centuries.

Navajo

A Native American people primarily residing in the Southwestern United States, known for their rich cultural heritage, distinct language, traditional crafts, and significant historical resilience, particularly highlighted by their forced relocation in the 19th century and the celebrated Navajo Code Talkers of World War II.

Polynesians

An indigenous people of the Pacific Islands, known for its impressive seafaring skills, navigation, and spread of distinct cultural traditions across islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island.

Pueblo

Native American peoples from the Southwestern United States, known for their adobe and stone dwellings, agricultural practices, and rich traditions in pottery and weaving.

Quechua

Indigenous people of the Andes, primarily in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, and are known for their language, Quechua, and for being a significant part of the Inca Empire.

Quetzalcoatl

A Mesoamerican deity represented as the “feathered serpent”, associated with wisdom, creation, and the wind, and worshipped by various cultures, including the Aztecs and Toltecs.

Quipu

An ancient Andean system of knotted cords used by the Incas for record-keeping and communication, encoding information through various colors and knots.

Tenochtitlan

The capital of the Aztec Empire, founded on an island in Lake Texcoco, which became a powerful cultural and economic center until the Spanish conquest in 1521.

Teotihuacan

An ancient Mesoamerican city known for its monumental pyramids and complex urban planning, flourishing as a major cultural center in central Mexico from around 100 BCE to 550 CE.

Tezcatlipoca

An Aztec god associated with the night, magic, and chaos, often depicted as a powerful and enigmatic figure in Aztec mythology and rival to Quetzalcoatl.

Toltecs

A Mesoamerican culture known for their influence on later civilizations, particularly the Aztecs, and for their capital, Tula, which was an important cultural and trade center from the 9th to 12th centuries.

Tula

The capital of the Toltec civilization in central Mexico, known for its impressive architecture, including large stone warrior statues and temples.

Viracocha

The creator God in Andean mythology, particularly in Inca culture, credited with forming the universe, earth, and the first humans.

Iconoclasm

The rejection or destruction of religious images or icons, often for doctrinal reasons, especially during the Byzantine Empire.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor (527-656 CE) known for codifying Roman law and attempting to restore the Roman Empire’s former territories.

Louis the Pious

The son of Charlemagne, who ruled as Holy Roman Emperor from 814 to 840, known for his efforts to maintain the unity of the empire.

Magyars

A nomadic people from Central Asia who settled in modern-day Hungary around the 9th century, frequently raiding Europe in the 10th century.

Missionaries

Individuals sent to spread their religious beliefs, often to foreign lands or among non-believers.

St. Basil

A 4th century Christian bishop who founded monastic traditions in the Eastern Orthodox Church and formulated the “Rule of St. Basil”.

St. Benedict

A 6th century Christian monk who established the Benedictine monastic order and wrote the “Rule of St. Benedict” that guided Western Monasticism.

Theme system

A Byzantine military and administrative system that decided the empire into provinces (themes) governed by military commanders responsible for defense and administration.

St. Scholastica

The twin sister of St. Benedict, traditionally recognized as the founder of female monastic communities in Western Christianity.

Theodora

Empress of the Byzantine Empire and wife of Emperor Justinian, influential in politics and social reforms, especially women’s rights.

Vikings

Scandinavian seafarers and warriors who raided, traded, and explored across Europe from the 8th to 11th centuries.

Hagia Sofia

A monumental cathedral built in Constantinopole under Emperor Justinian I, later converted into a Mosque, renowned for its massive dome and architectural grandeur.

Missi Dominici

Royal agents sent by Charlemagne to oversee local administration and ensure the enforcement of his laws across his empire.

Monasticism

A religious way of life in which individuals renounce worldly pursuits to dedicate themselves to spiritual practices, often in secluded communities.

Odoacer

A Germanic chieftain who deposed the last Roman emperor in the West in 574 CE, marking the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire.

Patriarchs

The highest-ranking bishops in early Christianity, especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church, overseeing major Christian centers like Constantinople, and Alexandria.

Pope Gregory I

A 6th century pope, also known as Gregory the Great, who reformed the Church, strengthened the papacy, and promoted missionary work across Europe.

1054 Schism

The formal split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, often referred to as the Great Schism, due to doctrinal and political disputes.

Abbasid Dynasty

A dynasty that ruled the Islamic Caliphate from 750 to 1258 CE, known for its golden age of cultural, scientific, and economic prosperity.

Chinggis Khan

The founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, who united the Mongol tribes and initiated a vast expansion across Eurasia in the early 13th century.

Ghaznavid Turks

A dynasty of Turkish origin that ruled parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Northern India, known for promoting Islam and initiating conquests in the region during the 10th to 12th centuries.

Ilkhanate of Persia

A Mongol state established in Persia in the 13th century, part of the Mongol Empire, which blended Mongol rule with Persian culture.

Jurchen

A Tungusic people from Manchuria who established the Jin dynasty and ruled Northern China before being conquered by the Mongols.

Karakorum

The capital city of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and his successors, located in present-day Mongolia.

Khan

A title given to Mongol and Turkic rulers, signifying supreme leadership.

Khanate of Chaghatai

A division of the Mongol Empire that ruled over Central Asia, named after Chaghatai, the second son of Genghis Khan.

Khanbaliq

The capital of the Yuan dynasty in China, established by Khubilai Khan, later known as Beijing.

Khans of the Golden Horde

The rulers of the Golden Horde, a Mongol khanate that controlled much of Russia and Eastern Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Khubilai Khan

The Mongol ruler who founded the Yuan dynasty in China and expanded the Mongol Empire into East Asia.

Khwarazm Shah

The title of the rulers of the Khwarazm Empire, a Persianate dynasty in Central Asia, famously defeated by Genghis Khan.

Kumiss

A traditional fermented dairy drink made from mare’s milk, commonly consumed by the nomadic Central Asia peoples.

Manichaeism

A dualistic religion founded by the prophet Mani in the 3rd century, combining elements of Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Buddhism.

Mongols

A nomadic group from Central Asia that created the largest contiguous empire in history under Genghis Khan in the 13th century.

Osman

The founder of the Ottoman Empire in the late 13th century, whose descendants would go on to establish a vast empire.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful Turkish empire that controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century.

Safavid

A Persian dynasty that established Shia Islam as the state religion and ruled over Iran from the early 16th to the 18th century.

Seljuk Turks

A medieval Turkish dynasty that played a major role in the Islamic world, conquering large parts of the Middle East and fighting in the Crusades.

Shamans

Religious figures in various traditional societies who communicated with the spirit world and perform rituals for healing and guidance.

Sultan

A Muslim ruler, particularly in the context of the medieval Islamic world, holding both political and military authority.

Sultanate of Delhi

A series of Muslim dynasties that ruled Northern India from 1206-1526, establishing Islamic rule in the region.

Tamerlane

A 14th century Central Asian conqueror who sought to rebuild the Mongol Empire, establishing a vast empire stretching from Persia to India.

Temüjin

The birth name of Genghis Khan, who later united the Mongol tribes and became one of the greatest conquerors in history.

Uighurs

A Turkic ethnic group from Central Asia, historically significant as both allies of the Tang dynasty and alter as part of the Mongol Empire.

Yuan Dynasty

The Mongol dynasty established by Khubilai Khan, which ruled over China from 1271-1368.

Yurts

Portable, circular tents made of felt and wood used by the nomadic peoples of Central Asia.

Age Grades

Social categories in many African societies, where individuals of a similar age are grouped together and pass through life states collectively.

Axum

An ancient kingdom located in present day Ethiopia, known for its early adoption of Christianity and extensive trade networks.

Bantu

A large group of ethnolinguistic peoples who migrated across sub-Saharan Africa, spreading agriculture, language, and ironworking.