APWH Unit 1 Part 2 Vocab (Americas, Africa, Europe)

Mesoamerica-

a pre-Columbian cultural and geographic region spanning modern-day Mexico and Central America, known for independent development of complex civilizations like the Maya and Aztec

Mississippian culture-

the first large-scale, complex civilization in North America, flourishing from roughly 700-1500 CE in the Mississippi River Valley and extending across the present-day Eastern and Midwestern United States

matrilineal society-

a culture where lineage, kinship, and often inheritance are traced through the mother's side of the family rather than the father's

Mayans-

a prominent Mesoamerican civilization that flourished from the Classical Period (c. 250-900 CE) until the Spanish conquest, known for their hieroglyphic writing system, advanced mathematics, astronomical observations, pyramid construction, and a decentralized political structure of warring city-states that collected tribute from conquered neighbors

City-state-

a sovereign political entity consisting of a single, independent city and its surrounding rural territory, which acts as the center of political, economic, and cultural life. These entities are characterized by their own governments, economies, and cultural identities, functioning as self-contained states

human sacrifices-

the ritualistic killing of a human for religious, political, or cultural reasons, such as appeasing deities, ensuring the ruler's continued service in the afterlife, or asserting power over subjects and enemies

Aztec Empire-

aka the Mexica Empire, was a powerful 14th to 16th-century civilization in Mesoamerica centered on the capital city of Tenochtitlán. Formed by the Triple Alliance of city-states in 1428, it expanded through military conquest, controlling conquered peoples via a tribute system

Chinampas-

an agricultural technique of creating small, rectangular, artificial islands on lake beds in Mesoamerica, particularly by the Aztecs, by layering mud and vegetation on a framework of poles and canals. These highly fertile "floating gardens" allowed for intensive, year-round cultivation of crops like maize and squash, supporting large urban populations

theocracy-

a system of government where religious leaders or institutions hold political power, and the legal system is based on religious law

Incan Empire-

the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, centered in the Andes region of South America and spanning from modern-day Colombia to Chile by the early 16th century. This land-based empire, known as Tawantinsuyu, was characterized by a centralized government led by a king, a mandatory public service labor system called the mit'a, extensive terrace farming and road networks, the use of quipu for record-keeping, and a polytheistic religion centered on the worship of ancestors and the sun god Inti

mit’a system-

a compulsory, rotational labor draft system first used by the Inca Empire to extract labor for public works and agriculture

Animism-

the belief that non-human entities, such as animals, plants, rocks, and natural phenomena, possess a spiritual essence or a soul

Carpa Nan-

the vast and sophisticated road system of the Inca Empire. Spanning thousands of miles across the Andes, it served as a crucial infrastructure for the government and military, facilitating administration, communication, and troop movement throughout the empire

kin-based networks-

communities organized around the principles of kinship, where family, blood relations, marriage, and adoption form the basis of social structure, governance, and resource distribution. These networks were self-governing, often led by a male "chief"

trans-Saharan trade-

the ancient network of overland trade routes across the Sahara Desert, connecting North Africa with West Africa, which flourished significantly from the 12th to the 15th centuries. Key factors driving this trade included the use of the Arabian camel for transportation, resulting in caravans carrying valuable goods

Ghana-

a medieval West African trading empire that flourished between the 7th and 13th centuries, famous for its control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade and its location between the Sahara Desert and the Niger River

Mali-

a large, wealthy, and culturally significant empire in West Africa that flourished from the 13th to the 16th centuries, founded by Sundiata Keita and reaching its peak under Mansa Musa. It controlled key trans-Saharan trade routes, especially for gold, which built its immense wealth and allowed it to promote the spread of Islam and develop educational centers like Timbuktu.

Zimbabwe-

the powerful, medieval Kingdom of Zimbabwe (c. 1250–1450 CE), centered at the ruins of its capital, Great Zimbabwe, known for its impressive dry-stone architecture. The kingdom prospered due to its control of rich gold fields and taxation, integrating it into the extensive Indian Ocean trade network by exporting gold and ivory to East African Swahili city-states

Great Zimbabwe-

the ruined capital city of a wealthy kingdom in Southern Africa, built by the Shona people between the 11th and 15th centuries CE. The term also refers to the kingdom that flourished around the city, which encompassed a vast territory and was a powerful economic and political force in the region

Ethiopia-

the East African nation, historically centered on the ancient kingdom of Aksum, and later the Ethiopian Empire. It's known for its unique history of enduring Christian faith and culture, its ability to resist European colonization (by defeating Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896), and its significant role in Pan-Africanism (through hosting the headquarters for the Organization of African Unity)

Indian Ocean slave trade-

the long-standing system of capturing and transporting enslaved people from sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, and South Asia across the Indian Ocean to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia, providing labor for various sectors like domestic service, agriculture, and military work. Unlike the Atlantic slave trade, which focused on male agricultural labor, the Indian Ocean trade frequently involved female domestic and military slaves

ancestor veneration-

the practice of showing reverence for deceased ancestors, who are believed to have a continued existence and the ability to influence the lives of the living

Griot-

West African oral historian, storyteller, musician, and poet who preserves and transmits a community's history, genealogies, and cultural traditions through music and narrative. These hereditary figures, often respected members of society, acted as living archives and newspapers, offering social commentary, gossip, advice, and information on current events

Roman Catholic Church-

the Western branch of Christianity, centered in Rome and led by the Pope

Feudalism-

a political and social system from medieval Europe that structured society around land ownership and loyalty. In this system, lords granted land (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for military service, loyalty, and other obligations. At the bottom of this social hierarchy were serfs

Serf-

an unfree peasant laborer during the Middle Ages who was bound to the land of a feudal lord, providing labor and produce in exchange for protection and the right to farm a small plot for their own sustenance. Serfs had limited rights

three-field system-

an agricultural rotation system used in medieval Europe that involved dividing farmland into three parts: one planted with winter crops (like wheat or rye), one with spring crops (like peas, beans, and oats), and the third left fallow to restore nutrients. This system increased food production and reduced the risk of famine

Holy Roman Empire-

a decentralized, multi-ethnic (primarily German and Italian) polity in Central and Western Europe that existed from the 9th or 10th century until its dissolution in 1806, ruled by an emperor who was elected and crowned by the Pope

William the Conqueror-

primarily defined by the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, where he, as Duke of Normandy, successfully invaded England, defeated the Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings, and became King of England. His reign brought about significant changes to English politics, administration, and society, establishing a powerful Anglo-Norman kingdom and ensuring lasting ties between England and Normandy

Magna Carta-

a charter signed by King John of England under duress from rebellious barons, establishing principles of liberty and limiting the king's absolute power by asserting that the king is subject to the law, not above it

Hundred Years’ War-

a long series of conflicts between England and France over control of the French crown. Despite its name, the war actually lasted for 116 years

Reconquista-

the centuries-long period (roughly 718 to 1492) during which Christian kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal) waged military campaigns to drive out Muslim rulers and reclaim their territories from Muslim (or Moorish) control, culminating in 1492 with the fall of the last Muslim stronghold, Granada

Great Schism-

the East-West Schism of 1054, a formal split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church resulting from centuries of theological and political disagreements, including the Pope's claim to universal authority, the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist, and the Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed

vernacular languages-

the native language or dialect commonly spoken by ordinary people in a specific region or community, contrasting with formal, official, or literary languages

The Crusades-

a series of medieval Christian religious wars, primarily initiated by the Catholic Church from the late 11th to the 13th centuries, to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim rule, although they also expanded to include campaigns against other groups

Marco Polo-

a Venetian merchant and explorer whose extended travels through Asia in the late 13th century, especially his time in China under Kublai Khan, led him to write The Travels of Marco Polo

Bourgeoisie-

the middle class, particularly the capitalist class that owns the means of production (factories, land, capital) and exploits the labor of the proletariat (working class) to accumulate wealth

Black Death-

a devastating global pandemic (primarily bubonic plague) that swept across Eurasia and North Africa in the mid-14th century, from roughly 1347 to 1352. It caused the death of an estimated 75-200 million people

Little Ice Age-

a significant and prolonged period of cooler temperatures and climatic instability, roughly from the 14th to the 19th centuries, particularly affecting the Northern Hemisphere, though not a true global ice age

anti semitism-

hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews as a religious or ethnic group

The Renaissance-

a cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement in Europe, beginning in Italy around 1350 and spreading later, marking a "rebirth" of classical Greek and Roman ideas and a shift towards humanism, secularism, and individualism

Gutenberg-

Johannes Gutenberg, the German inventor of the European mechanized printing press with movable type in the 15th century

Humanism-

an intellectual movement from the Renaissance focused on the study of classical antiquity (Greek and Roman texts) to understand human potential, achievements, and human nature, emphasizing a balance of reflection and action in developing human virtue, rather than religious dogma

Kievan Rus-

a powerful, early East Slavic state centered in Kiev from the late 9th to the mid-13th century that served as a cultural and political hub linking Scandinavia and Byzantium through a vital river trade network

Ivan the Great-

refers to Ivan III Vasilyevich (reigned 1462–1505), the Grand Prince of Muscovy who laid the groundwork for a centralized Russian state by ending Tatar dominance, expanding the state's territory through conquest and purchase, and implementing a new legal code

Ibn Battuta-

Moroccan scholar, traveler, and writer who undertook extensive journeys across the Islamic world and beyond from 1325 to 1354, documenting his experiences in his famous work, The Rihla

Middle Ages-

the roughly thousand-year era of European history from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (c. 476 CE) to the beginning of the Renaissance (c. 1500 CE). Key characteristics of this period include the rise of feudalism and manorialism, the spread of Christianity across Europe, the development of Gothic architecture and new universities, and significant events like the Crusades and the Black Death