AP World History Unit 3 Vocab

Unit 3 Vocab

Moscow

the capital city of Russia and a major political, economic, and cultural center in the country

Yasak

a Turkic word for "tribute" that the Russian Empire demanded from the indigenous peoples of Siberia, often paid in furs

Boyars

Russia's hereditary aristocratic landowners who held significant political and social power as advisors to the Tsar and commanders of the military

Russification

the Tsarist and Soviet policy of imposing Russian language and culture on the diverse ethnic groups within the empire, primarily for political and cultural assimilation

Soft gold

refers to animal furs, particularly those from beavers, that were highly valued in the early modern period for their warmth and use as a symbol of elite status

St. Petersburg

a symbol of Peter the Great's modernization and westernization of Russia

Winter Palace

official residence of Russian tsars until 1917, a symbol of imperial power, and the site of pivotal events like "Bloody Sunday" (1905) and the October Revolution of 1917,

Siberia

a key region related to Russian expansion, natural resources, and labor systems

Peter the Great

led Russia's transformation from an isolated state into a European-style empire through his aggressive "Westernization" policies.

Cossacks

a group of semi-nomadic East Slavic people known for their military prowess, fierce independence, and crucial role in the expansion of the Russian Empire

Nanjing

the capital of Jiangsu province in China and was the site of the Nanjing Massacre

Zhu Yuanzhang [Hongwu]

founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368 after leading a rebellion to overthrow the Mongol Yuan Dynasty

Yongle

Emperor (r. 1402–1424) of the Ming Dynasty is a key figure known for his ambitious building projects, including moving the capital to Beijing and starting the Forbidden City, and for sponsoring the massive naval expeditions of Zheng He

Beijing

relevant as the capital of various empires, including the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and as a center of significant historical events like the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests

Manchu

a northeastern Chinese ethnic group who established the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), the final imperial dynasty of China

Treaty of Nerchinsk

the first treaty between Russia and Qing China, establishing a border and regulating trade

Court of Colonial Affairs

a government body that handled the affairs of these regions, including their administration, tribute, and border issues

Jesuits

significant for their role in the Catholic Counter-Reformation and their global missionary work

Forbidden City

a critical example of imperial power and Chinese dynastic history, serving as the ceremonial and political center of China for the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1420 to 1911

Emperor Kangxi

a highly capable Qing dynasty ruler known for expanding the empire's territory, consolidating Qing power, and promoting Confucianism and culture

Daimyo

powerful feudal lords in pre-modern Japan who controlled large territories and commanded samurai warriors

Samurai

military nobility of feudal Japan

Shogun

refers to the military dictator and de facto ruler of Japan for much of its history, from the 12th to the 19th century

Tokugawa Ieyasu

is a key figure for unifying Japan and establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled from 1603 to 1868. His policies, implemented during the Edo Period, brought over two centuries of peace and stability

Ronin

a masterless samurai from feudal Japan, a warrior who has lost their lord due to death, disgrace, or loss of favor

Kyoto

imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, most notably during the Heian Period (794–1185)

Edo

a time of peace, stability, and isolation in Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate

Manchuria

a historical region in Northeast China

Agra

it was the capital of the Mughal Empire under emperors like Babur, Akbar, and Shah Jahan

Zamindars

hereditary land-owning officials in the Mughal Empire responsible for collecting taxes from peasants and managing local areas

Sikhism

It is the world's fifth-largest religion, with over 25 million adherents globally.

Sati

the historical Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre

Delhi

most commonly refers to the Delhi Sultanate, a Muslim empire that ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent from the late 12th to the early 16th century

Taj Mahal

representing the peak of Mughal architecture and power, built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal

Shah Jahan

powerful Mughal emperor of India (r. 1628–1658) famous for presiding over the golden age of Mughal architecture.

Akbar the Great

key Mughal emperor known for his military expansion, administrative reforms, and particularly his policies of religious tolerance and cultural syncretism

Aurangzeb

key figure for AP World History, representing the expansion and later decline of the Mughal Empire under his rule from 1658 to 1707. He is known for expanding the empire to its greatest size but also for his stricter Islamic policies

Nur Jahan

powerful Empress of the Mughal Empire, known as the "Light of the World," who ruled alongside her husband, Emperor Jahangir, in what is now modern-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

Istanbul

a major city in Turkey that spans two continents, Asia and Europe, across the Bosphorus Strait

Turks

Central Asian nomadic pastoralists who migrated and established large empires, notably the Seljuk and Ottoman Empires

Sultan

the title of a ruler in various Islamic states, holding both political and religious authority, most notably in the Ottoman Empire, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Malacca Sultanate

Mehmet II

key figure for AP World History due to his conquest of Constantinople in 1453, which ended the Byzantine Empire and made the Ottoman Empire a major power.

Suleiman the Magnificent

the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1520 to 1566. He is known for expanding the empire to its peak

Janissary

an elite infantry corps of the Ottoman Empire, originally formed from Christian boys conscripted through the devshirme system, converted to Islam, and trained to serve the sultan

Devshirme

a system in the Ottoman Empire, relevant to AP World History, where Christian boys from the Balkans were conscripted, converted to Islam, and trained for military (Janissaries) or administrative roles

Millet system

an administrative framework used by the Ottoman Empire that granted religious communities autonomy to govern their internal affairs like personal law and education, led by their own religious leaders

Topkapi Palace

a key example of the consolidation of power by the Ottoman Empire, serving as the administrative and residential center for the sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries

Tax-farming

a historical system of revenue collection where a government outsourced the right to collect taxes to private individuals or groups

Isfahan

a key city representing the cultural and political peak of the Safavid Empire, particularly under Shah Abbas I

Shah

a title for the monarch of Iran, most prominently associated with the Safavid Empire and the Mughal Empire

Ismael I

the founder of the Safavid Empire (1501-1736) and a key figure in establishing Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion of Persia

Abbas I

fifth and most influential Safavid ruler of Persia (1588-1629). He is known for strengthening the Safavid Empire through military and administrative reforms, creating a standing army loyal to the Shah, and making his capital, Isfahan, a major cultural and economic hub.

Shi’ite Islam

a major branch of Islam that originated from a political and religious dispute over the succession of Prophet Muhammad, they believed that they should choose the caliph

Hidden Imam

a central figure in Twelver Shia Islam, believed to be the 12th and final infallible Imam who went into hiding in the 9th century and will reappear to bring justice to the world at the end of time

Sufism

Sufi missionaries played a significant role in spreading Islam to new regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia by blending local customs with Islamic teachings, and their emphasis on love and tolerance made Islam more appealing to diverse populations.

Persian (language)

refers to the historical empires of ancient Persia, their culture, and the influence of the Persian language (Farsi) on trade and literature

Grand Plaza

the capital of the Safavid Empire during its 17th-century peak

Shah Mosque

The Shah Mosque in Isfahan is a significant monument for AP World History because it exemplifies the peak of Safavid Empire architectural and cultural achievements under Shah Abbas I

Russian Empire

a significant land-based empire from the 1450-1750 and 1750-1900 periods

Ming/Qing dynasties

dynasties critical for AP World History as they represent periods of Chinese stability, expansion, and internal and external conflict

Tokugawa Shogunate

the last feudal Japanese military government, ruling from 1603 to 1868

Mughal Empire

a powerful land-based empire in South Asia from the early 16th to the mid-19th century

Ottoman Empire

a major land-based empire important for AP World History, known for its rise to power using gunpowder, the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 (renaming it Istanbul), and a sophisticated military and administration

Safavid Empire

a Shia Muslim "gunpowder empire" that dominated Persia and was a major rival to the Sunni Ottoman Empire

Expansion

the growth of empires and states through various methods like military conquest, colonization, and economic policies

Centralization

the process where power is concentrated in a single, central authority, shifting away from decentralized systems like feudalism

Legitimization

the process rulers use to make their authority seem rightful and valid to the public, often through religion, art, and architecture

Administration

refers to the systems and methods land-based empires used to govern their vast territories between 1450 and 1750