AP World History In-Depth Review: Units 1.1–1.3 (East Asia, Dar al-Islam, South & Southeast Asia)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Units 1.1–1.3 (East Asia, Dar al-Islam, and South & Southeast Asia) with emphasis on political, economic, social, cultural, and technological developments.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960–1279) known for a centralized bureaucracy, merit-based exams, economic growth, and tech advances (paper money, printing, gunpowder, compass) along with Champa rice fueling urbanization and Neo-Confucian culture.

Civil service examinations

Merit-based exams used to recruit officials for the imperial bureaucracy, enabling meritocracy but increasing the cost of governance.

Champa rice

A fast-ripening rice from Vietnam that expanded food supply, supporting urban growth in Song China.

Foot binding

Practice that reinforced patriarchy by restricting women’s mobility and signaling social status in Chinese society.

Neo-Confucianism

Philosophical synthesis of Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist ideas during the Song era that shaped education and social order.

Chan (Zen) Buddhism

A form of Buddhism emphasizing meditation; spread in East Asia and interacted with Confucian and Daoist ideas.

Silk Road

Overland trade network linking East Asia with the Middle East and beyond, facilitating long-distance exchange of goods and ideas.

Maritime trade

Sea-based commerce across the Indian Ocean and other maritime routes, complementing the Silk Roads.

Paper money

Government-issued currency used to facilitate large-scale commerce in Song China.

Gunpowder

Military technology that produced new weapons and influenced warfare and state power.

Compass

Magnetic navigational instrument that enabled long-distance sea travel and expanded maritime trade.

House of Wisdom

Baghdad center for translating Greek, Persian, and Indian works and advancing mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim-ruled sultanate in northern India (ca. 1206–1526) that facilitated Islam’s spread and regional trade.

Mamluk Sultanate

Islamic state in Egypt and Syria known for controlling Red Sea trade routes and resisting Mongol influence.

Banking and bills of exchange

Financial innovations (credit, banking, bills of exchange) that stabilized and expanded Afro-Eurasian trade.

Cotton, citrus, and sugarcane diffusion

Spread of these crops across Afro-Eurasia, boosting economies and agricultural productivity.

Sufism

Islamic mysticism that aided conversion and contributed to the spread of Islam through local practices and networks.

Abbasid Caliphate

Earlier Abbasid state centered in Baghdad; weakened by Mongol invasions and internal strife, yet Islam remained a unifying cultural force.

Mongol invasions

Mongol conquests that disrupted existing states but linked vast parts of Eurasia, boosting trade and cultural exchange.

Angkor Wat

Cambodian temple complex illustrating Hindu–Buddhist syncretism and the use of religion to legitimize rule.

Srivijaya

SE Asian maritime kingdom controlling crucial chokepoints in the Strait of Malacca and regional trade.

Majapahit

Javanese maritime empire that dominated Southeast Asian trade and politics in its era.

Vijayanagara Empire

South Indian Hindu realm that consolidated power in the Deccan and resisted expansion into the region.

Chola Dynasty

South Indian dynasty noted for naval power and long-distance Indian Ocean trade connections.

Navigational knowledge

Understanding of astronomy, stars, and routes that enabled safe, long-distance sea travel.

Shipbuilding advancements

Technological improvements in ships and seafaring that facilitated increased maritime commerce.