AP World History Unit 1 MKIs

Great Zimbabwe

Capital of a powerful kingdom in Southeast Africa, kingdom of Zimbabwe surrounded by large stone enclosures

Bhakti Movement

Medieval Indian religious development emphasizing intense personal god, offering a more egalitarian spiritual path than traditional Hinduism by challenging the caste system and including women

Khmer Empire

A powerful Hindu-Buddhist empire in mainland SE Asia, centered in modern day Cambodia

Sufism

mystical branch of Islam focused on achieving a personal, direct relationship with God through prayer, meditation, and self-purification

Vijayanagara Empire

Empire formed by the brother Harihara and Bukka from the Delhi Sultanate after they left Dar-al Islam. Brothers had converted to Islam for the sake of social mobility , hut they converted back once they;d left the region and formed their own kingdom

Seljuk Empire

1037-1194

A Turkic Sunni Muslim state that controlled large parts of the Middle East and Anatolia, acting as the sultanate under the figurehead of the Abbasid Caliphate

The Mamluk Sultanate

A medieval Islamic state(1250-1517) in Egypt, Syria, and the LEvant, ruled by a military caste of formerly enslaved soldiers, the Mamluks. They overthrew the Ayyubid Dynasty in 1250 and defeated the Mongol Empire.

The Grand Canal

The vast, ancient, and longest constructed waterway system in China, linking the Yellow and Yangtze rivers to transport grain and other goods from the fertile south to feed the N. Capital

Delhi Sultanate

A series of 5 short-lived Islamic Kingdoms that ruled over a large part of North India from Delhi(1206-1526 CE)

Champa Rice

a fast-ripening and drought resistant strain of rice originated in Vietnam. Allowed for stable food source and population growth in China

Confucianism

a philosophical and ethical system developed in ancient China by Confucius. It emphasizes social harmony, proper relationships, respect for elders & ancestors, and the importance of education and ritual

Abbasid Caliphate

An Islamic Dynasty that ruled from 750 to 1258 CE, succeeding the Umayyad Caliphate and establishing its capital in Baghdad

House of Wisdom

a major intellectual center and library in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, where scholars translated, studied, and advanced knowledge in fields like math, astronomy, medicine ,and philosophy

Monotheism

worship of only one God

Buddhist Monasticism

refers to the organized communities of monks and nuns (the sangha) who lived a self-disciplined, ascetic life, dedicating themselves to spiritual pursuits and the teachings of the Buddha

Mahayana Buddhism

the "Great Vehicle" tradition of Buddhism, characterized by its belief that all sentient beings can achieve enlightenment (nirvana) through compassion and wisdom, often aided by bodhisattvas who postpone their own nirvana to help others

Theravada Buddhism

meaning "School of the Elders," is the oldest surviving school of Buddhism, emphasizing the individual's path to enlightenment (Nirvana) through strict adherence to the original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), as recorded in the Pali canon

Mayan City States

Mayan Kingdom: an independent, self-governing entity ruled by a god-king, lacking a unified central empire but instead forming a decentralized network of politically distinct kingdoms in Mesoamerica

Primogeniture

Patriarchal

Mayans were advanced in science and technology with shockingly accurate lunar calendars - astronomy, math, concept of ZERO

Polytheistic religion

Human sacrifices

Aztec/Mexica Empire

a powerful, centralized tribute empire in Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico) that existed from the 14th century to its conquest by the Spanish in 1521. Founded by the Mexica people

wanderers from Texas

conqueror-demanded tribute from surrounding kingdoms

Inca

the vast, centralized empire in South America (centered in modern-day Peru) that flourished from the 15th century until the Spanish conquest in the 1530s. Key defining features include its massive scale, advanced road system, system of compulsory labor known as mit'a, use of knotted strings called quipu for record-keeping, and a divine emperor ruling over an agricultural-based economy. 

Chaco/Mesa Verde

two Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) cultures known for their sophisticated architecture, including Chaco's large pueblos and Mesa Verde's cliff dwellings, which were innovative responses to the dry, arid conditions of the American Southwest.

Cahokia

a major pre-Columbian urban center of the Mississippian culture, flourishing around 1000-1400 CE near present-day St. Louis. Known for its advanced society, large agricultural base, extensive trade networks along the Mississippi River, and the construction of enormous earthen mounds, such as the iconic Monk's Mound

Matrilineal

Prayed to the Sun

Human Sacrifice

the ritualistic killing of a human being as a religious offering, often to appease deities for agricultural fertility, cosmic balance, or political reasons. Key examples include the Aztecs and Maya

Hausa Kingdoms

a collection of politically decentralized, specialized city-states that formed around the 12th century in present-day northern Nigeria and southern Niger. These states flourished through the trans-Saharan trade network, exchanging goods like salt, gold, ivory, and enslaved people, and were characterized by their urban centers, professional artisans, and skilled merchants.

Ethiopia

a distinct Christian state in the Horn of Africa that maintained its sovereignty against surrounding Muslim states by the 13th century CE. Ruled by the Solomonic dynasty, it was famous for building unique rock-hewn churches and developing a distinct form of Coptic Christianity. The empire, which lasted until 1974, was also a significant player in regional trade, particularly along the Indian Ocean network. 

Ghana

a wealthy, medieval West African empire (c. 6th-13th century CE) that controlled the trans-Saharan gold-salt trade, enabling its economic growth and centralized rule. Its capital, Koumbi Saleh, was a major trading city, and the empire's wealth was based on taxing traders and controlling gold production, leading to its powerful status as a key player in the region's history before its decline. 

Mali

a wealthy, powerful West African empire (c. 1236–1670) founded by Sundiata Keita that controlled trans-Saharan trade routes for gold and other goods. It succeeded the Ghana Empire, reached its peak under Mansa Musa, and promoted the spread of Islam through Timbuktu and other learning centers.

Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa was the Ninth Mansa of the Mali Empire (reigned c. 1312–1337), famous for being one of the world's wealthiest individuals due to his control of vast gold and salt mines, and for spreading Islam and fostering intellectual centers like Timbuktu during his reign.

Feudalism

a decentralized political and social system in medieval Europe following the fall of Rome, where powerful lords provided land and protection to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty

Manorialism

the economic system of the Middle Ages, where self-sufficient agricultural estates called manors were worked by serfs. Serfs were peasants bound to the land who performed labor and paid rents to a landlord (lord) in exchange for protection and the right to live on the manor and farm some land for themselves.

The Dark Ages

the early medieval period in Western Europe following the collapse of the Roman Empire, a time characterized by limited written records and a perceived decline in cultural and intellectual progress by later scholars.

Renaissance

a 14th to 16th-century European movement characterized by a "rebirth" of classical Greek and Roman culture, fueled by the Humanism of the era. It marked a shift from medieval thought to a more secular, individualistic, and rational worldview, profoundly influencing art, architecture, literature, and the broader cultural landscape by rediscovering and developing classical ideas.