ap world study guide for midterm

Toltecs

A Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico between the 10th and 12th centuries, known for its architectural achievements and military prowess.

Chinampa

A Mesoamerican agricultural technique where small, rectangular areas of fertile arable land were created in water, primarily used by the Mexica.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled to Asia and wrote about his journeys, significantly influencing European perceptions of the East.

Renaissance

A cultural movement in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century characterized by a revival of interest in the classical art and learning of ancient Greece and Rome.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following the voyages of Christopher Columbus.

Mita system

A labor system used by the Incas that required inhabitants to provide labor for public works and agriculture.

Atlantic slave trade

The transatlantic trading system that transported enslaved Africans to the Americas, becoming a central part of the triangular trade.

Absolutism

A political system in which a single entity (usually a monarch) holds supreme authority and is not bound by any laws or constituents.

Filial piety

A virtue of respect for one's parents and ancestors, significant in Confucian philosophy.

Shi’ism

A branch of Islam that holds that Muhammad's successor should have been his cousin and son-in-law Ali, emphasizing the leadership of a series of Imams.

Liberalism

A political and economic philosophy that advocates for individual freedoms, democratic governance, and the protection of human rights.

Industrialization

The process in which a society transforms from agrarian to industrial, characterized by the development of large-scale production and machinery.

Young Turks

A revolutionary group in the Ottoman Empire that sought to modernize and reform the empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Taiping Rebellion

A massive civil war in China (1850-1864) against the Qing Dynasty led by Hong Xiuquan, advocating for social reforms and the establishment of a 'Heavenly Kingdom'.

Enlightenment

An intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of tradition.

Meiji Restoration

The period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan from 1868 to 1912, marking the end of imperial rule and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

Janissaries

Elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops and the first modern standing army in Europe.

Muhammad Ali

An Albanian commander who became the ruler of Egypt and established a dynasty; known for modernizing the country's military and economy.

Sultan Selim III

Sultan Selim III (1761-1808) was an Ottoman Sultan who ruled from 1789 until his overthrow in 1808. He is known for attempting modern reforms in the empire, particularly in the military, influenced by European practices. He established the Nizam-i Cedid (New Order) military corps, which aimed to modernize the army, but faced strong opposition from traditionalists, including the Janissaries. His reforms sparked tensions that ultimately led to his deposition and the subsequent rise of Mahmud II, who continued some of Selim's modernization efforts.

Mahmud II

An Ottoman Sultan known for extensive administrative reforms and the dissolution of the Janissary corps in the 19th century.

Abdul Hamid II

The last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for his autocratic rule and efforts to restore imperial power in the late 19th century.

Tsar Alexander II

The Russian Tsar known for initiating significant reforms, including the emancipation of serfs in 1861. eventually assasinated because of slow pace of change, extereme liberalists wanted faster change. Alexander made changes after loss in the war against the french because they werent advanced enough

Nicholas II

The last Emperor of Russia (1894-1917), known for his autocratic rule, resistance to reform, and the monumental events leading to the Russian Revolution. During his reign, Nicholas II faced multiple protests and revolts, notably responding with violence, including the massacre of protesters during events like Bloody Sunday in 1905. Eventually died and family executed

October Revolution

The 1917 revolution that led to the overthrow of the provisional government in Russia and the establishment of Bolshevik control, marking the beginning of Soviet governance.

Trans-Siberian Railway

The longest railway in the world, constructed during Nicholas II's reign, which connected European Russia to the Pacific coast, facilitating trade and military movement.

Russo-Japanese War

A conflict between Russia and Japan (1904-1905) over territorial disputes in East Asia, resulting in a humiliating defeat for Russia and contributing to domestic unrest.

Bloody Sunday

A peaceful protest in St. Petersburg in 1905 that turned violent when the Imperial Guard opened fire on demonstrators, leading to widespread outrage and the eventual 1905 Revolution.