Unit 2 - Vocab - APWH

Rudder

enabled Chinese ships to navigate open waters more effectively

Magnetic Compass

a crucial technological innovation that aided navigation, particularly along the maritime routes

Caravanserai

a fortified roadside inn that served as a rest stop and hub for merchants, their animals, and their goods along the Silk Roads

Flying Cash

an early Chinese paper credit instrument from the Tang dynasty that functioned as a precursor to modern banknotes

Samarkand

a network of trade routes connecting East and West

Genghis Khan (aka Chinggis Khan)

was the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous land empire in history.

Pax Mongolica

a period of relative peace and stability across the vast Mongol Empire from the 13th to 14th centuries

Golden Horde

a Mongol and later Turkic khanate that emerged in the 13th century as a western subdivision of the Mongol Empire.

Moscow

a devastated vassal city-state but eventually rose to become the dominant Russian principality by cooperating with its Mongol overlords

Il-Khanate

a Mongol state that ruled over Persia and the Middle East from the 13th to 14th centuries

Yuan Dynasty

the ruling dynasty of China and Mongolia from 1271 to 1368

Spice Islands

refers to the Moluccas (modern-day Indonesia), which were the sole source of highly prized spices like nutmeg, mace, and cloves.

Malacca (aka Melaka)

a critical, central trading hub that profited by controlling this vital sea lane

Monsoon winds

provided predictable, seasonal wind patterns that allowed sailors to navigate efficiently between ports

Zheng He

symbolized a significant exchange of diplomacy, trade, and culture, showcasing China's power and economic reach to a vast network of states from Southeast Asia to East Africa.

lateen sails

enabled expanded and more efficient maritime trade by allowing ships to sail against the wind and better utilize monsoon winds

Mali

controlled key trade routes and its economy was built on the exchange of goods like gold, salt, and other commodities

Mansa Musa

a powerful symbol of Mali's immense wealth and a major player in the network.

Timbuktu

a vital hub connecting sub-Saharan Africa with North Africa

Camel Saddles

allowing camels to carry heavier loads more comfortably and safely across the Sahara Desert

Gold and Salt

from West Africa was the primary export, driven by its scarcity and high demand in the Mediterranean and beyond and another was crucial for human and animal survival, food preservation, and as a form of currency in West Africa

Marco Polo

represents the power of an individual's firsthand account to dramatically shape global perceptions and spark innovation

Ibn Battuta

a prime example of how extensive travel fostered cultural exchange and syncretism by documenting and participating in the spread of ideas, religions, and practices across Afro-Eurasia

Papermaking

its fundamental role in creating a lightweight, affordable, and durable medium that enabled the mass dissemination of information

Black Death

increased trade and travel can lead to the rapid spread of disease, devastating populations and disrupting economies

Compass

a tool for cultural guidance and orientation, rather than a physical object

Swahili

a result of cultural diffusion from trade and interaction between different groups in East Africa

Champa Rice

increased land cultivation to support population growth, leading to deforestation and environmental degradation

Sugar

refers to the cultivation and trade of sugar crops like sugarcane, which has led to significant environmental degradation, habitat loss, and pollution

Soil Erosion

process of topsoil being removed by wind or water, and increased trade, deforestation, and urbanization

Bubonic Plague

a catastrophic loss of life, reshaping labor markets and contributing to other environmental pressures through increased travel and urbanization.