ap world unit 2 key terms

Arabian Desert

Vast desert in the Arabian Peninsula; limited permanent settlement but supported nomadic pastoralism; shaped trade routes like the Incense and Silk Roads.

Astrolabe

Navigational instrument used to measure the altitude of stars; enabled sailors to determine latitude, crucial for Indian Ocean and Mediterranean trade.

Bananas

Crop from Southeast Asia introduced to Africa via Indian Ocean trade; contributed to population growth and new farming techniques like multi-cropping.

Banking Houses

Financial institutions in Europe (e.g., in Italy and the Hanseatic cities) that facilitated long-distance trade, provided credit, and issued bills of exchange.

Batu

Grandson of Genghis Khan; led the Mongol Golden Horde into Russia; established tributary rule over Russian principalities.

Bill of Exchange

Written order from a banker to pay a merchant a set amount; allowed safer long-distance trade without carrying coins.

Bubonic Plague/Black Death

Disease transmitted via fleas on rats along trade routes; killed 25

Calicut

Major port city on the southwestern coast of India; center for spice trade, connecting Indian Ocean commerce with the Middle East and East Africa.

Camel Saddles

Various designs allowed camels to carry heavy loads or riders; crucial for trans-Saharan trade and desert mobility.

Cannon

Gunpowder-based weapon; transformed siege warfare and naval battles; spread from China to the Middle East and Europe.

Caravanserai

Inns along trade routes where merchants and caravans could rest, trade, and resupply; encouraged safer Silk Road commerce.

Champa rice

Fast-maturing, drought-resistant rice from Vietnam; allowed multiple harvests per year in China, supporting population growth and urbanization.

Citrus crops

Oranges, lemons, and limes spread from Southeast Asia to Africa and the Mediterranean; improved nutrition and diets along trade routes.

Constantinople

Capital of Byzantine Empire; strategic location connecting Europe and Asia; major center of trade, culture, and Orthodox Christianity; fell to Ottomans in 1453.

Deforestation

Clearing forests for agriculture, fuel, or urban expansion; caused soil depletion and environmental changes, particularly near trade hubs.

Diaspora

Scattering of people from their homeland; notable examples include Jewish and African diasporas due to trade, conquest, and slavery.

Flying cash

Early Chinese paper money system used during Tang and Song dynasties; reduced the need to carry heavy coins and facilitated long-distance trade.

Genghis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire; united Mongol tribes, expanded empire across Eurasia, and promoted trade and communication via the Silk Roads.

Gobi Desert

Large desert in northern China and southern Mongolia; acted as both barrier and corridor for trade and nomadic movements.

Golden Horde

Western Mongol khanate controlling Russia; collected tribute, facilitated trade, and influenced Russian political development.

Gunpowder

Chinese invention used in bombs, firearms, and cannons; transformed warfare in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Gujarat

Coastal region of India; major hub for Indian Ocean trade, especially textiles, spices, and banking services.

Hangzhou

Capital of Song dynasty; largest city in the world at the time; renowned for trade, markets, and cultural achievements.

Hanseatic League

Economic and defensive alliance of North German and Baltic cities; dominated trade in Northern Europe and regulated commerce.

Hulegu

Grandson of Genghis Khan; led Mongol conquest of Persia; founded the Il-Khanate; destroyed Baghdad in 1258.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan traveler and scholar; journeyed across Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia; documented trade, culture, and Islamic practices.

Il-khanate

Mongol-ruled state in Persia under Hulegu; blended Mongol political structures with Persian administration and culture.

Indian Ocean slave trade

Movement of enslaved Africans to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia; integral to Indian Ocean commerce alongside spices, textiles, and gold.

Junk

Large Chinese sailing ship with multiple sails and watertight compartments; used for Indian Ocean trade and naval expeditions.

Kashgar

Central Asian city at the junction of Silk Road routes; key center for trade, cultural exchange, and caravan resting point.

Khan/khanate

Title for Mongol ruler (khan); territory ruled by a khan = khanate; key political units in the Mongol Empire.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan; founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China; promoted trade, cultural exchange, and administration.

Kuriltai

Political/military council of Mongol leaders; gathered to select khans and make major decisions for the empire.

Lateen sails

Triangular sails enabling ships to sail against the wind; expanded maritime trade across the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean.

Little Ice Age

Period of cooler global temperatures (14th

Magnetic compass

Chinese invention for navigation; allowed mariners to travel longer distances safely and encouraged global trade networks.

Malacca (Melaka)

Port city in Southeast Asia controlling the Strait of Malacca; major center of maritime trade and cultural exchange.

Mali

West African kingdom; rich in gold, controlled trans-Saharan trade, and known for strong leadership under Sundiata and Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa

Emperor of Mali; famous for pilgrimage to Mecca and lavish display of wealth; helped spread Islam and promote education.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant and traveler; visited Kublai Khan’s court; documented travels that increased European knowledge of Asia.

Margery Kempe

English mystic; wrote one of the first autobiographies in English detailing religious pilgrimages and visions.

Месса

Likely “Mass” in European context; relates to Christian religious practice; less directly tied to AP World themes.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (1368

Money economy

Economic system based on currency rather than barter; expanded in Song China, Europe, and Islamic world.

Mongol Empire

Largest contiguous land empire in history; facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and spread of technologies across Eurasia.

Monsoon winds

Seasonal winds in Indian Ocean; dictated sailing schedules and enabled regular maritime trade between Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

Moscow

Russian city; grew under Mongol influence and centralized Russian power after Mongol decline.

Oases

Fertile areas in deserts providing water and vegetation; supported trade routes and settlements.

Overgrazing

Excessive livestock grazing; led to soil degradation, desertification, and environmental challenges in pastoral regions.

Paper money

Currency made of paper; widely used in Song China; facilitated trade and reduced reliance on heavy coinage.

Pax Mongolica

“Mongol Peace”; period of stability under Mongol rule promoting safe trade, communication, and cultural exchange across Eurasia.

Sahara Desert

Largest desert in Africa; shaped trade, settlement, and the use of camels in trans-Saharan commerce.

Samarkand

Major Silk Road city in Central Asia; known for trade, Islamic scholarship, and architectural achievements.

Siege weapons

Tools like catapults, trebuchets, and cannons used to attack fortified cities; crucial in medieval warfare.

Soil erosion

Loss of fertile topsoil due to agriculture, deforestation, or overgrazing; impacted productivity and sustainability.

Songhai Kingdom

West African empire; controlled trans-Saharan trade routes after Mali’s decline; prominent rulers include Sonni Ali and Askia Muhammad.

Spice Islands

Maluku Islands in Indonesia; major source of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon; attracted European explorers.

Stern Rudder

Chinese ship technology; improved steering of large vessels, enabling long-distance maritime trade.

Sugar

Crop grown in Indian Ocean and later Atlantic regions; became central to trade and labor systems.

Sundiata

Founder of Mali Empire; consolidated power, established trade networks, and promoted agricultural and political stability.

Swahili

Bantu-based culture along East African coast; blended African, Arab, and Indian Ocean trade influences.

Swahili city-states

Coastal cities (e.g., Kilwa, Mombasa) dominating Indian Ocean commerce; wealthy from trade in gold, ivory, and slaves.

Timbuktu

Mali city; major center of Islamic learning, trade, and manuscript production.

Trans-Saharan trade

Trade network linking West Africa to Mediterranean; commodities included gold, salt, and enslaved people.

Urdu

Language developed in South Asia combining Persian, Arabic, and local dialects; emerged under Islamic rule.

Uyghur alphabet

Script adopted by Mongols for administration, record-keeping, and cultural integration.

White Lotus Society

Chinese secret Buddhist society; resisted Mongol Yuan dynasty and later Ming corruption; sometimes led rebellions.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol dynasty in China under Kublai Khan; promoted trade, integrated Eurasian culture, and maintained administrative innovations.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral and explorer; led seven maritime expeditions across the Indian Ocean, displaying Chinese wealth and power.

Zhu Yuanzhang

Founder of Ming Dynasty; led rebellion against Yuan, restored Han Chinese rule, and centralized government.