AP World History Unit 2: Networks of Exchange Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from the AP World History lecture notes on Afro-Eurasian trade networks, the Mongol Empires, and connectivity consequences.

Silk Roads

Overland trade routes extending through the Gobi Desert and mountain passes from China and Central Asia to Southwest Asia and Europe, focusing on luxury goods like silk, tea, and porcelain.

Caravanserai

Inns located along trade routes like the Silk Roads that provided resting places and shelter for travelers and their animals.

Flying cash

A financial credit system introduced by China that allowed merchants to deposit cash in one location and withdraw it in another, inspiring modern banking practices.

Hanseatic League

A commercial alliance formed by cities in Northern Europe to protect merchant routes and monopolize trade in specific luxury goods.

Genghis Khan

Born Temujin in 1162, he was elected khan at a kuriltai in 1206 and took the title meaning 'ruler of all' after consolidating Mongol tribes and launching global conquests.

Kuriltai

A political gathering of Mongol chieftains where major decisions were made and leaders like Genghis Khan were elected.

Pax Mongolica

A period of Eurasian peace and stability established under Mongol governance that revitalized trade, improved infrastructure, and protected Silk Road routes.

Batu

Mongol commander who led the Golden Horde into Russia starting in 1236, demanding tribute from conquered territories and ruling indirectly.

Golden Horde

The Mongol army and khanate established by Batu that conquered Russian cities and exacted tribute through local rulers until the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

Hulegu

Mongol ruler who destroyed Baghdad in 1258 and established the Il-khanate in the Islamic heartlands.

Kublai Khan

Mongol ruler who conquered the Song Dynasty, established the Yuan Dynasty in China, and rebuilt the capital at Dadu.

Spice Islands

The nickname for Malaysia and Indonesia due to their valuable exports of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.

Monsoon winds

Seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean—blowing from the northeast in winter and the southwest in spring/summer—that governed maritime trade navigation.

Lateen sail

A triangular sail popular among Arab seafarers that could catch winds coming from multiple directions, enhancing maritime maneuverability.

Astrolabe

A navigation instrument improved by Muslim navigators that allowed sailors to determine their latitude at sea.

Diasporic Communities

Settlements formed by foreign merchants, such as Arab and East African traders in western Indian ports, who settled and introduced their cultural traditions to local populations.

Zheng He

A Muslim admiral who commanded seven maritime expeditions for the Ming Dynasty between 1405 and 1433 to display Chinese prestige and open new markets.

Somali saddle

A specialized camel saddle developed in East Africa capable of carrying heavy loads up to 600 pounds, significantly advancing Trans-Saharan trade.

Sundiata

The founding ruler of Mali, known as the 'Lion Prince,' who built trade relationships with North African and Arab merchants.

Mansa Musa

Grand-nephew of Sundiata and ruler of Mali, famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca which displayed Mali's gold wealth and strengthened Islam in West Africa.

Chan Buddhism

A syncretic religion formed in China by combining Buddhist teachings with traditional Daoist principles, also known as Zen Buddhism.

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophical tradition that combined Confucianism with Daoist and Buddhist ideas, originating in China during the Song Dynasty and spreading to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Champa rice

A fast-ripening, drought-resistant, and flood-resistant crop introduced to China from Vietnam that enabled two harvests per year and spurred population growth.

Black Death

A devastating bubonic plague pandemic spread via trade networks and Mongol movements, killing roughly one-third of Europe's population and about 25 million people in Asia between 1332 and 1347.

Marco Polo

An Italian traveler whose published accounts of his travels in China fascinated Europeans with descriptions of East Asian wealth and urbanization.

Ibn Battuta

A Muslim scholar and traveler who documented extensive journeys across Afro-Eurasia, providing rich historical accounts of Islamic lands.

Margery Kempe

A medieval English mystic whose autobiography detailed her spiritual experiences and pilgrimages across Europe and the Holy Land.

Ulugh Beg Madrasa

A center of learning established in Samarkand between 1417 and 1422, showcasing how major trade cities evolved into educational hubs.