AP World Vocab

Patriarchy

Domination by males.

Agricultural Revolution

Beginning in the Middle East where humans began to plant crops and raise animals for food.

Animism

Belief system where spirits or souls are believed to inhabit natural objects. Most deities were identified by specific places, animals, plants, or natural forces.

Hinduism

Sometimes categorized as monotheistic or polytheistic. Their scriptures, the Vedas, taught that the soul of a person is reborn or reincarnated many times until the soul spiritually advanced to be liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth. Vedas also taught of castes.

Zoroastrianism

Monotheistic belief system developed in Persia, focused on human free will and eternal battle between forces of good in evil.

Judaism

Monotheistic religion developing in what is now Israel. It is believed they entered into a covenant or mutual promise, with their God, which they call Yahweh. In return Yahweh would consider them His chosen people. Their traditions are recorded in Hebrew scriptures.

Silk Roads

Trade routes linking various peoples and civilizations of the Eurasian land mass. Largely known as a “relay trade” meaning goods were passed down the line exchanging hands many time before reaching the final destination.

Buddhism

Mauryan Empire

Gupta Empire

Mandate of Heaven

Confucianism

After his death, his students collected his teachings in a short book called the Analects, and later scholars elaborated and commented endlessly on his ideas, creating a body of thought. Associated with class inequality, patriarchy, feudalism, superstition, and all things old and backward.