ap world review (BY ME)

SPICE-T Themes

Social, Political, Interaction with Environment, Cultural, Economic, Technology

Neolithic Revolution

Shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture, leading to permanent settlements, population growth, and specialization of labor

River Valley Civilizations

Early civilizations that developed near rivers like the Nile, Tigris/Euphrates, Indus, and Yellow River due to fertile land and water access

Code of Hammurabi

One of the earliest written law codes from Mesopotamia with strict punishments based on “eye for an eye” justice

Mandate of Heaven

Chinese political belief that rulers gained authority from heaven but could lose it if they ruled poorly

Dynastic Cycle

Pattern in Chinese history where dynasties rise, peak, decline, and are replaced due to loss of Mandate of Heaven

Silk Road

Land trade network connecting East Asia to Europe that spread goods, ideas, religions, and technologies

Indian Ocean Trade

Maritime trade network linking East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia using monsoon winds

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade across the Sahara Desert using camels, exchanging gold, salt, and enslaved people

Cultural Diffusion

Spread of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and customs between societies

Syncretism

Blending of different cultural or religious traditions into new systems

Feudalism

Political and economic system where land is exchanged for military service and loyalty

Manorialism

Economic system of medieval Europe where peasants worked land owned by lords in exchange for protection

Roman Empire

Classical empire known for roads, law, engineering, and spread of Christianity

Han Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for strong bureaucracy, Confucianism, and civil service exams

Maurya Empire

South Asian empire under Ashoka that promoted Buddhism

Gupta Empire

Golden age of India known for math, science, and cultural achievements

Persian Empire

Large empire known for satrap system and tolerance of conquered peoples

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire that preserved Roman law and Orthodox Christianity

Umayyad Caliphate

Early Islamic empire that rapidly expanded across North Africa and the Middle East

Abbasid Caliphate

Islamic golden age empire centered in Baghdad focused on trade and science

Mongol Empire

Largest land empire in history that connected Eurasia and boosted trade across Silk Road

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for economic growth, trade expansion, and technology advances

Delhi Sultanate

Early Islamic rule in India before the Mughal Empire

Mali Empire

West African empire known for gold wealth and Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage

Mansa Musa

Mali ruler famous for extreme wealth and spreading Islam in West Africa

Ottoman Empire

Gunpowder empire, Islamic empire (1299–1922) that expanded across SE Europe, Middle East, and North Africa; ruled through strong military and bureaucracy, collected taxes like jizya from non-Muslims, practiced limited religious tolerance (millet system), controlled key trade routes, peaked under Suleiman the Magnificent, then declined due to nationalism, military losses, and WWI collapse into modern Turkey.

Safavid Empire

Persian empire that established Shia Islam and rivaled the Ottomans

Mughal Empire

Indian empire known for cultural blending, Akbar’s tolerance, and Taj Mahal

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that restored native rule and sponsored Zheng He voyages

Qing Dynasty

Manchu-led Chinese dynasty that expanded territory but later declined due to corruption and foreign pressure

Songhai Empire

West African empire controlling trans-Saharan trade and Islamic learning centers

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican empire based on tribute system and human sacrifice

Inca Empire

Andean empire with roads, centralized control, and mita labor system

Spanish Empire

Colonial empire that conquered the Americas and used encomienda labor system

Portuguese Empire

Maritime empire focused on trade posts in Africa, Asia, and Brazil

Columbian Exchange

Global transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people after 1492

Mercantilism

Economic system where colonies exist to enrich the mother country

Triangular Trade

Atlantic trade system linking Europe, Africa, and Americas involving enslaved people

Atlantic Slave Trade

Forced migration of Africans to the Americas for plantation labor

Protestant Reformation

Movement led by Martin Luther that challenged Catholic Church authority

Enlightenment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, rights, and democracy

Scientific Revolution

Shift to scientific thinking based on observation and experimentation

Industrial Revolution

Shift to machine-based production, factories, and urbanization

Capitalism

Economic system based on private ownership and profit

Communism

Economic system where government controls production and property is shared

Nationalism

Strong loyalty and pride in one’s nation

Imperialism

Domination of weaker regions by stronger countries

French Revolution

Revolution that overthrew monarchy and spread Enlightenment ideas

Haitian Revolution

Successful slave revolt creating first independent Black republic

Latin American Revolutions

Independence movements against Spanish and Portuguese rule

Berlin Conference

European division of Africa without African input

Social Darwinism

Idea used to justify imperialism based on “survival of the fittest”

World War I

Global war caused by militarism, alliances, nationalism, and imperialism

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty ending WWI that punished Germany heavily

Russian Revolution

Overthrow of Tsar leading to communist state under Lenin

Totalitarianism

Government with total control over society and no political freedoms

World War II

Global war involving Axis vs Allies, Holocaust, and atomic bombs

Cold War

Ideological conflict between US capitalism and Soviet communism

Containment

US policy to stop spread of communism

Marshall Plan

US aid to rebuild Europe after WWII

NATO

Western military alliance against Soviet expansion

Warsaw Pact

Soviet military alliance opposing NATO

Proxy Wars

Indirect Cold War conflicts between superpowers

Korean War

War between North Korea (communist) and South Korea (capitalist)

Vietnam War

War between communist North Vietnam and US-backed South Vietnam

Decolonization

Process of colonies gaining independence after WWII

Apartheid

System of racial segregation in South Africa

Nelson Mandela

Anti-apartheid leader and first Black president of South Africa

Green Revolution

Agricultural innovations increasing food production through technology

Globalization

Increasing worldwide connections in trade, culture, and technology

Urbanization

Movement of people from rural areas to cities

Zheng He

Chinese admiral who led Indian Ocean trade voyages

Akbar

Mughal emperor known for religious tolerance and strong government

Suleiman the Magnificent

Ottoman ruler who expanded empire and strengthened laws

Karl Marx

Founder of communism who believed in class struggle

Adam Smith

Economist who promoted capitalism and free markets

Napoleon Bonaparte

French leader who spread revolutionary ideas across Europe

Mahatma Gandhi

Indian leader who used nonviolent resistance

Simón Bolívar

Leader who helped liberate South America from Spain

Joseph Stalin

Soviet leader who industrialized USSR and ruled dictatorially

Adolf Hitler

Leader of Nazi Germany responsible for WWII and Holocaust