Vocabulary: Units 1 and 2 - 600 to 1450

A collection of vocabulary terms and their definitions from Units 1 and 2 covering historical concepts from 600 to 1450.

Neo-Confucianism

An effort to revive Confucian thinking which included ideas from Buddhism and Daoism, created during the Song Dynasty.

Censorate

An agency that exercised surveillance over the government to monitor character and competence, checked for corruption.

Hangzhou

The capital of the Song Dynasty known for its successful economy and mass trading.

Foot binding

The practice of tightly wrapping women's feet, serving as a sign of tightening patriarchy and symbolizing wealth.

Middle Kingdom

China’s term for itself, claiming to be the center of the world and a superior state.

Kowtow

A series of bowing rituals in trade with China, symbolizing respect and power.

Xiongnu

A nomadic tribe that extorted China and caused significant political and cultural developments.

Sultanate of Delhi

Established a more systematic Turkic Rule in India.

Sufis

God-filled men detached from worldly affairs.

Kabir

A 15th century mystic poet known for his spiritual teachings.

Sikhism

A religion blending elements of Islam with Hindu concepts.

Timbuktu

A West African city with numerous Quranic schools and international reach.

Mexica

Semi-nomadic group from northern Mexico that migrated south by 1325.

Triple Alliance

An alliance formed by the Mexica and two other city-states to launch military conquests.

Tenochtitlan

The capital created by the Mexica, serving as the center of the Aztec Empire.

Chinampas, aka 'floating gardens'

Artificial islands created for agriculture that promoted food production.

Huitzilopochtli

The patron deity of the sun requiring sacrifices to maintain cosmic balance.

Quechua

The language of the Inca, associated with their culture and imperial state.

Gender Parallelism

The concept where women and men operate in separate but equivalent spheres, promoting social balance.

Yuan Dynasty

A dynasty established by the Mongols, unifying China under foreign rule.

Khubilai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan, he ruled China from 1271-1294 and established the Yuan Dynasty.

Hulegu

One of Genghis Khan’s sons who led the second invasion of Islamic Persia.

Khutulun

Mongol princess known for her wrestling, reflecting the freedom of Mongol women.

Kipchak Khanate/ Golden Horde

A group following Genghis Khan that conquered modern-day Russia.

Monsoon winds

Wind patterns in the Indian Ocean crucial for traders' navigation.

Swahili language

A blend of Arabic and African languages, indicating cultural diffusion.

Great Zimbabwe

A city on the East coast of Africa, a center of Indian Ocean Trade with universities.

Jenne-Jeno

A significant trading center in modern-day Mali that contradicted beliefs about African urbanization.

Camel caravans

Large caravans that crossed the Sahara, linking diverse populations across West Africa.