AP World History Unit 9 Vocabulary

The Internet

A global system of interconnected computer networks that revolutionized communication, commerce, and the spread of information in the late 20th and 21st centuries.

Nuclear Power

An energy source that uses nuclear reactions to generate heat and electricity; while efficient and low-carbon, it carries risks of accidents and radioactive waste.

Green Revolution

A period of rapid agricultural advancement (mid-20th century) involving high-yield seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation that significantly increased global food production.

Birth Control

The development of the contraceptive pill and other methods that gave women greater control over fertility, leading to shifting social norms and lower birth rates in many regions.

Vaccines

Biological preparations that provide immunity to infectious diseases; mass vaccination campaigns have successfully eradicated or controlled diseases like smallpox and polio.

Antibiotics

Medications, such as penicillin, used to treat bacterial infections; their development significantly increased life expectancy in the 20th century.

Malaria

A life-threatening disease spread by mosquitoes, primarily affecting tropical and subtropical regions; often associated with poverty.

Tuberculosis

A bacterial disease that usually attacks the lungs; while treatable, it remains a major global health challenge, especially in developing nations.

Cholera

An acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water, often occurring in areas with poor sanitation.

1918 Influenza Pandemic

A global outbreak of a deadly flu strain following WWI that killed tens of millions of people worldwide.

Ebola

A rare but deadly virus that causes severe bleeding and organ failure; major outbreaks in West Africa highlighted the need for global health coordination.

HIV/AIDS

A global epidemic that emerged in the late 20th century, attacking the immune system; it led to massive social and political activism and the development of antiretroviral therapies.

Diseases of Longevity

Non-communicable diseases that become more common as people live longer, such as heart disease and certain cancers.

Greenhouse Gasses

Gases like carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the "greenhouse effect."

Climate Change

The long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns, largely driven by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Reagan’s Supply- Side Economics

An economic theory (used by U.S. President Ronald Reagan) arguing that tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations will stimulate investment and "trickle down" to the rest of the economy.

Raeganomics

The specific neoliberal economic policies of the Reagan administration, characterized by deregulation, tax cuts, and reduced social spending.

Margaret Thatcher

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979–1990) who implemented neoliberal reforms, including privatizing state-owned industries and reducing the power of labor unions.

Knowledge Economies (Finland, Japan, United States)

Economies based on the production, distribution, and use of knowledge and information rather than traditional manufacturing.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

An international organization that regulates and facilitates global trade, aiming to reduce tariffs and trade barriers.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

A 1994 agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that eliminated most tariffs on trade between the three nations.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

A regional organization aimed at promoting economic growth and political stability among its member nations in Southeast Asia.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

A global organization that provides financial assistance and loans to countries facing economic crises, often requiring specific policy reforms in return.

Multinational Corporations (Nestle, Nissan, Mahindra and Mahindra)

Large companies that operate in multiple countries, often wielding significant economic and political influence.

UN Declaration of Human Rights

A 1948 document stating the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled, regardless of nationality or race.

Feminism

The movement for social, political, and economic equality between men and women.

Negritude Movement

A literary and ideological movement developed by Francophone African intellectuals to celebrate African culture and resist French colonial racism.

Suffrage Movements

Organized efforts to gain the right to vote, particularly for women, which saw major successes throughout the 20th century.

Liberation Theology

A movement in Christian theology (primarily in Latin America) that emphasizes liberation from social, political, and economic oppression as an anticipation of ultimate salvation.

Impact of Female Literacy Rates

Higher female literacy is strongly correlated with lower birth rates, improved child health, and increased economic productivity.

U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1965 (Voting Rights Act)

Landmark legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting, significantly expanding the electorate in the United States.

Anti- IMF and Anti- World Bank Activism

Protest movements that criticize global financial institutions for promoting policies they believe harm the poor and favor wealthy nations.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization formed in 1945 to promote international cooperation and maintain peace and security.

Chicago School of Economies

A neoclassical school of economic thought (associated with Milton Friedman) that promotes free markets and limited government intervention.

Caste Reservation in India

A system of affirmative action that provides historically disadvantaged groups (Dalits and others) with reserved seats in government and education.

Greenpeace

An international environmental organization known for its direct action and campaigning on issues like climate change and deforestation.

Professor Wangari Maathai

The Kenyan environmental and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement and was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Greenbelt Movement

An indigenous grassroots NGO in Kenya that focuses on environmental conservation and women's rights through tree planting.

World Fair Trade Organization

A global network of organizations committed to fair trade practices that ensure producers in developing countries receive fair wages.

Global Culture

The transmission of ideas, meanings, and values around the world in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations (e.g., the spread of American movies or Japanese anime).

Reggae

A music genre originating in Jamaica in the 1960s, heavily influenced by Pan-Africanism and Rastafarianism.

Bollywood

The massive Indian Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, which has a significant global cultural reach.

Online Commerce

The buying and selling of goods and services over the internet.

Alibaba

A Chinese multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, and technology.

Amazon

A U.S.-based multinational technology company that is the world’s largest online retailer.

Weibo

A Chinese social media platform (similar to Twitter/X) that is a central part of digital life in China.

Developing Asian Manufacturing Economies

Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia that have experienced rapid economic growth by becoming hubs for global manufacturing.

Heart Disease

A leading "disease of longevity" and cause of death globally, often linked to lifestyle factors in industrialized societies.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills; it is a common condition as global