AMSCO-AP World History (Modern); Key Terms: Prologue

Agricultural Revolution

the change from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to planting crops in one place

Mesopotamia

site of the world's first civilization; located around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq

City-state

an independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory

Egypt

ancient civilization known for its writing system (hieroglyphics) and its monumental architecture (pyramids)

Indus River Valley Civilization

ancient civilization with technology such as indoor plumbing, little known about them due to their language never being deciphered

China

ancient civilization that developed along the Yellow River (Huang He); highly patriarchal, special honor given to ancestors

Hinduism

ancient religion based on a set of texts called Vedas; teaches that humans are in a cycle of reincarnation and that society should be divided into castes

Judaism

ancient religion based around the belief that Jewish people are in a covenant with their god Yahweh

Silk Road

network of trade routes between Europe and East Asia

Buddhism

religion based on the teachings of the Buddha; similar to Hinduism but without social castes

Mauryan Empire

(322-187 BCE) first major empire in modern-day India; reached its peak under the rule of Ashoka

Gupta Empire

(320-550 CE) second major empire in modern-day India; sparked the Golden Age of India, when Base 10 and place value were invented

Mandate of Heaven

concept developed by the Zhou Dynasty of China; stated that some universal force granted the emperor the right to rule

Confucius

Chinese philosopher responsible for the teachings that became the foundation of Confucianism; teachings focused on education, benevolence, virtue, respect for authority, and a patriarchal society

Daoism

Chinese religion that focused on living in harmony with nature

Qin Dynasty

(221-207 BCE) Chinese dynasty that standardized Chinese script and established uniform weights and measures

Han Dynasty

(206 BCE-220 CE) Chinese dynasty known as a Golden Age of Chinese history; extended trade to the Mediterranean, paper and magnetic compasses were invented

Civil service exam

exam created by the Han Dynasty; those who did well received high positions in government

Persian Empire

(559-around 330 BCE) large empire developed in modern-day Iran; stretched from the Aegean Sea to India, government practiced religious toleration

Rome

(Kingdom: 753-509 BCE; Republic: 509-27 BCE; Empire: 26 BCE-476 CE) one of the most influential civilizations in history; patriarchal but women held more rights than other patriarchal societies, contained the entire Mediterranean inside of its territory at peak, culture heavily influenced by the Greeks

Diaspora

a people group who are spread out across a large area, often a minority within inhabited political/geographical regions

Christianity

a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ; teaches of better life after death for its followers

Entrepôt

a coastal trading hub

Byzantine Empire

empire formed from the Eastern half of the Roman Empire after its collapse

Teotihuacan

early Mesoamerican civilization near modern-day Mexico City; prospered through trade, featured streets in a grid pattern and temples to the sun and moon gods

Mayans

(250-900 CE) early Mesoamerican civilization south of Teotihuacan; known for their complex written language and advanced calendar

Islam

religion created in the Middle East around 7th century CE; based on five core principles: a belief in one god (Allah), ritual prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca, birthplace of its founder Muhammad

Dar al-Islam

Arabic term that means "House of Islam" and refers to land under Islamic rule

Abbasid Caliphate

(750-1258 CE) the most influential Islamic Caliphate; heralded the Islamic Golden Age, strengthened property rights of women but continued to support having women wear hijabs, practiced religious toleration of non-Muslims to some degree (other religions weren't persecuted but had to pay a special tax)

Sui Dynasty

(581-618 CE) Chinese dynasty created after three centuries of internal conflict; reestablished a centralized government, constructed the Great Canal

Tang Dynasty

(618-907 CE) Chinese dynasty that expanded China's borders into Vietnam and Central Asia and ushered in a second Golden Age of Chinese history

Song Dynasty

(960-1279 CE) Chinese dynasty that continued the Golden Age from the Tang; had the largest cities in the world, exported the idea of paper money to the rest of the world

Shogun

historical title for a military leader of Japan

Daimyo

a Japanese feudal warlord below the Shogun

Shinto

traditional Japanese religion; focuses on nature spirits and veneration of elders

Ghana

(c. 700-c. 1240 CE) empire in Africa which became very wealthy from trans-Saharan trade routes; is completely unrelated to and has no shared land with the modern country of the same name

Great Zimbabwe

(c. 12th century-c. 15th century CE) large kingdom in Southeast Africa

Patriarchy

male domination of society

Roman Catholic Church

the branch of Christianity headed by the pope; created as a result of the Great Schism (1054), split again by the Protestant Reformation

Eastern Orthodox Church

the branch of Christianity adhered to by most Christians in Eastern Europe; created as a result of the Great Schism (1054)

Mississippian Civilization

(c. 8th century-c. 16th century CE) a Native American civilization located along the Mississippi River

Toltec Civilization

(10th century CE) a Mesoamerican civilization which adopted many Mayan practices