AP World History Review

Flashcards covering key events and concepts from world history, designed for exam preparation.

Mamluk Sultanate

A powerful empire in Egypt (1250-1517) that was wealthy due to cotton and sugar production. They were enslaved people purchased in the Abbasid Caliphate, often serving as soldiers or government workers. They won a large revolt and took over the government in Egypt.

Delhi Sultanate

A Sultanate that ruled from 1206-1526. Turkic invaders entered India and spread Islam to the majority Hindu country. It was a unique empire because India is mostly Hindu, but the rulers are Muslim. Islam largely spread through missionaries called Sufis.

Who did the Abbasid trade with?

(who did the ______ trade with?) Asia, through the Silk Road, and into Sub-Saharan Africa. They routinely traded with the African Kingdom of Ghana, exchanging weapons for gold, salt, and slaves.

Arab Merchants and Sufis

The religion of Islam was spread to Africa and throughout all of the Middle East by them. They traveled and practiced a specific form of Islam that used a more “mystical” approach.

Abbasid Caliphate

Fell in 1258 C.E. after decline and being overthrown by the Mongols. Areas under the Abbasid came to be parts of the Seljuk Empire, Mamluk Empire (Egypt), and the Ottoman Empire. These empires were largely Turkic and known for using “slave soldiers” to maintain power.

What was the Majapahit Empire?

A Hindu Empire in Indonesia that had huge cultural influence.

Charlemagne

He started a major empire, the Holy Roman Empire, united people of Europe through Christianity, spread Christianity across much of Europe, was good at military strategy, and stopped Vikings from getting in. The Carolingian family line dissolves because his sons did terrible jobs.

Feudalism

Europe’s decentralized Society based on a king giving a land grant (fief) to a Lord, who collects money raised on land and it is sent to the king. A lord opens his area to the peasants. Peasants live on land for protection and gave taxes and labor to the lord. Knights worked for lords to protect, and were given small areas on land to live

Magna Carta

In 1215, this was signed, which reduces the amount of power the king has and gives more power to the nobles. It is the first major document in modern history that reduced the things that Kings could do.

Pope

He can excommunicate (kick someone out of church).

The Crusades

Catholics attempt to reclaim Jerusalem from “heretic” Muslims. These were violent wars that lasted over a century. Men were encouraged because the church spread the idea that if you fought to make Jerusalem Christian, you'd go to heaven.

Marco Polo

A famous Italian explorer who lived in Kublai Khan in China.

Bubonic Plague

Illness that travels from China to Europe and spread rapidly. It killed 50-60% of Europe's peasants and led to a decline in feudalism and a rise in urban towns. Also known as the Black Death, this pandemic occurred in the 14th century and had profound social and economic impacts.

The Toltecs

Resided near modern-day Mexico City. Their capital was Tula, pop. 60,000 and they traded with other regions of modern Mexico, including goods like jade, turquoise, animal skins, and bird feathers.

Cahokians

A group in modern-day Illinois famous for their grass mounds.

The Mesa Verde

They were in Colorado and famous for their cliff homes.

Aztecs

They expanded and eventually took over a large portion of modern Mexico, forcing tribute on conquered groups, however, letting them keep their local rule. They did not have a centralized rule, but were decentralized. Living in isolation from other sides of the world.

What important figure did the Aztecs honor?

The feathered serpent who governed reproduction and life, and sacrifice was to appease gods like it.

The Mayans

Lived in modern Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, Belize). They were divided into separate kingdoms with no large emperor, war was rare, but sacrifice was not. Harsh, hot weather made it hard to grow crops, so they built farm plots on the water in lakes: Chinampas, that they would boat to.

Mayan achievements

Mathematicians that made early use of a calendar and astronomical observations. They also shared a language across Mayan kingdoms. Surviving text called the popol voh that discusses creation of mayan society

The Inca

A ruler named Pachacuti helped make the empire a huge power. They Had no written language and no surviving documents. Device called a Quipu helped decide administrative duties. Amazing system of roads, the best outside of Rome.

Mit’a System

System where men ages 15-50 were subject to providing agricultural and physical labor.

Bantu Migrations

They pushed people south. Villages consisted of families and clans and eventually kingdoms developed.

Griots

Oral storytellers who were essential to sub-Saharan culture.

The Kingdom of Kongo

A major kingdom famous for its copper production.

How was Islam spread?

Through Camels and by boats

Kingdom of Ghana

Famous as a trading post for gold, but eventually collapses due to raids. The king converts to Islam which helped the spread of islam in sub saharan africa

Mansa Musa

Most notable Mali leader that Known for his extravagant lifestyle, controlled the world's gold supply, converted to Islam, treated his followers well, and was generous with his wealth

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful kingdom that was rich through Indian Ocean trade with big stone and wooden houses that did not have any private property.

Mahayana Buddhism vs Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism views Buddha as a deity and is more similar to universalizing religions.

Hanseatic League

Major commercial alliance and defense network between German towns.

The Kingdom of Srivijaya

Was a Buddhist Kingdom that was extremely wealthy due to Indian Ocean Trade. Located in modern Indonesia. This region became known as the “Spice Islands” due to exports of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

Swahili Civilization

In East Africa, it emerged as a major location for export of gold, ivory, and slaves. Merchants from the Middle East spread Islam to the region.

Zen Buddhism

In China, it mixes Buddhism with Daoism.

Swahili Language

In Africa, it mixes ancient Bantu languages with Arabic brought over from Muslim merchants.

Champa Rice

Led to population growth in China

Chinggis “Genghis” Khan

Aka Ghengis, or Temujin, was the most prominent Mongol leader. Was an excellent ruler and helped expand their empire into northern China. He died in 1227.

The Golden Horde

Relatives of Chinggis were called this and set up in Russia.

Pax Mongolica

A peaceful time in the 1200s and 1300s in which the Mongols helped other nations prosper through trade.

Kublai Khan and the Yuan Dynasty

Chinggis’ grandson who was a great leader and managed to take over all of China. The era of China under Mongol rule is called this and lasted from 1271 to 1368.

Il-Khan Empire

The Mongols conquered the Abbasid Caliphate and set up this empire from 1256 to 1335. Many Persian administrators remained in charge, and Mongols borrowed a lot of Islamic culture.

The Ming Dynasty

Restored Chinese tradition after being ruled by Mongols, focused on restoring imperial authority, maritime expeditions, and protecting China from invaders. The capital was moved to Beijing and the iconic Forbidden City was built.

Zheng He

Were sent out on huge maritime missions with thousands of men and Caused major worldwide change by demanding silver for all trade goods

Great Wall of China

During the Ming, this famous structure was expanded significantly with the goal of keeping Mongols out.

Manchus

The Ming is taken over by this group of people from North-Eastern China called Manchuria.

Civil Service Exam

Tests are very hard- they lock you in a room for days and have people watch you 24/7 until you complete the days-long exams, determining government positions that used increased during the Qing Dynasty

Filial Piety

Confucian idea of treating your elders as your superiors and addressing people of different class/age a certain way.

Why did the Qing end all maritime expeditions and trading with other empires?

Because the government didn't want the Chinese to be corrupted/influenced by outsiders.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Japan emerged as this in the 1600’s. They had great economic success and repelled outsiders. Largely self-sufficient.

Wealth and outside interaction in Japan

They were wealthy because Japan becomes wealthy and self-sustaining due to spectacular agricultural production.

Gunpowder Empires

Nickname for (Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal) Islamic Empires during this time period.

The Ghazi

Muslim religious warriors who fought to expand the Ottoman Empire.

Jizya

Tax placed upon non-Muslim residents of the Ottoman.

Devshirme

The overall system of forcing non-muslims into roles in The Ottoman

Safavid Empire

Conflict with Ottoman due to different Islamic practices. Iran is mostly Shia today

Mughal Empire

Empire that was founded in modern-day India in 1526. Very centralized, diverse, and equipped with a strong military. Muslim dominant, but accepting of Hinduism and Christianity as well.

Tax Farming

The Islamic Empires used this system to collect taxes where the right to collect taxes is awarded to an individual who collects them from citizens and gives back a portion to the government.

Sikhism

A religion created in India in the Mughal that blends Hinduism with Islam.

The Taj Mahal

Built to honor the wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This construction occurred during the Mughal Empire with 20,000 workers and 20 years to complete.

What is indulgence

It's purpose was to atone for sins and prevent loved ones from being stuck in purgatory.

Martin Luther

Leader whose expansion in Russia was drastic, and was angered by the Catholic Church’s selling of Indulgences in the Holy Roman Empire and other things he found to be “abusive”.

The Council of Trent

The Catholic Church realizes they were abusive and redefines themself through this where church officials go over new church rules and put them into place.

Calvinists

They are a type of Protestants who are very strict and believe in “predestination”, the idea that you are destined for either heaven or hell before you are born.

Absolutism

This idea is basically that they are chosen by God and are better than everyone else.

King James II

Was Catholic and signed laws that were Anti Protestant. A coup (overthrow of power) occurred between his daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange.

monopolies

Large private businesses that seek to control trade and commerce, so much of a resource that nobody else can compete.

Peace of Westphalia

States that France, Spain, and Italy retain Catholicism, and Northern Europe and England are Protestant.

Tsar

Term that is comparable to a king or esteemed leader in Russia

Copernicus

States that the sun rather than the Earth stood at the center of the universe and the planets revolved around the sun.

The Enlightenment

Increased interest in politics and human behavior. “Philosophes” in France compose histories, novels, dramas, satires, and pamphlets in religious, moral, and political issues.

John Locke

From England, he advocated for the end of absolute monarchy. Later he became the basis for U.S government. The phrase “the right to life, liberty, and the right to property” is associated with him.

European Exploration

A type of revolution that Transformed Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, France, and Holland into “Maritime Empires”

Volta do mar

“Return of the sea”.

Compass

A Chinese Invention

Astrolabe

Helped determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or the pole star above the horizon.

Zheng He

An Italian from the Ming dynasty

Mercantilism

Idea that the world’s wealth is fixed and each country needs to compete with one another for wealth. Early vision of Capitalism. Goes hand in hand with the creation of private companies and colonization.

Joint-Stock Companies

Countries where individuals invest in the company and share in profits and losses. No government involvement.

Spain

This country takes over The Philippines and turns it into a major trading spot. Many Filipinos convert to Catholicism.

Cook and the Pacific

Where He made first contact with Polynesians in the Hawaiian islands. Later, He was stabbed to death by the Hawaiians because he kidnapped the king

The Dutch VOC

Took over Indonesia and makes a lot of money off of the spice trade.

Columbian Exchange

This refers to the passing back and forth of plants, food crops, animals, human populations, and disease across the Atlantic.

African Diaspora

Movement of African population around the globe due to slavery.

Triangular Trade

This trade was facilitated by the columbian exchange and connects the old and new world. Consisting of the movement of crops, foods, animals, disease, and people through slavery for profit

Who pays for the damages of conflict

The belief that since Germany was the main aggressor and did the most damage, that they would pay the reparations for the war by making payments to rebuild after a war or traumatic event

Vladimir Lenin

Led the Bolsheviks, who rename themselves as the “Socialists”.

“New Deal”

President Roosevelt created this in order to guaranteed minimum wages, and created social security for the elderly. It created jobs for those suffering the depression (often on public works projects)

Joseph Stalin

Used violence and intimidation to get rid of those who disagreed and those who he believed supported older styles of Socialism, instead of his vision.

Fascism

Government with limited free speech, intense nationalism bordering on racism, a major focus on military power, violence, and intimidation. It is always capitalist

Hitler and Germany

The set of ideas, born in austria, that meant Light skinned Germans are the “master race” and others take up resources, and that Germans should have “lebensraum”- a space designed for them

Kristallnacht

The German police and Hitler supporters attacked Jewish shops around Germany in 1938 on the “Night of Broken Glass”

Mohandas Gandhi

famous in the 1920’s for protesting against British colonization of India. His main tactic was non-violent boycott of British goods. Famous for the Salt March where thousands of Indians protested a law that made it illegal for them to produce their own sea salt

Anschluss

A union where Germany takes Austria by force in 1938 and says it is to make all Germans whole again

Blitzkrieg (german strat the whole time)

“Lightning War”- Germany used its new influence in Poland to strike and take them over in 1939

“Fourteen Points”

U.S President Wilson uses a model called this to restore relations in Europe by allowing newly formed countries to be formed around similar ethnicity, language, and culture

Truman Doctrine

It stated that Communism in Europe would need to be “contained” by force if necessary.

Marshall Plan

Sought to rebuild communities within Western Europe that were destroyed by war.

Lenin

Enforced complete communism- state ownership of all aspects of property.

NATO

In 1949, the United States established this with other allies, as a way to defend themselves against possible Soviet aggression.

Red Scare

During the 1950’s, Americans see Communists as a major threat to their way of life and there were Red Scares. One of the most significant leaders was Senator Joseph McCarthy