AP WORLD ALL VOCAB

Neo-Confucianism

A revival of Confucian thought blending elements of Buddhism and Daoism; became dominant during the Song dynasty and emphasized social harmony and moral behavior.

Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism focused on compassion and the possibility of achieving enlightenment for all beings; popular in China, Korea, and Japan.

Flying Cash

Early Chinese paper money used during the Tang and Song dynasties; allowed merchants to deposit and withdraw money in different cities.

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening and drought-resistant rice from Vietnam that allowed two harvests per season, greatly increasing Chinese agricultural output.

Foot Binding

A practice among elite Chinese women where feet were tightly bound to appear small, reflecting patriarchal control and social status.

Grand Canal

A vast Chinese waterway system linking the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, facilitating internal trade and communication.

Hangzhou

A major southern Chinese city that flourished during the Song dynasty; known for its commerce and culture.

Beijing

Capital city of several Chinese dynasties including the Yuan, Ming, and Qing; political and cultural center of northern China.

Sinification

The process by which non-Chinese societies came under the influence of Chinese culture, especially in East and Southeast Asia.

Khanates

Regions of the Mongol Empire ruled by different descendants of Genghis Khan, such as the Golden Horde or Ilkhanate.

Shogunate

A form of government in Japan where the shogun (military leader) held power over the emperor; started with the Kamakura Shogunate.

Shinto

Indigenous Japanese religion focused on nature spirits (kami) and ancestor worship.

Bushido

The code of conduct for samurai, emphasizing loyalty, honor, and martial arts skill.

Samurai

Japanese warrior class who served the daimyo (lords) and followed bushido.

The Tale of Genji

The world’s first novel, written by Murasaki Shikibu in 11th-century Japan, depicting aristocratic court life.

Sui Dynasty (581–618)

Reunified China after centuries of fragmentation; built the Grand Canal but collapsed due to overextension.

Tang Dynasty (618–907)

A golden age of Chinese culture, expansion, and trade; embraced Buddhism and built a strong bureaucracy.

Song Dynasty (960–1279)

Known for technological advances, economic prosperity, and the rise of Neo-Confucianism; politically weaker than Tang.

Wu Zhao

The only female emperor of China, ruled during the Tang dynasty, promoted Buddhism and education.

Li Bai

Famous Tang dynasty poet known for romantic and nature-themed poetry.

Zhu Xi

Leading Neo-Confucian scholar during the Song dynasty who emphasized order, education, and moral behavior.

Mongols

Nomadic pastoralists from Central Asia who created the largest contiguous empire in history under Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire; united tribes and expanded through brutal military conquest.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol-led dynasty in China (1271–1368) founded by Kublai Khan; mixed Chinese and Mongol administration.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan; conquered China and established the Yuan dynasty.

Murasaki Shikibu

Heian court lady and author of The Tale of Genji.

Minamoto Yoritomo

First shogun of Japan; established the Kamakura Shogunate in 1192.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral who led large maritime expeditions under the Ming dynasty to expand Chinese influence.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns along trade routes like the Silk Roads where travelers and caravans could rest and resupply.

Camel Caravan

Groups of traders using camels to transport goods across deserts, especially on the Trans-Saharan and Silk Road routes.

Commodities

Valuable trade goods such as silk, spices, salt, gold, and textiles.

Gunpowder

Chinese invention that spread through the Silk Roads; revolutionized warfare globally.

Porcelain

High-quality ceramic from China that was widely traded and highly desired across Eurasia.

Papermaking

Invented in China, this technology spread westward, transforming education and record-keeping.

Compass

Navigation tool developed in China; crucial for maritime travel, especially in the Indian Ocean.

Battle of Talas (751)

Conflict between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Tang Dynasty; led to the transfer of papermaking to the Islamic world.

Banking Houses

Financial institutions that issued credit and bills of exchange; helped facilitate long-distance trade.

Silkworms

Used to produce silk in China; the foundation of the valuable silk industry.

Kashgar

A major trading city on the Silk Roads in Central Asia, linking China to the Islamic world.

Samarkand

A wealthy Silk Road city known for trade, architecture, and scholarship in Central Asia.

Bubonic Plague

Also known as the Black Death; spread via trade routes, killing millions in Eurasia.

Sogdians

Central Asian merchants who played a key role in Silk Road trade and cultural exchange.

Travels of Marco Polo

Accounts of the Venetian merchant’s journey to China, which fascinated Europeans and increased interest in Asia.

Ibn Battuta

Muslim traveler who journeyed across the Islamic world and documented cultures from West Africa to India to China.

Yam System

Mongol postal relay system using stations and horses to quickly transmit messages.

Paiza

Mongol-issued passport that allowed safe travel across the empire.

Yassa

Legal code developed by Genghis Khan to unify his empire.

Pax Mongolica

"Mongol Peace" — a time of relative stability and increased trade and cultural exchange under Mongol rule.

Subutai Baghatur

Mongol general and military strategist under Genghis Khan.

Khwarazm Shah

Ruler of a Central Asian empire that was destroyed by Genghis Khan after defying him.

Dhow

Arab sailing ship with triangular sails used for trade in the Indian Ocean.

Astrolabe

Navigational instrument used to determine latitude by measuring stars; important for maritime trade.

Lateen Sail

Triangular sail allowing ships to sail against the wind; crucial for Indian Ocean navigation.

Stern-Post Rudder

A Chinese invention that made steering ships easier and improved maritime trade.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds that facilitated predictable travel across the Indian Ocean.

Junk

Large, stable Chinese ship used in long-distance trade.

Diaspora

Communities of people living outside their homeland who maintain cultural connections; often formed by merchants (e.g., Jewish, Muslim, Chinese).

Zheng He

Ming Chinese admiral who led massive naval expeditions across the Indian Ocean to show Chinese power and expand tribute.

Gunpowder Empires

Large, militarized states that expanded using gunpowder weapons like cannons and muskets, including the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires.

Ottoman Empire

Sunni Muslim empire centered in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey); expanded into Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Safavid Empire

Shia Muslim empire in Persia (modern Iran); known for its conflict with the Ottomans.

Mughal Empire

Muslim empire in India known for religious tolerance (at times) and architectural achievements like the Taj Mahal.

Devshirme

Ottoman system of recruiting Christian boys from the Balkans, converting them to Islam, and training them as elite soldiers or bureaucrats.

Janissaries

Elite infantry soldiers of the Ottoman Empire; originally recruited through the devshirme.

Tax Farming

System where the state gave private individuals the right to collect taxes in exchange for a fee; used in the Ottoman Empire.

Zamindar

Land-owning elites in the Mughal Empire who collected taxes and served as administrators.

Divine Right

European belief that monarchs were chosen by God to rule.

Shi’a Islam

Branch of Islam followed by the Safavids; led to conflict with Sunni Ottomans.

Sunni Islam

Branch of Islam followed by the Ottomans and Mughals.

Protestant Reformation

Movement against the Catholic Church led by Martin Luther; created new Christian denominations.

Martin Luther

German monk who wrote the 95 Theses criticizing Catholic corruption; started the Protestant Reformation.

Catholic Counter-Reformation

Movement to reform the Catholic Church and stop the spread of Protestantism (Council of Trent, Jesuits, Inquisition).

Jesuits

Catholic missionaries and educators who spread Catholicism during the Counter-Reformation.

Absolutism

A political system where a monarch holds total power, often justified by divine right.

Louis XIV

Absolute monarch of France who built the Palace of Versailles to show power and control the nobility.

Peter the Great

Russian czar who modernized (Westernized) Russia and expanded its territory.

Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV)

First czar of Russia; known for centralizing power and using violence to control nobility.

Akbar the Great

Mughal emperor who promoted religious tolerance and cultural blending.

Aurangzeb

Later Mughal emperor who reversed religious tolerance and expanded the empire but weakened it internally.

Taj Mahal

Monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan; symbol of empire’s wealth and Islamic influence.

Palace of Versailles

Lavish French palace used by Louis XIV to display power and control nobles.

Mosque of Suleymaniye

Large mosque in Istanbul built by Suleiman the Magnificent to show Ottoman strength and devotion.

Miniature Paintings

Small, detailed art pieces used in the Mughal Empire to glorify rulers and events.

Tribute System

System where conquered peoples or neighboring states paid money or goods to avoid being attacked or to receive protection.

Millet System

Ottoman policy that allowed religious communities (like Christians and Jews) to govern themselves under their own laws.

Bureaucracy

System of government officials and departments used to manage large empires (China, Ottomans, Mughals all used it).

Civil Service Exam

Chinese system for selecting government officials based on Confucian learning; continued under the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Manchu (Qing) Dynasty

Ethnic minority (from Manchuria) who ruled China after the Ming; expanded Chinese borders significantly.

Astrolabe

Instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of stars.

Magnetic Compass

Navigational tool that shows direction using Earth’s magnetic field.

Lateen Sail

Triangular sail that allowed ships to sail more effectively against the wind.

Caravel

Small, fast Portuguese ship with triangular sails; used for exploration.

Carrack

Large Portuguese ship used for long-distance trade.

Galleon

Heavily armed ship used by Europeans, especially the Spanish, for trade and war.

Fluyt

Dutch cargo ship designed for efficiency and trade, not war.

Ocean Currents & Prevailing Winds

Used by European navigators to plan efficient sea routes.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who funded maritime exploration around Africa.

Bartolomeu Dias

First to round the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope).

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer who reached India via the Cape of Good Hope.

Christopher Columbus

Sailed west for Spain, “discovered” the Americas in 1492.