World History Advanced Placement's Section 3 Vocabulary: Terms and Definitions
Social Contract
An implicit agreement among individuals in a society where they give up some of their individual freedoms in exchange for social benefits and protection.
Enlightenment
An intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing the use of reason, scientific inquiry, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority.
Classical Liberalism
A political and economic philosophy that advocates for individual liberties, limited government intervention, and free-market capitalism as the best means to promote individual freedom and societal progress.
Theodor Herzl
The founder of modern political Zionism, a movement that sought to establish a Jewish homeland in response to rising anti-Semitism and persecution of Jews in Europe.
Dreyfus Affair
A political scandal that exposed deep-rooted anti-Semitism in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It involved the wrongful conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer, for treason, highlighting the need for justice and equality.
The Wealth of Nations
A seminal work by economist Adam Smith, advocating for the principles of free-market capitalism, division of labor, and the invisible hand of the market as drivers of economic growth and prosperity.
Henri de Saint-Simon
A French social theorist and founder of sociology, who advocated for the application of scientific principles in society and industry to address social issues and inequalities.
Charles Fourier
A French utopian socialist who proposed the concept of cooperative communities called 'phalanxes' as a means to address social issues and inequalities through collective living and shared resources.
Robert Owen
A Welsh social reformer and early industrialist who advocated for workers' rights, improved working conditions, and the establishment of cooperative communities to promote social justice and equality.
Fabian Society
A British socialist organization founded in the late 19th century, aiming to achieve socialism through gradual and reformist means rather than revolutionary methods.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité
The French motto that represents the ideals of the French Revolution, emphasizing liberty, equality, and fraternity as the foundation of democratic principles and social justice.
Lola Rodriguez de Tio
A Puerto Rican poet and revolutionary who advocated for independence and social justice, using her poetry to inspire and mobilize the Puerto Rican people during the struggle for freedom.
Realpolitik
A political approach that prioritizes practical considerations and the pursuit of national interests over ideological or moral concerns, often associated with the pragmatic exercise of power and diplomacy.
Charter Oath
A set of principles issued by Emperor Meiji of Japan in 1868, committing to modernization, constitutional government, and the pursuit of national prosperity through industrialization and social reforms.
Communism
A political and economic ideology that advocates for the collective ownership of the means of production, the abolition of social classes, and the establishment of a classless society based on common ownership and cooperation.
John Stuart Mill
A British philosopher and political economist who contributed to the development of utilitarianism, a moral and ethical theory that asserts the greatest happiness for the greatest number as the guiding principle of conduct.
Utilitarianism
A moral and ethical theory that emphasizes the greatest happiness for the greatest number as the guiding principle of conduct, focusing on the overall well-being and utility of society.
Bourgeoisie
The middle class, particularly those who own property or engage in business, often associated with the capitalist mode of production and the accumulation of wealth.
Bushido
The code of conduct followed by the samurai class in feudal Japan, emphasizing honor, loyalty, self-discipline, and martial skill as the virtues of a warrior.
Genro
The group of elder statesmen who exercised significant influence in Meiji-era Japan, guiding the emperor and shaping the modernization and Westernization of Japan's political, economic, and social systems.
Mahmud II
An Ottoman Sultan who implemented a series of reforms known as the Tanzimat in the 19th century, aiming to modernize and centralize the Ottoman Empire in response to external pressures and internal challenges.
Hatt-i Humayan
A series of Ottoman edicts issued during the Tanzimat era, aiming to promote equality, establish a legal framework based on European models, and modernize the Ottoman Empire's political, legal, and administrative systems.
Millets
Autonomous religious communities within the Ottoman Empire, each governed by its own religious laws and enjoying a certain degree of self-governance in matters of personal status and religious affairs.
Self-Strengthening Movement
A late 19th-century Chinese initiative that aimed to blend traditional Chinese culture with Western technology and industry, in order to modernize and strengthen China's political, economic, and military capabilities.
Emperor Guangxu
A Qing Dynasty emperor associated with the Hundred Days of Reform, a period of rapid reform in late 19th and early 20th century China initiated by Emperor Guangxu to modernize China's political, economic, and social systems.
Hundred Days of Reform
A period of intense reform in China initiated by Emperor Guangxu in 1898, aiming to modernize China's political, economic, and social systems by introducing Western ideas, institutions, and technologies.
James Hargreaves
An English inventor credited with inventing the spinning jenny, a key advancement in the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution, enabling the simultaneous spinning of multiple threads and increasing production efficiency.
Richard Arkwright
An English inventor and industrialist who played a significant role in the mechanization of textile production with the invention of the spinning frame, also known as the water frame.
Crop Rotation
An agricultural practice that involves cycling different crops in a specific sequence on the same piece of land, aiming to improve soil fertility, prevent nutrient depletion, and control pests and diseases.
Seed Drill
A mechanical device invented by Jethro Tull that revolutionized agriculture by efficiently planting seeds in rows, improving seed distribution, reducing waste, and increasing crop yields.
Industrialization
The process of transitioning from an agrarian and handicraft-based economy to one dominated by industry and manufacturing, characterized by the mechanization of production, technological advancements, and the growth of urban centers.
Specialization of Labor
The division of labor into specific tasks or roles within a production process, where individuals or groups focus on a particular aspect of production, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
Empress Cixi
A powerful figure in late Qing Dynasty China, who played a key role in political decision-making and resisted modernization efforts, contributing to the decline of the Qing Dynasty and the eventual establishment of the Republic of China.
Mass Production
The large-scale manufacturing of standardized products, often utilizing assembly lines, machinery, and division of labor to achieve high output and efficiency.
Tenement
Multi-family housing units, typically found in urban areas, characterized by crowded and often substandard living conditions, resulting from rapid urbanization and the influx of industrial workers.
Slums
Overcrowded and impoverished urban neighborhoods characterized by inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to basic services, often resulting from social and economic inequalities.
Working Class
A social class consisting of manual or industrial laborers, often lacking significant wealth or property, and typically dependent on wages for their livelihood.
Imperialism
The extension of a nation's power and influence through colonization, military force, or economic dominance over other territories.
Nationalism
A strong loyalty and devotion to one's own nation, often associated with a desire for independence or supremacy.
Sino-Japanese War
A conflict between China and Japan (1894-1895) over territorial and influence issues in East Asia.
Formosa
The historical name for Taiwan, an island in East Asia.
Phrenologists
Practitioners of phrenology, a pseudoscience that claimed personality traits could be determined by studying the shape of the skull.
Charles Darwin
An English naturalist known for his theory of evolution through natural selection.
Social Darwinism
The application of Darwin's evolutionary theories to human societies, often used to justify imperialism and racism.
David Livingstone
A Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa, known for his efforts to end the slave trade and exploration of the continent.
East India Company (EIC)
A British trading company that played a key role in British imperialism in India.
Dutch East India Company (VOC)
A Dutch trading company influential in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
King Leopold II
A Belgian monarch who exploited the Congo Free State for personal gain in a notorious example of colonial exploitation.
José Rizal
A Filipino nationalist and writer, a key figure in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule.
Usman dan Fodio
The leader of the Sokoto Caliphate in West Africa, known for his religious and political reforms.
Samory Touré
A West African leader and resistance fighter against French colonial expansion.
Muhammad Ahmad
A Sudanese leader who proclaimed himself the Mahdi and led a rebellion against British and Egyptian rule.
Yaa Asantewaa
An Ashanti queen mother and military leader in the Ashanti-British 'War of the Golden Stool.'
Balkan Peninsula
A region in Southeast Europe with diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
French Indochina
French colonial territories in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Philippines (Spanish colonization)
The former Spanish colony in Southeast Asia with a history of resistance against Spanish rule.
Sokoto Caliphate
A West African Islamic state established during the Fulani jihad.
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
A condominium (joint rule) by Britain and Egypt over Sudan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Asante Empire
A pre-colonial West African state, known for its gold resources.
Ghost Dance
A Native American spiritual movement in the late 19th century, seeking cultural revival and resistance against U.S. expansion.
Indian Rebellion of 1857
An uprising against British rule in India, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.
Philippine Revolution
An armed conflict against Spanish rule in the Philippines, leading to Philippine independence.
Spanish-American War
A conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898, resulting in the U.S. acquiring territories.
Philippine-American War
An armed conflict between Filipino nationalists and American forces after the Spanish-American War.
Maori Wars
Conflicts between the indigenous Maori people and British settlers in New Zealand.
Xhosa Cattle Killing Movement
A religious movement among the Xhosa people in South Africa, resulting in a devastating famine.
Anglo-Zulu War
A conflict between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom in Southern Africa.
Treaty of Paris (1898)
An agreement ending the Spanish-American War and ceding territories to the United States.
Treaty of Waitangi
The founding document in New Zealand, signed between the British Crown and Maori chiefs.
Proclamation of 1763
A British decree prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains after the French and Indian War.
Indian Removal Act
U.S. legislation leading to the forced relocation of Native American tribes in the 1830s.
Indian National Congress
A political party in India advocating for independence from British rule.
Cherokee Nation
A Native American tribe forcibly relocated during the Trail of Tears.
Aboriginal
Indigenous peoples, particularly in Australia.
Maori
Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.
Xhosa
An ethnic group in South Africa.
Zulu
A Southern African ethnic group known for their military prowess.
Mahdi
A title for a messianic figure in Islam, also associated with Muhammad Ahmad in Sudan.
Pan-Africanism
A movement advocating for the unity and independence of African nations and people.
Sepoys
Indian soldiers employed by the British East India Company.
Raj
The period of British rule in India from 1858 to 1947.
Guano
Nitrate-rich bird droppings used as fertilizer.
Cotton
A major cash crop, central to the economy of the American South.
Rubber
A valuable natural resource, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Palm Oil
A vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit, important in West African economies.
Ivory Trade
Commerce involving the extraction and sale of elephant tusks.
Copper
A metal used in various industries, including electrical wiring.
Tin
A metal used in alloys and coatings, important in the production of tin cans.
Gold
A precious metal with economic and cultural significance.
Diamonds
Precious gems with high value and global trade importance.
Cecil Rhodes
A British imperialist and mining magnate in Southern Africa.
De Beers Mining Company
The dominant diamond company founded by Cecil Rhodes.
Cash Crops
Crops grown for sale rather than personal use.
Export Economies
Economies dependent on the export of goods for revenue.
Monocultures
An agricultural practice of cultivating a single crop over large areas.
Railroads
Networks of tracks and trains facilitating transportation and economic development.
Steamships
Water vessels powered by steam engines, revolutionizing maritime transportation.
Telegraph
A communication system transmitting messages over long distances using electrical signals.
Apartheid
A system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa.
Spice Islands
Southeast Asian islands historically known for the production of valuable spices.