AP World Unit 1 Part 2 vocab

Infastructure

During the period 1200-1450, __ referred to the physical systems and structures that supported societies, such as roads, bridges, canals, and irrigation systems. Strong infrastructure allowed empires to improve communication, promote trade, and maintain control over large territories. For example, the Mongols maintained a vast system of roads and relay stations called the Yam that helped them govern their empire efficiently. Similarly, in the Inca Empire, the extensive road network across the Andes Mountains helped connect distant regions.

Islam

Between 1200 and 1450, __ was a major world religion that continued to spread across Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe through trade, conquest, and missionary activity. Islamic states like the Delhi Sultanate in India and the Mali Empire in West Africa used __ law (Sharia) to help govern their people. __ also encouraged literacy and learning, as reading the __ was considered important, leading to the growth of schools and libraries in __ regions. The religion unified diverse people under a common belief system, which helped facilitate trade and cultural exchange across the __ world.

Luxury goods

During the period 1200-1450, __ were high-value, non-essential items like silk, spices, porcelain, and gold that were traded over long distances, especially along the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean trade routes, and Trans-Saharan trade networks. These goods were often consumed by elites and used to display wealth and status. The demand for __ encouraged the growth of cities, the expansion of trade networks, and the rise of powerful merchant and banking classes. Empires such as the Mongols protected trade routes to ensure the steady flow of these valuable items.

Melaka

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a powerful trading city-state located on the Strait of __, a key maritime chokepoint in Southeast Asia. It became a major hub in the Indian Ocean trade network, connecting merchants from China, India, the Middle East, and East Africa. __’s rulers supported Islam, which spread through the region along with trade, making it an important center for both commerce and religion. Its strategic location allowed it to control and profit from the trade of spices, textiles, and other valuable goods.

Mexica

The __ were a Mesoamerican people who established the Aztec Empire in central Mexico during the 14th century, rising to power near the end of the 1200-1450 period. They built their capital at Tenochtitlán and developed a powerful militaristic state that expanded through conquest and tribute. The __ practiced polytheism and performed human sacrifices to appease their gods, especially Huitzilopochtli, the sun god. Their empire relied on tribute from conquered peoples and had a complex social, political, and religious structure.

Minting of coins

During the period 1200-1450, the __ was an important way for states to standardize currency to facilitate trade and strengthen their economies. Governments and empires, such as the Song Dynasty in China and various Islamic caliphates, issued metal coins stamped with official symbols or inscriptions to guarantee their value. __ made it easier to conduct long-distance trade by providing a reliable and widely accepted medium of exchange. — also reinforced the authority of rulers, whose names or titles were often inscribed on the coins.

Monetization

During the period 1200-1450, ___ referred to the increasing use of money, especially coins, in economic transactions instead of barter or tribute in goods. This shift allowed for more efficient taxation, trade, and the growth of markets in expanding empires like the Song Dynasty, which even introduced paper money alongside coins. ___ supported urbanization and long-distance trade by creating standardized systems of exchange. It also helped governments raise revenue more effectively to support state functions and military campaigns.

Mongols

During the period 1200-1450, the ___ were a nomadic group from Central Asia who created the largest land-based empire in history under the leadership of Genghis Khan and his successors. They conquered vast regions across Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, including China, Persia, and Russia. While often known for their brutal military tactics, the ___ also promoted trade, communication, and cultural exchange by securing and protecting the Silk Roads during the Pax Mongolica. Their empire connected distant civilizations and helped spread technologies, goods, and ideas across continents.

Waru Waru

___ was an agricultural technique developed by the Andean civilizations, including the Tiwanaku and later used by the Inca, before and during the period 1200-1450. It involved creating raised beds of soil surrounded by canals that collected water, which helped prevent both drought and frost damage in the high-altitude environment of the Andes. This method increased agricultural productivity and supported the growth of large populations in difficult mountainous terrain. ___ farming showed the ingenuity of pre-Columbian societies in adapting to their environment.

Muslim

Between 1200 and 1450, a __ was someone who followed __, a major world religion that shaped political, social, and cultural life across parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. __communities were often connected through shared religious practices, trade networks, and scholarship, as seen in powerful states like the Delhi Sultanate and the Mali Empire. __ law (Sharia) influenced governance, and Muslims contributed to advances in science, medicine, and literature during this period. The spread of __ helped unify diverse peoples and facilitated long-distance trade across the Indian Ocean and Trans-Saharan routes.

NeoConfucianism

During the period 1200-1450, ___ was a revival and reinterpretation of Confucian thought that became the dominant philosophy in Song Dynasty China and later influenced neighboring countries like Korea and Japan. It combined traditional Confucian ethics with elements of Buddhism and Daoism, emphasizing moral behavior, social harmony, and proper government. ___ shaped education, civil service exams, and political ideology, reinforcing hierarchical relationships in society. This philosophy helped maintain stability and order during a time of economic growth and cultural development in East Asia.

Novgorod

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a major trading city and political center in northern Russia, serving as a key link between Europe and Asia through the Hanseatic League and other trade networks. It was known for its relative political independence and its role in facilitating the exchange of fur, timber, and luxury goods like textiles and silver. __’s position along important river routes allowed it to thrive economically while also serving as a cultural and religious center with strong ties to the Orthodox Christian world. The city's governance included a mix of aristocratic rule and communal assemblies called veche.

Urbanization

Between 1200 and 1450, ___ referred to the growth of cities as centers of trade, politics, and culture, especially along key trade routes like the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan networks. Cities such as Cairo, Venice, and Timbuktu expanded due to increased commercial activity, the rise of merchant classes, and state support. ___ helped spread ideas, technologies, and cultural practices, while also creating social challenges like overcrowding and the need for infrastructure. These growing cities became hubs where different people and cultures interacted.

Paper money

During the period 1200-1450, __ was an innovative form of currency that first became widely used in Song Dynasty China to facilitate trade and economic growth. Unlike coins made of metal, __ was lighter and easier to carry, which helped merchants conduct long-distance trade more efficiently. The use of __spread slowly to other regions but remained most developed in East Asia during this period. This financial innovation helped support the expanding economy and the increasing complexity of commercial activities.

Pathogens

During the period 1200-1450, —disease-causing organisms—played a significant role in shaping societies, especially through the spread of pandemics like the Black Death. The Mongol Empire's vast trade networks unintentionally helped transmit diseases such as the bubonic plague across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, causing massive population declines and social upheaval. __ affected economies by reducing labor forces and weakening states, which sometimes led to shifts in power and social structures. The spread of disease also influenced cultural and religious responses as communities tried to understand and cope with these outbreaks.

Polynesian migration

Between 1200 and 1450, __ refers to the deliberate and skilled ocean voyages by Polynesian peoples who settled islands across the vast Pacific Ocean. Using advanced navigation techniques like reading stars, ocean currents, and bird flight patterns, they colonized islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. These migrations spread Polynesian culture, language, and agricultural practices across thousands of miles of open ocean, demonstrating impressive maritime technology and adaptability. This expansion connected distant island communities long before European contact.

Precious metals

During the period 1200-1450, __ like gold and silver were highly valued for trade, wealth accumulation, and minting coins across many parts of the world. Empires such as Mali in West Africa controlled rich gold mines, which fueled trade across the Sahara Desert and helped the empire gain wealth and influence. __ were used not only as currency but also in art, jewelry, and religious objects, symbolizing power and status. Control over these resources often played a key role in the rise and fall of states.

Unfree labor

During the period 1200-1450, __ referred to systems where people were forced to work without full freedom or fair compensation, including slavery, serfdom, and indentured servitude. Many societies, such as the Mongol Empire and the Aztec Empire, used __ to build infrastructure, farm, or serve elites. This labor system was crucial to maintaining large economies and states, but often involved harsh conditions and limited rights for workers. __ helped sustain agricultural production and large construction projects like temples and roads.

Printing

During the period 1200-1450, __was a revolutionary technology that originated in East Asia, especially in Song Dynasty China, where movable type and woodblock __were developed. __ allowed for the mass production of texts, including religious scriptures, government documents, and literature, which helped spread knowledge and literacy more widely than before. This innovation supported education, bureaucracy, and cultural exchange throughout the region. __ technology later influenced other parts of the world, although it spread slowly before the invention of the __ press in Europe.

Silk

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a highly prized luxury good produced mainly in China and traded extensively along the Silk Roads and other trade routes. __ was valued not only for its softness and beauty but also as a symbol of wealth and status across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The demand for__ helped connect distant regions through trade and cultural exchange, contributing to the prosperity of empires like the Tang and Song Dynasties, as well as the Byzantine Empire. __ production also involved specialized labor and craftsmanship that was carefully guarded by Chinese producers.

Spices

During the period 1200-1450, — like pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg were highly valuable luxury goods traded across the Indian Ocean and beyond. They were prized not only for flavoring food but also for their use in medicine and religious rituals. Control of — trade routes brought wealth and power to trading states such as Melaka and the Srivijaya Empire. — connected distant regions like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, fueling maritime trade and encouraging advancements in navigation.

Sogdians

During the period 1200-1450, the — were an influential group of merchants and traders from Central Asia, known for their key role in facilitating trade along the Silk Roads. They acted as middlemen between East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, helping to exchange goods like silk, spices, and precious metals. The — also spread cultural and religious ideas, including Buddhism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism, across Eurasia. Their language and communities helped maintain communication and economic connections along vast trade networks.

Terracing

During the period 1200-1450, — was an agricultural technique used by civilizations like the Inca to farm on steep mountain slopes. By carving step-like flat areas into hillsides, — helped prevent soil erosion and improved water retention, allowing crops like potatoes and maize to grow in challenging environments. This method increased food production and supported large populations in mountainous regions. — demonstrated the ingenuity of societies adapting their farming practices to diverse landscapes.

Southeast Asia

During the period 1200-1450, — was a vibrant region shaped by a mix of indigenous cultures and influences from Indian, Chinese, and Islamic civilizations through trade and migration. Powerful kingdoms like Srivijaya and Majapahit controlled key maritime trade routes in the Indian Ocean, facilitating the exchange of spices, textiles, and ideas. The spread of Islam during this period significantly transformed the religious landscape, especially in coastal trading cities. —'s strategic location made it a cultural and economic crossroads connecting East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.

Sugar

During the period 1200-1450, — was a valuable and increasingly traded crop that originated in South and Southeast Asia and spread through the Islamic world into the Mediterranean. It was considered a luxury item used for sweetening food and in medicine. The demand for — helped stimulate agricultural production in regions like the Middle East and later in Mediterranean Europe, often relying on slave labor for cultivation. —'s growing importance in trade connected plantations, markets, and consumers across Afro-Eurasia.

Swahili city-states

Between 1200 and 1450, — were prosperous trading centers along the East African coast, such as Kilwa, Mombasa, and Sofala. These city-states thrived by connecting African interior goods like gold, ivory, and slaves with merchants from the Indian Ocean world, including Arabs, Persians, and Indians. They developed a unique Swahili culture that blended African and Islamic influences, reflected in their language, architecture, and religion. The wealth generated from trade allowed these city-states to build impressive stone buildings and maintain political independence.

Swahili language

During the period 1200-1450, the __ developed as a Bantu-based language heavily influenced by Arabic due to extensive trade and cultural contact along the East African coast. It served as a lingua franca for merchants, sailors, and communities involved in the vibrant Indian Ocean trade network. The spread of Islam and interactions with Arab and Persian traders enriched the __ vocabulary and culture. This language helped unify diverse groups across city-states like Kilwa and Mombasa, facilitating commerce and communication.

Serfdom

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a system of unfree labor common in medieval Europe, where peasants, known as serfs, were tied to the land and required to work for the landowners. Serfs were not slaves, but they had limited freedom and had to give a portion of their crops or labor as rent. This system supported the feudal economy by providing a stable agricultural workforce to sustain lords and knights. — shaped rural life and social hierarchies until gradual changes began in the late Middle Ages.

Tenochtitlan

During the period 1200-1450, __ was the magnificent capital city of the Aztec Empire, founded on an island in Lake Texcoco in present-day Mexico. It was a center of political, religious, and economic power, known for its impressive architecture, including temples and causeways connecting the city to the mainland. The city's complex infrastructure, such as chinampas (floating gardens), supported a large population and intensive agriculture. — became one of the largest cities in the world at the time, symbolizing the strength and sophistication of the Aztec civilization.

Timbuktu

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a major trading and cultural center in the Mali Empire, located near the Niger River in West Africa. It flourished as a hub for trans-Saharan trade, dealing in gold, salt, and other valuable goods. _ was also famous for its Islamic learning centers and libraries, attracting scholars from across the Muslim world. The city became a symbol of wealth, education, and the blending of African and Islamic cultures during this era.

Toltec

During the period 1200-1450, the __ were a powerful civilization in central Mexico that preceded and influenced later cultures like the Mexica (Aztecs). They are known for their military prowess, architectural achievements, and religious practices, including worship of the god Quetzalcoatl. The _ capital, Tula, featured impressive pyramids and sculptures that inspired later Mesoamerican art and culture. Although their dominance declined before the rise of the Aztecs, _ ideas and traditions were incorporated into Aztec society.

Turkic Language

During the period 1200-1450, __s were spoken by various Turkic peoples who played important roles in the political and cultural life of Central Asia and parts of the Middle East. These groups, including the Seljuks and later the Ottomans, spread their language through conquest, trade, and migration. __ helped unify diverse nomadic tribes and facilitated administration in empires that controlled large territories along key trade routes like the Silk Roads. The spread of__also influenced local cultures and contributed to the blending of Islamic and Central Asian traditions.

Porcelain

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a highly prized luxury good produced mainly in China, especially during the Song and Yuan dynasties. This fine, white ceramic was valued for its beauty, durability, and craftsmanship, making it a popular export along trade routes like the Silk Roads and the Indian Ocean network. __was often decorated with intricate designs and became a symbol of Chinese cultural and artistic achievement. Its trade helped connect China with markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Kublai Khan

During the period 1200-1450, __ was the grandson of Genghis Khan and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China. He completed the Mongol conquest of China and ruled as emperor, promoting trade, religious tolerance, and cultural exchange. _expanded the use of the Silk Roads, encouraging interaction between East and West during the period known as the Pax Mongolica. His reign marked the integration of Mongol and Chinese traditions, shaping the political landscape of Asia.

Sundiata Ketia

During the period 1200-1450, __ was the founder of the Mali Empire in West Africa, credited with uniting several smaller kingdoms after the fall of the Ghana Empire. He established a strong and centralized state that controlled important trade routes across the Sahara Desert, especially in gold and salt. _'s leadership helped Mali become one of the wealthiest and most powerful empires in Africa during this era. His story is remembered in the epic tradition as a symbol of heroism and nation-building.

Marco Polo

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a Venetian merchant and traveler who journeyed across Asia along the Silk Roads to the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China. His travels introduced Europeans to the wealth, culture, and innovations of East Asia, sparking interest in exploration and trade. _'s detailed accounts helped increase knowledge about distant lands and encouraged the expansion of trade networks between Europe and Asia. Though some details of his story are debated, his influence on medieval geography and commerce is significant.

Mansa Musa

During the period 1200-1450, __was the ruler of the Mali Empire and is famous for his immense wealth, especially in gold. His pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 showcased Mali's prosperity and helped establish important diplomatic and trade connections with the Islamic world. _ also supported education, building mosques and universities in cities like Timbuktu, turning Mali into a center of Islamic learning and culture. His reign strengthened Mali's political power and economic influence in West Africa.

Ibn Battuta

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a Muslim traveler and scholar from Morocco who journeyed extensively across the Islamic world and beyond, covering parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. His detailed travel writings provide valuable insights into the cultures, politics, and economies of diverse regions during this era. __s travels helped connect distant Muslim communities and highlighted the vastness of the Islamic world under various empires and sultanates. His accounts also reveal the importance of trade routes and pilgrimage in facilitating cultural exchange.

Ibn Khaldun

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a prominent Arab historian and philosopher known for his pioneering work in sociology and historiography. Living in the Islamic world, especially in North Africa, he analyzed the rise and fall of civilizations in his famous book, the Muqaddimah. _introduced ideas about social cohesion, economic factors, and leadership that influenced how history and society were understood. His work remains foundational in understanding the dynamics of political power and culture during the medieval period.

Tamerlane

During the period 1200-1450, __ was a Central Asian conqueror who built a vast empire through military campaigns across Persia, Central Asia, and parts of India and the Middle East. He claimed descent from Genghis Khan and sought to revive the Mongol Empire's legacy with a focus on conquest and the spread of Islamic culture. _’s invasions were marked by both destruction and the promotion of trade and arts, leaving a mixed legacy of devastation and cultural achievements. His empire helped shape the political landscape of Eurasia before the rise of the Ottoman Empire.