AP VOCAB #2

Jinshi

Chinese scholars who passed the highest level of civil service exams.

Zen-Buddhism

A form of Buddhism focused on meditation and direct personal experience.

Empress Wu

The only woman to officially rule China as emperor; she ruled during the Tang Dynasty.

Neo-Confucians

Thinkers who combined Confucian ideas with Buddhist and Daoist beliefs.

Taika Reforms

Japanese reforms that strengthened the emperor and modeled government after China.

The Tale of Genji

A famous Japanese novel about court life, written by Murasaki Shikibu.

Fujiwara

A powerful Japanese family that controlled government through marriage and political influence.

Bushi

Japanese warrior class; early samurai.

Gempei Wars

Civil wars in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.

Shoguns

Military rulers who governed Japan in the emperor’s name.

Silla

A Korean kingdom that united most of the Korean Peninsula in the 600s.

Sinification

The adoption of Chinese culture, language, government, and traditions.

Khmers

Southeast Asian people who created the powerful Khmer Empire.

Trung Sisters

Two Vietnamese sisters who led a rebellion against Chinese rule.

Islam

Monotheistic religion founded by Muhammad in Arabia.

Muslim

A person who follows Islam.

Islamic / Islamicate

Islamic: related directly to Islam; Islamicate: cultures influenced by Islamic civilization.

Caliph

A political and religious leader who was considered a successor to Muhammad.

Jizya

A tax paid by non-Muslims living under Muslim rule.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam; traditionally believed the community should choose the caliph.

Shi’a

A branch of Islam that believes Muhammad’s family, beginning with Ali, should lead the Muslim community.

Umayyad

The dynasty that created a large Islamic empire based in Damascus.

Abbasid

Dynasty that overthrew the Umayyads and made Baghdad the center of the Islamic world.

Harun al-Rashid

Famous Abbasid caliph associated with the Islamic Golden Age and Baghdad.

Dhows

Arab sailing ships used for trade across the Indian Ocean.

Al-Mahdi

An important Abbasid caliph who helped strengthen the empire.

Buyids

Persian Shi’a dynasty that controlled Baghdad and influenced the Abbasid caliphs.

Seljuk Turks

Muslim Turkic people who conquered large parts of the Middle East and supported Sunni Islam.

Mamluks

Military slaves who became powerful rulers, especially in Egypt.

Sultan

A Muslim ruler or monarch, usually with political and military authority.

Sultans of Delhi

Muslim dynasties that ruled much of northern India from Delhi.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan Muslim traveler who traveled across Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe.

Sufi

A Muslim who follows a mystical tradition focused on developing a close relationship with God.

Factions

Groups within a larger organization that have different interests or goals.

Disseminate

To spread information, ideas, or beliefs widely.