AP World History: Modern Exam — Period 1 Notes (1200-1450)

Flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and historical developments from Period 1 of AP World History: Modern.

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophy popular during the Tang Dynasty that fused elements of Buddhism and Confucianism.

Catholic Church

The largest branch of Christianity, centered in Rome and led by the pope, predominantly found in Europe, the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of East Asia.

Eastern Orthodox Church

The third largest branch of Christianity, originally based in the Byzantine Empire, commonly located in Russia, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and parts of Central Asia.

Shi’a

One of two main branches of Islam that rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and sees Ali as Muhammad's first true successor; primarily found in Iran.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam that accepts the first three caliphs and is commonly described as orthodox.

Chinampa

A Mesoamerican agriculture technique involving rectangular plots of cultivated land on lake beds, allowing for multiple harvests yearly.

Mit’a

A mandatory public service system in the Inca Empire requiring citizens below 50 to serve for two months a year.

Mandate of Heaven

An ancient Chinese belief stating that the right to rule is granted by heaven, used to justify the rise of dynasties.

Grand Canal

The world's longest canal that connects the Huang He River to northern cities, facilitating grain transportation.

Champa rice

A high-yield variety of rice introduced to China from Vietnam, allowing for two harvests per year.

Al-Andalus

An Islamic state in modern-day Spain renowned for advancements in science and trade during the Islamic Golden Age.

Astrolabe

An ancient instrument used by astronomers and navigators to determine latitude, perfected in the Islamic world.

Trans-Saharan trade

A trade network that thrived from the 400s and 500s, linking northern Africa with sub-Saharan kingdoms through camel caravans.

Feudalism

A political and economic system that arose after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, where lords protected vassals in exchange for service.

Bills of exchange

Written guarantees of payment that facilitated trade, known as sakk in the Islamic world and used in China.

Crusades

Holy wars initiated by Pope Urban II in 1095, aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslims and stimulating European trade.

Ottomans

A group of Anatolian Turks who captured Constantinople in 1453, expanding their empire across the Middle East and Southeast Europe.

Mongols

Central Asian nomads who created a vast empire under Genghis Khan, leading to significant political changes in Asia.

Genghis Khan

Mongol leader who united tribes and expanded the Mongol Empire across Asia, founding the Four Khanates.

Mansa Musa

Emperor of Mali known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and for making Timbuktu a center of trade, culture, and education.

Swahili city-states

Coastal cities in East Africa that became trading hubs, creating a hybrid language to facilitate commerce with Arabs.

Melaka

A port city in modern-day Malaysia that became an important trading waystation for sea traders in the fourteenth century.

Bubonic plague

A disease that spread from China to Europe, leading to massive population declines and the end of the feudal system.

Ibn Battuta

A fourteenth-century Islamic traveler known for his writings on his journey to the Mali Empire.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant who traveled the Silk Road and stimulated European trade interest with China.

Renaissance

A cultural movement from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries marked by a revival of classical learning and art.