AP World Vocabulary

Aztecs (Mexica)

Indigenous empire in central Mexico known for agriculture and architecture.

Bhakti Movement

Hindu devotional movement emphasizing personal devotion.

Buddhism

Religion founded by Buddha focusing on enlightenment and meditation.

Champa Rice

Fast-maturing rice that improved agricultural productivity in China.

Dar al-Islam

Regions where Islam is the dominant religion.

Feudalism

Medieval system of land ownership and service in Europe.

Filial Piety

Respect and duty to one's parents in Confucianism.

Foot Binding

Chinese practice of tightly binding girls' feet for beauty.

Grand Canal

Major waterway in China for trade and transport.

Great Zimbabwe

Medieval city in southern Africa known for trade.

Heian Period in Japan

Era of court culture and art in Japan.

House of Wisdom

Intellectual center in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age.

Inca Empire

South American empire known for engineering and agriculture.

Jihad

Struggle or effort in Islam, often interpreted as a holy war.

Jizya

Tax on non-Muslims in Islamic states.

Mamluk Sultanate

Regime in Egypt established by enslaved soldiers.

Manorialism

Economic system of lords and serfs in medieval Europe.

Muslim Iberia/ Al-Andalus

Muslim-ruled region in the Iberian Peninsula.

Neo-Confucianism

Revival of Confucian thought with Buddhist influences.

Seljuk Empire

Medieval empire in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Serfdom

System where peasants are bound to the land.

Sharia

Islamic law governing all aspects of life.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for economic and cultural achievements.

Srivijaya Empire

Maritime empire in Southeast Asia known for trade.

Sufism

Mystical branch of Islam focused on personal experience of God.

Turkic Peoples

Ethnic groups from Central Asia with nomadic traditions.

Bananas in Africa

Staple crop improving nutrition and agriculture.

Banking Houses

Institutions for trade finance in the Middle Ages.

Bills of Exchange

Financial instruments for transferring money.

Bubonic Plague

Pandemic in the 14th century causing massive deaths.

Camel Saddle

Innovation enhancing desert trade transport.

Caravanserai

Inns for travelers along trade routes.

Chinggis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire.

Compass and Astrolabe

Navigational tools for maritime exploration.

The Crusades

Religious wars for control of the Holy Land.

Diasporic Communities

Groups settled outside their homeland.

Gunpowder

Explosive substance altering warfare.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan explorer known for his travel accounts.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

Maritime trade routes connecting multiple regions.

Junks

Large Chinese ships for trade.

Khubilai Khan

Mongol ruler who established the Yuan Dynasty.

Mali Empire

Wealthy West African empire known for trade.

Marco Polo

Venetian explorer who traveled to Asia.

Mongol Khanates

Divisions of the Mongol Empire ruled by khans.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds aiding maritime trade.

Sacking of Baghdad

Mongol conquest leading to cultural decline.

Samarkand

Key Silk Road city known for trade.

The Silk Roads

Trade routes connecting East and West.

Sultanate of Malacca

Maritime trade center in Southeast Asia.

Swahili City-States of East Africa

Coastal cities thriving on trade.

Timbuktu

Historic center of trade and scholarship in Mali.

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

Trade routes across the Sahara Desert.

Zheng He

Chinese explorer known for maritime voyages.