AP World Units 1&2 Vocab (600-1450)

Neo-Confucianism

Revival of Confucianism during the Song Dynasty which combined Buddhist and Daoist ideas

Censorate

High-level supervisory agency that exercised surveillance over the rest of the government

Hangzhou (Song capital)

One of China’s most prosperous cities; sophisticated urban center known for its wealth and culture

Foot binding

The practice of tightly wrapping of young girls’ feet to keep them small -> used to show femininity and wealth

“middle kingdom”

Self-designation for China; central hub for civilization, culture, and power

Kowtow

Series of virtual bowings and prostrations used to show absolute submission to the Chinese Emperor and their authority

Xiongnu

Powerful confederation of nomadic tribes that dominated eastern Eurasia; became China’s primary rival

Sultanate of Delhi

Major Islamic empire ruled by a series of dynasties who changed India’s economy, government, warfare, and culture

Sufis

“God-filled” Muslim missionaries who emphasized personal, emotional connection to God

Kabir

Indian poet and Saint who sought religious harmony (bridge Islam and Hinduism); writings influenced the Bhakti movement

Sikhism

Religion which blended Hindu and Islam and emerged through the Hindu-Muslim divides

Timbuktu

Culturally elevated Islamic city in West Africa that held many schools/education centers

Mexica

Semi-nomadic group from Mexico that migrated south and founded the Aztec Empire

Triple Alliance

Political agreement between the Mexica and two other city-states for military conquest

Tenochtitlan

Massive island capital of the Aztec Empire

Chinampas, aka “floating gardens”

Highly productive artificial islands that supported agricultural production

Huitzilopochtli

Aztec patron deity of sun and war, required human blood to keep the sun moving (human sacrifice)

Quechua

The official language of the Inca Empire

Gender Parallelism

A social system where men and women operate in two separate but equivalent spheres; each has their own roles, but both are considered vital to society

Yuan Dynasty

The Mongol dynasty established by Khublilai Khan; first time the entire country was ruled by foreign conquerors

Khubilai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan and the first Mongol to rule as Emperor of China; adopted many Chinese administrative practices to establish his rule (bureaucracy, Confucian teachings and practices)

Hulegu

A grandson of Genghis Khan who led the Mongol conquest of Western Asia, first il-khan of Persia

Khutulu

Mongol princess + warrior who participated in Mongol military campaigns

Kipchak Khanate/ Golden Horde

The Mongol territory established in Russia and the western Steppes

Monsoon winds

Seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean making long-distance maritime trade possible; winter monsoons brought hot and dry weather, and summer monsoons brought rain

Swahili language

A Bantu language with Arabic vocabulary that developed as a trade language along the East African coast

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful Southeast African city-state known for its massive stone architecture and its control over the gold trade flowing to the coast

Jenne-Jeno

Ancient city in West Africa that proved urban civilizations existed in the region before the arrival of outside trade influences

Camel caravans

Massive groups of camels used by merchants to transport goods across the Sahara Desert, facilitating trade