Unit 1 Key Terms -AP World

Middle East and Europe (1200-1450)

bourgeoisie

 the urban middle class, including merchants and artisans

clergy

religious officials, such as priests, bishops, and monks, who perform sacred duties in the Church

coerce

 to force someone to do something through threats, pressure, or intimidation

commerce

the activity of buying, selling, and exchanging goods and services; trade

cosmopolitan

having a diverse mix of cultures, peoples, and ideas; often describing cities or societies with many cultural influences

diaspora

the scattering of a people from their original homeland to other regions

egalitarian

 believing in or promoting equality among people

heresy

beliefs or practices that go against the official teachings of the Church

persecution

 unfair treatment or punishment of people 

pilgrimage

journey to a sacred or important religious place

prophet

person believed to receive and communicate messages from God or a divine power

proselytize

to seek to convert others to a particular religion or belief system

revelation

a message or truth believed to be revealed by God or a divine source

Muhammad

 The founder of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the final prophet of God. He received revelations from Allah (God) that form the basis of the Qur’an

Mecca

A holy city in present-day Saudi Arabia; birthplace of Muhammad and the spiritual center of Islam; destination of the Hajj (pilgrimage)

Five Pillars of Islam

The core beliefs and practices of Islam: faith (Shahada), prayer (Salat), charity (Zakat), fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Qur’an (Koran)

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad

Mosque

A place of worship for Muslims, serving as a community center and site for prayer and religious instruction

Caliph

 A political and religious leader in Islam, considered the successor to Muhammad in leading the Muslim community

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam, which believes that the caliph should be chosen by consensus and does not need to be a direct descendant of Muhammad

Shi’a (Shi’ite)

A branch of Islam that believes leadership should stay within Muhammad’s family, specifically through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali

Umayyad

A powerful Islamic dynasty (661–750 CE) that expanded the empire significantly and established a centralized caliphate with its capital in Damascus

Abbasid

 The dynasty that overthrew the Umayyads in 750 CE, ruling from Baghdad and ushering in a golden age of Islamic culture, science, and learning

Mamluks

Originally enslaved soldiers who converted to Islam and eventually seized power, establishing a sultanate in Egypt that lasted from 1250 to 1517

Seljuk Turks

 A nomadic Turkish group that converted to Islam and established a powerful empire in the Middle East

sultan

A Muslim sovereign or ruler, often used to describe leaders of Islamic states who held political but not necessarily religious authority

Delhi Sultanate

A series of Muslim dynasties that ruled parts of northern India from 1206 to 1526

Baghdad

 Capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and a major center of learning and culture during the Islamic Golden Age

Cordoba

A city in modern Spain that became a leading center of Islamic culture and scholarship in medieval Europe

Sufi

A follower of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes personal connection with God through meditation, poetry, music, and devotion. Sufis played a key role in spreading Islam through missionary work.

Byzantine Empire

 the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, known for its Orthodox Christianity, strong bureaucracy, and preservation of Greco-Roman traditions

Kievan Rus

a federation of Slavic tribes centered in Kiev, influenced by Byzantine culture and Orthodox Christianity; considered a precursor to modern Russia and Ukraine

noble/nobility

a privileged class of people with hereditary titles and land, often serving as lords or vassals

Magna Carta

a 1215 document that limited the power of the English king and established legal rights for nobles

Parliament

representative governing body in England that advised the king and eventually gained legislative powers

Common Law

legal system based on court decisions and customs, rather than written codes; developed in England

Estates-General

 the representative assembly in France made up of three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners

Hundred Years’ War

 a long conflict (1337–1453) between England and France over claims to the French throne and territorial disputes

Holy Roman Empire

a decentralized, multi-ethnic complex of territories in Central Europe, ruled by an emperor and influenced by the Catholic Church

patriarch

the highest-ranking bishop in the Eastern Orthodox Church, especially in Constantinople

Pope/Papal/Papacy

the Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church; "papal" refers to anything related to the Pope or his authority; "papacy" is the office or reign of the Pope

bishop

a high-ranking Church official in charge of overseeing a group of churches and clergy

monasticism

a religious way of life where individuals live in monasteries, dedicating themselves to prayer, work, and spiritual discipline

excommunication

the Church’s punishment of formally excluding someone from participation in its sacraments and community

lay investiture

the controversial practice where secular leaders appointed Church officials, leading to conflicts between kings and popes

guild

an association of craftsmen or merchants who controlled trade, set standards, and protected their members