AP World History Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary terms and definitions relating to developments in East Asia and global movements from c. 1200 to c. 1450, as outlined in the course study guide.

Song Dynasty

A significant Chinese dynasty (960-1279) marked by economic prosperity, political stability, and cultural advancements.

Meritocracy

A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.

Grand Canal

An extensive waterway system in China that facilitated trade and transportation.

Gunpowder

An explosive compound developed in China, used in warfare and subsequently spread along trade routes.

Tributes

Payments made by one state or ruler to another as a sign of respect or to ensure protection.

Confucianism

A philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing moral integrity and the importance of family.

Buddhism

A major world religion that originated in India and teaches the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Feudalism

A social system in Japan prior to the centralized government, characterized by the exchange of land for military service.

Shogun

A military ruler in Japan who held power while the emperor remained a ceremonial figure.

Neo-Confucianism

A syncretic philosophical system that combines Confucianism with elements of Buddhism and Daoism.

Delhi Sultanate

A series of Muslim dynasties that ruled parts of India between the 13th and 16th centuries.

Bhakti Movement

A movement in medieval India emphasizing personal devotion to a deity and the importance of emotions in spirituality.

Srivijaya Empire

A powerful maritime and commercial kingdom based on Sumatra that thrived from the 7th to the 13th centuries.

Majapahit Kingdom

A prominent Indonesian kingdom that controlled trade routes in Southeast Asia from 1293 to 1527.

Bantu Migrations

The historical migrations of Bantu-speaking peoples across Sub-Saharan Africa, influencing social structures.

Mali Empire

A prosperous West African empire known for its wealth and trade networks from the 13th to 16th centuries.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes that connected North Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa, facilitating the exchange of goods like gold and salt.

Islamic Golden Age

A period marked by significant advancements in science, medicine, and culture in the Islamic world.

House of Wisdom

An academic center in Baghdad that was a major intellectual site during the Islamic Golden Age.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews.

Renaissance

A cultural and intellectual movement in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century characterized by a revival of classical learning.

Humanism

An intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements, typically associated with the Renaissance.

Great Schism

The division of Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054.

Estates-General

A legislative body in France that represented the three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

Crusades

Religious wars initiated by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

Bourgeoisie

The middle class, which emerged during the transition from feudalism to capitalism in Europe.

Ghettos

Urban areas where Jews were segregated and forced to live, often characterized by economic hardship.

Cultural Exchange

The sharing of ideas, customs, goods, and cultural practices between societies as a result of trade and contact.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and conquerors in the Americas who claimed lands for Spain in the 16th century.

Mit'a System

A labor system used by the Inca Empire requiring able-bodied subjects to work on state and community projects.

Foot Binding

A Chinese practice of tightly binding the feet of young girls to restrict growth, symbolizing social status.

Silk Roads

Ancient trade routes that connected the East and West, integral for the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas.

What was the Cold War?

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

What were the main causes of the Cold War?

Key causes included ideological differences (capitalism vs. communism), the power vacuum after WWII, and the nuclear arms race.

Who was in control of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Nikita Khrushchev was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

What was the significance of the Berlin Wall?

The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, symbolizing the division between the communist and capitalist worlds.

What major conflict is often seen as a proxy battle during the Cold War?

The Vietnam War is commonly regarded as a significant proxy battle in which the communist North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union and China, while the South was supported by the United States.

What was the outcome of the arms race during the Cold War?

The arms race led to the buildup of nuclear arsenals and heightened tensions, eventually contributing to arms reduction treaties in the late 1980s.

Who were the main leaders during the détente period?

Key leaders included U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, who pursued policies aimed at reducing Cold War tensions.

What role did NATO play during the Cold War?

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) served as a military alliance to counter Soviet influence and aggression in Europe.

What was the significance of the Iron Curtain?

The Iron Curtain metaphorically represented the division between Western capitalist countries and Eastern communist countries, particularly during the early Cold War period.