AP World Semester 1 Exam Review

Magna Carta

signed in England in 1215, required the king to respect certain rights of the nobles, increased rights of English nobility

Renaissance

“rebirth” period characterized by a revival of interest in classical Greek and Roman literature, art, culture, and civic virtue. began in Florence, Italy, and spread throughout Europe

feudalism

A political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land. Used mainly in England and Japan, which had similar systems.

Genghis Khan

Mongol ruler, “khan,” who began a successfully large conquest. known for his brutality and violence, but his kingdom was religiously tolerant and brought about Pax Mongolia, which helped spread trade since the Silk Roads were protected by one people

caravanserai

inns along the Silk Roads set up for travelers. travelers could rest themselves and their animals and sometimes trade here

flying cash

a system of credit developed by China, allowed a merchant to deposit paper money under his name in one location and withdraw the same amount at another location, reduced danger of robbery, early form of banks

Mongol Empire

had the most significant impact on trade; parts of the silk road that were under different rulers were for the first time under a unified government; improved roads and punished bandits (increasing the safety on the silk roads); spread all across Asia and the middle east; largest continuous land empire in history; Pax Mongolica= peace and revitalized trade between Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Europe; mongol conquest spread the Black Death; used centralized power

Golden Horde

a khanate of Mongolia led by Batu, in Russia and Western Europe; forced conquered people to pay tributes to Mongols

Zheng He

(1371-1433?) Chinese Ming Dynasty naval explorer who sailed along most of the coast of Asia, Japan, and half way down the east coast of Africa before his death; facilitated China's role in the tribute system in the Indian Ocean trade network

Songhai Kingdom

trading powerhouse in West Africa, conquered Mali became larger and richer than Mali; Islamic

Trans-Saharan Trade

trade routes from North Africa and Mediterranean Basin across desert to West and East Africa, on which Muslim merchants traded salt from North Africa with gold from the kingdoms south of the desert. traded gold, enslaved peoples, ivory and salt; camels, camel caravans, and camel saddles were crucial in the development of these trade networks. Facilitated spread of Islam in Africa and linked West Africa to Mecca

black death

aka the bubonic plague, introduced to Europe through trading routes (Silk Roads-Mongols), drastically reduced populations in Europe; shortage of people to work on land had lasting effects on feudal system. Mongols were mainly responsible for the spread of it across trade routes, caravanserai helped spread it, killed 1/3 Europe in a few years, people’s work became more valuable which led to higher wages

lateen sail

triangular sails that could easily catch winds from many different directions so ship could travel in different directions, improved trade, used by Arab traders in Indian Ocean

champa rice

fast-ripening and drought-resistant strain of rice from Vietnam that greatly expanded agricultural production in China. Allowed farming to spread to lands where rice couldn’t previously grow, increased populations in China

Ming Dynasty

stabilized East Asia for 300 yrs, expanded size of China, restored and expanded Great Wall of China, explored Indian Ocean trade and made large naval expeditions with Zheng He

gunpowder empires

large, multiethnic states in southwest, central, and south Asia that relied on firearms to conquer and control territories. Ex. Russia and three where Islam were strong- Ottoman, Safavid, and the Mughal empires

Safavid Empire

Shia Islamic empire between Ottomans and Mughals in Persia, land-based military and strong leadership helped them grow, pressed Christian boys into military, used Shia Islam to unify nation which caused frequent conflicts with Sunni Ottomans, declined due to lavish spending that damaged economy

Mughal Empire

very rich under Akbar who allowed religious tolerance and had a strong centralized gov, overseas trade, caste system, Sunni Islam, declined due to corruption and lack of military technology

divine right of kings

the idea that monarchs are God's representatives on earth and are therefore answerable only to God

English Bill of Rights

assured individual rights and civil liberties and was a checking of monarchs’ powers

Romanov Dynasty

autocratic gov, took control of Russia in 1613 after a period of turmoil following Ivan’s death in 1584. Under this there were three main groups in Russia that had conflicting desires and agendas- the Church (conserving traditional values and traditions), the boyars (desiring to gain and hold power), and members of the tsar’s royal family

devshirme

Christian boys in the Ottoman empire were recruited by force to serve in the Ottoman government as Janissaries. boys were taken from conquered Christian lands in Europe

Akbar

ruled Muhgal empire from 1556-1605 was the best Mughal leader, defeated Hindu armies and grew the empire. In Delhi he established an efficient gov and a system to administer laws, men from central Asia came to serve him and helped create a strong centralized gov and an effective civil service. Very religiously tolerant and wanted to blend religions

Taj Mahal

Mughal empire architectural accomplishment built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his fav wife to show the power of the rulers; illustrates syncretic blend between Indian and Arabic architectural styles as well as Islamic influences with calligraphy from the Quran

Versailles

A royal palace located in France, known for its architecture and gardens, symbolizing the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV. He kept his officials there to make sure they wouldn’t turn against him

Protestand Reformation

religious movement begun by German monk Martin Luther who began to question the practices of the Catholic Church beginning in 1519; split the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the 'protesters' forming several new Christian denominations: Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Churches (among many others)

Counter Reformation

the reaction of the Roman Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation; reaffirming the veneration of saints and the authority of the Pope (to which Protestants objected), ended sale of indulgences and simony, created Jesuits missionaries, but also the began the Inquisition. Result- Catholicism remained predominant in West Europe by Mediterranean and most Spanish, Portuguese, and French colonies became Catholic

Martin Luther

German monk who started Protestant Reformation by nailing 95 thesis to door of the Church. He was against the sale of indulgences and simony, advocating for “sola fide,” and said women could have direct access to God

Thirty Years’ War

final great religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants from 1618-1648, led to economic catastrophe. Initially a conflict within Holy Roman Empire but then European powers got involved. Settled by Peace of Westphalia, which allowed each area of HRE to be either Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Calvanist and gave countries more autonomy

maritime empires

empires based on sea travel; specifically Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, France, and Holland. European traders became links between Afro-Eurasia and the Americas: America had sugar, tobacco, and rum, Africa had enslaved people, and Asia had silk, spices, and rhubarb.

mercantilism

countries want to sell many exports to maximize the amount of gold and silver coming into the country and import as little as possible to prevent gold and silver leaving the country. Economic system that increased gov control of the economy through high tariffs and the establishment of colonies

trading post empire

an empire based on small trading outposts rather than control of large territories of land/ppl, specifically Portugal and other Europeans who had trade posts on the Indian Ocean

Northwest Passage

the passage the Columbus was trying to find; a route westward from the Atlantic Ocean to the riches of the Pacific Ocean; above Canada and below the Arctic Circle

Columbian exchange

exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus' voyages

Transatlantic slave trade

Africans captured and brought to Americas and sold through this, known for horrible “Middle Passage.” Until 1800, more Africans brought to Americas that Europeans

African diaspora

dispersion of Africans out of Africa; usually slaves but still maintained some aspects of their culture 

conquistadores

Spanish soldiers that traveled to Americas, brought deadly diseases with them, introduced brutal encomienda system (basically made natives slaves of conquistadores)

Middle Passage

The sea route taken by enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas, known for overcrowded and inhumane conditions during the transatlantic slave trade. Nearly half of the people died on the journey

encomienda

Spanish system in Americas in which encomenderos (landowners) compelled indigenous people to work for them in exchange for food and shelter; known for its brutality

indentured servant

arrangements through which servants (mostly European) contracted to work for a specified period of years in exchange for passage to the Americas

Aztec Empire

also known as the Mexicas, they were originally hunter gatherers in central Mexico; their capital was Tenochtitlán (present day Mexico City); they had a network of aqueducts, The Great Pyramid, and floating gardens; developed a tribute system over conquered people; government was a theocracy ruled by an empire called the Great Speaker- representative of the gods; known for rituals and human sacrifices to honor their gods

Inca Empire

many tribes combined to create the full Inca state in South America; conquered people did not have to pay tribute, but they were subject to the mit’a system which was mandatory public service; practiced animism- the belief that the elements of the physical world could have supernatural powers; still did human sacrifice but not as much as the Aztecs

Commercial Revolution

transformation to a trade-based economy using gold and silver. Affected all regions of the world and resulted from the development of European overseas colonies, opening of new ocean trade routes, population growth, and inflation

joint stock company

a company owned by investors who bought stock or shares in the companies. people invested capital in such companies and shared both the profits and the risks of exploration and trading ventures because they had limited liability.

East India Company

British joint-stock company that controlled most of India during the period of imperialism; controlled the political, social, and economic life in India for more than 200 years.

Dutch East India Company

Dutch-chartered joint-stock company that controlled the spice trade in the East Indies

monopoly

Patterns of trade were maintained through these charted by European rulers. They granted certain merchants- usually through joint-stock companies- or the government itself the exclusive right to trade

syncretism

the combining of different religious beliefs and practices

Metacom’s War

final major effort of indigenous people to drive the British from New England, spread throughout New England and resulted in a lot of destruction. Indigenous people continued to live in the region but were subjugated under the English colonists. aka King Philip’s War

Glorious Revolution

James 2 was King and he was a Catholic. He had anti- Protestant. Some nobles invited William of Orange to come and invade England and become the new king. William and his wife Mary 2 ruled England together. They were both Protestants. It strengthened the power of Parliament, which passed a law saying that Catholics could not rule England. aka Bloodless Revolution

Qing Dynasty

last imperial dynasty of China; founded in 1644 by the Manchus and ruled China for more than 260 years; expanded China's borders to include Taiwan, Tibet, Chinese Central Asia, and Mongolia; preceded by the Ming Dynasty and succeeded by the People's Republic in 1912

Louis XIV

He was the King of England in the mid- 1600s. A failed uprising in France by the noble class convinced him that he must keep power from the common people and the nobility. He kept all nobles in his palace in Versailles and was an absolute monarch

Who was most responsible for the initial spread of Islam to West Africa?

Arab merchants utilizing the trans-Saharan trade routes, significantly influencing local cultures and economies.

Between 200 BCE and 1450 CE, the Silk Roads linked who?

They linked people in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Went through the Gobi Desert and mountain passes in China and Central Asia to Southwest Asia and Europe, on which merchants tended to specialize in luxury goods. East Asia and the Mediterranean Sea.

The Mongol conquests of much of Eurasia in the thirteenth century tended to encourage trade along the Silk Roads primarily by ____?

decreasing the risk of bandit attacks and reducing the number of local rulers collecting tribute from trade caravans. Often called Pax Mongolia, the route was protected under the Mongol empire.

What resulted from the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire following the death of Genghis Khan?

The power of the Mongol empire split between three of his grandson’s who all set up their own khanates to help spread the empire but it also fragmented it into the Golden Horde, Yuan Dynasty, and the Il-Khanate. Formation of several independent Khanates, each ruled by a different descendant of Genghis Khan

What society(ies) engaged in extensive maritime trade well beyond their borders in the fifteenth century?

The Chinese society, under the Ming Dynasty, in the Indian Ocean.

What was the most important factor in the spread of Islam into Southeast Asia in the period 1250-1500?

The activities of Muslim traders and Sufi missionaries.

Before 1450 CE, what was true of sub-Saharan Africa’s commercial economy?

Sub- Saharan Africa exported gold to the middle east and Europe. European merchants controlled most of the long-distance trade of sub-Saharan Africa. The Mali-Great Zimbabwe trade route dominated the economy of sub-Saharan Africa. The Sahara Desert prevented sub-Saharan traders from participating in long-distance trade.

What characterized the trans-Saharan trade by 1250 CE?

the dominance of Muslim merchants, the exchange of low-priced commodities, and the use of camels for trade.

What was the most important factor in the spread of the bubonic plague in Eurasia?

Rats and The Mongol expansion from Central Asia to China, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

What contributed the most to the Ottoman Empire’s successful expansion in Europe and the Middle East in the period from 1450-1600?

The Ottomans' adoption of the latest gunpowder and artillery technology

What is the most likely reason that rulers during the seventeenth century built elaborate palaces such as the one in Versailles?

to demonstrate their wealth and power

During the seventeenth century, one of the reasons Africans participated in the African slave trade was ___.

demand for weapons among African elites. European traders, especially the Portuguese, offered weapons as a form of payment for slaves

Which of the following best exemplifies mercantilism as it was practiced in the Atlantic trading system by 1750?

The protection of European merchant companies by their respective governments.

During the period 1450-1750, what commodity was most responsible for transforming the global economy?

Silver commodities

Which of the following statements is accurate about the Mongols during the 1200s and the 1300s?

The Mongols facilitated the diffusion of many Chinese inventions.