AP World History Vocabulary (All of it! Including the final time periods!)

Agriculture

Farming and raising animals for food and products

Alexander the Great

King of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history

Animism

Belief that all objects and nature have spiritual essence

Ashoka

Indian emperor known for spreading Buddhism and promoting peace

Babylon

Ancient city in Mesopotamia known for its wealth and cultural achievements

Buddha

Founder of Buddhism who taught about overcoming suffering and achieving enlightenment

Bureaucracy

System of government or management with multiple levels of officials

Caste system/varnas

Social hierarchy in India dividing people into rigid classes of groups

Christianity

Religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible

City-state

Independent city with its own government and territory

Code of Hammurabi

Ancient set of laws from Babylon with strict justice rules

Confucius

Chinese philosopher known for his teachings on ethics, politics, and morality

Constantine

Roman emperor who converted to Christianity and founded Constantinople

Cuneiform

Ancient writing system using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets

Currency

System of money used as a medium of exchange

Cyrus the Great

Founder of the Persian Empire known for his tolerance and administrative skills

Daoism

Philosophy and religion using on living in harmony with the Dao (the Way)

Democracy

System of government where power is vested in the people, often through elected representatives

Demography/demographic

Study of populations and their characteristics

Diaspora

Dispersal of a group of people from their original homeland

Diffusion

Spread of ideas, goods, or people from one place to another

Domestication

Process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use

Egalitarian

Belief in equal rights and opportunities for all people

Filial Piety

Respect and duty toward one's parents and ancestors

Fortification

Structures built to protect against attacks or invasion

Great Wall

Ancient Chinese barrier built to protect against invasions

Gupta

Ancient Indian dynasty known for its achievements in art, science, and culture

Han Dynasty

Chinese dynasty noted for its long rule and advancements in technology and culture

Harappa/Mohenjo-Daro

Ancient cites of the Indus Valley Civilization known for their advanced urban planning.

Hellenism

Spread of Greek culture and influence after Alexander the Great's conquests.

Hiearchy

System of ranking people or things based on authority or status

Hittites

Ancient people who established a powerful empire in Anatolia and fought with Egypt

Ideology

System of beliefs or ideas that guides behavior and policies

Irrigation

Method of supplying water to crops through channels or pipes

Jainism

Religion emphasizing non-violence, non-possessiveness, and spiritual enlightenment

Julius Caesar

Roman general and dictator who expanded Rome's territory and initiated reforms

Legalism

Philosophy advocating strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese belief that a ruler's authority comes from divine approval and can be lost if they fail

Maurya

Indian dynasty known for its vast empire and leadership under Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka

Missionary

Person sent to spread religious beliefs and convert others

Monasticism

Practice of living in seclusion and devotion to religious life, often in a monastery

Monotheism

Belief in a single god

Neolithic Revolution

Transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and farming

Nomads

People who move from place to place rather than settling in one area

Oligarchy

Government controlled by a small, privileged group of people

Paleolithic Era

The prehistoric period characterized by the use of stone tools and hunting and gathering

Pastoralism

Farming practice focused on raising livestock and moving them to find fresh pastures

Patriarchy

Social system where men hold primary power and dominate roles in leadership and authority

Pharaoh

Title for ancient Egyptian kings who were considered gods and rulers of Egypt

Polytheism

Belief in multiple god

Qin Dynasty

Short-lived Chinese dynasty known for unifying China and implementing legalist reforms

Reincarnation

Belief that the soul is reborn into a new body after death

Rome

Ancient city and empire known for its vast influence on law, culture, and governance

Sanskrit

Ancient Indo-European language of India, used in classical literature and religious texts

Shamans

Religious practitioners believed to communicate with spirits and heal through rituals

Shi Huangdi

First emperor of China, known for unifying the country and commissioning the Great Wall and Terracotta Army

Silk Road

Trade routes connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean, facilitating cultural and economic exchange

Stratification

Division of society into layers based on wealth, status, or power

Stupa

Buddhist monument housing relics and used for meditation and worship

Sumer

Ancient civilization in Mesopotamia known for early writing and complex city-states

Surplus

Excess amount of goods or resources beyond what is needed

Syncretism

Blending of different religous or cultural beliefs and practices

Trans-Saharan Trade Route

Trade network connecting North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa across the Sahara Desert

Tribute

Payment made by one party to another, often as a sign of respect or to secure protection

Vedas

Ancient sacred texts of Hinduism containing hymns, rituals, and philosophies

Zhou Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for developing Confucianism, Daoism, and establishing feudalism

Ziggurat

Stepped pyramid-like structure used as a temple in ancient Mesopotamia

Champa Rice

Fast-growing, drought-resistant rice

Artisans

Skilled craft workers who create handmade goods

Scholar Gentry

Educated elite in China who followed Confucian principles and held government positions.

Filial Piety

Respect and devotion children owe to their parents and ancestors

Grand Canal

Major waterway in China connecting northern and southern regions

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960-1279) known for economic growth and cultural achievements

Bureaucracy

System of government where officials manage different departments and tasks

Meritocracy

System where people are chosen and promoted based on their abilities and achievements

Foot Binding

Chinese practice of tightly binding girls feet to keep them small and deformed

Buddhism

Religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) focusing on achieving enlightenment and ending suffering

Theravada Buddhism

Branch of Buddhism emphasizing individual enlightenment and adherence to the earliest teachings of Buddha

Mahayana Buddhism

Branch of Buddhism focusing on the collective path to enlightenment and helping others achieve it

Tibetan Buddhism

Branch of Buddhism combining Mahayana teachings with unique Tibetan practices and rituals, led by lamas

Syncretism

Combining different religious or cultural beliefs into a new system

Zen (Chan) Buddhism

Branch of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and direct experience of enlightenment

Neo-Confucianism

Revival of Confucian thought incorporating elements of Buddhism and Daoism, focusing on moral and philosophical teachings

Heian Period

Japanese era (794-1185) known for its court culture, art, and literature

Mamluk Sultanate

Egyptian and Syrian empire (1250-1517) ruled by former slave soldiers, known for its military and cultural achievements

Selijuk Turks

Central Asian Turks who established a dynasty in the Middle East (11th-14th centuries) known for their military conquests and support of Islamic culture

Sultan

Ruler or sovereign in Islamic states, often holding both political and religious authority

Mongols

Central Asian nomadic people who established a vast empire under Genghis Khan in the 13th century, known for their military conquests and cultural impact

Abbasid Caliphate

Islamic empire (750-1258) centered in Baghdad, known for its cultural and scientific achievements and the flourishing of trade and learning

Muhammad

Founder of Islam and considered the final prophet in Islamic tradition, known for receiving and teaching the Quran

Crusades

Religious wars initiated by European Christians (11th-13th centuries) to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control

Sufis

Islamic mystics focusing on personal spiritual experiences and direct connection with God through meditation and rituals

House of Wisdom

Center of learning and scholarship in Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate, known for translating and preserving classical knowledge

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim kingdom in India (1206-1526) known for its political and cultural influence in the region

Srivijaya Empire

Southeast Asian maritime empire (7th-13th centuries) centered in Sumatra, known for its trade networks and influence across the region

Bhakti Movement

Religious reform movement in India (7th-17th centuries) emphasizing personal devotion to a deity and transcending traditional cast distinctions

Cahokia

Pre-Columbian Native American city in Illinois (circa 600-1400 AD) known for its large earthen mounds and complex society

City-States

Independent cities with their own government and often surrounding territories, functioning as sovereign entities

Mexica

Indigenous people of central Mexico who founded the Aztec Empire and built the city of Tenochtitlán

Theocracy

Government system where religious leaders rule in the name of a deity or according to religious laws