Ap world vocab

Dar al-Islam

Regions of the world where Muslims live under Islamic sovereignty and Sharia laws are practiced.

Feudalism

A medieval social, political, and economic system where land was exchanged for military service, labor, and protection.

Manorial System

An economic and social system in medieval Europe where a lord owned a manor and peasants worked the land for housing and protection.

Serfdom

A legal and economic system from the Middle Ages where agricultural workers (serfs) were bound to work on land owned by a lord.

Caliphate

An Islamic state ruled by a caliph, meaning 'successor' to the Prophet Muhammad.

Neo-Confucianism

A revival of classical Confucianism in China during the Tang and Song dynasties, integrating Buddhist and Daoist concepts.

Tribute System

A diplomatic network where neighboring states acknowledged the Chinese emperor's superiority through gifts in exchange for trade, protection, and political legitimacy.

Champa Rice

A fast-maturing, drought-resistant rice strain from the Champa Kingdom that allowed two harvests per year.

House of Wisdom

An intellectual center and library in Baghdad funded by the Abbasid Caliphate during the Islamic Golden Age.

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu devotional movement emphasizing emotional, direct spiritual connection to a personal deity over formal rituals.

Sufism

The mystical dimension of Islam focusing on a personal experience of God rather than strict legalism.

Crusades

A series of religious military campaigns launched by Western European Christians to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslims.

Syncretism

The blending of different religious, cultural, or philosophical traditions into a new unified system.

Great Zimbabwe

The stone-walled capital city of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe that flourished from roughly 1100 to 1450 CE.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire founded in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco.

Terrace Farming

An agricultural technique where flat, stepped platforms are cut into steep hillsides to grow crops and prevent soil erosion.

Filial Piety

A Confucian virtue requiring children to show respect, obedience, and care for their parents and ancestors.

Civil Service Exam

A standardized test in Imperial China used to select government officials based on merit.

Patriarchy

A social system where men hold primary power in political leadership and family decision-making.

Meritocracy

A system where individuals earn positions or rewards based on abilities and achievements rather than family connections.

Bureaucracy

An organized system of appointed officials who manage the day-to-day operations of a government or empire.