AP World History: Modern Flashcards

Flashcards covering the essential content for Units 1–3 of AP World History: Modern. These flashcards include key concepts, vocabulary, proper nouns, and connections between units.

Song Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty (960–1279) known for its advancements in technology, culture, and economics, including the use of paper money and the compass.

Confucianism

A philosophy emphasizing moral order, social harmony, and filial piety, which influenced Chinese government and society.

Neo-Confucianism

A revival of Confucian thought during the Song Dynasty, incorporating elements of Buddhism and Daoism.

Heian Japan

A period (794–1185) characterized by a flourishing court culture and the development of a distinct Japanese identity.

Feudalism in Japan

A decentralized political system where land was exchanged for military service, leading to the rise of samurai warriors.

Delhi Sultanate

A Muslim kingdom established in northern India (1206–1526) that introduced Islamic culture and governance to the region.

Bhakti Movement

A devotional trend in Hinduism emphasizing personal devotion to deities, which challenged caste distinctions.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief system focusing on personal experience with the divine, often through rituals and poetry.

Srivijaya Empire

A maritime Southeast Asian empire (7th–13th centuries) that controlled trade routes and promoted Buddhism.

Majapahit Empire

A Hindu-Buddhist empire in Southeast Asia (1293–1527) known for its naval power and trade influence.

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful African kingdom (11th–15th centuries) known for its stone architecture and trade in gold and ivory.

Ethiopia

An East African kingdom that maintained Christianity and built rock-hewn churches.

Hausa Kingdoms

A collection of city-states in West Africa that thrived through trade and Islamic influence.

Feudalism in Europe

A hierarchical system where land was exchanged for military service, leading to a rigid class structure.

Manorial System

An economic system in medieval Europe where peasants worked the land for lords in exchange for protection.

Roman Catholic Church

The dominant religious institution in medieval Europe, influencing politics, education, and culture.

Orthodox Christianity

The branch of Christianity prevalent in Eastern Europe and the Byzantine Empire, with distinct liturgical practices.

Crusades

A series of religious wars (1096–1291) initiated by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control.

Scholasticism

A medieval European intellectual movement that sought to reconcile faith and reason.

Guilds

Associations of artisans and merchants who controlled the practice of their craft in a particular town.

Silk Roads

Trade routes connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns along trade routes where travelers could rest and recover.

Paper Money

A monetary system developed in China to facilitate trade and reduce the need to carry heavy coinage.

Banking Houses

Institutions that provided financial services, including loans and currency exchange, to support trade.

Bills of Exchange

Written orders used in trade to pay a specified amount to a person at a future date.

Mongol Empire

The largest contiguous land empire in history, established by Genghis Khan, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange.

Pax Mongolica

A period of relative peace and stability across Eurasia under Mongol rule, enhancing trade and communication.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant whose travels to Asia were documented and inspired European interest in the East.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

A maritime trade system connecting East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal wind patterns that facilitated navigation and trade in the Indian Ocean.

Diasporic Communities

Settlements of people living outside their homeland, often maintaining cultural practices and facilitating trade.

Swahili City-States

Coastal East African cities that thrived on Indian Ocean trade, blending African and Islamic cultures.

Zheng He

A Chinese admiral who led maritime expeditions during the Ming Dynasty to expand trade and influence.

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Trade networks across the Sahara Desert, connecting West Africa to the Mediterranean and facilitating the exchange of gold, salt, and slaves.

Camel Caravans

Groups of traders using camels to transport goods across deserts, crucial for trans-Saharan trade.

Timbuktu

A West African city that became a center of trade, culture, and Islamic scholarship.

Mansa Musa

The ruler of Mali known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and the wealth he displayed, which highlighted the prosperity of his empire.

Ibn Battuta

A Moroccan traveler whose extensive journeys across the Islamic world provided valuable historical accounts.

Gunpowder

An explosive substance originating in China, which revolutionized warfare and spread along trade routes.

Black Death

A devastating pandemic that spread along trade routes, killing millions in Eurasia during the 14th century.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful Islamic empire that controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

Devshirme System

A practice where the Ottoman Empire recruited Christian boys, converted them to Islam, and trained them for military or administrative service.

Janissaries

Elite infantry units in the Ottoman Empire composed of converted Christian youths.

Safavid Empire

A Shi'a Islamic empire in Persia known for its cultural achievements and conflicts with the Sunni Ottoman Empire.

Mughal Empire

A Muslim empire in India that blended Persian culture with Indian traditions and promoted religious tolerance.

Akbar the Great

A Mughal emperor known for his policies of religious tolerance and administrative reforms.

Zamindars

Landowners in the Mughal Empire who collected taxes and maintained order in their regions.

Taj Mahal

A mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, exemplifying Islamic architecture in India.

Manchu (Qing) Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, established by the Manchus, which expanded China's borders significantly.

Tokugawa Shogunate

A feudal regime in Japan that centralized power and enforced a policy of national seclusion.

Daimyo

Powerful Japanese feudal lords who controlled vast landholdings and had their own samurai armies.

Samurai

The warrior class in feudal Japan who served the daimyo and followed the code of Bushido.

Russian Empire

An empire that expanded across Eurasia, incorporating diverse peoples and cultures under centralized rule.

Peter the Great

A Russian czar who modernized Russia by introducing Western technologies and administrative reforms.

St. Petersburg

A city founded by Peter the Great as a "window to the West," serving as Russia's capital for a time.

Absolutism

A political system where a ruler holds total power, often justified by divine right.

Divine Right of Kings

The belief that monarchs derive their authority