AP World Unit 2

Silk Roads

A major land-based trade network in the 130 B.C.E until the 15th century that crossed Eurasia, connecting states from as far as China to Europe.

Interregional trade

The exchange of goods, services, and ideas between different regions, also known as long-distance trade.

Caravan

Group of travelers, merchants, or traders traveling together in a group for safety, mutual support, and efficient transportation of goods across land routes.

Caravanserai

Inns that sprang up along desert routes, often about 100 miles apart, offering a place for travelers and animals to rest and resupply.

Flying cash

A government-created system of credit allowing a merchant to deposit paper money under their name and withdraw the same amount at another location.

Mongol Khanates

Four states that formed after the fracturing of the united Mongol Empire, each ruled by a different descendant of Genghis Khan.

Magnetic compass

A navigational instrument that utilizes Earth's magnetic field to determine direction.

Astrolabe

A device that allowed sailors to determine how far north or south they were from the equator.

Junk ship

A large Chinese sailing vessel used for maritime trade, fishing, and exploration.

Diasporic communities

Settlements of people away from their homeland that lead to cultural blending.

Zheng He

A Muslim Chinese admiral known for his seven great voyages in the Indian Ocean to display Ming dynasty might.

Monsoon winds

Seasonal changes in wind direction, primarily associated with the Indian Ocean.

Ibn Batutta

A Moroccan Muslim scholar and explorer known for his extensive travels throughout the Islamic world during the 14th century.

Marco Polo

An Italian merchant and explorer renowned for his journey to Asia during the 13th century.

Bubonic plague

An infection spread mostly to humans by infected fleas that travel on rodents, known as the Black Death, which killed millions during the Middle Ages.