All Whap vocab terms

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Meritocracy

A political system in which power is given to individuals based on ability and talent rather than wealth or social class.

Scholar gentry

A social class in China made up of educated individuals who held government positions.

Artisans

Skilled craftsmen who create goods by hand.

Merchants

Individuals or businesses involved in the trade of goods.

Imperial

Relating to an empire or an emperor.

Tributary state

A state that is subordinate to a more powerful state and pays tribute to it.

Foot binding

Traditional custom of applying tight binding to the feet of young girls to prevent further growth, prevalent in Chinese culture.

Civil Service Exam

An examination system in imperial China to select candidates for government positions.

Song Dynasty

A dynasty in China known for its advances in technology, medicine, and trade.

Confucianism

A philosophical system based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing morality, social relationships, and justice.

Filial piety

Respect for one's parents and ancestors; a key virtue in Confucianism.

Neo-Confucianism

A revival and reinterpretation of Confucianism influenced by Buddhist and Taoist ideas.

Sinification/Sinicization

The process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture.

Nuclear family

A family group consisting of two parents and their children.

Polygyny

A form of marriage in which a man has multiple wives.

Heian period

A period in Japanese history (794-1185) known for its art, culture, and aristocratic society.

Theravada Buddhism

The oldest surviving branch of Buddhism, emphasizing individual meditation and the monastic community.

Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism that emphasizes the teachings of the Buddha for the benefit of all beings.

Chan/Zen Buddhism

A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and direct experience of enlightenment.

Tibetan Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism that incorporates Tibetan culture and beliefs, known for its mystical and ritualistic practices.

Monasticism

A religious way of life characterized by the renunciation of worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work.

Gunpowder

An explosive compound used in fireworks and in firearms, significant in military technology.

Proto-industrialization

A phase before industrialization characterized by the production of goods for the market in rural areas.

Woodblock printing

A printing technique that uses carved wooden blocks to print text and images.

Champa Rice

A fast-maturing and drought-resistant rice variety introduced to China, increasing agricultural productivity.

Grand Canal

A major waterway in China that facilitated trade and transportation.

Flying Money

An early form of paper currency used in China during the Tang and Song dynasties.

Muhammad

The founder of Islam and a prophet considered by Muslims to be the last messenger of God.

Mamluk Sultanate

A political and military regime of slave origin that ruled Egypt and the Levant.

Mongols

A Central Asian ethnic group known for establishing the Mongol Empire, which was the largest contiguous empire in history.

Seljuk Turks

A medieval Turko-Persian state that played a major role in the Islamic world.

Abbasid Caliphate

The third of the Islamic caliphates, known for its cultural achievements and the founding of Baghdad.

House of Wisdom in Baghdad

An important intellectual center during the Islamic Golden Age.

jizya

A tax historically levied on non-Muslims in an Islamic state.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief focusing on the inward search for God.

Al-Andalus

Muslim-ruled area in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.

“People of the book”

A term used in Islam to refer to Jews and Christians.

Delhi Sultanate

A series of Muslim kingdoms that ruled parts of India from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Bhakti Movement

A Hindu devotional movement emphasizing personal devotion to a deity.

Proselytize

To try to convert someone to a different religion or belief.

Caste system

A social stratification system that divides people into rigid hierarchical groups.

Chola Dynasty

A Tamil dynasty known for its influence in southern India and overseas.

Vijayanagara Empire

A medieval Hindu kingdom in southern India known for its advancements in culture and architecture.

Rajput Kingdoms

A group of independent kingdoms in India known for their warrior clans.

Srivijaya Empire

A dominant thalassocratic Indonesian empire based on trade.

Majapahit Kingdom

A Hindu-Buddhist empire that ruled over Southeast Asia.

Sinhala dynasties

Dynasties that ruled over the island of Sri Lanka.

Khmer Empire

A kingdom in Southeast Asia known for its monumental architecture, including Angkor Wat.

Feudalism

A social system in medieval Europe where land was held by nobles in exchange for military service.

Daimyo

The powerful feudal lords in Japan during the Edo period.

Shogun

A hereditary military governor in Japan during feudal times.

Samurai

The military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan.

Vassal

A person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch.

Serf

A laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.

Fief

An estate of land held by a vassal from a lord in return for services.

Manorialism

The organizing principle of rural economies that was widely practiced in medieval Europe.

Code of chivalry

A code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of knighthood.

Estates General

The legislative body in France prior to the French Revolution, representing the three estates of the realm.

bourgeoisie

The middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values.

burghers

The citizens of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy middle class.

Magna Carta

A charter agreed to by King John of England in 1215, establishing certain legal rights.

English Parliament

The supreme legislative body in the UK, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The Hundred Years’ War

A series of conflicts waged between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France.

primogeniture

The right of succession belonging to the firstborn child.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant traveler, known for his travels to Asia and his book 'The Travels of Marco Polo'.

Holy Roman Empire

A multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the early Middle Ages.

Mali

A historical West African empire known for its wealth and role in the trans-Saharan trade.

Swahili

A Bantu language widely spoken as a first language on the African Great Lakes.

Great Zimbabwe

An ancient city known for its large stone structures and fortifications in southern Africa.

Ethiopia

A country in the Horn of Africa known for its ancient culture and history.

chattel slave

A slave who is considered property, to be bought and sold.

domestic slave

A slave who works in a household.

griot/griotte

A West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician.

Kin-based network

A social structure based on family relationships.

Mississippian culture

A mound-building Native American culture that flourished in the Mississippi River Valley.

Cahokia

The site of a pre-Columbian Native American city located in what is now Illinois.

matrilineal

A social system in which family lineage is traced through mothers rather than fathers.

patrilineal

A social system where lineage is traced through fathers.

patriarchy

A social system in which men hold the primary power.

theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God.

animism

The belief that objects, places, and creatures possess a spiritual essence.

Maya city-states

Independent cities in Mesoamerica ruled by a king, known for their advanced civilization.

Azetc/Mexica

The indigenous peoples of the Valley of Mexico who founded the Aztec Empire.

Silk Roads

Trade routes connecting the East and West, facilitating cultural, commercial, and technological exchange.

Indian Ocean Trade

Trade networks that connected the East African coast to the Middle East and Asia.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes across the Sahara Desert that connected sub-Saharan Africa with the Mediterranean economies.

magnetic compass

An instrument that shows the direction of magnetic north, essential for navigation.

stern rudder

A steering device situated at the stern (back) of a ship.

lateen sails

Triangular sails that allowed ships to sail more efficiently against the wind.

junk ship

A type of ancient Chinese sailing ship.

astrolabe

An ancient instrument used for solving problems related to time and the position of the stars.

Kashgar

A central city in the Silk Road trade located in present-day Xinjiang, China.

Samarkand

A city along the Silk Road known for its cultural and economic significance.

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine Empire and a major trade center.

paper money

Currency made of paper, first developed in China.

money economy

An economy in which goods and services are exchanged for money rather than barter.

flying cash

A promissory note used in ancient China, allowing merchants to transfer money without physical currency.

banking houses

Institutions that provide financial services, including loans and currency exchange.

bill of exchange

A written order to pay a specified sum of money to a designated person.