Heimlers AP History: Modern Course - Unit 2

Caravanserai

Roadside inns offering shelter for travelers and their animals, fostering trade across vast regions.

Flying Cash

Early form of paper currency in China that made long-distance trade easier and more efficient.

Bills of Exchange

Early trade documents that allowed merchants to conduct transactions without carrying heavy currency.

Magnetic Compass

Revolutionary navigational tool that helped sailors find their way across open seas.

Astrolabe

An instrument used by sailors to measure the altitude of stars and planets, essential for navigation.

Junks

Large, multi-masted Chinese ships that were famous for their ability to carry goods over long distances.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean, crucial for determining trade routes in Asia and Africa.

Diasporic Merchant Communities

Groups of traders who settled in foreign lands, spreading culture and facilitating trade.

Swahili City-States

East African trading cities known for their wealth and cultural diversity, like Kilwa and Mombasa.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral whose voyages expanded China's maritime influence and trade networks.

Camel Saddles

Innovations that made camel transport more efficient, allowing merchants to cross deserts with heavy loads.

Mansa Musa

Mali king known for his legendary pilgrimage to Mecca, showcasing Africa's wealth and spreading Islam.

House of Wisdom

A center of learning and scientific research in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age.

Pax Mongolica

The peace created by Mongol dominance, which facilitated the movement of goods, ideas, and people across Eurasia.

Uyghur Script

A written language used by the Uyghur people, contributing to the cultural diffusion in Central Asia.

Gunpowder

A revolutionary technology originating in China, dramatically changing military strategies worldwide.

Champa Rice

A fast-growing rice variety from Vietnam that significantly boosted agricultural production in China.

Bubonic Plague

A devastating disease that spread across Europe and Asia, drastically affecting populations and trade.

Grand Canal

An extensive waterway system in China that improved transportation and integrated different regions.

Baghdad

A key intellectual and cultural hub during the Islamic Golden Age, famous for its libraries and scholars.

Marco Polo

Venetian explorer whose detailed accounts of his travels to China piqued European interest in Asia.

Ibn Battuta

A Moroccan traveler who journeyed through much of the Islamic world, documenting his experiences.

Margery Kempe

One of the first autobiographers in English, known for her religious pilgrimage and accounts of her travels.

Kashgar

An important Central Asian city that was a key stop on the Silk Road, connecting China with the Mediterranean world.

Hangzhou

A flourishing trade and cultural center in China, known for its beauty and strategic location during the Song dynasty.

Khanates

Political units led by Mongol rulers after the breakup of the Mongol Empire, including the Yuan dynasty and others.

Khans

Mongol rulers who led the Khanates and established a vast empire across Eurasia.