AP World History Vocabulary Study Guide
Principles of Historical Methodology and Analysis
Analysis is defined as the process of separating a whole entity into its various component parts for the purpose of detailed examination. In the field of history, the use of an artifact is essential; an artifact is any object that has been made or altered by human beings for a practical purpose. These objects are particularly critical for historical analysis in periods before the development of writing systems. When examining historical events or sources, one must account for bias, which refers to a tendency toward prejudice or personal judgment. The method of comparison involves the examination of two distinct entities to identify and note their similarities and differences. Furthermore, a connection represents a causal or logical relationship or a specific tie between different historical elements. The concept of continuity refers to an uninterrupted duration or state of being without essential changes over time.
Temporal Frameworks and Chronological Terminology
Chronology is the systematic arrangement of events based on their order of occurrence, specifically from the first event to the last. To measure time, historians use specific groupings: a decade consists of a total of years, while a century is a grouping of years. The term circa, abbreviated as c., is used to mean "at, in, or approximately" when referring to dates; for example, one might say "Circa ". Historical eras are demarcated using two main systems. The first includes BC, which stands for Before Christ, and BCE, which stands for Before Common Era. The second includes AD, which stands for Anno Domini (translated as "in the year of our Lord"), and CE, which stands for Common Era.
Economic Systems and Agricultural Development
The term agrarian refers specifically to anything relating to fields or land used for farming. Within agricultural economies, a cash crop is defined as a readily salable crop produced primarily for the market rather than for subsistence; examples provided include items such as cotton and tobacco. In terms of trade, barter is the practice of trading one commodity for another without the use of money. A consumer is an individual or entity that uses or utilizes economic goods and services. Two major economic systems are defined: capitalism and the command economy. Capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership, free-enterprise, and a distinct lack of government involvement in the economy. Conversely, a command economy is a system where economic activity is controlled by a central authority, typically the government, and the means of production are publicly owned.
Political Structures and State Formation
A bureaucracy is a body of non-elected government officials responsible for making and implementing policy. The process to codify involves classifying and formally writing down laws or rules into a systematic code. A city-state is recognized as an autonomous state consisting of one city and its surrounding territory. A more complex social structure is a civilization, which represents a relatively high level of cultural and technological development, specifically including the presence of writing. When a government undergoes a sudden change, it may be due to a coup d'etat, which is a sudden, decisive exercise of force in politics involving a violent overthrow or the altering of the existing government by a small group of people.
Cultural Dynamics and Global Interactions
Culture encompasses the characteristic features of a group or people, including aspects such as food, religion, and other shared traits. Assimilation is the process by which an entity is incorporated and absorbed into its surrounding environment. On a global scale, circum-maritime refers to world-wide, ocean-going trade systems. The term colonialism describes the control exercised by one power or country over a dependent area and its people. The eventual reversal of this process is known as decolonization, which is the act of becoming free from colonial status.