Important Vocabulary For AP World History

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200-1450 CE)

  1. Silk Road: An ancient network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture.

  2. Feudalism: A political and social system where land is exchanged for military service and loyalty, characterized by decentralized power and hierarchical relationships.

  3. Dar al-Islam: The lands under Muslim rule, encompassing regions where Islam is practiced as the dominant religion and Islamic law governs social and political life.

  4. Mansa Musa: The 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, renowned for his lavish pilgrimage to Mecca, showcasing the wealth and power of West African kingdoms.

  5. Bubonic Plague (Black Death): A devastating pandemic that swept through Eurasia in the 14th century, resulting in widespread death and significant social upheaval.

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1450-1750 CE)

  1. Columbian Exchange: The exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between the Old World and the New World following Columbus's voyages in 1492.

  2. Mercantilism: An economic system prevalent in Europe during the Age of Exploration, emphasizing wealth accumulation through trade, colonization, and resource control.

  3. Triangular Trade: A trade route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods, including slaves, raw materials, and manufactured products.

  4. Encomienda System: A labor system in Spanish America where Spanish landowners controlled indigenous peoples in exchange for protection and Christianization.

  5. Gunpowder Empires: The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires, which rose to power in the 15th and 16th centuries through military conquests and the use of firearms.

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750 CE)

  1. Absolutism: A system of government where the ruler holds absolute power, often justified by divine right, prevalent in European monarchies during this period.

  2. Devshirme: A system in the Ottoman Empire where Christian boys from conquered territories were recruited into the civil service and military.

  3. Daimyo: Feudal lords in Japan who controlled vast land holdings and maintained private armies, contributing to the decentralization of power.

  4. Ming Dynasty: A Chinese dynasty known for restoring Chinese rule after the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and for maritime exploration led by Zheng He.

  5. Sufism: A mystical form of Islam characterized by asceticism, meditation, and devotion to a spiritual guide, often practiced alongside orthodox Islamic beliefs.

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750 CE)

  1. Mestizo: A person of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry, often resulting from intermarriage during Spanish colonization.

  2. Middle Passage: The leg of the triangular trade route where millions of enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas.

  3. Viceroyalties: Administrative divisions of Spanish territories in the Americas, each governed by a viceroy appointed by the Spanish crown.

  4. Commercial Revolution: A period of European economic expansion, trade, and commerce in the 16th and 17th centuries, characterized by capitalism and global trade networks.

  5. Joint-Stock Company: A business entity where shares of the company's stock can be bought and sold by shareholders, facilitating investment in overseas ventures.




Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900 CE)

  1. Industrial Revolution: The transition from agrarian economies to industrialized societies, marked by technological advancements, urbanization, and changes in social and economic structures.

  2. Enlightenment: An intellectual and philosophical movement in Europe during the 18th century, emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism toward traditional authority.

  3. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: A foundational document of the French Revolution, proclaiming the rights of citizens and principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

  4. Toussaint L'Ouverture: A leader of the Haitian Revolution, who led enslaved Africans in a successful rebellion against French colonial rule, resulting in the establishment of Haiti as an independent nation.

  5. Meiji Restoration: A period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan during the late 19th century, initiated by Emperor Meiji, which transformed Japan into a modern nation-state.

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900 CE)

  1. Socialism: A political and economic theory advocating for collective or government ownership and control of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.

  2. Labor Union: An organization formed by workers to protect their rights and interests, often through collective bargaining with employers and advocacy for better working conditions.

  3. Urbanization: The process of population migration from rural areas to urban centers, often driven by industrialization and resulting in the growth of cities and towns.

  4. Cotton Gin: A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that revolutionized cotton production by automating the separation of cotton fibers from seeds, leading to increased cotton production and the expansion of slavery in the southern United States.

  5. Opium Wars: Two wars fought between China and Britain in the mid-19th century over trade, particularly the British trade of opium in China, which resulted in China's defeat and the imposition of unequal treaties.

Unit 7: Global Conflict (1900-Present)

  1. Total War: A conflict in which a nation mobilizes all available resources and population, including civilians, to achieve victory, as seen in World War I and World War II.

  2. Treaty of Versailles: The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh conditions on Germany and laying the groundwork for future conflicts, including World War II.

  3. Cold War: A period of geopolitical tension and ideological rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, characterized by proxy wars, espionage, and the threat of nuclear conflict.

  4. Decolonization: The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, often through diplomatic negotiations, armed struggle, or a combination of both.

  5. Apartheid: The system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa, enforced by the National Party government from 1948 to 1994, which marginalized non-white South Africans and perpetuated racial inequality.

Unit 8: Globalization (1900-Present)

  1. United Nations: An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations, replacing the failed League of Nations.

  2. Multinational Corporation: A company that operates in multiple countries, often with production facilities and markets around the world, contributing to the global economy and interconnectedness.