AP world history S1 study guide
Mercantilism
Economic theory prevalent in the 16th to 18th centuries.
Focused on trade and accumulating wealth by maintaining a positive balance of trade.
Believed that national strength could be maximized by limiting imports via tariffs and maximizing exports.
Effect: Led to colonial expansion, trade wars, exploitation of colonies for raw materials and markets, and protectionist economic policies.
Ketts Rebellion
Occurred in 1549 in England.
Aimed at protesting against enclosure policies and the privatization of common land.
Led by Robert Kett, it represented the frustrations of the agrarian poor.
Effect: Although suppressed, it highlighted deep social and economic tensions regarding land rights and contributed to ongoing debates about agrarian reform and social justice.
Free Market Capitalism
Economic system where prices for goods and services are determined by open competition and free market forces.
Minimal government intervention in economic decisions.
Effect: Fostered innovation, entrepreneurship, economic growth, and often led to greater disparities in wealth distribution.
AP World History Semester 1 Exam Study Guide
Key Individuals/Concepts/Places:
Adam Smith
Author of "The Wealth of Nations" (1776).
Considered the father of modern economics.
Advocated for free markets, division of labor, and the invisible hand guiding economic choices.
Effect: His ideas profoundly influenced economic policy, capitalism, and laid the theoretical foundation for industrial economies, advocating for less government intervention and open markets.
Supply/Demand
Fundamental economic concepts defining the relationship between the quantity of a good produced and consumer desire.
Law of demand states that as prices decrease, demand increases, and vice versa.
Law of supply states that as prices increase, supply increases, and vice versa.
Effect: Determines market prices, resource allocation, production levels, and influences economic activity in both micro and macro contexts.
Renaissance
Cultural movement from the 14th to the 17th century marking the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern world.
Emphasis on humanism, art, science, and classical antiquity.
Effect: Led to a resurgence in arts, literature, and scientific inquiry; spurred intellectual curiosity, individualism, and set the stage for the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment by challenging traditional viewpoints.
Trade Winds
Predominant easterly winds in the tropics that were crucial for sailing routes during the Age of Discovery.
Effect: Facilitated long-distance maritime travel and exploration, enabling European powers to establish colonial empires and global trade networks.
3 Gs
Gold, Glory, and God: Motivations for European exploration and colonization in the 15th to 17th centuries.
Effect: Drove European expansion, leading to the discovery of new lands, establishment of vast colonial empires, resource exploitation, transatlantic slave trade, and cultural diffusion.
Westerlies
Prevailing winds from the west towards the east, significant for navigational routes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Effect: Crucial for return voyages across the Atlantic and for sailing routes in the Northern Hemisphere, impacting trade and exploration patterns.
Royal Patronage
Support and endorsement provided by monarchs to artists, scientists, and explorers, facilitating cultural and scientific advancements.
Effect: Accelerated artistic and scientific development, funded ambitious exploration ventures, and enhanced the prestige and power of monarchs.
Joint Stock Companies
Business entities where shares are owned by multiple shareholders.
Allowed for the pooling of capital for exploration and trade ventures, e.g., the English East India Company.
Effect: Enabled large-scale commercial endeavors, facilitated colonial ventures and global trade, reduced individual risk for investors, and laid foundations for modern corporations.
Henry the Navigator
Portuguese prince who was instrumental in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and the Age of Discoveries.
Sponsored maritime exploration along the coast of Africa.
Effect: His sponsorship led to significant advancements in navigation and shipbuilding, expanded Portuguese influence along the African coast, and initiated the Age of Discovery for Portugal.
Vasco de Gama
Portuguese explorer known for sailing to India, opening the sea route to Asia.
Effect: Opened a direct sea route between Europe and Asia, bypassing Arab and Ottoman middlemen, established Portuguese maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean, and initiated significant Luso-Asian trade.
Catholicism in Japan
Introduced in the 16th century by Jesuit missionaries, leading to a complex relationship with local political power.
Effect: Led to the conversion of some Japanese, but also to distrust from the Tokugawa shogunate, persecution, and the eventual isolationist policy of Sakoku to suppress foreign influence.
Shimabara
Location of a Christian rebellion in Japan (1637–1638) against oppressive Tokugawa rule.
Effect: Its suppression led to a severe crackdown on Christianity in Japan, the expulsion of Portuguese traders, and solidified Japan's isolationist Sakoku policy for over two centuries.
Ottoman Empire
Major Islamic empire from the 14th century to the early 20th century.
Known for its military prowess, cultural achievements, and administrative efficiency.
Effect: Controlled vast territories across three continents, facilitated East-West trade, blended diverse cultures, and was a major geopolitical force for centuries, influencing European politics and trade.
Byzantine Empire
Eastern Roman Empire that lasted from approximately AD until the fall of Constantinople in AD.
Effect: Preserved Greco-Roman culture and law, spread Orthodox Christianity, served as a buffer between Western Europe and invading forces from the East, and its fall contributed to the Renaissance by dispersing scholars and texts to Western Europe.
Tenochtitlan
Capital of the Aztec Empire, located on the site of modern Mexico City.
Known for its advanced architecture and urban design.
Effect: Its conquest by Hernán Cortés and the Spanish marked the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in Mesoamerica, leading to the destruction of indigenous cultures and the establishment of a new colonial society.
Mit'a System
Incan labor system that required subjects to work on state projects.
Effect: Allowed the Inca to construct vast infrastructure (roads, bridges, terraces) and maintain a highly organized society; later exploited by the Spanish to force indigenous labor in mines.
Timariot
Land grant system used in the Ottoman Empire to provide land to military officers in exchange for military service.
Effect: Provided a decentralized cavalry force for the Ottoman army, ensured loyalty of local elites, and was key to the empire's military strength and administration in conquered territories.
Gentry
Class of landowners who were influential in local politics but below nobility in rank.
Effect: Played a significant role in local governance and social stability, often serving as magistrates and representatives, influencing political and economic developments in their regions.
Private Property Rights
Legal rights to own, use, and dispose of property.
Effect: Incentivized investment, production, and economic growth; formed a cornerstone of capitalist economies and influenced legal systems worldwide.
Common Land
Land owned collectively by a community; subject of disputes during the enclosure movement.
Effect: Provided resources for the poor and sustained communal life; its enclosure led to social displacement, migration to cities, and the rise of capitalist agriculture.
House of Commons
Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, representing commoners.
Effect: Became a powerful check on monarchical power, representing broader societal interests and evolving into a central institution of democratic governance in Great Britain.
Enclosure
Movement in England during the century of consolidating land into individual plots, reducing access to common lands.
Effect: Increased agricultural productivity and efficiency, but also led to the displacement of rural populations, increased poverty for some, and fueled urbanization and industrialization.
Printing Press
Invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the century that revolutionized the spread of information.
Enabled mass production of books and contributed to the spread of Renaissance and Reformation ideals.
Effect: Drastically increased literacy, facilitated the rapid spread of new ideas (e.g., Reformation, Enlightenment), standardized languages, and challenged traditional authorities by democratizing access to knowledge.
Battle of Diu
Naval battle in between Portuguese and Indian naval forces during the period of European exploration.
Effect: Established Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean, securing their control over key trade routes and marking a significant step in the creation of a European maritime empire.
Songhai Dynasty
West African empire that flourished in the and centuries, noted for trade and culture.
Effect: Established a large and prosperous empire known for its trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt, created centers of Islamic learning (e.g., Timbuktu), and played a crucial role in West African history before its decline.
Siege of Vienna
Major conflict in where the Ottoman Empire's siege was repelled by a coalition of European forces.
Effect: Halted Ottoman expansion into Central Europe, marked the beginning of sustained European counter-offensives against the Ottomans, and signaled a decline in Ottoman military power in Europe.
Battle of Lepanto
Naval battle in between the Holy League and the Ottoman Empire; marked a turning point in naval dominance.
Effect: A decisive victory for the Christian Holy League, it significantly curtailed Ottoman naval power in the Mediterranean, though it didn't end their presence. It boosted European morale and halted Ottoman westward expansion by sea.
Thirty Years War
A series of conflicts in Central Europe between and primarily over religious issues, concluding with the Peace of Westphalia.
Effect: Devastated Central Europe, led to significant population decline, solidified state sovereignty, recognized religious pluralism (Calvinism), and fundamentally reshaped the political map and international relations in Europe (Westphalian system).
Muscovy
Historical term for the Grand Duchy of Moscow, precursor to modern-day Russia.
Effect: Served as the core for the eventual Russian Empire, expanding its territory and consolidating power, ultimately leading to the emergence of Russia as a major European power.
Ivan III (Ivan the Great)
Grand Prince of Moscow who tripled the territory of the state and laid the foundation for the future Russian Empire.
Effect: Expanded and centralized the Muscovite state, ended Mongol rule, and laid the groundwork for the modern Russian state and the rise of the Tsardom.
Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)
First tsar of all Russia; known for his tyrannical rule and the Oprichnina, as well as expanding Russian territory.
Effect: Consolidated the power of the tsar, expanded Russia's territory to the east, but also implemented brutal policies that destabilized the nobility and led to internal strife.
Devshirme
The Ottoman practice of recruiting boys from Christian families for service in the military and administrative roles.
Effect: Provided a loyal, highly trained military and administrative elite (Janissaries) to the Ottoman Empire, ensuring a powerful central government and contributing to its military successes, but also caused hardship for Christian families.
Janissaries
Elite military corps of the Ottoman Empire that were originally formed from the devshirme system.
Effect: Formed the backbone of the Ottoman military, providing a disciplined and effective fighting force that contributed to the empire's expansion and stability for centuries, until their eventual decline and abolishment.
Safavid
Persian empire known for its promotion of Shia Islam and for the cultural achievements of the centuries.
Effect: Established Shia Islam as the state religion of Persia, creating a distinct Iranian identity separate from its Sunni neighbors (Ottomans, Mughals), leading to ongoing religious and political conflicts.
Mughal
Empire in India from the early to the century, known for its significant cultural achievements including architecture (Taj Mahal).
Effect: Unified much of the Indian subcontinent, fostered a rich blend of Islamic and Indian cultures, advanced art and architecture, and oversaw a period of relative peace and prosperity before its fragmentation and eventual British takeover.
Peter I (Peter the Great)
Tsar of Russia who modernized Russia and expanded its territory, implementing Western European influences.
Effect: Transformed Russia into a major European power through military reforms, Westernization programs, and expansion, laying the foundation for modern Russia's administrative and cultural development.
Kangxi
Qing dynasty emperor who ruled from to , noted for his efforts to stabilize China and open it to Western influences.
Effect: Brought stability and prosperity to China, expanded the Qing empire, fostered cultural achievements, and managed early interactions with European powers, contributing to a period of long-term imperial strength.
Enlightenment
Intellectual movement in the and centuries emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of tradition.
Effect: Profoundly influenced political thought, leading to revolutions (American, French), the development of modern democracies, human rights, and calls for social and political reform across Europe and the Americas.
Delhi Sultanate
A series of Muslim dynasties that ruled parts of India from to , promoting cultural exchange and architecture.
Effect: Spread Islamic culture and architecture in India, established a strong centralized administration, and played a significant role in the cultural and religious synthesis that characterized medieval India.
Taj Mahal
A landmark mausoleum in India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife; a symbol of love and architecture.
Effect: Exemplifies the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and design, continues to be a global symbol of India's rich cultural heritage, and attracts millions of visitors.
Jews Forced to Flee Spain & Portugal in 1492
Significant event associated with the Spanish Inquisition, leading to Jewish migrations to the Ottoman Empire and elsewhere.
Effect: Led to a significant demographic and cultural shift in Spain and Portugal, enriched the host communities where Jews settled (e.g., Ottoman Empire), and represents a tragic chapter of religious persecution.
Index of Prohibited Books
A list published by the Catholic Church from to that censored books thought to be heretical.
Effect: Curtailed the spread of ideas deemed heretical or dangerous by the Catholic Church, limited intellectual freedom, and influenced the availability of knowledge in Catholic-dominated regions for centuries.
Louis XIV
King of France known as the "Sun King"; epitomized absolute monarchy and centralized state power.
Effect: Centralized French power, built Versailles, engaged in costly wars that expanded French influence but also depleted state finances, and his reign became a model for absolute monarchies across Europe.
Role of the Pope
Spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church; significant political power historically, influencing European monarchs and policies.
Effect: Exercised immense spiritual and temporal authority, shaped European politics, morality, and cultural life for centuries, and was a key figure in events like crusades and the Reformation.
Martin Luther
Key figure in the Protestant Reformation who challenged the Catholic Church's practices.
Effect: Sparked the Protestant Reformation, leading to a split in Western Christianity, religious wars, the rise of new denominations, and significant social and political changes across Europe.
95 Theses
Document by Martin Luther criticizing the sale of indulgences and other church practices, sparking the Reformation.
Effect: Widely circulated due to the printing press, it initiated the Protestant Reformation, challenged the authority of the Pope, and fundamentally altered the religious and political landscape of Europe.
Indulgences
Payments made to the Catholic Church to reduce punishment for sins, heavily criticized during the Reformation.
Effect: Their sale provoked widespread criticism, most notably from Martin Luther, fueling the Protestant Reformation and contributing to the decline of the Catholic Church's unchallenged authority in many parts of Europe.
Natural Rights
Philosophical concept by John Locke asserting that certain rights are inherent to all individuals, including life, liberty, and property.
Effect: Profoundly influenced Enlightenment thought, served as a foundational principle for modern declarations of human rights, and inspired revolutionary movements seeking to establish governments based on individual freedoms.
Consent of the Governed
Political theory stating that a government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the individuals it governs.
Effect: Challenged the divine right of kings, became a cornerstone of modern democratic theory, and justified revolutions against tyrannical rule, leading to the formation of republican governments.
John Locke
Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas about government and natural rights influenced democratic thought.
Effect: His ideas on natural rights and consent of the governed profoundly influenced the American and French Revolutions and the development of liberal political theory, advocating for limited government and individual liberties.
Montesquieu
Enlightenment philosopher known for his theory of the separation of powers in government.
Effect: His theory of the separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial) profoundly influenced the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and modern democratic systems worldwide, aiming to prevent tyranny.
Samurai
Elite warriors in Japan, known for their martial skills and adherence to the code of Bushido.
Effect: Maintained social order and military stability during Japan's feudal period, greatly influenced Japanese culture and ethics (Bushido), and played a central role in political power struggles until their eventual abolishment.
Viking Longship
Advanced naval vessels used by the Vikings, noted for their speed and ability to navigate both open ocean and shallow rivers.
Effect: Enabled Viking raids, trade, and exploration across vast distances, leading to settlements in various parts of Europe, Greenland, and North America, and significantly impacting medieval European history.
Genghis Khan
Founder of the Mongol Empire, known for his military strategies and unification of the Mongolian tribes.
Effect: Unified disparate Mongol tribes, created the largest contiguous land empire in history, facilitated vast cultural and technological exchange across Eurasia, and left a lasting legacy of military innovation and centralized governance.
Protestant Reformation
-century religious upheaval leading to the establishment of Protestant churches and significant changes in Christianity.
Effect: Fractured Western Christianity, led to religious wars, boosted literacy, shifted political power away from the Catholic Church, and contributed to the rise of nation-states and modern individualism.
Methodius
Byzantine scholar known for his mission to the Slavic peoples, and he contributed to the creation of the Glagolitic alphabet.
Effect: Along with Cyril, helped spread Christianity and literacy among Slavic peoples, developed the Glagolitic (and later Cyrillic) alphabet, facilitating the translation of religious texts and the development of Slavic literary cultures.
The Quran
The central religious text of Islam, believed to be a revelation from God to Prophet Muhammad.
Effect: Serves as the ultimate source of Islamic law (Sharia), theology, and morality; unites Muslims globally, and has profoundly shaped Islamic civilization, art, literature, and political systems.
Dhimmi
Non-Muslims living in an Islamic state with legal protection in exchange for a tax (jizya).
Effect: Allowed for religious toleration of certain non-Muslim communities within Islamic empires, facilitated cultural and economic contributions from these groups, and defined a unique legal status for minorities under Islamic rule.
Foot Binding
Tradition in China where young girls' feet were bound tightly to prevent growth, symbolizing beauty and status.
Effect: Caused lifelong pain and disability for millions of Chinese women, served as a symbol of female subservience and beauty standards, and reinforced patriarchal social structures, before being abolished in the century.
Yuan Dynasty
Mongol dynasty that ruled China from to , known for increased trade and cultural exchange.
Effect: United China under foreign rule, facilitated vast trade along the Silk Road (Pax Mongolica), introduced new administrative practices, and saw significant cultural exchange before its eventual overthrow.
House of Wisdom
Intellectual center during the Islamic Golden Age in Baghdad where scholars gathered to study and translate texts from various cultures.
Effect: Preserved and translated vast amounts of ancient Greek, Persian, and Indian knowledge, fostered significant advancements in science, mathematics, medicine, and philosophy, contributing to the Islamic Golden Age's intellectual flourishing.
Hinduism
Major world religion originating from the Indian subcontinent; characterized by a variety of beliefs and practices.
Effect: Has profoundly shaped Indian culture, society (e.g., caste system historically), philosophy, and art; remains a dominant religious and cultural force in India and among its diaspora.
Mali Empire
West African empire known for its wealth, trade in gold and salt, and centers of learning during the to centuries.
Effect: Became a major trans-Saharan trading power, fostered significant Islamic scholarship and art (e.g., Timbuktu), and contributed to the spread of Islam and the development of complex political structures in West Africa.
Shogun
Military ruler in Japan during the feudal period, holding real power while the emperor retained a ceremonial role.
Effect: Maintained political stability and military control for centuries, established centralized feudal governments (e.g., Tokugawa Shogunate), and significantly influenced Japanese society, economy, and foreign policy.