AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP World History - Period 4 Flashcards

Hello, welcome to the ultimate study guide for the AP World History exam. Have fun, and good luck. This is basically a compilation of every notecard term in the unit.

Terms : Hide Images
6541759078Early Modern Periodthe time period of 1450 - 1750 (it is called this because events occurring in this time directly shape regional/political units of todays world)0
6541759079Catholic Reformationthe church's actions to revive their reputation and membership roles in 1545 (regained control of most of southern Europe, Austria, Poland, and much of Hungary)1
6541759080Jesuitsa religious order converting people to return to the church (went to Asia + Americas in 1500's)2
6541759081Thirty Years WarWar within the Holy Roman Empire between German Protestants and their allies (Sweden, Denmark, France) and the emperor and his ally, Spain; ended in 1648 after great destruction with Treaty of Westphalia3
6541759082Treaty of WestphaliaEnded the 30 years war, allowing principalities and cities to choose their own religion, creating a patchwork of religious affiliations through England.4
6541759083English Civil WarThis was the revolution as a result of whether the sovereignty would remain with the king or with the Parliament. Eventually, the kingship was abolished.5
6541759084Scientific Revolutiona new vision of science developed during the renaissance in the 17th + 18th century6
6541759085ScholasticismScholars based their inquiry on the principles established by the church, which sometimes resulted in clases between science and religion7
6541759086Brahe & Keplerdeveloped a more complex theory from Copernicus in 16108
6541759087Galileoused the first telescope during the Renaissance in 1609, where he made many large discoveries in the solar system, until he was put under house arrest for spreading conflicting ideas9
6541759088Isaac Newtondiscovered the basic principles of motion + gravity, where he captured the vision of a entire universe in simple laws10
6541759089Humanisminterest in the capabilities and accomplishments of individuals11
6541759090Patronssupporters of the arts, with payment and such, they found talented artists, often when they were young12
6541759091Mediciwas a powerful family of Florence in the mid to late 1400s that sponsored artists as a rich merchant family13
6541759092Erasmusa humanist Dutch priest that published the first edition of the New Testament in Greek in 151614
6541759093Johan Gutenberga German goldsmith and printer, who created the printing press, in 145415
6541759094Nicolo Machiavellia Renaissance writer who wrote, "The Prince" which was a famous philosophical view of the ideal political leader in the 16th century, in Italian city states16
6541759095Protestant Reformationa religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches17
6541759096IndulgencesThe Catholic Church's grants of salvation for money in the 1500s, and was part of the growing corruption of the church.18
6541759097John CalvinA protestant who established a variation of his beliefs on a stern and vengeful God.19
6541759098Anglican ChurchA form of Christianity established by Henry VIII that was not decided on the grounds of religious belief, but because the pope would not allow him to divorce his wife.20
6541759099Nicholas Copernicusa Polish monk who based tables on those by Nasir Al-Din, an Islamic scholar, to correct inaccurate calendars.21
6541759100Edict of NantesThe granting of tolerance to Protestants through this, which was later revoked by King Louis XIV22
6541759101Martin Luthera German monk who wrote the 95 theses in 1517, which were 95 propositions that criticized the Catholic Church23
6541759102Renaissance ManTitle of a person who was smart and genius in the Renaissance Era.24
6541759103DeismGod built the universe and let it run. Clockmaker theory.25
6541759104Land-based PowersA shift in land based powers where governments controlled lands by building armies, bureaucracies, road, canals, and walls that unified and protected26
6541759105Sea-based PowersSea people built their power by controlling water routes, developing technology to cross the seas, and gaining wealth from trade and land claims.27
6541759106RenaissanceA heightened intellectual and artistic advance from about 1450s, that changed Europe forever28
6541759107Adam SmithHe analyzed the natural law of supply and demand that governed economies in his classic book, "The Wealth of Nations"29
6541759108New MonarchiesMonarchies that emerged that differed from their medieval predecessors in having greater centralization of power, more regional boundaries, and stronger representative institutions30
6541759109Constitutional MonarchyStates where rulers shared power with a parliament, a body of representatives selected by the nobility and urban citizens31
6541759110Gentrythe most powerful members of a society, and landowners that affected the style of the old aristocracy32
6541759111Enlightenmentthe emphasis on human abilities and accomplishments and the importance of independent and rational thought33
6541759112John Lockesought to understand the impact of the "laws of nature" on human liberties34
6541759113Thomas HobbesEnglish materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings (1588-1679)35
6541759114Montesquieuadmired the British Parliament that had successfully gained power at the expense of the king, who also advocated a three-branch government with three branches that shared political power36
6541759115Voltairewrote witty criticisms of the French monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church. He believed both institutions to be despotic and intolerant, limiting freedoms37
6541759116Rosseauthe most radical of the common philosophers, he proclaimed in his social context that "Man is born free: and everywhere he is in chains". Since society had "Corrupted" human nature, he advocated a return to nature in a small, co-op community38
6541759117HapsburgA powerful family with land claims all over Europe from Spain to Italy to the Netherlands to Hungary, as all the Holy Roman Emperor's had been Hapsburg since 127339
6541759118Holy Roman Empirea place/time where religion remained very important, and religious issues continued to fragment, and strong kings emerged in the 16th century40
6541759119Reconquestthe retaking of land in Iberia by Spain and Portugal in a religious crusade to expand. This conquest advanced in waves over several centuries.41
6541759120Phillip IIruled Spain at the height of its power in the 15th century42
6541759121Divine Rightwith God's blessing of the king's authority, the legitimacy of royalty across Europe was enhanced, and occurred under the reign of Louis XIV during the 17th and 18th centuries43
6541759122Louis XIVUnderstood the importance of a "theatre state", by building a magnificent palace at Versailles, and the apex of absolutism occurred under him44
6541759123Absolute Monarchies vs. limited monarchiesabsolute monarchies held complete control over their kingdom vs. the limited power.45
6541759124Capitalisman economic system based on private ownership of property and business that provide goods to be bough and sold in a free manner46
6541759125Mercantilismthe responsibility of government to promote the states economy to improve the revenues and limit imports to prevent profits from going to outsiders (allows industry to develop their own business)47
6541759126Joint-stock Companiesthese companies organized commercial ventures on a large scale by allowing investors to buy and sell shares. The new capitalist system largely replaced the old guild system of the middle ages.48
6541759127Putting out systemthe concept of producing goods in the countryside outside the guilds control by delivering raw materials to their homes, where they are transformed into finished products to be used up later49
6541759128Bourgeoisemiddle class; factory owners who put long hours and much of their profits into their businesses50
6541759129Balance of Powerstates forming a temporary alliance to prevent the state form being too powerful. (Russia emerged as a major power in Europe after its mediterranean armies got Sweden in the GNW)51
6541759130Versaillesa place where Louis' palace was built symbolizing the French's triumph over the traditional rights of the nobility and clergy. This kept nobles away from plotting rebellions, and 'distracted europe'.52
6541759131Zheng Heled expiditions in Chinese junks across the atlantic ocean, with one goal being to assert Chinas power after the demise of the Yuan dynasty.53
6541759132Yonglesomething of a renegade who supported a series of seven maritimes expeditions. Chinese vessels started to take tribute from those they encountered.54
6541759133Henry the Navigatorthe third son of the portuguese king; devoted his life to navigation, creating a navigation school, which became a magnet for the cartographers of the world55
6541759134Caravela new ship developed by the portuguese, which was much smaller than the junk, but size allowed for exploration of shallower coastal areas56
6541759135Vasco da Gamaset out to find the tip of Africa and connect it to the Indian Ocean, and discovered the fastest and safest ways to travel to Portugal57
6541759136Christopher ColumbusA Genoese mariner who convinced Isabella and Ferdinand to sponsor a voyage across the Atlantic after he was turned down by the Genoese and Portugal. He believed he could reach east Asia by sailing West.58
6541759137Treaty of Tordesillas "Tortillas"a treaty making Spain and Portugal land claim boundary. Portugal pushes its explorations to India and beyond.59
6541759138Magellanhad a ship that was first to circumnavigate the glove, even though Magellan himself died in the phillipines60
6541759139Conquistadorswent to search for gold and convert the natives to Christianity in the interior of Mexico61
6541759140Cortessought to find the Aztec capital, and took over the Aztec land - with help of Amerindians, disease, and technology62
6541759141Moctezumathe Aztec emperor, who welcome the Spaniards at Tenochtitlan, seeing them as god-like. This was a mistake, as this allowed everyone to conquer him.63
6541759142Francisco Pizzaroled a group of soldiers to the Andes to find the Inca. The Incas were weak; Pizzaro conquered and got gold.64
6541759143Atahualpathe leader of the Incas, who was seized by Pizzaro and gave gold to him, first baptized as a Christian, than strangled65
6541759144Ethnocentrismthe term that describes the tendency of human beings to view their own culture as superior66
6541759145De La Casasa conquistador priest who dedicated himself to protecting Amerindian rights67
6541759146Franciscanspeoples who converted new world people to christianity, and took care of the poor.68
6541759147EncomenderosSpanish settlers who were in charge of the natives working on the encomiendas69
6541759148Peninsulariesa fading social class in the new world, composed of the people born in the old world70
6541759149Mestizoscomposed of European and Amerindian children, part of the castas71
6541759150Mulattoescomposed of European and African children, also part of the castas72
6541759151Council of Indiessupervised all government and commercial activity in the Spanish colonies73
6541759152Bartholomew Diasset out to find the tip of Africa and connect beyond it to the Indian Ocean, as well as discovering the fastest and safest ways back to Portugal74
6541759153Encomiendathe system in which conquistadors had forced natives to do work for them75
6541759154Creolescomposed of those born in the new world; a quickly growing class76
6541759155Castasa middle-level status between Europeans at the top; and Amerindians and blacks at the bottom77
6541759156Protestant work ethica work ethic of the protestants that encouraged individual endeavors towards gaining wealth78
6541759157Dutch East India Companya joint stock company that specialized in the spice and luxury trade of the East Indies and quickly gained control of Dutch Trading in the Pacific79
6541759158Lost ColonyThe colony of Walter Raleigh, as well as the first venture to North America by the British on the Carolina Coast.80
6541759159Mercantilisma system in which the government is constantly intervened in the market, with the understanding the goal of economic gain and to benefit the mother country81
6541759160Indentured Servitudea system which was usually ethnically the same as a free settler, but he or she was bound by an "indenture" (contract) to work for a person for four to seven years, in exchange for payment of the new world voyage82
6541759161Columbian exchangethe global diffusion of crops, other plants, human beings, animals, and distance that took place after the European exploring voyages of the New World83
6541759162Atlantic Circuita clockwise network of sea routs in the Atlantic Ocean84
6541759163Middle Passagethe first leg of the atlantic circuit, where ships took slaves to the new world85
6541759164Manila Galleonsships that traveled across the pacific ocean picking up and trading goods, like Asian luxury goods, and silver86
6541759165House of Burgessesthe elected assembly in the colonies that initiated a form of democratic representation87
6541759166Pilgrimssettled first in New England, and wanted to break away completely from the Church of England, sought to pursue spiritual ends in new lands88
6541759167Puritanswanted to purify Church of England, not break with it89
6541759168Iroquois ConfederacyDutch merchants established trading relationships with these guys90
6541759169Plantocracya small number of rich men owns most of the slaves and land, as well as had all the power91
6541759170Seasoninga period of adjustment to a new environment, like with the slaves92
6541759171Manumissionlegal grant of freedom to an individual slave93
6541759172Maroonsrunaway slaves in the Carribean94
6541759173KongoChristian missionaries went to this kingdom just south of the Congo River, where Christian Missionaries converted its inhabitants to Christianity95
6541759174African DiasporaThe spreading of Africans to many other parts of the world, especially the Americas. This is one of the most important demographic changes during 1450 - 175096
6541759175AsanteProduced insignificant amounts of gold and Kola nuts, they rose in West Africa on the Gold Coast.97
6541759176BeninNot really a significant player in the slave trade - relied on traditional products, such as ivory, textiles, and their unique bronze castings98
6541759177Dahomeya kingdom that used firearms to create its powerbase, in Contrast to the Asante, the Dahomey leaders were authoritarian, and often brutal in forcing compliance to the royal court99
6541759178Cape Colonyone of the two beachland colonies established by the Europeans in the 16th century, functioned as a major coastal for travelers.100
6541759179Hidden Imamthe 12th descendant of Muhammad, who in the end disappeared as a child101
6541759180Shah Abbas Ibrought the Safavids to the peak of the power, slave infantrymen102
6541759181Devshirmea system that required Christian's of the area to contribute young boys to be the sultans slaves103
6541759182Qizilbashfought against Janissaries in a great religious conflict. (Chaldiran)104
6541759183Battle of ChaldrianThe Shi'ite versus Sunni conflict at Chaldrian over religious differences, that set the limits for Shi'ite expansion105
6541759184Isfahan vs. IstanbulThese two places differed in the sense the first was far from cosmopolitan, Shi'ite, and have international trade, while the latter had more numerous, and guilds organized merchants106
6541759185Gunpowder Empiresan age of time where almost all powerful states used guns to build control/attack (included Russia, Ming and Qing, Japan, the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid and the Mughal empire)107
6541759186Suleiman the Magnificentruled the Ottomans as the empire reached the height of its power. The Ottomans controlled much of the water traffic between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean sea108
6541759187JanissariesChecked the military power of the sultan, being an elite military group109
6541759188Vizierhead of the imperial administration in the Ottoman empire who took care of the day to day work of the empire, aiding the Sultan110
6541759189Ottoman Lakethe Mediterranean Sea controlled by the empire with this name111
6541759190Battle at Lepantoa famous sea battle with the Ottomans vs Philip II. Ottomans and their Muslim allies lost control of many ports in this war.112
6541759191Safavid Empirean empire that grew from a turkish nomadic group, that were Shi'ite muslims113
6541759192Imamsheirs of Muhammad according to Shi'ite muslims114
6541759193Ismaila person who united a large area south of the caspian sea and of the Ottoman empire. An army emerged under him, as well as declared Twelver shi'ism for his new Safavid realm115
6541759194Twelver shi'isma religion based on Muslim beliefs, as well as the 'hidden Imam'116
6541759195Mansabscertain ranks in government by Akbar, which entitled their holder to revenue assignments117
6541759196Baburfounded the Mughal empire, claimed to be a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan (1526)118
6541759197Purdaha woman's seclusion from society in India, which was more enforced for upper class women, who did not leave home unescorted119
6541759198Akbarthe grandson of Babur, who brought the height of the Mughal empire. Also expanded his empire to control much of the subcontinent.120
6541759199Taj Mahala building of beauty built as a tomb for Mumtaz Mahal's wife.121
6541759200Satithe ritual suicide of widows by jumping into their husbands pyres, representing the low status of women122
6541759201Divine Faitha combination religion consisting of Muslim, Zorastriam, Christian, Sikh beliefs, with the catch being cementing loyalty to the empreror123
6541759202Mughal Empirean empire that that was a mixture of Mongol and Turkish peoples from Central Asia, which dominated India until the early 1700s124
6541759203Sikhismstarted by Nanuk, who became the first Guru of Sikhism. Sikhism was a following of people who formed a community free of caste divisions125
6541759204Army of the Purean army led to challenge the Mughal army and to assert Sikh beliefs aggressively; combined with other upheavel of the 18th century to seriously weaken the Mughal empire126
6541759205Fetehpur SilkriAkbar's entirely new capital city, showing the Mughal love for magnificent architecture.127
6541759206RajputsHindu warriors from the north, who made up 15 percent of Mansabars128
6541759207Ivan IVIvan the Terrible (his nickname) reflected problems that tsars faced as power increased129
6541759208Great Northern WarWar that was long and costly which came from Peter's modernized armies breaking Swedish control of the Baltic Sea, forcing Europe to see Russia as a major power130
6541759209Kabukia form of drama that consisted of several acts and separate skits with singing, dancing, and elaborate staging. (Actors became well known starts)131
6541759210Ivan IIIdeclared himself as "tsar" (means Caesar) with the claim he was establishing the "Third Rome"132
6541759211CossacksPeasants, who Ivan III consolidated land hold by recruiting them133
6541759212BoyarsThe nobility of the Russia feudal based economic system. They also had military responsibilities to overlords, including the tsar134
6541759213Time of TroubleThe time of following Ivan's rule. Ivan executed his oldest son, touching off competition among Boyars for the throne.135
6541759214Peter the GreatThe tsar of Russia in 1682 to 1724, who was most responsible for transforming Russia into a great world power. He understood how things worked globally, and expanded water ports136
6541759215St. PetersburgThe "Window to the West" established by Peter the Great, which was a capital built on the shoes of the newly accessed Baltic Sea (a port for the new navy + allowed closer access to western countries)137
6541759216Table of RanksA system by Peter the Great that allowed officials to attain gov't posistions based on merit, not on aristocracy status (reorganization of Bureaucracy)138
6541759217Tsara derivative of "Caesar", establishing a "3rd rome". This was a major propaganda for Russia139
6541759218Daimyopower territorial lords, who held local control of areas. Some Daimyos had more influence than others, but each maintained his own governments and had his own samurai140
6541759219Toyotomi Hideyoshia competent, Daimyo general who broke the power of warring daimyos and eventually unified Japan under his own authority. His ambitions stretched far, and he sparked the Unification of Japan141
6541759220Tokigawa legasuled the meetings of Daimyos after Hideyoshi's death, by the Togugawa shogunate142
6541759221Tokugawa Shogunatea centralized government established in 1603 in present day Tokyo. Also called "Ba***u", was a tent government, which was temporary143
6541759222Alternate attendanceRequired Daimyos to spend every other year at the Tokugawa court, keeping their power in check. Weakened in two ways: their wealth was affected by having two households, and their ability to establish separate power bases was impaired144
6541759223Floating WorldsSettings for the Kabuki plays, which consisted of an urban jumble of buildings, allowing people to escape from the rigid public decorum in outside society145
6541759224Banrakua pupper theater with a team of 3 that told a story through puppets in Japan146
6541759225Queuea Manchu style patch of hair gathered long and uncut in the back, showing submission to the Qing dynasty147
6541759226Kangxione of the rulers of the Manchu dynasty, helped to create a prosperous, powerful, and culturally rich empire. A sophisticated confucian scholar as well. His reign brought an empire that grew dramatically.148
6541759227Macartney Missionthe dispatch of Lord Macartney with other people to China, showing Britain's great interest in the Qing empire, as well the d Macartney esire to reuse the trade system149
6541759228Matteo RicciA Jesuit missionary who helped to try and convert emperor Wudi. Though failed at primary goal, they did open the country to European influence, primarily through their gadgets and technology150
6541759229Qing DynastyThe name of the empire after the Ming; seized China from the emperors who could no longer defend their borders from the Manchu151
6541759230Forbidden Citywas the home of the emperor and his family, which expanded service people to 20,000; as the government returned to Beijing from Manjing152
6541759231Kowtowa special, often deep bow to the Chinese emperor. In the Qing dynasty, those who came to see the emperor had to do a special bow consisting of 3 separate kneeling153
6541759232Qianlonga ruler of the Manchu dynasty who helped to create a prosperous, powerful, and culturally rich empire. He brought much prosperity that he cancelled taxes 4 times154

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!