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

AP World History Vocabulary Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9632013252PaleolithicOld Stone Age, a long period of human development before the development of agriculture.0
9632013253Pastoral Societysocial system in which the breeding and herding of domestic animals is a major form of production for good and other purposes1
9632013254Neolithiclate phase of Stone Age, advanced stone tools used2
9632013255Bantu Migrationsseries of migrations of the Bantu people from the Congo area to present day Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania,3
9632013256Mesopotamiaregion in West Asia situated within the Tigris-Euphrates river system4
9632013257Hammurabi's CodeSophisticated law code associated with the Babylonian king Hammurabi5
9632013258Iron Metallurgytechnique or science of working or heating metals into tools6
9632013259PatriarchyA system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line7
9632013260PhoeniciansAncient Semitic people living in the Eastern Mediterranean, responsible for creating an alphabet that has influenced many modern day alphabets8
9632013261Indus River Valley CivilizationCivilization along one of the longest rivers in South Asia9
9632013262Caste SystemA Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life10
9632013263Yellow River ValleyCradle of Chinese civilization, along one of the longest rivers in East Asia11
9632013264Mandate of HeavenChinese belief that the emperors ruled through the mandate, or approval, of heaven contingent on their ability to look after the welfare of the population12
9632013265Warring States Periodthe period from 475 BC until the unification of China under the Qin dynasty, characterized by lack of centralized government in China. It followed the Zhou dynasty.13
9632013266OlmecsOne of the earliest known major civilization in Mexico14
9632013267Persian WarsSeries on wars between Greece and Persia15
9632013268ZoroastrianismMonotheistic religion; influenced future religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity16
9632013269ConfucianismA system of thought based on the teachings that turned into the ruling ideology of the Chinese state, involves ancestor reverence and a profound human-centered religiousness17
9632013270DaoismPhilosophy that teaches that everything should be left to the natural order; rejects many of the Confucian ideas but coexisted with Confucianism in China18
9632013271LegalismA Chinese philosophy that argued that people were by nature evil and would follow the correct path if coerced by laws19
9632013272Jainisman Indian religion that stresses extreme simplicity and non violence towards all living creatures20
9632013273BuddhismReligion, based on Four Noble Truths, associated with Siddhartha Gautama; its adherents desired to eliminate all distracting passion and reach nirvana.21
9632013274HinduismMain religion in India,emphasizes reincarnation and the desire to end the cycle and death and reincarnation22
9632013275Polisancient Greek city state23
9632013276SpartaGreek city state, known for its emphasis on military service and strength24
9632013277AthensGreek city state, birthplace of democracy25
9632013278Hellenisticrelating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony26
9632013279SocratesGreek philosopher, father of western philosophy27
9632013280AristotleGreek philosopher and scientists, student of socrates28
9632013281Julius CaesarRoman military general and politician, assassinated by a group of nobles29
9632013282ChristianityReligion based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth30
9632013283Silk RoadNetwork of trading routes connecting East and West31
9632013284Justinian CodeLaws developed under Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor32
9632013285Lateen Saila triangular sail, made sailing in the wind easier33
9632013286Dhowship of small to moderate size used in W Indian Ocean; triangular sail and sewn timber hull34
9632013287Magnetic CompassNavigational Tool, indicates direction of travel35
9632013288IslamMonotheistic religion announced by the prophet Muhammad; influenced by Judaism and Christianity36
9632013289Indian Ocean Trade NetworkTrade network throughout the Indian Ocean, connected places like India, China, East Africa and the Middle East37
9632013290Neo-ConfucianismPhilosophy that attempted to merge certain basic elements of Confucian and Buddhist thought38
9632013291FeudalismA political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to a king in return for loyalty and military service39
9632013292Holy Roman EmpireMulti ethnic group of territories in central Europe during the Middle Ages, first emperor was Charlemagne40
9632013293Hanseatic LeagueA political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to a king in return for loyalty and military service41
9632013294MongolsCentral Asian group, created a largest land based empire through brutal conquest and military warfare.42
9632013295Ibn BattutaMoroccan traveler, made the pilgrimage to Mecca and helped spread Islam throughout Africa43
9632013296Marco PoloItalian merchant whose accounts of his travels to China and other lands became legendary44
9632013297Crusades(1095-1204) Armed pilgrimages to the Holy Land by Christians determined to recover Jerusalem from Muslim rule. The Crusades brought an end to western Europe's centuries of intellectual and cultural isolation.45
9632013298ToltecsCentral American society, predates the Aztecs46
9632013299AztecsCentral American empire constructed by the Mexica and expanded greatly during the 15th century47
9632013300MercantilismEconomic policy common to many absolute monarchies. Government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the military security of the country. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade and desires new sources of gold and silver bullion, thus fueling more colonialism.48
9632013301Trading Post EmpireFirst used by the Portuguese to control trade routes by forcing merchants to pay taxes in trading ports49
9632013302Joint Stock CompanyA business, often backed by a government charter, that sold shares to individuals to raise money for its trading enterprises and to spread the risks (and profits) among many investors.50
9632013303DiffusionThe spread of ideas, objects, or traits from one culture to another51
9632013304Zheng HeChinese explorer who traveled throughout the Indian Ocean52
9632013305RenaissanceA period in European history where ancient Greek and Roman art and culture was revived53
9632013306Bubonic PlagueDeadly disease that spread through Europe, believed to be brought to Europe by traders from Asia54
9632013307Trans-Saharan Tradetrade route that traveled across the Sahara desert55
9632013308JunksChinese sailing ship56
9632013309SikhismIndian syncretic religion that combines elements of Hinduism and Buddhism57
9632013310CaravelsEuropean fast sailing ship58
9632013311Columbian ExchangeAn exchange of goods, ideas and skills from the Old World (Europe, Asia and Africa) to the New World (North and South America) and vice versa.59
9632013312Encomienda SystemA labor system set up by the Spanish government where Spanish colonists could work the native Americans on their land while compensating them and agreeing to educate some of them and teach them about Christianity60
9632013313HaciendasAn exchange of goods, ideas and skills from the Old World (Europe, Asia and Africa) to the New World (North and South America) and vice versa.61
9632013314Indentured LaborLabor source for plantations; wealthy planters would pay the laboring poor to sell a portion of their working lives in exchange for passage62
9632013315Martin LutherAuthor of the 95 thesis, began the protestant reformation by protesting against the Catholic church63
9632013316Protestant Reformation16th century, European movement where religious figures broke away from the Catholic church64
9632013317Printing PressMachine used to mass produce text, responsible for increasing literacy rates and spreading information at a faster rate65
9632013318Scientific RevolutionStarted in the 1500's, that brought about major advancements in math, physics, astronomy, and biology66
9632013319Industrial Revolutionthe process of change from an agrarian society to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing67
9632013320Factory SystemMethod of manufacturing using machines and division of labor68
9632013321The EnlightenmentIntellectual and philosophical movement in Europe that emphasized natural rights, reason, and changes in government to meet the needs of the people69
9632013322Haitian Revolutionsuccessful anti-slavery and anti-colonial revolt led by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule70
9632013323Simon BolivarLeader of the revolutions that took place in Latin America71
9632013324NationalismExtreme pride in ones country or advocacy of political independence72
9632013325LiberalismPolitical view that emphasizes liberty and equality, civil rights73
9632013326ConservatismPolitical view that holds that society changes slowly overtime against rapid change74
9632013327SocialismPolitical theory that advocates that the community should own he means of production75
9632013372Marxism76
9632013373Communism77
9632013374Social Darwinism78
9632013375Scramble for Africa79
9632013376Indian Revolt, 185780
9632013377"White Man's Burden"81
9632013378National Assembly82
9632013379French Revolution83
9632013380Indian National Congress84
9632013381King Leopold85
9632013382Opium War86
9632013328Berlin ConferenceMeeting organized by German chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1884-1885 that provided the justification for European colonization of Africa87
9632013383Taiping Rebellion88
9632013384Self-strengthening Movement89
9632013385Sphere of Influence90
9632013386Boxer Rebellion91
9632013387Seneca Falls Convention92
9632013388Meiji Restoration93
9632013389Mexican Revolution94
9632013390WWI95
9632013391Paris Peace Conference96
9632013329Armenian GenocideCampaign of extermination undertaken by the Ottomans against two million Armenians living in Ottoman territory during World War I.97
9632013392Treaty of Versailles98
9632013330League of NationsForerunner of the United Nations, the dream of American president Woodrow Wilson, although its potential was severely limited by the refusal of the United States to join.99
9632013393Great Depression100
9632013394Russian Revolution101
9632013331Mandate SystemSystem that developed in the wake of World War I when the former colonies ended up mandates under European control102
9632013395New Deal103
9632013396Fascism104
9632013397Benito Mussolini105
9632013398Adolf Hitler106
9632013399WWII107
9632013400Stalin's Five Year Plan108
9632013401Mao Zedong109
9632013402Mohandas Gandhi110
9632013403Nazi-Soviet Pact111
9632013404Mukden Incident112
9632013405Rape of Nanking113
9632013406Holocaust114
9632013407United Nations115
9632013408Cold War116
9632013409Iron Curtain117
9632013410Truman Doctrine118
9632013411Marshall Plan119
9632013412NATO120
9632013413Warsaw Pact121
9632013414Green Revolution122
9632013415U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1965123
9632013332ApartheidSouth African system of "separateness" that was implemented in 1948 and that maintained the black majority in a position of political, social, and economic subordination.124
9632013416Decolonization125
9632013417Zionism126
9632013418Geneva Conference127
9632013419Pan-Africanism128
9632013420Pan-Arabism129
9632013421Iranian Revolution130
9632013422Globalization131
9632013333Climate Changea change in global or regional climate patterns132
9632013334Rwandan GenocideMass slaughter of Tutsi's in Rwanda. Led by the Hutu people133
9632013335Satellite NationsCold War, nations that were under the influence of the Soviet Union and Communism134
9632013336AbsolutismPolitical philosophy that stressed the divine right theory of kingship: the French king Louis XIV was the classic example.135
9632013337capitalismAn economic system with origins in early modern Europe in which private parties make their goods and services available on a free market.136
9632013338Agricultural Revolutionchangeover from food gathering to food production that occurred between ca. 8000 and 2000 B.C.E.137
9632013339SyncretismCombination of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought, the merging of different inflectional varieties of a word during the development of a language138
9632013340Fertile CrescentThe Tigris and Euphrates Rivers gave life to the first known agricultural villages in this area about 10,000 years ago and the first known cities about 5,000 years ago. Includes Mesopotamia, Palestine, and the Nile.139
9632013341MitaWhen colonists were allowed to use Indians for forced labor in colonial South America as a form of taxation. The Inca had previously used a similar practice.140
9632013342Mansa MusaRuler of Mali who made a pilgrimage from Egypt to Mecca141
9632013343Filial PietyIn Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors142
9632013344Irrigation systema means of supplying land with water143
9632013345SecularNon-religious144
9632013346Specialization of LaborTo train or specialize people in certain areas of work so that people can accomplish tasks quicker145
9632013347AnimismBelief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.146
9632013348codificationa set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)147
9632013349MonasticismLiving in a religious community apart from secular society and adhering to a rule stipulating chastity, obedience, and poverty.148
9632013350CaliphateOffice established in succession to the Prophet Muhammad, to rule the Islamic empire; also the name of that empire.149
9632013351Tribute systemA system in which defeated peoples were forced to pay a tax in the form of goods and labor. This forced transfer of food, cloth, and other goods subsidized the development of large cities150
9632013352appeasementBritish and French policy in the 1930's that tried to maintain peace in Europe in the face of German aggression by making concessions151
9632013353BrahmanHindu caste of priests152
9632013354CaliphIslamic leader after the death of Muhammad153
9632013355Catholic Reformation16th century Catholic attempts to cure internal ills and confront Protestantism.154
9632013356Chinampasgardens used by Aztecs in which fertile ground from lake bottoms was dredged and built up into small plots for farming155
9632013357Civil Service Examtests given at the district, provincial, and metropolitan levels that determined entry into the Chinese civil service during the Ming and Qing dynasties156
9632013358ConquistadorsSpanish adventurers such as Cortez and Pizarro who conquered Central and South America in the 16th Century157
9632013359ContainmentGoal of the Truman Doctrine, stop or contain the spread of Communism158
9632013360CreolesPeople born in the Americas of Spanish or Portuguese ancestry159
9632013361Daimyopowerful territorial lords in early modern Japan160
9632013362DetenteA reduction in cold war tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union from 1969-1975161
9632013363Direct Rulea system of government used by Europeans towards their colonies. Officials were sent from the European nation to rule over the colony162
9632013364Indirect Rulea system of government used by Europeans towards their colonies. It allowed local leaders to remain in place under British rule163
9632013365Foot bindingChinese custom of applying tight binding to the feet of young girls to modify the shape of their feet. It was practiced in China from the Song dynasty until the early 20th century, bound feet were considered a status symbol as well as a mark of beauty164
9632013366GlasnostRussian term meaning openness, introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 to describe the process of opening of Soviet society165
9632013367Good Neighbor PolicyU.S. foreign policy under FDR, emphasized cooperation and trade rather than military force in Latin America166
9632013368Great Leap ForwardEconomic and social program in China under Mao. Attempt to address the problems with China's industrial and agricultural sectors.167
9632013369IndulgenceA forgiveness of sins, sold by the Catholic church, one of the causes of Martin Luthers unhappiness with the church168
9632013370Laissez FaireBelief that the government should not be involved in a free market169
9632013371PlatoGreek philosopher, student of Socrates, author of the allegory of the cave170

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!