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AP World History Vocabulary Flashcards

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10479226017AbsolutismThe principle or the exercise of complete and unrestricted power in government. // A government run by a leader who has unlimited power and wants to control all aspects of society. Modern Day Example: Government of North Korea0
10479261281AgricultureThe production of crops, livestock, or poultry. // The science of developing land to yield crops and breed animals. Modern Day Example: A Chicken Farm1
10479269141AristocracyA government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility. // The people of the wealthy upper class have control over the government. Modern Day Example: The Caste System of India2
10479269142BCEBefore Common Era // All dates counting backward from zero.3
10479270616CECommon Era// Dates that proceed after zero.4
10479270617BiasA particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific. / A standpoint based on your personal opinion and not facts. Modern Day Example: Gender Bias5
10479272539BureaucracyA system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. // An organization made up of many divisions that are based on the rank of authority. Modern Day Example: Police Departments6
10479272540CapitalismAn economic and political system in which a country's trade is controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. //An economic system where most of the businesses are privately owned and own the means of production and distribution. Modern Day Example: The United States and China7
10479273524ChiefdomA form of political organization with rule by a hereditary leader who held power over a collection of villages and towns. // A territory of people that is ruled over by a leader chosen by blood. Modern Day Example: The Zulu and Ashanti in Africa.8
10479273525City-StateA city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state. // A group of territories that have their own ruling bodies and govern themselves. Modern Day Example: Singapore9
10479274023CivilizationA society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes. // An advanced society with social organization. Modern Day Example: Developed countries10
10479274591Classical EraAn ancient era in Rome and Greece when people achieved new heights in art, architecture, and philosophy. // A period of prosperity and growth of art and creative thinking in Ancient Greece and Rome.11
10479274592CodifyTo organize something (such as laws or rules) into a system of writing. // To arrange important rules into a body of writing. Modern Day Example: The Bill of Rights12
10479275740ColonizationThe expansion of countries into other countries where they establish settlements and control the people. // When one country settles into another territory and gains control and power. Modern Day Example: Scramble for Africa13
10479275741CommercialHaving to do with business or trade // Relating to making profit and success from business or trade. Modern Day Example: A Shopping Mall14
10479276267Contemporary Era1945- Present day// The historical period that classifies the early 19th century to our current day. Modern Day Example: The Cold War occurred during this time frame.15
10479276268ContextualizationPlace or study in context// To characterize an action or activity in context to be able to study it.16
10479278439CorroborationEvidence that confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding// Using proof to confirm information.17
10479278440DemographyThe scientific study of population characteristics // The study of changes and trends of a population. Modern Day Example: Percentage of male and females in the population18
10479279034DynastyA series of rulers from the same family// A ruling body that is made up of hereditary members.19
10479280261Early Modern Era1450-1750 // The historical time period after the Middle Ages and when European exploration began.20
10479280262EmpireA group of states or territories controlled by one supreme authority// A large area that is under the control of a single leader, usually and emperor or empress. Modern Day Example: United States of America21
10479280813EthnocentrismBelief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group. // Believing that your culture is better than all others. Modern Day Example: Nazis22
10479280814EpidemicA widespread outbreak of an infectious disease. // A large occurrence of a infectious disease that affects a large part of a population. Modern Day Example: Ebola23
10479281461ForagerOne who searches for food by hunting or gathering// A person who scavenges for food. Modern Day Example: Undomesticated animals24
10479281462GlobalizationActions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope. // Growth of actions to a very large global scale. Modern Day Example: McDonalds25
10479282728HierarchyA system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. // A ranking of a person or group based on their status in a society. Modern Day Example: The Caste System26
10479282729ImperialismA policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. // A country takes over other areas to gain more territory and widen their control. Modern Day Example: Syria, Iran, and Iraq27
10479283469Indentured ServantLaborer who agreed to work without pay for a certain period of time in exchange for passage to America. // Someone who did work for no pay, like a slave, to be able to come to America.28
10479284269InterregionalOf, involving, or connecting two or more regions// An area that encompasses two different regions. Modern Day Example: Migration29
10479284270Kingdoma country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. // A territory that has a king or queen as its head of government. Modern Day Example: Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni.30
10479284959Merchanta person who buys and sells goods// a profession where a person buys and sells commodities to make money. Modern Day Example: Flea Markets and Farmers Markets.31
10479284960Modern Era1750-1900// A historical time period of events between the 1750's and the beginning of the 20th century.32
10479286005MonotheismBelief in one God// A category of religions that worship and believe in one god. Modern Day Example: Christianity33
10479286006Nationa politically organized body of people under a single government// A large population of people that live under a single political power. Modern Day Example: The United States of America34
10479287031NeolithicThe period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution. It follows the Paleolithic period. // The Agricultural Revolution where people switched from hunting and gathering to farming and the domestication of animals.35
10479287032NobilityA high-ranking social class// the nobles or ruling class of a society that are held high in respect and usually very wealthy.36
10479287738NomadA person who moves from place to place in search of food// A person with no permanent home that moves from place to place to follow the herds.37
10479287739Pandemicworldwide epidemic// an epidemic or disease that affects the world on a global scale. Modern Day Example: HIV38
10479289207PapacyThe central administration of the Roman Catholic Church, of which the pope is the head.// When there is a Pope that has the majority of the control over the Church. Modern Day Example: Pope Francis39
10479289208PastoralHaving to do with the country// Having characteristics that are associated with rural areas and rural life. Modern Day Example: Farms in the country of North Carolina40
10479289649PatriarchalRelating to a society in which men hold the greatest legal and moral authority// When men are considered with a higher regard and power than women in a society. Modern Day Example: The United States41
10479289650Periodizationthe division of history into periods of time// When different periods of time are sectioned off into significant historical periods.42
10479290228PolytheismBelief in many gods// A type of religions that believe and worship multiple gods. Modern Day Example: Hinduism43
10479290229Post-Classical Era600-1450 // A historical time period that includes the Crusades and the beginning of Renaissance.44
10479291101Post-Modern EraMid 20th century - today. // A time period that began in the late 20th century to our current day.45
10479291102PrehistoricBefore written history// Human history that happned before records or writing.46
10479291858Revolutiona forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.// When a group of people have an uprising against their government to replace it and make changes. Modern Day Example: Islamic Revolution47
10479291859Ruralrelating to farm areas and life in the country// Aspects that share characteristics of country or farm life. Modern Day Example: Family owned farms48
10479292676ScribeA professional writer// A person who writes or copies for records. Modern Day Example: Medical Scribe49
10479292677Sedentary AgricultureFarming system in which the farmer remains settled in one place// A type of farming where it remains in one permentant area and the crops are not rotated. Modern Day Example: Wheat- Sheep Farming50
10479294969Serfan agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.// A person under servitude in feudilism that must serve a lord.51
10479295320SlaveA system of enforced servitude in which some people are owned by other people.// An individual who is the property of another and has no freedoms. Modern Day Example: Prisoners of War and child slavery52
10479295321SocialismA political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.// A economic system where business and production is managed by the government. Modern Day Example: Cuba53
10479296007State (not the US states)A politically unified people occupying a definite territory; nation. // The land or area that is organized by a government or power. Modern Day Example: North Carolina54
10479296008Stateless societyA society that is based on the authority of kinship groups rather than on a central government// A society that is not under the control of a state or other authority. Modern Day Example: Many African tribes55
10479296863SyncretismA blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith// The union of seperate beliefs or culture merged into a single faith. Modern Day Example: Sikhism (Islam and Hinduism).56
10479296864SynthesisCombination// Combining different parts to make a whole.57
10479297412SteppesA large plain of flat grassland in southeastern Europe or Siberia. // An area in Eurasia that is characterized by large flat plains covered in grass.58
10479299211UrbanThe characteristic of a city or town. // Any area that is relating to a city. Modern Day Example: New York City59

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