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

AP World History Vocabulary Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9999642534B.C.EBefore the common or current era.0
9999642535C.ECommon or current era.1
9999642536AbdicateRenounce one's throne.2
9999642537AccessionThe attainment of a position of power, typically that of monarch or president.3
9999642538AestheticGiving or designed to give pleasure through beauty.4
9999642539AgrarianOf or relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.5
9999642540AmenitiesA desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.6
9999642541AnarchyA state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.7
9999642542AnimismThe belief that all plants, animals, and objects have spirits.8
9999642543AntiquityAncient times9
9999642544AppeasementTo make (someone) pleased or less angry by giving or saying something desired.10
9999642545AristocracyThe people who have special titles, who typically own land, and who traditionally have more money and power than the other people in a society.11
9999642546AsceticismRelating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure.12
9999642547AssimilateTo learn (something) so that it is fully understood and can be used.13
9999642548AuthoritarianExpecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws : not allowing personal freedom.14
9999642549AutocracyA form of government in which a country is ruled by a person or group with total power.15
9999642550BarbarismCruel and violent behavior.16
9999642551BureaucracyA large group of people who are involved in running a government but who are not elected.17
9999642552BureaucratA person who is one of the people who run a government or big company and who does everything according to the rules of that government or company.18
9999642553City-StateState that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it.19
9999642554CivicOf or relating to a city or town or the people who live there.20
9999642555ClassicalOf a kind that has been respected for a long time.21
9999642556ColonialOf or relating to a colony22
9999642557CommerceActivities that relate to the buying and selling of goods and services.23
9999642558CommunalShared or used by members of a group or community.24
9999642559ConcubineAn unmarried woman who has sex with a man and lives with the man and his wife or wives.25
9999642560ConscriptionThe practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces.26
9999642561CosmopolitanA person who has lived in and knows about many different parts of the world.27
9999642562CoupA sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.28
9999642563DemographyThe study of changes that occur over a period of time in human populations.29
9999642564DemographicOf or relating to the study of changes that occur in large groups of people over a period of time.30
9999642565DespotA ruler who has total power and who often uses that power in cruel and unfair ways.31
9999642566DiasporaA group of people who live outside the area in which they had lived for a long time or in which their ancestors lived.32
9999642567DissentTo publicly disagree with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs.33
9999642568DissidentDisagreeing especially with an established religious or political system, organization, or belief.34
9999642569DomesticOf, relating to, or made in your own country.35
9999642570DomesticateTo train (someone) to behave in an appropriate way at home.36
9999642571Dynasty/DynasticA family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time; also: the period of time when a particular dynasty is in power.37
9999642572EdictAn official order given by a person with power or by a government.38
9999642573EgalitarianAiming for equal wealth, status, etc for all people.39
9999642574EliteThe people who have the most wealth and status in society.40
9999642575EmigrateTo leave a country or region to live elsewhere.41
9999642576EpicTelling a story about a hero or about exciting events or adventures.42
9999642577EthnocentricHaving or based on the idea that your own group or culture is better or more important than others.43
9999642578FeudalismA social system that existed in Europe during the Middle Ages in which people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and the use of land in return.44
9999642579GentryUpper or ruling class45
9999642580GuildAn organized group of people who have joined together because they share the same job or interest.46
9999642581HierarchyA group that controls an organization and is divided into different levels.47
9999642582HominidsAny of a family (Hominidae) or erect bipedal primate mammals that include recent humans together with extinct ancestral and related forms and in some recent classifications the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan.48
9999642583HomogenousMade up of the same kind of people or things.49
9999642584IdeologyThe set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party.50
9999642585ImperialOf or relating to an empire or an emperor.51
9999642586ImperialismA policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world.52
9999642587IndigenousProduced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment.53
9999642588InfrastructureThe basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly.54
9999642589Lineagea group of individuals tracing descent from a common ancestor.55
9999642590Linguisticof or relating to language or linguistics.56
9999642591Manifesteasily understood or recognized.57
9999642592Maritimeof or relating to sailing on the sea or doing business (such as trading) by sea.58
9999642593Martialof or relating to war or soldiers.59
9999642594Matrilinealrelating to, based on, or tracing descent through the maternal line.60
9999642595Mercenarya soldier who is paid by a foreign country to fight in its army.61
9999642596Monarchya country that is ruled by a monarch (such as a king or queen).62
9999642597Monopolycomplete ownership or control of something.63
9999642598Monopolizeto use (something) in a way that prevents others from using it.64
9999642599Monotheismthe belief that there is only one God.65
9999642600Mysticalhaving a spiritual meaning that is difficult to see or understand.66
9999642601Nation-Statea form of political organization in which a group of people who share the same history, traditions, or language live in a particular area under one government.67
9999642602Neonew.68
9999642603Neolithicof or relating to the latest period of the Stone Age characterized by polished stone implements.69
9999642604Nomadicor, relating to, or characteristics of nomads.70
9999642605Oligarchya country, business, etc., that is controlled by a small group of people.71
9999642606Pantheonthe gods of particular country or group of people.72
9999642607Papalof or relating to the pope or the government of the Roman Catholic Church.73
9999642608Papacythe office or position of the pope.74
9999642609Parliament/ Parliamentary Systemthe group of people who are responsible for making the laws in some kinds of government.75
9999642610Pastoralof or relating to the countryside or to the lives of people who live in the country.76
9999642611Patriarchalof, relating to, or being a patriarch or patriarchy.77
9999642612Patrilinealrelating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line.78
9999642613Patronagemoney and support that is given to an artist, organization, etc.79
9999642614Peasanta poor farmer or farm worker who has low social status.80
9999642615Pharaoha ruler of ancient Egypt.81
9999642616Pietydevotion to God.82
9999642617Piousdeeply religious.83
9999642618Politysomething (such as a country or state) that has a government.84
9999642619Polygamythe state of practice of being married to more than one person at the same time.85
9999642620Polytheismthe belief that there is more than one god.86
9999642621Proselytizeto try to persuade people to join a religion, cause, or group.87
9999642622Provinciala person who lives in or comes from a place that is far away from large cities.88
9999642623Regenta person who rules a kingdom when the king or queen is not able to rule because he or she is sick, too young, etc.89
9999642624Republica country that is governed by elected representatives and by an elected leader (such as a president) rather than by a king or queen.90
9999642625Rhetoriclanguage that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable.91
9999642626Rhetoricalof, relating to, or concerned with the art of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people.92
9999642627Sedentarystaying or leaving in one place instead of moving to different places.93
9999642628Serfa person in the past who belonged to a low social class and who lived and worked on land owned by another person.94
9999642629Shariathe religious laws based on the Koran that Muslims follow.95
9999642630Sinificationa process whereby non-Han Chinese societies come under the influence of Han Chinese state and society.96
9999642631Statea way of living or existing.97
9999642632Steppea large, flat area of land with grass and very few trees especially in eastern Europe and Asia.98
9999642633Stratificationthe state of being divided into social classes.99
9999642634Sub-Saharanof, relating to, or being the part of Africa south of the Sahara.100
9999642635Subordinatein a position of less power or authority than someone else.101
9999642636Successiona series of people or things that come one after the other.102
9999642637Syncretismthe combination of different forms of belief or practice.103
9999642638Textilesa fabric that is woven or knit.104
9999642639Theocracya form of government in which a country is ruled by religious leaders.105
9999642640Theologythe study of religious faith, practice, and experience.106
9999642641Totalitariancontrolling the people of a country in a very strict way with complete power that cannot be opposed.107
9999642642Tributary Statea state that is subordinate to a more powerful neighbor.108
9999642643Tyrannycruel and unfair treatment by people with power over others.109
9999642644Urbanof or relating to cities and the people who live in them.110
9999642645Urbanizeto import an urban way of life.111
9999642646Usurpto take or keep (something, such as power) in a forceful or violent way and especially without the right to do so.112
9999642647Vernacularof, relating to, or using the language of ordinary speech rather than formal writing.113

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!