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AP World History > AP World History Vocabulary > Flashcards

AP World History Vocabulary Flashcards

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1
Q

Culture

A

Human ways of living

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2
Q

Archeology

A

Study of human activity in the past;
primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts, and cultural landscapes

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3
Q

Paleolithic

A

(Old Stone Age)

Time period before writing, however, includes cave paintings

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4
Q

Neolithic

A

(New Stone Age)

Time period characterized by permanent villages, agriculture, and domestication

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5
Q

Empires

A

Groups of territories under one government

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6
Q

Ziggurat

A

Sumerian temple

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7
Q

Monarchy

A

Rule by King or Queen

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8
Q

Hereditary

A

Passed down from parent to child

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9
Q

Theocracy

A

A government in which religious and political leadership is held by the same person

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10
Q

Dynasty

A

Line of rulers from one family

Ex: Shang, T’ang, and Song dynasties

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11
Q

Scribes

A

Ancient writers

male or female; educated

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12
Q

Cuneiform

A

Sumerian system of writing

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13
Q

Delta

A

Fan-shaped area of swampy land

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14
Q

Embalming

A

Process used to preserve a dead body

Ex: Egyptian mummies

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15
Q

Mummy

A

A wrapped body

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16
Q

Pharaoh

A

Egyptian ruler

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17
Q

Tribute

A

Taxes

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18
Q

Cultural Diffusion

A

Exchange of ideas and customs among different regions

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19
Q

Monotheism

A

Worship of ONE god, or deity

Ex: Christianity; Judaism

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20
Q

Hieroglyphics

A

Egyptian writing system of picture symbols, or pictograms

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21
Q

Deity

A

In religious belief, a deity is a supernatural being who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred;
a god

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22
Q

Relic

A

Statue or holy object

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23
Q

Papyrus

A

Reed from the Nile used to make paper of the same name

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24
Q

Colonies

A

Permanent settlements

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25
Q

Tribes

A

Groups having a common language and culture

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26
Q

Exodus

A

Escape

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27
Q

Prophets

A

Religious reformers

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28
Q

Satrap

A

Governor of a Persian Province

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29
Q

Subcontinent

A

Large land mass like a continent, only smaller

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30
Q

Monsoon

A

Seasonal winds

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31
Q

Citadel

A

Fortress

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32
Q

Pictograms

A

Picture symbols

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33
Q

Linguists

A

Scientists who study the world’s languages

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34
Q

Rajah

A

Indian chief

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35
Q

Dasyus

A

Enslaved people who performed manual labor for the Aryans

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36
Q

Varnas

A

Four main Aryan social groups

caste system

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37
Q

Brahmans

A

Aryan priests

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38
Q

Kshatriyas

A

Aryan group made up of warriors

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39
Q

Vaishyas

A

Aryan group made up of merchants, artisans, and farmers

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40
Q

Shudras

A

Lowest Aryan group made up of unskilled laborers and servants

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41
Q

Reincarnation

A

Belief that the soul has to live in many bodies in many lifetimes

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42
Q

Karma

A

Every action of a person in one life influences how he or she will be born in the next life

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43
Q

Dharma

A

Hindu set of rules that determines moral conduct

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44
Q

Moksha

A

State of complete oneness with Brahman

Hinduism

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45
Q

Gurus

A

Wandering religious teachers of India

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46
Q

Nirvana

A

State of complete oneness with the universe

Buddhism

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47
Q

Stupas

A

Large stone mounds built over bones of Buddhist saints

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48
Q

Yoga

A

Hindu physical exercise to discipline the mind and body

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49
Q

Loess

A

Rich yellow soil found in northern China

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50
Q

Ethics

A

Study of moral principles

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51
Q

Yin

A

Force representing serenity, darkness, and coldness

Chinese principle; feminine

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52
Q

Yang

A

Chinese principle - fury, light, and heat

masculine

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53
Q

Civil Service

A

Bureaucracy in which officials are hired on the basis of examination

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54
Q

Mandarin

A

Class of scholarly civil servants in China

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55
Q

Acupuncture

A

Method of treating pain by piercing the skin with needles at vital points

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56
Q

Pagoda

A

Chinese tower-like temple

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57
Q

Typhoons

A

Hurricanes (Northwest Pacific)

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58
Q

Clans

A

Groups based on family ties

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59
Q

Logic

A

Science of reasoning

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60
Q

Aristocrats

A

Nobles who owned land

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61
Q

Bards

A

Storytellers

a person who composed and recited epic or heroic poems

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62
Q

Polis

A

Greek city-state

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63
Q

Acropolis

A

Fortified hill (of a Greek city-state)

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64
Q

Agora

A

Public Square

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65
Q

Phalanx

A

Infantry unit armed with spears and swords that fought in close formation

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66
Q

Tyrants

A

Greek leaders who championed the common people and promised to give them better government

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67
Q

Ostracism

A

Greek practice by which the people voted to exile an undesirable politician for ten years

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68
Q

Helots

A

Spartan slaves

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69
Q

Ephors

A

Spartan officials who managed public affairs

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70
Q

Tragedies

A

Stories about human suffering that often have unhappy endings

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71
Q

Trilogy

A

Set of three (plays)

Ex: The “Lord of the Rings” trilogy; the “Maze Runner” trilogy

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72
Q

Comedy

A

Play with a humorous theme and a happy ending

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73
Q

Sophists

A

Greek tutors

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74
Q

Rhetoric

A

Public speaking

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75
Q

Olympiad

A

Four-year interval between Olympic Games

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76
Q

Socratic Method

A

Teaching method developed by Socrates

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77
Q

Hypothesis

A

A possible explanation; a step in the scientific method

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78
Q

Hippodrome

A

Racetrack

If you’re like Britney, just imagine hippos racing!

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79
Q

Republic

A

A government in which the people elect their leaders

Ex: United States of America

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80
Q

Patricians

A

Roman aristocrats

from the Latin word “patricius” (pl. “patricii”), which comes from “patrēs,” the plural of “pater,” meaning “father.”

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81
Q

Plebeians

A

Non-aristocratic Romans; (commoners)

Mr. Peck spells it “Plebians,” but that’s incorrect…

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82
Q

Consuls

A

Two Roman executive officials elected for one-year terms

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83
Q

Veto

A

Refuse to approve

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84
Q

Dictator

A

Absolute ruler

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85
Q

Censors

A

Keepers of tax and population records

Just remember census

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86
Q

Senators

A

300 representatives in the Roman Senate

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87
Q

Centuries

A

Military units of 100 men each

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88
Q

Tribunes

A

Ten Plebeian representatives in the Roman Republic

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89
Q

Legions

A

Units of the Roman Army

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90
Q

Indemnity

A

Payment for war damages

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91
Q

Publicans

A

Roman officials who collected taxes

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92
Q

Latifundia

A

Large Roman Estates

“Latifundia” IS plural; “Latifundium” is singular - it uses the 2nd Declension Neuter chart. … It is NOT “Latifundias”…

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93
Q

Triumvirate

A

Group of three persons with equal power

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94
Q

Emperor

A

Monarch with absolute power over a large territory

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95
Q

Basilicas

A

Roman assembly halls; models for early Christian churches

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96
Q

Soothsayers

A

Priests of Rome who foretold the future

97
Q

Messiah

A

Jewish Savior

Jesus

98
Q

Yeshivas

A

Special academies in which Jewish scholars studied the Torah

99
Q

Disciples

A

Followers

100
Q

Crucified

A

Roman form of execution

Crucifixion

101
Q

Churches

A

Christian communities formed for worship, fellowship, and instruction

102
Q

Apostles

A

Christian missionaries

103
Q

Mystery Religions

A

Religions in the Roman Empire that believed in Mythical heroes, staged elaborate rituals, and promised a life after death

104
Q

Parish

A

Local church

105
Q

Presbyter

A

Church Priest

106
Q

Diocese

A

Unit of Church government made up of several parishes and headed by a Bishop

107
Q

Bishop

A

Head of a Diocese

108
Q

Archbishops

A

Leading Bishops in the Christian Church

Usually become Pope

109
Q

Classical

A

Greek or Roman

110
Q

Theology

A

Religious teachings

111
Q

Ethnic Group

A

Large group of people having common traits and customs

112
Q

Clergy

A

Church officials

113
Q

Laity

A

Church members who are not clergy

Congregation

114
Q

Dowry

A

Wealth a woman brought with her when she married

115
Q

Greek Fire

A

Chemical mixture that ignited when it came into contact with fire

116
Q

Icons

A

Sacred picture or images used in Church worship

117
Q

Doctrine

A

Official church teaching

118
Q

Patriarchs

A

Five leading archbishops

119
Q

Heresy

A

False doctrine

In modern times, a heretic is often associated with a non-believer

120
Q

Inflation

A

Steady rise in prices

121
Q

Iconoclasts

A 
Image breakers
(destroy icons, especially religious)
122
Q

Schism

A

Separation of the Church into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East

123
Q

Sultan

A

Ruler

Most likely in the Middle East or Muslim countries

124
Q

Hierarchy

A

Society of ranked order of social groups

Ex: Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

125
Q

Regents

A

Women who governed the empire as temporary rulers

126
Q

Sanctuary

A

Altar area

127
Q

Mosaic

A

Byzantine art form made by fitting small flat pieces of stone or colored glass to form a picture or design

128
Q

Steppe

A

Territory in Europe that begins in Europe and extends eastward into Asia
(plains)

129
Q

Izbas

A

Russian log cabins

130
Q

Principalities

A

Territories ruled by Princes

131
Q

Boyars

A

Councils of wealthy merchants and landed nobles; Russian nobles

132
Q

Khan

A

Absolute ruler; Mongol leader

133
Q

Nomadic

A

Wandering groups of Arabs who lived in the Arabian Peninsula

134
Q

Bedouins

A

Arab peoples who roamed the desert in search of pasture and water

135
Q

Sheikh

A

Chief (head of a tribe); based on leadership abilities and consent of the tribe

136
Q

Hanifs

A

Righteous men who denounced the worship of idols, lived simple lives, and believed in one God

137
Q

Revelation

A

Vision

138
Q

Suras

A

Chapters in the Koran (Quran) arranged with longer verses appearing first and shorter verses appearing last

139
Q

Shari’a

A

Islamic moral code organized in a code of law

140
Q

Imam

A

Prayer leader

141
Q

Infidels

A

Unbelievers

142
Q

Polygamy

A

When a person has more than one spouse

143
Q

Minarets

A

Towers in which people were called to prayer

Found in Middle East

144
Q

Bazaar

A

Marketplace

145
Q

Arabesque

A

Type of decoration used to decorate books, rugs, swords, and entire walls

146
Q

Calligraphy

A

The art of elegant handwriting

147
Q

Patrons

A

Sponsors

148
Q

Chronicles

A

Lists of events arranged by year

149
Q

Abbot

A

Monastery head

150
Q

Mayors of the Palace

A

Government officials in 8th century Frankish kingdom

151
Q

Papacy

A

Office of the Pope

152
Q

Counts

A

Local officials

153
Q

Missi Dominici

A

Royal envoys of Charlemagne

154
Q

Feudalism

A

Social organization characterized by ties of loyalty and duty among nobles, landholding, and rule by local officials

155
Q

Fiefs

A

Feudal estates with peasants

156
Q

Knights

A

Feudal mounted warriors

157
Q

Zakat

A

Income tax collected by the state used for schools or to help the poor
(Muslim requirement)

158
Q

Hajj

A

Pilgrimage

Islam

159
Q

Caliph

A

Muslim leader

160
Q

Jihad

A

Holy war

161
Q

Vassal

A

Feudal nobles who served a lord of the next higher rank

162
Q

Homage

A

Feudal ceremony during which a noble becomes a vassal to a lord

163
Q

Tournaments

A

Special contests among knights

164
Q

Joust

A

Tournament event during which two knights in armor attempted to knock each other to the ground with long wooden lances

165
Q

Page

A

Assistant in the castle of a lord; first stage of training for knighthood

166
Q

Squire

A

Second stage of knighthood training

167
Q

Chivalry

A

Code of behavior for knights

168
Q

Manors

A

Large estates

169
Q

Manorialism

A

Agricultural system of the Middle Ages

Relationship between a lord and a serf

170
Q

Freeholders

A

Peasants on a manor who paid rent and provided the lord with a portion of the harvest

171
Q

Serfs

A

Peasants who were bound to the soil and could not leave their manor without their lord’s permission

172
Q

Eucharist

A

Holy Communion

173
Q

Mass

A

Church’s worship service

174
Q

Cardinals

A

Clergy of Rome

175
Q

Lay Investiture

A

When secular rulers give symbols of office to bishops they appoint

176
Q

Friars

A

Wandering preachers

177
Q

Mendicants

A

Religious beggars

178
Q

Burghers

A

Townspeople

179
Q

Guilds

A

Business associations

180
Q

Masters

A

Guild members who owned their own tools and shops

181
Q

Troubadours

A

Musician-singers

182
Q

Vernacular

A

Everyday speech of the common people

183
Q

Bailiffs

A

Royal agents that presided over local courts, collected taxes, and commanded military forces
(England)

184
Q

Common Law

A

Same legal rules for all parts of England

185
Q

Parliaments

A

Meetings of the great council

186
Q

Diet

A

Assembly

187
Q

Journeymen

A

Experienced workers who received daily wages; worked for masters

188
Q

Apprentices

A

Young workers learning a trade

189
Q

Communes

A

Political groups that ended the power of the feudal lords in 12th century Italy

190
Q

Charters

A

Documents giving burghers control of their own affairs

191
Q

Grand Jury

A

Group of 12 people that submitted the names of people in the area suspected of crimes

192
Q

Petty Juries

A

Determine guilt or innocence of accused

193
Q

Peers

A

Equals

194
Q

Burgesses

A

Important townspeople

195
Q

Yurts

A

Moveable tents of the Mongols

196
Q

Yasa

A

Code of Mongol laws

197
Q

Grand Vizier

A

Prime Minister of the Ottoman Empire

198
Q

Millet

A

Ottoman religious community

199
Q

Sultanate

A

Kingdom

200
Q

Junks

A

Chinese ships

201
Q

Isolationism

A

Avoidance of ties with other countries

202
Q

Shogun

A

Japanese Commander-in-Chief

203
Q

Shogunate

A

Military government of Japan with Shogun as head

204
Q

Samurai

A

Japanese warrior landlords

205
Q

Daimyo

A

Group of powerful Samurai

206
Q

Sumo

A

Japanese form of wrestling

207
Q

Bushido

A

Samurai code of honor

208
Q

Humanism

A

Interest in classical writings (Greek and Roman)

209
Q

Humanists

A

Italian scholars who promoted Humanism

210
Q

Sonnets

A

Short poems

211
Q

Signori

A

Powerful leaders of Italian city-states

212
Q

Sects

A

Religious groups

213
Q

Depression

A

Economic decline

214
Q

Gentry

A

Lower nobility

215
Q

Commoners

A

Non-nobles

216
Q

Dictatorships

A

Governments controlled by one person or group

217
Q

Perspective

A

Painting technique used to create depth

218
Q

Reformation

A

Change in the ways the Church taught and practiced Christianity

219
Q

Simony

A

Selling of Church positions

220
Q

Indulgences

A

Documents issued by the Church that freed their owners from time in purgatory

221
Q

Purgatory

A

Place of suffering in the life to come

222
Q

Theses

A

Statements

223
Q

Ministers

A

Religious leaders of Protestant groups

224
Q

Vocations

A

Callings in which people could serve God and their neighbors

225
Q

Predestination

A

Belief that God determines the fate of every human being

226
Q

Elect

A

God’s chosen people

227
Q

Seminary

A

School to train priests

228
Q

Lateen sail

A

Triangular-shaped sail

229
Q

Rudder

A

Device used to steer a ship

230
Q

Compass

A

Navigational tool used to determine geographical direction

231
Q

Astrolabe

A

Navigational tool used to determine latitude

232
Q

Joint Stock Companies

A

Business organizations formed for the purpose of selling shares

233
Q

Entrepreneurs

A

Individuals that combine money, raw materials, and labor to make goods

234
Q

Mercantilism

A

Theory of national economic policy in which wealth means power

235
Q

Bullion

A

Gold and silver; money (precious metals)

236
Q

Balance of Trade

A

Nation’s exports versus its imports

237
Q

Mutiny

A

To overthrow a ship’s officers and take over the ship

238
Q

Line of Demarcation

A

Imaginary line dividing land

239
Q

Scurvy

A

Disease caused by the lack of Vitamin C

AP World History (1 decks)

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