ap world history unit 4 vocab

Lemon

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03-02-2025

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Unit 4 of AP World History covers a pivotal period in global history, focusing on the transformation of societies from 1450 to 1750. Mastering the key vocabulary is crucial for success. This guide breaks down essential terms, providing context and deeper understanding to help you ace your exams. We'll explore the terms thematically for easier comprehension.

The Age of Exploration and Global Trade

This section focuses on the expansion of European powers and the resulting global trade networks. Understanding these terms is key to grasping the complexities of this era.

• Mercantilism: An economic system where a nation's power is directly tied to its wealth, typically measured in gold and silver. Colonies exist to enrich the mother country through the extraction of resources and the control of trade. Think monopolies and controlled markets.

• Columbian Exchange: The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. This exchange had profound and lasting impacts on the world's population and environment.

• Triangular Trade: A complex trade network connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Europeans traded manufactured goods for enslaved Africans, who were then transported to the Americas to work on plantations producing raw materials (like sugar and tobacco) that were shipped back to Europe.

• Joint-Stock Companies: Businesses formed by groups of investors who pooled their resources to finance large-scale ventures, particularly colonization and trade. Examples include the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company. These companies often held significant political power.

• Caravel: A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese in the 15th century, which played a crucial role in exploration and trade. Its design allowed for exploration of the Atlantic and beyond.

The Rise of Global Empires

This section explores the expansion and consolidation of empires across the globe, highlighting both European and non-European examples.

• Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. This process significantly shaped global power dynamics.

• Encomienda System: A labor system in Spanish America where Spanish conquistadors were granted control over indigenous populations, requiring them to work in exchange for protection and Christian conversion. This system was often brutal and exploitative.

• Mita System: A system of mandatory public service in the Inca Empire, which was later adopted and modified by the Spanish. Indigenous communities were required to provide labor for specific projects, often under harsh conditions.

• Tokugawa Shogunate: The final feudal Japanese military dictatorship, which unified Japan under a centralized government from 1603 to 1868. This period saw relative peace and prosperity within Japan.

• Gunpowder Empires: Empires that rose to prominence through the use of gunpowder weaponry. Examples include the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.

Social and Cultural Transformations

This section delves into the significant social and cultural changes that occurred during this period.

• Syncretism: The blending of different cultures or religions, often resulting in new forms of cultural expression. This is evident in many parts of the world during this period, particularly in the Americas and Asia.

• Protestant Reformation: A religious movement that began in the early 16th century in Europe, challenging the authority of the Catholic Church and leading to the establishment of new Protestant denominations. This had profound political and social consequences.

• Scientific Revolution: A period of rapid scientific advancements in Europe, challenging traditional beliefs and paving the way for the Enlightenment.

• Transatlantic Slave Trade: The forced migration of millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, resulting in immense human suffering and a lasting impact on the societies of both continents.

This vocabulary list provides a strong foundation for understanding Unit 4. Remember to delve deeper into each term, exploring its historical context and significance. Good luck with your studies!