APWH: Geography and Intro Vocabulary

AP Regional Geography

North America

...

Mexico

...

Caribbean

...

Latin America, including regions of MesoAmerica and the Caribbean

...

North Africa

...

West Africa

...

Central Africa

...

East Africa

...

South Africa

...

Middle East

...

Central Asia

...

East Asia

...

Southeast Asia

...

Afroeurasia

the landmass made up of Africa and Eurasia together. This geographical expression serves as a helpful tool in discussing large-scale historical developments that cut across the traditionally-defined continental divisions of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Americas

The ______ are made up of the continents of North America and South America, including neighboring islands, notably the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Until the twentieth century, most geography books classified North and South America together as a single

civilization

A term used to describe a certain kind of
development of a human society characterized by advanced agriculture, long-distance trade, occupational specialization, and urbanization.

norm

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe "proper" behavior within a culture.

Historiography

The literary reconstruction of historical events; the writing of history; and the study and analysis of historical narrative

Continuity

The unbroken and consistent existence or
operation of something over a period of time.

sustained

Continuing for an extended period or without interruption

Historical Change

A chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events

conjuncture

a critical combination of events or circumstances

causality

the relationship between an event (the cause)
and a second event (the effect), where the second event is a consequence of the first.

historical context

the background provided by previous communication episodes between the participants that influence understandings in the current encounter

periodization

the attempt to categorize divide world history into named blocks. There are four time periods in this course.

point of view

to identify the narrator, describing any part he or she plays in the events and any limits placed upon his/her knowledge.

bias

The distorting influences of present knowledge, beliefs, and feelings on recollection of previous experiences.

attribute

a quality or characteristic given to a person, group, or some other thing.

infer

to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

pivotal

of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else

THEME 1: HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (ENV)

The environment shapes human societies, and as populations grow and change, these populations in turn shape their environments. (spIce-t)

THEME 2: CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS AND INTERACTIONS (CDI)

The development of ideas, beliefs, and religions illustrates how groups in society view themselves, and the interactions of societies and their beliefs often have political, social, and cultural implications. (spiCe-t)

THEME 3: GOVERNANCE (GOV)

A variety of internal and external factors contribute to state formation, expansion, and decline. Governments maintain order through a variety of administrative institutions, policies, and procedures, and governments obtain, retain, and exercise power in

THEME 4: ECONOMIC SYSTEMS (ECN)

As societies develop, they affect and are affected by the ways that they produce, exchange, and consume goods and services. (spicE-t)

THEME 5: SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND ORGANIZATION (SIO)

The process by which societies group their members and the norms that govern the interactions between these groups and between individuals influence political, economic, and cultural institutions and organization. (Spice-t)

THEME 6: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (TEC)

Human adaptation and innovation have resulted in increased efficiency, comfort, and security, and technological advances have shaped human development and interactions with both intended and unintended consequences. (spice-T)

demography

The study of patterns and rates of population
change, including birth and death rates, migration trends, and evolving population distribution patterns. (spIce-t)

migrations

permanent moves to new locations that have occurred on local, regional, and global levels.

nomadic

a way of life in which a group of people have no
permanent residence, but move from place to place. (spIce-t)

Sedentary Agriculture

Agriculture that takes place in the immediate surroundings of a permanent settlement

pastoralism

A type of agricultural activity based on nomadic
animal husbandry or the raising of livestock to provide food, clothing, and shelter. (spIce-t)

dynasty/dynastic

a sequence of rulers from the same family (sPice-t)

Bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials. (sPice-t)

empire

land with different territories and peoples under a single rule (Islamic Caliphate, Song Dynasty, etc) (sPice-t)

legitimacy

The popular acceptance of a governing regime or
law as an authority; when people accept the authority of a king, emperor, president, prime minister, etc. (sPice-t)

codification of law

the process of collecting and restating the law of a jurisdiction in certain areas, usually by subject, forming a legal code, i.e. a codex (book) of law. (sPice-t)

sovereign

a supreme ruler, especially a monarch.

expansionist

the practice or policy of territorial or economic expansion

hegemony

the domination of one state or group over its allies (sPice-t)

tribute

wealth that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. (sPice-t)

Conscription

compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces; a military draft (sPice-t)

decree

An order having the force of law (sPice-t)

centralized government

A government in which power is concentrated in a central authority to which local governments are subject (sPice-t)

Decentralized Government

A decentralized government is one where its top level decision-making processes are dispersed throughout the system rather than being concentrated on one person, place or legislative body (sPice-t)

peasant

a member of a class of persons who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank. (Spice-t)

nobility

The landowning aristocratic class. (Spice-t)

egalitarian

The doctrine of the equality of mankind and the desirability of political and economic and social equality. The opposite of an egalitarian system could be a fascist society or dictatorship. Monarchies are not egalitarian. When you see this word, think abo

social stratification:

The division of a society into distinct and
unequal groups or classes. (Spice-t)

social mobility

Movement between different social positions
within a stratification system. (Spice-t)

patriarchy

A social system in which the father or eldest male
is head of the household, having authority over women and children. _____ also refers to a system of government by males, and to the dominance of men in social or cultural systems. It may also include tit

institution

An established pattern of human social behavior in
a given society--such as marriage, family, or government.

elite

A small group within the state or other organization which has disproportionate power over important decisions. (Spice-t)

Gentry

high class who often became scholar officials (China)

Artisian

a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.(Spice-t)

commerce

the exchange of goods and services; business, trade, and retailing are all common synonyms. (spicE-t)

commercial

related to business (spicE-t)

commodity

a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.

merchant

A person who makes money by selling goods (spicE-t)

Coerced Labor

forced labor systems (slavery, indentured servitude, debt peonage) (spicE-t)

culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. (spiCe-t)

doctrine

a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.

Missionaries

people who work to spread their religious beliefs (spiCe-t)

syncretism

the union (or attempted fusion) of different systems of thought or belief (especially in religion or philosophy) (spiCe-t)

tenet

a religious doctrine proclaimed as true without proof (spiCe-t)

diffusion

The spread of linguistic or cultural practices or
innovations within a community or from one community to another. (spiCe-t)

technology

The techniques of engineering and applied science for commercial and industrial purposes. Many fundamental technologies -the smelting and working of metals, spinning and weaving of textiles, and the firing of clay, for example - were developed at the dawn

metallurgy

The science of metals; their extraction from ores,
purification and alloying (spice-T)

textile

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting fibers (spice-T)

Fragmentation

the process or state of breaking or being broken into small or separate parts. "the fragmentation of society into a collection of interest groups

assimilation

When an imperial power enacts specific polices designed to socially, economically, and politically absorb a conquered civilization into the the imperial, hegemonic culture.

accommodation

When the imperial power allows newly conquered people to keep cultural traditions (religion, social interactions) even though they are different from the traditions of the conquering empire.

annihilation

When the imperial power seeks to destroy the civilization of those they conquer - mass executions, destruction of temples, etc.

Diaspora

A dispersion of people from their homeland

exploitation

the action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.

indigenous

originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

Intensification

action or process that makes something stronger or more extreme;

Meritocracy

government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability, not by their social class, family connections, etc.

stymie

to hinder, impede

subjugate

to conquer by force, bring under complete control

pious

devoutly religious

literate

(adj.) able to read and write; showing an excellent educational background; having knowledge or training

kinship

A social bond based on common ancestry, marriage, or adoption

institute

set up or lay the groundwork for

South Asia

...

Oceania

...

predominant

Being most evident or apparent