Key Concepts in World History

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Which East African culture/language blended Bantu and Arabic elements and was central to coastal trade?

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Swahili

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What term describes learned scholars in Confucian China who stood at the top of the social order and often passed the civil service exam to gain office?

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Scholar‑gentry

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What was the significance of the Mongol Empire’s division into the Four Khanates?

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It allowed regional administration under different khans yet maintained overall Mongol trade & communication systems

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The policy or cultural practice that combines Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist ideas in Song China is known as:

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Neo‑Confucianism

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What does “meritocracy” refer to in the context of Song China and other administrations?

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A system where selection for government positions is based on ability, often via exam

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The House of Wisdom, founded in Baghdad, was most famous for:

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Being a center for translation, scholarship, and the preservation of classical knowledge (Greek, Persian, Indian)

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What practice in many belief systems in Asia involves honoring one’s parents and ancestors, often seen in Confucian thought?

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Ancestor veneration

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Which empire is known for constructing massive stone structures in East Africa, including the Great Zimbabwe?

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Great Zimbabwe (Kingdom)

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What term describes a kind of religious movement in India where devotion to a personal god (bhakti) helped challenge the caste system and brought spiritual change?

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Bhakti Movement

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“Sinification” refers to:

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The process of becoming more heavily influenced by Chinese culture, institutions, or language