WORLD HISTORY EXAM HIGH-YIELD TOPICS
SUMMARY 2026
◉ Seljuk Empire.
Answer: Turkic empire ruled by sultans in Persia and modern-day
◉ Iraq (11th and 12th centuries); Established Turks as major ethnic
group carrying Islam across Eurasia, along with Arabs and Persians;
Demonstrated weakness of Abbasid caliphate in its later.
Answer:
◉ years; sultans held real power in the empire; Helped to spread the
influence of Islam throughout the region.
Answer:
◉ Delhi Sultanate.
Answer: The first Islamic government established within India from
1206-1520. Controlled a small area of northern India and was
centered in Delhi.
◉ Abbasid Caliphate.
,Answer: (750-1258 CE) The caliphate, after the Umayyads, who
focused more on administration than conquering. Had a
bureaucracy that any Muslim could be a part of.
◉ House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
Answer: Large Islamic-based Library and learning center. Focus of
conversion of Greek and Roman classics and Indian learning into
Arabic. Preserved knowledge.
◉ Bhakti Movement.
Answer: An immensely popular development in Hinduism,
advocating intense devotion toward a particular deity.
◉ Sufism.
Answer: An Islamic mystical tradition that desired a personal union
with God--divine love through intuition rather than through rational
deduction and study of the Shari'a. Followed an ascetic routine
(denial of physical desire to gain a spiritual goal), dedicating
themselves to fasting, prayer, meditation on the Qur'an, and the
avoidance of sin.
◉ Meritocracy.
Answer: government or the holding of power by people selected on
the basis of their ability; used in China via the Civil Service Exam
,◉ Syncretism.
Answer: The unification or blending of opposing people, ideas, or
practices, frequently in the realm of religion. For example, when
Christianity or Buddhism was adopted by people in a new land, they
often incorporate it into their existing culture and traditions.
◉ Zen Buddhism.
Answer: (also called Chen) a Japanese school of Mahayana
Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition;
illustrates the adaptations Buddhism made as it spread to new areas
and interacted with different cultures
◉ Buddhist Monks.
Answer: religious communities where Buddha's followers stayed,
studied, and meditated; both men and women could join
monasteries as monks or nuns; often exempt from taxation which
put strains on Chinese political systems
◉ Dhimmi.
Answer: Literally "people of the book"; applied as inclusive term to
Jews and Christians in Islamic territories; later extended to
Zoroastrians and even Hindus & Buddhists
◉ tributary state.
, Answer: independent state that has to acknowledge the supremacy
of another state and pay tribute to its ruler
◉ Silk Roads.
Answer: A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia,
along which traders carried silk and other trade goods; known for
spreading religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as well
as technological transfers and diseases like the Bubonic plague
◉ flying cash.
Answer: system of credit where merchants deposit money at one
location and withdrawal at another.
◉ Indian Ocean Trade.
Answer: connected to Europe, Africa, South Asia, and China.; worlds
richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim
expansion, spread of goods, ideas
◉ Trans-Saharan Trade.
Answer: trade routes across the Sahara Desert; traded gold, enslaved
peoples, ivory and salt; camels, camel caravans, and camel saddles
were crucial in the development of these trade networks; facilitated
the spread of Islam and linked West Africa to Mecca for participation
in the hajj
SUMMARY 2026
◉ Seljuk Empire.
Answer: Turkic empire ruled by sultans in Persia and modern-day
◉ Iraq (11th and 12th centuries); Established Turks as major ethnic
group carrying Islam across Eurasia, along with Arabs and Persians;
Demonstrated weakness of Abbasid caliphate in its later.
Answer:
◉ years; sultans held real power in the empire; Helped to spread the
influence of Islam throughout the region.
Answer:
◉ Delhi Sultanate.
Answer: The first Islamic government established within India from
1206-1520. Controlled a small area of northern India and was
centered in Delhi.
◉ Abbasid Caliphate.
,Answer: (750-1258 CE) The caliphate, after the Umayyads, who
focused more on administration than conquering. Had a
bureaucracy that any Muslim could be a part of.
◉ House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
Answer: Large Islamic-based Library and learning center. Focus of
conversion of Greek and Roman classics and Indian learning into
Arabic. Preserved knowledge.
◉ Bhakti Movement.
Answer: An immensely popular development in Hinduism,
advocating intense devotion toward a particular deity.
◉ Sufism.
Answer: An Islamic mystical tradition that desired a personal union
with God--divine love through intuition rather than through rational
deduction and study of the Shari'a. Followed an ascetic routine
(denial of physical desire to gain a spiritual goal), dedicating
themselves to fasting, prayer, meditation on the Qur'an, and the
avoidance of sin.
◉ Meritocracy.
Answer: government or the holding of power by people selected on
the basis of their ability; used in China via the Civil Service Exam
,◉ Syncretism.
Answer: The unification or blending of opposing people, ideas, or
practices, frequently in the realm of religion. For example, when
Christianity or Buddhism was adopted by people in a new land, they
often incorporate it into their existing culture and traditions.
◉ Zen Buddhism.
Answer: (also called Chen) a Japanese school of Mahayana
Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition;
illustrates the adaptations Buddhism made as it spread to new areas
and interacted with different cultures
◉ Buddhist Monks.
Answer: religious communities where Buddha's followers stayed,
studied, and meditated; both men and women could join
monasteries as monks or nuns; often exempt from taxation which
put strains on Chinese political systems
◉ Dhimmi.
Answer: Literally "people of the book"; applied as inclusive term to
Jews and Christians in Islamic territories; later extended to
Zoroastrians and even Hindus & Buddhists
◉ tributary state.
, Answer: independent state that has to acknowledge the supremacy
of another state and pay tribute to its ruler
◉ Silk Roads.
Answer: A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia,
along which traders carried silk and other trade goods; known for
spreading religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as well
as technological transfers and diseases like the Bubonic plague
◉ flying cash.
Answer: system of credit where merchants deposit money at one
location and withdrawal at another.
◉ Indian Ocean Trade.
Answer: connected to Europe, Africa, South Asia, and China.; worlds
richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim
expansion, spread of goods, ideas
◉ Trans-Saharan Trade.
Answer: trade routes across the Sahara Desert; traded gold, enslaved
peoples, ivory and salt; camels, camel caravans, and camel saddles
were crucial in the development of these trade networks; facilitated
the spread of Islam and linked West Africa to Mecca for participation
in the hajj
