MEDIEVAL HISTORY VOCABULARY FOR CHAPTER 4
CIVILIZATIONS OF ASIA
Silk Road: A chain of trade routes stretching from China to the
Mediterranean Sea
Dynasty: A series of rulers from the same family
Tang: A dynasty that ruled China for almost 300 years
Song: A dynasty that ruled China after the Tang
Merit System: A system of hiring people based on their abilities
Kublai Khan: A Mongol emperor of China
Archipelago: A group or chain of many islands
Kyoto: The capital city of medieval Japan
Feudalism: A system in which poor people are legally bound to work
for wealthy landowners
Shogun: The supreme military commander of Japan
Samurai: Japanese warriors
Sultan: A Muslim ruler
Caste System: A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect
of daily life
Mughal Empire: A period of Muslim rule of India from the 1500s to the
1700s
Akbar: The greatest Mughal leader of India
Taj Mahal: A tomb built by Shah Jahan for his wife