World History 1350-1850 Flashcards
Black Plague / Black Death
An outbreak of the Bubonic Plague. A deadly epidemic that struck Europe in the mid-1300’s and killed millions.
Protestant Reformation
the beginning of the decline in the Catholic Church’s political power, shifting away from the view that good works could earn a person a spot in heaven, to the belief that salvation came only through the grace of God.
around 1516
Dutch East India Company
One of the first joint-stock companies
Enlightenment
17th century intellectual movement centered on the belief that societies could improve through reason, science, and progress, primarily led by the philosophers: Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu.
Adam Smith
The father of capitalism. Wrote “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” Argued that an invisible hand guides the economy to its greatest productivity.
Samuel Slater
Called the “father of the American Industrial Revolution” and the “father of the American factory system.” Brought designs of textile mill machines to America
Islamic Golden Age
~700 CE - 1200 CE a period of rapid economic, social, scientific, and cultural advancement in the Islamic world; these advancements inspired the European Renaissance period.
Medici
The most powerful Florentine family, gained their wealth as bankers and used it to beautify Florence with art and architecture during the Renaissance.
Heliocentricity
the accepted astronomical model that the sun is at the center of our solar system; theory was put forth by Copernicus in 1543 and expanded upon by Galileo in 1632
Ottoman Empire / Turkish Empire
Founded in the late 1200s in modern-day Turkey, the Ottoman empire expanded to control Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
Cyrus Mccormick
Invented the mechanical reaper in 1831
Copernicus
first to discredit the church-accepted theory of an Earth-centered universe
Constantinople
the capital of the Byzantine Empire, captured by the Ottoman army in 1453
Christopher Columbus
Italian explorer who searched for alternate routes to India by traveling west across the Atlantic on four different trips.
Indulgence
Instead of completing traditional penance, an indulgence could be purchased from the Catholic Church to receive forgiveness for a sin
Renaissance
the rebirth of Europe’s interest in ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome including interest in art and literature. (roughly 1300 CE to 1600 CE); spurred by trading and the Crusades
Note: Dates for the beginnings and endings of long historical periods may differ depending on the region in question or even the opinions of certain historians.
Hopi Native Americans
Lived in villages called pueblos in northeastern Arizona. Relied on agriculture. Were known as peaceful people.
Cherokee Native Americans
A collection of tribes with common cultural elements. Lived in the southeastern United States but were a widely dispersed population. Relied on agriculture, hunting and gathering.
Mesoamerica
A region in the Americas extending from central Mexico through parts of Central America prior to Spanish exploration.
Capitalism
An economic system characterized by private, rather than government, ownership of industry. Prices, production, and distribution of goods are determined by competition in a free market.
Printing Press
an invention by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 that allowed for the mass production of printed works
New Amsterdam
The most diverse colony which was a Dutch settlement on the southern tip of Manhattan Island.
Eli Whitney
Invented the cotton gin in 1794
95 Theses
Martin Luther’s document outlining the 95 corrupt practices that he attributed to the Catholic Church
Meiji Restoration
Returned the country to emperor-led rule under Emperor Meiji and was a period of modernization for the country.
Scientific Revolution
Refers to the advances made in European scientific and mathematical thought based on a new philosophy of experimentation and a belief in progress.
Byzantine Empire
a vast, ancient empire; the eastern portion of the empire survived until conquered by the Ottoman army in 1453
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese explorer who organized the first expedition to circumnavigate the earth
Conquistadores
Spanish explorers who searched for and found expansive amounts of gold in the New World.
Age of Exploration
A period of time from the early 15th Century until the early 17th Century in which European ships traveled around the world in search of new trading routes.
John Deere
Designed a steel plow in 1837
Laissez-Faire
Adam Smith’s theory that the government should not interfere in the economy; translates to “let the people do as they choose.”
Classical Era (Antiquity)
~700 BCE - 400 CE - Refers to the golden age of Ancient Greek and Roman culture, including the writing of classical plays and the works of Homer and a boom in science, math, and philosophy; saw a resurgence during the European Renaissance.
Francis Bacon
Introduced the idea of the scientific method and experimentation based on empirical (verifiable) evidence.
Prince Henry The Navigator
Most notable explorer who found alternate trade routes to India through investing in larger and better ships
Galileo Galilei
Improved the telescope and used it to prove Copernicus’ heliocentric theory.
Spanish Armada
Defeated by the English Navy led by Sir Francis Drake; established England as the leading European naval power
Industrial Revolution
period of rapid growth in using machines for manufacturing and production; began in Great Britain in the mid-1700’s
Middle Ages / Medieval Period
A period in Europe after the Fall of Rome and up to the Fall of Constantinople (476 CE to 1453 CE). Characterized by Kings controlling territories or smaller empires than what Rome had been. Includes the Black Death.
Triangular Trade
Trade between the Americas, Europe, and Africa
Rene Descartes
Developed the theory of deductive reasoning; also called the Father of Modern Philosophy.
Robert Fulton
Invented the steamboat in 1807
Mehmed the Conqueror
Ottoman sultan responsible for the capture of Constantinople
Geocentric
Ancient theory of an Earth-centered universe; put forth by Ptolemy.
Jacques Cartier
French explorer who was the first to search for a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Mohican Native Americans
A confederacy of five tribes along the Hudson River. Lived primarily on agriculture, but also some hunting and gathering. Lived in longhouses
Columbian Exchange
The transferring of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the Americas after Christopher Columbus’ arrival.
Iroquois Confederacy / Iroquois League
A confederacy of six different tribes that was the most powerful native group in the Northeast; expanded tribes through war and conquest. Member tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora
Treaty of Sevres
Following WWI, the Treaty of Sevres dissolved and divided the Ottoman Empire into territories controlled by Britain and France.
Which of the following best describes the impact of the Age of Exploration on the economy?
Increased tariffs reinforced mercantilism.
Increase in European imports decreased European exports.
Access to new markets led to the transition from mercantilism to capitalism.
New monopolies strengthened mercantilism.
Access to new markets led to the transition from mercantilism to capitalism.
The economic pressures of this era led to many innovations in navigation and ship construction. This massive market expansion led to the end of mercantilism as more and more trading partners were possible. This brought the advent of capitalism.
What was the primary reason for the growth of national markets in the US during the last half of the 19th century?
the expansion of the railroad system
The expansion of the railroad system in the 19th century connected large portions of the country with a quick and efficient transportation option. Instead of horse and cart, goods could be shipped by train. This greatly reduced the cost and time of transportation, leading to a huge boom in trade across the country.
The English desire for colonies in the Americas was directly influenced by:
a
mercantilism and the creation of joint-stock companies.
b
the Civil War between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers.
c
King James signing the Magna Carta.
d
Parliament’s increasing power during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Option a is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Mercantilism was an economic philosophy that measured a nation’s wealth by the amount of gold it owned. In response to this philosophy, nations wanted to export more and import less (exports bring gold in, imports send gold out of the country). Nations began investing in colonies to diversify their resource production in order to maximize exports and minimize imports.
Which TWO of the following describe Ancient African contributions to the modern world?
Select all answers that apply.
a
the first to engage in international trade
b
advancements in geometry
c
advancements in astronomy
d
advancements in architecture
a
the first to engage in international trade
correct
Option a is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Ancient African cultures were the first to engage in international trade.
c
advancements in astronomy
Option c is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Ancient African cultures made advancements in astronomy. In Mali, the Dogon people collected detailed astronomical observations. They catalogued data on Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons, the structure of the Milky Way, and the orbit of the Sirius star system.
