World History Flashcards
1
Q
Printing Press
A
an invention by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 that allowed for the mass production of printed works
2
Q
Northwest Passage
A
A hypothesized water route from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. It would have facilitated trade with Asia, but one was never found. Eventually, the Panama Canal would connect these oceans in Central America.
3
Q
Bay of Pigs
A
A failed military invasion of Cuba in 1961.
4
Q
Brahmanism
A
a religious ideology and part of Hinduism that relates to humans’ quest for God
5
Q
Globalization
A
when countries and people become more connected and share things like goods, ideas, and cultures worldwide, often because of technology and improved communication
6
Q
Nationalism
A
Nationalism is a strong, often excessive, sense of loyalty and devotion to one’s own nation, often accompanied by a belief in its superiority over others.
6
Q
Great Pyramids
A
Large geometrically perfect monuments in which pharaohs were buried. They are an example of the technological advancements of the Egyptians
7
Q
Hieroglyphics
A
A form of picture writing on papyrus developed around 3300 BCE by the Egyptians.
8
Q
Julius Caesar
A
A general and politician of the Roman Republic who made himself consul and dictator who began Rome’s move from a republic to an empire. Assassinated by a group of senators who were pro-republic.
9
Q
World Trade Organization
A
an international organization designed to regulate global rules of trade between nations
10
Q
Caliphate
A
an Islamic state under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph
Example: the Umayyad Caliphate extended Islam into Europe
11
Q
Bronze Age
A
A historical period characterized by the use of bronze which changed society by making farming easier. (3300 BCE-1200 BCE)
12
Q
Islam
A
A monotheistic faith regarded as revealed to Muhammad as the prophet of Allah
13
Q
Yellow River
A
The birthplace of ancient Chinese civilizations. Also called “Mother River” and the “Cradle of Chinese Civilization”
14
Q
Martin Luther
A
the leader of the Protestant Reformation
15
Q
Fascism
A
a far-right, authoritarian political ideology that promotes dictatorial power, extreme nationalism, suppression of opposition, and often the belief in the supremacy of one nation or race
16
Q
Code of Hammurabi
A
One of the oldest and most complete written legal codes.
17
Q
Silk Road
A
A trade route that ran (100 BCE to 1300 CE) from China through Afghanistan and into Persia and Eastern Europe that carried goods and ideas between civilizations.
18
Q
Confucius
A
Chinese scholar and founder of Confucianism
19
Q
Holocaust
A
Intentional genocide of the Jewish people of Europe is known today as the Holocaust, and took the lives of an estimated six million Jews.
20
Q
Hammurabi’s Code
A
Early regulation of society with a basic outline that presumes innocence and follows “eye for an eye”
21
Q
World War I (WWI)
A
Fought from 1914-1919 between the Central Powers (mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) and the Allied Powers (mainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States).
22
Q
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
A
An agreement between 13 nations in response to Soviet aggression that an attack on one would be viewed as an attack on them all.
23
Q
Militarism
A
Countries build up their armed forces
24
Ren
The central principle of Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.”
24
Hinduism
Considered one of the world's oldest religions, but sometimes called a way of life; there is a belief in reincarnation and that one can move up or down in their class in their next lives but not their current lives.
25
Truman Doctrine
pledge by President Truman to support any nation against communism
26
Harappan Civilization
The first civilization in India; located in the Indus River Valley
27
Johannes Gutenberg
the inventor of the printing press
28
Neolithic Era
began with the introduction of agriculture, sometimes called the Agricultural Revolution, which prompted the switch from nomadic to sedentary lifestyles, allowing for the development of permanent settlements and, eventually, the dawn of civilization
29
Christopher Columbus
Italian explorer who searched for alternate routes to India by traveling west across the Atlantic on four different trips.
30
United Nations
A global organization established in 1945 following World War II. Dedicated to international peace and stability.
31
Middle Ages / Medieval Period
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
32
Noble Eightfold Path
the process by which Buddhists believe they will end the cycle of reincarnation and reach enlightenment
33
Roman Catholic Church
The most powerful Medieval institution, supreme in religious matters and a force in political matters as well.
34
Hammurabi
Babylonian king who expanded Babylon and united southern Mesopotamia, reigned from 1792 to 1750 BCE
35
Nile River and Nile River Delta
the major river in Egypt, the delta empties into the Mediterranean Sea; the basis for Ancient Egyptian civilization; predictable annual flooding promoted farming and influenced religious belief in benevolent gods.
36
Caste System
Found in India; individuals are born into a socio-economic class and are required to stay in that class their entire life
37
Division of The Roman Empire
Divided by the Emperor Diocletian into the Eastern and Western Empires (285 CE)
38
Dictatorship
one person holds absolute power without constitutional limitations
39
Great Depression
an unprecedented period of worldwide economic downturn that began in Oct. 1929 with the United States stock market crash and ended due to a combination of the New Deal and World War II
40
Korean War
1950-1953. A proxy war for the cold war. North and South Korea fought for control over the entire peninsula. United States intervened on the part of the South non-communist regime. It ended in a stalemate/armistice, with the temporary division between North and South Korea becoming a permanent boundary between two separate countries.
41
Augustus Caesar
The first Roman emperor, ruled after Julius Caesar was assassinated
42
Pearl Harbor
Site of a surprise attack on the port of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by the Japanese Navy. After, the United States had no choice but to enter the war.
43
League of Nations
A diplomatic group of countries set up following World War I. The US did not join.
44
Crusades
Religious wars that were fought in an effort to recover the Holy Lands from the Muslims.
45
Muhammad
The founder of the religion known as Islam
46
Vedas
the primary text of the Hindu religion
47
American Red Cross
a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States
Example: The money donated to the American Red Cross was used to help people affected by the hurricane.
48
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.
48
Taoism
a Chinese philosophy advocating harmonization of action with a universal principle, or "way," called the Tao
49
Axis Powers of WWII
Nazi Germany, Japan, Italy
50
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.
51
Xia Dynasty
Oldest chinese dynasty (2070 BCE to 1600 BCE)
52
Berlin Wall
the barrier that separated East Berlin from West Berlin
53
Imperialism
Practice of one country taking over another
Example: Great Britain controlling India
54
Mesopotamia
Meaning, "land between rivers" Mesopotamia is the area around and between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
55
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
56
Specialization of Labor / Division of Labor
A tendency for groups to focus and work on (specialize) wherever they can make the best product at the highest revenue (comparative advantage) and use trade to acquire other products
57
Alliances
Partnerships or agreements between nations for a common goal, usually militaristic
58
Agricultural Revolution
(~10,000 BCE) discovery of agriculture; began the transition from nomadic to sedentary life; allowed for the development of civilization; marks the switch from Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age) to Neolithic Era (New Stone Age)
59
Eastern Orthodox Church
Began in CE 1054, when the Church of the Eastern Roman Empire split.
60
John Locke
Enlightenment-Era political philosopher; wrote about social contract theory and a limited monarchy; believed in the natural rights of life, liberty, and property; inspired American Declaration of Independence
Example: Advocated that a ruler rules with the consent of the governed
61
Gupta Empire
The dynasty that ruled northern India and was known for achievements in art, architecture, science, math, and religion.
62
Feudalism
A social system in Europe divided by class. Kings allowed the lords to own the land, the knights were warriors, and the peasants/serfs did the work.
63
Pope Urban II
Pope who called for a Holy Crusade to drive the Muslim Turks away from Constantinople and take back the Holy Land of Jerusalem.
63
Mongols
Nomadic desert people from Mongolia. They migrated on horseback and conquered the land from China to Eastern Europe including Russia and Persia.
64
Central Powers of WWI
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria
65
Treaty of Versailles (1919)
Treaty signed on June 28, 1919, between the Allies and Germany, to end WWI
66
Sumerians
Earliest known civilization in southern Mesopotamia
67
Phoenicians
Developed an alphabet that became the model for the Greek and Latin alphabets.
68
Allied Powers of WWII
Included the United Kingdom, France, Soviet Union, the United States, and Canada
69
Buddhism
a religion with its roots in India that teaches life is endless and is marred by suffering and uncertainty
70
Seven Warring States / Warring States Period
the Qin, Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu, and Qi kingdoms that were unified during the Qin Unification wars in China
70
Marshall Plan
An American aid plan for Western Europe after World War II.
71
Triangular Trade
Trade between the Americas, Europe, and Africa
72
Five Pillars
Five practices that every devout Muslim must carry out to be considered righteous before God
Example: -Shahada (Profession of Faith) -Salat (Prayer) -Zakat (Almsgiving) -Sawm (Fasting) -Hajj (Pilgrimage)
73
Yin and Yang
Daoist concept of opposites in nature
74
Code of Justinian
a series of texts developed in the Byzantine Empire that reworked Roman law and influenced jurisprudence
75
World War II (WWII)
Fought from 1939-1945 between the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and Allied powers (France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union).
76
Black Plague / Black Death
An outbreak of the Bubonic Plague. A deadly epidemic that struck Europe in the mid-1300's and killed millions.
77
Containment (Cold War policy)
The containment policy in the Cold War was a strategy employed by the United States to prevent the spread of communism by containing its expansion, primarily through diplomatic, economic, and military means.
Example: The Korean and Vietnam Wars were "proxy wars" fought to contain the influences of communism.
78
Cuneiform
One of the oldest known writing systems. Created by the Sumerians. Made by creating wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.
79
Columbian Exchange
The transferring of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the Americas after Christopher Columbus' arrival.
80
Direct Democracy
A system of government in which all eligible citizens can vote on every issue
Example: Ancient Greeks
81
Cold War
The period after WWII in which the United States and the Soviet Union never truly engaged in warfare, but was marked by political disagreements between the capitalist and communist countries
82
Abraham
considered a patriarch of the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and seen as a model of obedience to God
83
Homer
Greek. Author of the first known novels, the Iliad and the Odyssey
84
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
85
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.
86
Ming Dynasty
Chinese dynasty that overthrew the Mongols and created the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
87
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese explorer who organized the first expedition to circumnavigate the earth
88
Nirvana
within Buddhism, a state of complete enlightenment
89
Space Race
Competition between the Soviet Union and America to explore space.
90
Genghis Khan
A Mongolian-born military leader who created the largest empire in the world by destroying individual tribes in Northeast Asia, and then uniting them under his rule; called the Mongol Empire. (1206 – 1227)
91
Communism
A political theory and economic system in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Example: Vietnam
92
Fertile Crescent
A crescent-shaped area from the Mediterranean Sea on the West to the Persian Gulf on the East and that contained extremely fertile soil. Some of the first agricultural communities were settled there and it is sometimes referred to as "The Cradle of Civilization."
93
Feudal Era
The time period from 1192-1868 when power in Japan was concentrated in the shogun, the daimyo, and the samurai.
94
Laozi / Lao-tzu
Chinese scholar and founder of Taoism
Example: "Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
95
Mercantilism
The economic idea that a country needs to amass wealth through more exporting than importing and measures wealth by the amount of gold that a nation possesses.
Example: The British thought that colonies should provide raw goods for cheap to them (cotton) and pay for manufactured goods from them (textiles).
96
Polytheism
the belief in and the worship of more than one god.
97
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.
Example: United States
98
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.
99
European Union (EU)
An economic union of over 25 European states. Includes a shared currency, the Euro.
100
Cuban Missile Crisis
A thirteen-day stand-off between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba in 1962.
101
Monarchy
single person serves as head of state; often granted the position through heredity
102
Great Schism
the split of the Catholic Church into the Western Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church
103
Confucianism
a system of beliefs that focus on the ethical obligation of individuals and the philosophy of how an individual should live
104
Second Industrial Revolution
the unprecedented increase in economic productivity during the late 1800s. Included large leaps forward in technology with expansion of use of electricity, petroleum, and steel.
105
Constantine
Emperor of Rome (306 - 337 CE); legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire
106
Vietnam War
1955-1975, United States intervened on the part of the non-communist regime, however, under enormous pressure from home, the United States finally pulled out of the war, allowing the North Vietnamese to easily overcome the stunted South Vietnamese army
107
Allied Powers of WWI
Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, and the United States
