World History Vocab Flashcards
Economics
The study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
Philosophy
The study of ultimate concerns including questions of man’s origin, place, and purpose in the universe. Religious deal with these same questions
Government
Is established to protect the rights, of citizens and property
Geography
The study of 5 themes: Location (exact spot, static) Place (ex CHS, can move) Region (associated together) Migration (people move around) Human/environment interaction ( how modify to populate)
Sociology
The study of how and why people form groups and how groups affect individuals and how individuals affect groups. (Hierarchy).
Out of Africa Theory
Homo sapiens sapiens spread out from Africa to other parts of the world 100,000 years ago, replacing populations of earlier hominids in Europe and Asia
Hominid
A human like creature that walked upright. The earliest in Africa 4 million years ago
Homo sapiens sapiens
Means “wise, wise human”. The first anatomically modern humans, which appeared in Africa between 200,000 and 150000 years ago
Systematic agriculture
Keeping animals and growing food on a regular basis
Civilization
A complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements
Culture
The way of life of a people in a certain time and place (something people follow)
Artisans
Skilled workers who make things like weapons and jewelry. They can trade them with neighboring people
City-states
A state with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside. Also the basic units of Sumerian civilization
Polytheistic
Belief in many gods
Cuneiform
“Wedge-shaped” system of writing created by the Sumerians. They made impressive with reed stylus on clay tablets
Theocracy
Government established by divine authority
Dynasty
A family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family
Bureaucracy
Administrative organization with officials and regular procedures. Has non-elected officials
Monotheistic
Believing in one God
Pastoral Nomads
Person who domesticates animals for food and clothing and moved along regular migratory routes to provide a steady source if nourishment for those animals
Sanskrit
The first writing system of the Aryans, developed around 1000 BC. And Indo-European language
Aristocracy
An upper class whose wealth is land-based and who passes power from one generation to the next
Dao
The proper Way a RULER and his subjects are supposed to follow
Empire
A large political unit or state, usually under a single ruler, that controls many peoples or territories
Monarchy
Government ruled by a king or queen
Homer
Wrote the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey which were later used in education and considered to be true history. They appeared at the end of the Dark Age
Polis
The Greek name for city-states which consisted of a city or town and it’s surrounding countryside
Acropolis
A fortified meeting place at the top of a hill that was sometimes the site of temples and public buildings in the city- states
Agora
An open area that was a gathering place and a market
Democracy
A govt by the people or rule of the many. Directly or elected representitives
Phalanx
A wall of shields created by foot soldiers marching shoulder to shoulder in a rectangular formation
Tyrant
Rulers who seized power by force from the aristocrats
Oligarchy
Rule by the few. Select group in control
Direct democracy
Govt in which the people participate directly in govt decision making through mass meetings
Age of Pericles
Period between 461bc to 429bc when Pericles dominated Athenian politics and Athens reached the height of its power
Socratic Method
Socrates teaching method that used question-and-answer format to lead pupils to see things for themselves by using their own reasoning skills
Philosophy
An organized system of thought. Greek root meaning “ love and wisdom”
Hellenistic Era
The age of Alexander the Great. A period when the Greek language and ideas were carried to the non-Greek world(SW Asia). Means “to imitate Greeks”
Caste system
Ancient Indian belief that each person was born into a caste, a social group defined by occupation and family lineage. It determined what jobs people could have, who they could marry, and the groups they could socialize with. Partially based in skin color
Nirvana
The “ultimate reality” in Buddhism. The end of self and a reunion with the Great World Soul
Silk Road
A trade route between the Roman Empire and China, called this because silk was china’s most valuable products
Pilgrims
People who travel to a religious place
Vedas
Written religious chants and stories. Earliest Indian literature. Recorded in Sanskrit
Confucianism
System of Confucian ideas, an important part of Chinese culture. It was intended to help restore order to a society that was in a state of confusion
Daoism
A system of ideas based in the teachings if Laozi. Teaches that the will if heaven is best followers through inaction so that nature is allowed to take it’s course
Legalism
Human beings were evil by nature and can only be brought to the correct path through harsh laws
Civil service
The administrative service of a govt, not including the armed forces, in which appointments are determined by competitive examination
Republic
Leader isn’t a monarch (not a king) and some citizens have the right to vote
Plebeians
Social class with minor landowners, craftspeople, merchants, and smaller farmers
Patricians
Social group including wealthy landowners who became Rome’s ruling class ( in the roman republic)
Consul
2 chosen every year led the govt and led the roman army into battle
Roman republic
Triumvirate
A govt by 3 people with equal power
Dictator
Absolute ruler
Imperator
Command in chief. Latin origin of the word emperor
Paterfamilias
Dominant male. He was the head of the household
Roman republic
Clergy
Church leaders
Laity
Regular church members
Plague
An epidemic disease
Inflation
A rapid increase in prices
Missionary
Person sent out to carry a religious message. Some tried to convert others
Monks
One who sought to live a life cut off from ordinary human society in order to pursue an ideal of total dedication to God. They live in monasteries headed by abbots
Nuns
Woman who separates herself from ordinary human society in order to dedicate herself to God. Nuns live in convents headed by abbesses
Ordeals
Means of determining guilt in Germanic law. Based on the idea of divine intervention. If the accused person was unharmed after a physical trial, he or she was presumed innocent
Patriarch
Head of Eastern Orthodox Church, originally appointed by the Byzantine emperor
Icon
Pictures of religious images
Idolatry
Worship of religious images
Quran
The holy book if Islam
Hijrah
The journey of Muhammad and his followers to Madinah in 622, which became year 1 of the official calendar of Islam
Allah
Arabic word for God. The supreme god of Islam
Hajj
Pilgrimage to Makkah, one of the requirements of the Five Pillars of Faith
Five Pillars of Faith
Acts of worship every Muslim must perform. This includes belief, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage
Muslim
People who practice Islam
Bedouin
Nomadic Arab who lives in the Arabian, Syrian, or North African deserts
Caliph
Religious and political leader successor to Muhammad of the Muslims
Jihad
“Struggle in the way of God”- defensive warfare
Shia
Muslims who only accepted the descendants if Ali as the true leaders of Islam
Sunni
Muslims who didn’t all agree with Umayyad rule but accepted them as caliphs
Dowry
A gift of money or property paid at the time of marriage, either by the brides parents to her husband or, in Islamic societies, by a husband to his wife
Feudalism
Political and social order that developed during the Middle Ages when royal governments were no longer able to defend their subjects. Novels offered protection and land in return for service
Vassal
A man who serves a lord in a military capacity under feudalism
Knight
Member of the heavily armored cavalry under feudalism
Fief
A grant of land made to a vassal. The vassal held political authority within his fief
Feudal contract
Unwritten rules that determined the relationship between a lord and his vassal under feudalism
Chivalry
Idea of civilized behavior that gradually evolved among the nobility. It was a code of ethics that knights were supposed to uphold
Serf
Peasants legally bound to the land. Had to do labor, pay rent, and be subject to the the lord’s control
Manor
Agriculture estate that a lord ran and peasants worked
Partician
Members of the wealthiest and most powerful families. Landowners
Bourgeoisie
Middle class, merchants or artisans and professional people
Common law
Law that was common to the whole kingdom. It was developed in England
Magna Carta
“Great Charter” if rights. King John was forced to sign by the English nobles at Runnymede
Parliament
English representative govt that included 2 knights from every county, 2 people from every town, and all the nobles and bishops throughout England. Eventually they split into the House of Lords and the House of Commons
Estates
A social or political class
Khanate
One of several territories into which Genghis Khan’s empire was split each under the rule of one of his sons
Neo-Confucianism
Evolved form of Confucianism in response to Buddhism and daoism. Teaches the world is real, not an illusion , and that fulfillment comes from participation in the world
Samurai
“Those who serve” Japanese warriors similar to the knights in Europe. Fought on horseback and wore a helmet and armor. They carried a sword and bow
Bushido
“The way of the warrior” the strict code by which Japanese samurai were supposed to live
Shinto
” the Sacred way” or “the way of the gods”. The Japanese state religion. It believes in the divinity of the emperor and the sacredness of the Japanese nation
Zen
A sect of Buddhism that became popular with Japanese aristocrats and became part of the samurai’ code of conduct. Under Zed there are different paths to enlightenment, either instantaneous or long meditation
Theravada
“The teachings of the elders” a school of Buddhism that developed in India. It’s followers view Buddhism as a way if life
Mahayana
School if Buddhism that developed in northwest india, stressing the view that nirvana can be achieved through devolution to the Buddha. It’s followers considered the Buddha a divine figure
Lay investiture
Practice by which secular rulers both choose nominees to church offices and gave them the symbols of their offices
Interdict
Decree by the pope that forbade priests from giving the sacrament of the church to the people
Sacrament
Christian rites
Hersey
The denial of basic church doctrines
Crusade
Military expeditions carried out by European Christians in the Middle Ages to regain the holy land from the Muslims
Infidel
An unbeliever, a term applied to the Muslims during the crusades
Theology
The study of religion and god
Anti-semitism
Hostility towards or discrimination against Jews
Lineage groups
An extended family unit that has combined into a larger community
Matrilineal
Tracing lineage through the mother
Patrilineal
Tracing lineage through the mother
Subsistence farming
Practice of growing just enough crops for personal use, not for sale
Stateless society
A group of independent villages that were organized by clans and ruled by a local chieftain or clan head. No central government
Maize
Corn
Quipu
A system of knotted string used by the inca people for keeping records
Mercenary
A soldier who fights primarily for pay
Burgher
A member of the middle class who lived in the city or town
Republic
A form of govt in which the leaders is not a king and certain citizens have the right to vote
Humanism
Intellectual movement of the Renaissance based on the study of humanities, which included grammar, rhetoric, poetry, moral philosophy, and history
Vernacular
The language of everyday speech in a particular region
Perspective
Artistic techniques used to give the effect of 3D depth to 2D surfaces
Christian humanism
Aka northern renaissance humanism. The goal was to reform the Catholic Church and encouraged classical learning and individualism
Indulgences
A release from all or part of punishment for sin by the Catholic Church, reducing time in purgatory after dealth
Lutheranism
Developed by Martin Luther and the first Protestant faith. Believed salvation could be achieved by faith alone, not good works
Justification
Process of being deemed worthy of salvation by God
Predestination
Belief that God has determined in advance who will be saved (the elect) and those who will be damned (the reprobate)
Jesuits (society of Jesus)
Formed in 1540 by ignatius of Loyola. They swore absolute loyalty to the pope and they used education to spread Catholicism
Caravel
A small fast maneuverable ship that had a large cargo hold and usually 3 masts with lateen sails
Colony
A settlement of people living in a new territory, linked with the parent govt by trade and direct govt control
Conquistador
A leader in the Spanish conquest of the Americas
Merchantilism
A set of principles that dominated economic thought in the 17th century. It held that the prosperity of a nation depended on a large supply of gold and silver
Middle passage
The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas
Creole
Descendants of Europeans born in Latin America and living there permanently
Mestizo
A person of mixed European and Native American descent
Mulatto
A person of mixed African and European descent
Peninsulare
Spanish and Portuguese officials born in Europe. Lived temporarily in the Americas usually for political or economic gain before returning to Europe
Encomienda
A system if labor where Spanish landowners forced native Americans to pay taxes and provide labor. In return the landowners were expected to protect them and ensure they were instructed in catholic faith. They were allowed to use native Americans by queen Isabella
Armada
A fleet of warships
Inflation
A rabid increase in prices
Huguenots
French Protestants influence by John Calvin. Made up 40-50% of the French nobility
Puritans
Protestants in England inspired by Calvinist ideas. Believed the church needed further reform that sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship
Cavaliers
Supporters of King Charles 1 in the English civil war
Roundheads
Supporters of the parliament in the English civil war
Csar
Russian for Caesar; the title used by Roman emperors
Prussia
Led by Frederick William he made an army of 40,000 which was the the 4th largest in Europe. He also set up the General war commissariat which have the army the most control
Peter the Great
Absolute monarch of Russia. He wanted to westernize Russia so he modernized the army and used the W technology. Also he introduced customs, practices, and manners. He moved the capital to st. Petersburg so he could trade more easily with the west
Kepler
Discovered the orbit around the sun isn’t circular but an ellipse. He used math to prove Copernicus’s theory, and discovered planetary motion
Copernicus
Sun the center of the universe- heliocentric
The sun moves because the earth rotates on it’s axis
Galileo
Found mt on moon, jupiters 4 moons, and sunspots.
Perfected the telescope
Found Venice and Mars were planet that are earth like
Newton
3 laws of motion
Explained why planets go around the sun
Gravity is the force of everything
Gravity attracts everything together
Descartes
Philosopher who wrote discourse on method.
“I think therefore I am”
Separation of mind and body
Father of modern rationalism
Bacon
Developed and encouraged the scientific method.
Used inductive reasoning
Wanted to use science help humanity grow
