Global History Glossary

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Global Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Absolute monarch – Monarch maintained absolute control over government and country; divine right theory

Adam Smith (1723-1790) – Wrote about supply and demand by free market in “The Wealth of Nations”

Age of Exploration (1450-1770) – Period of time in which European explorers set out on voyages throughout the world in order to gain new resources and increase trade

Akbar the Great (1542 -1605) – Ruler of the Mughal Empire in India; encouraged religious tolerance

Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) – Greek King; created vast empire through conquest

Animism – The belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess spirits

Apartheid (1948-1994) – Policy of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa

Appeasement – Policy of conceding to a potential hostile country in order to maintain peace

Archaeology – The study of prehistoric people and their cultures; evidence such as artifacts are used

Archipelago – A chain or group of islands

Aristotle – Greek philosopher; founder of science

Appeasement – Policy of conceding to a potential hostile country in order to maintain peace example – “Munich Pact” of 1938, in which land in Czechoslovakia was ceded to Hitler in the promise that he would invade no future territories

Artifacts – Objects made by humans; usually of historical interest

Asoka – Indian Emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty from the years 269-232 B.C.

Aswan Dam – Dam in Egypt; facilitates the production of energy

Ataturk (Mustafa Kemal) (1881-1938) – First president of Turkey; heavily influenced by western styles

Augusto Pinochet – Military general who seized power in Chile after the 1973 assassination of President Allende

Aztec civilization – Ethnic group of people from central Mexico during the 14th to 16th centuries

Ataturk (Mustafa Kemal) (1881-1938) – First president of Turkey; heavily influenced by western styles. Modernized and westernized….

    

B

Balfour Declaration (1917) – Arthur James Balfour’s (British foreign secretary) letter to Lord Rothschild declaring Britain’s support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine

Balkan States – The countries on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe

Bantu – Ethnic groups in Ancient Africa who spoke the Bantu languages

Barter – The exchange of goods or services for other goods or services

Bastille – Fortress in Paris which was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stormed by a crowd in the French Revolution. The fall of the Bastille (1789) came to represent the triumph of the people over despotism and oppression

Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) – Head of fascist government in Italy; father of fascism

Berlin Airlift (1948) – Western allies carried supplies to the people in west Berlin during the Soviet Union’s blockade of Berlin

Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) – Soviet Union blocked access by the U.S., England and France to West Berlin. Beginning of Cold war between United States and Russia

Berlin Conference (1884) – Divided control of Africa amongst the European imperialist powers

Berlin Wall (1961) – Wall created after WWII that separated East and West Berlin

Black Death/Black Plague (1348-1350) – Deadly epidemic that hit Europe; originated in China; known also as the Bubonic Plague

Boer – Inhabitants of South Africa of Dutch or French Huguenot descent

Bolsheviks – Political party that overthrew the Czar during the Russian Revolution in 1917. Later became the Communist Party

Boxer Rebellion (1898-1901) – Nationalists from China (Boxers) rebelled against European influences in China

Breakup of Yugoslavia (1990’s) – Political upheavals resulted with dissolution of Yugoslavia; regions split up into independent countries

British Empire – Established in late 16th century; at its height was the largest empire in history

Buddhism – Religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings of Buddha

Bushido – The code of the Samurai; “way of the Warrior”

Byzantine Empire (395-1453) – Eastern Roman Empire; capital was Constantinople; founded after the division of Roman Empire. Byzantine missionaries spread Eastern Orthodox religion, art and architecture into Russian civilization

    

C

Camilla Cavour (1810-1861) – Led the Italian Unification movement

Capitalism – Economic system in which private or corporate ownership takes place for profit; free market; competitive markets

Caravel, compass, astrolabe – Tools that were developed which helped sailing and navigation of the seas

Caste system – Social structure that divides people on the basis of an inherited social status (social classes)

Catherine the Great (1729-1796) – The most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia; under her reign, Russia grew larger and stronger than ever and became recognized as one of the great powers of Europe

Catholic Counter-Reformation – Catholic revival; opposite of Protestant Reformation

City-states – In Ancient Greek society, each city-state was similar to a very small country, with just one city in it

Civil disobedience – The nonviolent resistance to perceived unjust laws and government as a means for social and political protest

Code of Hammurabi – The earliest known written legal code, was composed about 1780 B.C.E. by Hammurabi, the ruler of Bablyon

Cold War (1945-1990) – Period of time characterized by political and military tension between the Soviet Union and the U.S. led western powers; rivalry between superpowers

Collective security – Nations working together to impede a threat and maintain peace

Collectivization of agriculture (1927) – Joseph Stalin’s plan to transform individual farms into large government owned collective farms

Colombian Exchange – Beginning in 1492 with Columbus’ voyage to the New World, goods and ideas were exchanged between the western and eastern hemispheres

Command economy – Economy where the government regulates what will be produced, the means of production, the supply and prices

Collective security – Nations working together to impede a threat and maintain peace

Commercial Revolution (late 14th century-18th century) – Period in western European history in which mercantilism and colonialism were expanded; expanded economies

Communism – A social, political and economic ideology; the goals are to establish a classless, money less, stateless and socialist society; common ownership of the means of production

Communist Manifesto (1848) – Anti-capitalism publication written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels; wealth belongs equally to the working class

Confucianism – Philosophy taught by Confucius. Teaches that people are teachable and can be improved

Congress of Vienna (1815) – Meeting of European governments in Vienna after the defeat of Napoleon

Constantinople – City, presently Istanbul; connects European continent with the Middle East

Containment – United States policy using numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism abroad

Council of Trent (1545-1563) – Called by Pope Paul III and the Catholic Church to counter effects of the Protestant Reformation

Crusades (1095-1291) – Series of religious wars; European Christians fought to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims

Cuban Revolution [1958-59] – Overthrew a dictatorship and installed a communist government in Cuba

Cultural diffusion – Process in which beliefs and ideas spread from one society or culture to another

Czar (Tsar) – Dictator; absolute ruler

Czar Nicholas II (1868-1918) – Russian Emperor; executed during Russian Revolution

    

D

Daimyo – Feudal Lord in Japan

D-Day invasion (1944) – Invasion by the allied forces of Normandy France during WWII.
Forced Germany to fight a 2 – front war

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen – Document of the French Revolution that stated that citizens all had certain natural rights which no government could take away

Democracy – A form of government in which the power is vested in the people

Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) – Communist leader in China; believed in market economy

Desert – A region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation

Desertification – The transformation of habitable land into desert. This is caused by climatic change and human activity

Desmond Tutu (1931) – Bishop and political activist; anti-apartheid

Dharma – Living one’s life according to the codes of conduct as described by the Hindu scriptures

Divine right – The King derives his power to rule by the will of God

Domino theory – Cold War belief that if one nation became communist others would follow

    

E

Economics – The study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in a society

Emigration – Leaving one’s home or country to live in another

Emiliano Zapata (1879-1919) – A leading figure in the Mexican Revolution (began in 1910). He commanded the Liberation Army of the South during the Mexican Revolution

Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) – Emperor of Japan; headed economic modernization of Japanese society

Empire – A government which exerts its authority over a large territory with a vast and diverse population

Encomienda – System in colonial America whereby the Spanish King granted select people the right to natives who would provide labor in exchange for protection

English Bill of Rights (1688) – Declared certain rights of English subjects; limited the ability of the King to rule without consent of Parliament.

Enlightenment – In the 18th century, philosophers in Europe utilized reason and science to reform government and society

Estates (France) – Under the absolute monarchy France divided society into three estates or social classes

European Union (EU) – Economic and political organization amongst European countries; objective is for political and economic integration

The ultimate objective of the European Union – to create a “United States of Europe” in the 21st century, where member nations are part of a federal system of government

    

F

Feudal system – Social and economic system which was based upon loyalty in the form of military service/labor, in exchange for land

Feudalism – Social and economic organization based upon loyalty, in the form of military service/labor, in exchange for land

Fidel Castro (1926) – President of Cuba from 1976-2008; Marxist

Filial piety – Duty of respect and loyalty one should have for their family ancestors

First Estate – Clergy; wealthy; owned 10% of the land; 1% of the population

Five Pillars of Islam – Islam has five primary obligations, or pillars of faith, that each Muslim must fulfill in his or her lifetime

Five-year plans (1927) – Joseph Stalin implemented five-year plans, designed to enhance the economics, as well as industrialize, the Soviet Union

Four Modernizations – Goals set forth by Deng Xiaoping in 1978; aimed at making China an economic power through four areas of reform: agriculture, industry, science/technology, military

Fourteen Points (1918) – President Woodrow Wilson’s speech to a joint session of Congress; this speech addressed the American position regarding the outcome and effects of WWI

– address freedom for colonized people

– colonial people in Asia and Africa wanted self determination

Francis Ferdinand (1863-1950) – Archduke of Austria-Hungary; assassinated along with his wife

Five-year plans (1927) – Joseph Stalin implemented five-year plans, designed to enhance the economics, as well as industrialize, the Soviet Union

Focus on the development of heavy industry; those materials/machines needed to support and construct factories and increase factory production

French Revolution (1789-1799) – Revolution in France that was inspired by the Enlightenment; the monarchy was overthrown by the French people; political and social reform

    

G

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) – Astronomer and mathematician during Scientific Revolution; made revisions to the telescope which confirmed Copernicus’s earlier theories of heliocentrism

Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) – President of Egypt from 1956-1970. Nationalized the Suez Canal

Genocide – Extermination or killing of a mass group of people of a certain ethnicity or culture

Geography – The study of the earth and its features; how location influences peoples lives. Geography plays a critical role in determining how and why societies developed

Ghana and Mali – Kingdoms of West Africa; characterized by:

Giuseppe Garibaldi – Italian patriot that served as an important military and political figure during the age of Italian unification

Geography of Japan – island nation (archipelago)

– volcanoes and earthquakes (up to 1,000 each year)

– limited resources made Japan imperialistic

– mountains down the middle force population to the coastal plains

Glasnost – Soviet policy of openness of government and dissemination of information to the people

Globalization – Integration of national economies; free trade; globally connected trade

Glorious Revolution (1688) – Overthrow of King James II in England by William of Orange

Golden Age of Greece (500 BCE-300 BCE) – Period in Greek history marked by peace, stability and prosperity

Golden Age of Islam (800-1200) – A period of advancements and breakthroughs in technology and culture within the Islamic world

Gothic architecture – Architectural structures and designs of Medieval Europe characterized by stained glass windows and vaulted cathedrals

Great Depression (1930’s) – Worldwide economic downturn; stock market crash of 1929 and bank failures were the main causes

Great Famine (1845-1852) – A disease destroyed Irelands market for potatoes; 3/4 of harvest was lost; Ireland was highly dependent on potatoes

Great Leap Forward (1958) – Campaign by Mao Zedong and the communist party for political and socioeconomic reform; development of industry and modernization of agricultural economy

Great purge (1937-1938) – Political opponents of Joseph Stalin were killed and imprisoned

Green Revolution (1940’s) – Developments in agriculture that increased food production around the world

Guilds – Organizations established in the later Middle Ages; Made up of members in the same trade; regulated quality of goods and the prices

Gupta Empire (320-550 AD) – Ancient Indian Empire in which art, education, mathematics, astronomy and medicine flourished
– noted lunar eclipses
– earth was determined to be round
– solar calendar was developed
– concept of zero

Great purge (1937-1938) – Political opponents of Joseph Stalin were killed and imprisoned

    

H

Henry VIII (1491-1547) – English King who split the Catholic Church away from Rome to form the Church of England (Anglican Church)

Hieroglyphics – Ancient writing system developed and used by the ancient Egyptians

Hiroshima (1945) – The United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan during the late stages of WWII

Historical analysis – Analysis of a certain trend going back in time

Hitler Youth – Organization that instilled Nazi ideals into their young members

Ho Chi Minh – Leader of the Vietnamese rebellion against the French (1945-1958); first leader of communist North Vietnam

Humanism – Philosophy that focused on all human characteristics which make human beings unique (including human values and concerns)

    

I

Ibn Battuta (1304-1369) – Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively throughout Africa, Europe and the Arab world

Imperialism – The economic and political conquest of a weaker nation by a stronger nation for the purpose of gaining industrial resources/markets/ports

Inca Empire (1438-1532) – South American empire; largest empire ever in America

Indochina – Peninsula in Southeast Asia; Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos

Indulgences – Pope Leo granted forgiveness of sins in exchange for donations

Industrial Revolution – Began in England during the 18th century; changes in technology, transportation and agriculture that changed human life forever

Inflation – A rise in prices of goods and services in a given economy

Interdependence – Nations are mutually reliant or dependent on each other

Iranian Revolution of 1979 – Iranian monarchy (Shah) is overthrown by followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini

Iron Curtain – Border separating the western nations in Europe from the communist, Soviet controlled eastern nations in Europe

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) – English scientist; first scientist to define gravity

Interdependence – Nations are mutually reliant or dependent on each other

Example: If one country has an internal economic problem, they might import less from another nation thereby affecting the other nation

Islamic Golden Age (661-1258 CE) – Period of Arab dynasties that saw advances in technology, culture, medicine and education

Isolationism – Policy in which a country isolates itself from foreign affairs including forming alliances, international agreements or foreign trade

Israeli-Palestinian conflict – A violent conflict between Israelis and Palestinians

Ivan III (1440-1505) – “Ivan the Great” was a Grand Prince of Moscow. He tripled the territory of his state and laid the foundations of the Russian state. He was one of the longest-reigning Russian rulers in history

Ivan the Terrible (1530-1584) – Acquired vast amounts of land during his long reign. He created a centrally controlled Russian state, imposed by military dominance

    

J

John Locke – English philosopher; enlightenment; theory on “inalienable rights” and “consent of the governed”; inspired the Declaration of Independence

Jomo Kenyatta (1892-1978) – Leader of the independence movement in Kenya against Britain

Jose de San Martin (1778-1850) – Led the independence movement of Argentina against Spain

Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) – Dictator of the Soviet Union from 1941- 1953

Justinian Code – Set of laws under the Byzantine empire made by the emperor Justinian in 538 B.C

    

K

Karl Marx (1818-1883) – German philosopher, economist and historian; founder of Marxism; referred to as the father of Communism

Karma – The Hindu belief that for every action, there is a consequence

Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) – Dictator of the Soviet Union from 1941-1953

Causes of mass starvation in the Ukraine (1932-1933):
– confiscated private farms
– force peasants off land to work in new factories

Kashmir conflict – A series of wars between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region which began in 1947

Kashmir conflict – Territorial dispute over the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan

Khmer Rouge (1875-1979) – Cambodian communist regime; overthrew the Cambodian government

Kim Jong IL (1941-2011) – Supreme leader of North Korea from 1994-2011; Marxist

King Louis XVI (1754-1793) – French King; executed at beginning of French Revolution

Knights – Nobles of feudal Europe who received land from a monarch in return for service in battle

Kurds – Middle Eastern minority in northern Iraq
War II

    

L

Laissez-faire – Economic policy; nonintervention by government (or hands off) in business and economics

Latitude – Lines on a map that run east and west. This provides the distance of a location north or south of the equator

League of Nations (1919-1946) – International organization that attempted to promote and maintain world peace

Legalism – a Classical Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the need for order above all other human concerns; stressed harsh punishments

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) – Italian artist; Mona Lisa; The Last Supper

Long March (1934) – Communist soldiers flee their base because of hostile threats from the national forces and settle into new base, 8000 miles away

Louis Leakey (1903-1972) – British archaeologist who studied human evolutionary development in Africa

Louis XIV (1638-1715) – “The Sun King” ruled France for 72 years. Believed in the divine rights of kings
Vietnam

    

M

Magna Carta (1215) – First legal document in medieval Europe; limited the abilities of the “absolute monarch”

Mansa Musa (1280-1337) – Emperor of the Mali Empire in West Africa from 1280-1337

Mao Zedong (1893-1976) – Communist Chinese leader from 1943-1976

Marco Polo (1254-1324) – European merchant and explorer; extensive travels to and from China

Market system – Consumer demand determines what products will be produced and how much will be charged

Marshall Plan (1947) – The United States extended financial relief to European countries after WWII to recover from the damages of the war

Marco Polo (1254-1324) – European merchant; extensive travels to and from China.
Marco Polo – think cultural diffusion….

Martin Luther (1483-1546) – German Priest who denounced the Catholic church in his “95 Theses” ; beginning of Protestant Reformation

Marxism – Political and economic theories developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels; based on the communist theory

Mary Leakey (1913-1996) – British archaeologist and anthropologist

Martin Luther (1483-1546) – German Priest who denounced the Catholic church in his “95 Theses” ; beginning of Protestant Reformation

Now that there was a printing press, people should be able to read the Bible in everyday language (vernacular)!

Mass migration – Large groups of people moving from one country or location to another

Matthew Perry (1794-1858) – Commodore of the U.S. Navy

Mauryan Empire (322-185 BC) – Ruled ancient India; first major empire in history of India

Maximillen Robespierre (1758 – 1794) – Gained control of Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution; killed many people during Reign of Terror

Mecca – The holiest city in the religion of Islam; located in Saudi Arabia

Medieval Europe (800-1500) – The Middle Ages of European history were characterized by feudalism, political stability and advances in education, technology and architecture

Meiji Restoration – Period of industrialization and modernization that restored Japan as world power

Mercantilism – Economic system developed to increase the power and wealth of a nation by strict government regulation of the economy. This is accomplished through policies designed to secure a favorable balance of trade and the establishment of colonies.
Colonies exist to benefit the mother country!

Medieval Europe (800-1500) – The Middle Ages of European history were characterized by feudalism, political stability and advances in education, technology and architecture

– universities – advanced education

– three field system – new farming technique

– Magna Carta – limited power of Monarch

– Gothic Cathedral – advanced architecture

Mesopotamia – Region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This is known as the “Fertile Crescent”

Michaelangelo(1475-1564) – Italian artist; The Sistine Chapel

Middle Kingdom – Ancient China’s view of themselves as the center of the world

Middle Kingdom – think ethnocentrism…

Mikhail Gorbachev (1931) – Leader of the Soviet Union from 1985-1991

Militarism – The theory that a country should build and maintain a strong military presence and be prepared to use it

Military aggression – An act of aggression by a country that is not acting in self-defense; initiating military conflict

Ming dynasty (1368-1644) – Ruling dynasty of China; described by some as “one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history”

Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) – Leader of Indian Independence movement. Believed in passive resistance

Mongol Empire (1206–1405) – Large ruling empire that conquered most of Asia and Eastern Europe; founded by Genghis Khan.
Mongols had superior weapons

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) – Ruling dynasty of China characterized by:

Mongol Empire (13th – 14th century) – Large ruling empire that conquered most of Asia and Eastern Europe

Monotheism – Belief that there is just one God

    

N

Nanjing Massacre (1937) – Japanese invasion of Nanjing, China in World War II; Japanese troops carried out mass genocide on the Chinese people while raping many of their women before killing them

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) – Military leader and French emperor during the late stages of the French Revolution

Nationalism – Loyalty and devotion of a nation by their citizens

Natural resources – A material source of wealth, such as timber, fresh water, or a mineral deposit, that can be found within the environment

Natural rights – Rights that people possess from nature; cannot be taken away; government must uphold them

Nelson Mandela (1918) – President of South Africa from 1994-1999; led the anti-apartheid movement in Africa

Neolithic Revolution – Agricultural revolution; transition from hunter-gatherer to agriculture; start of settlement of societies

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) – Polish astronomer and mathematician; proposed the sun is the center of universe; heliocentric

Ninety-five Theses (1517) – Written by Martin Luther; condemned, criticized and challenged the Catholic Church; started the Protestant Reformation

Nirvana – The ultimate goal of all Buddhists; It is a state Buddhists refer to as “Enlightenment”. The supreme state free from suffering and individual existence; Buddhists also consider nirvana as freedom from all worldly concerns such as greed, hate, and ignorance.

Nonalignment – Policy in which countries remained independent of the Super powers during the Cold War

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – Agreement between United States, Canada and Mexico; created a free trade area; removed trade barriers

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1949) – A political and military organization comprised of member countries; an attack on one is an attack on all

Nuremberg trials (1945-1946) – The victorious allied forces prosecuted German individuals in the Nazi hierarchy for their actions in the Holocaust

North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO (1949) – A political and military organization comprised of member countries.
An armed attack against one or more of its members is considered an attack against all

   

O

Opium Wars (1839) – Conflict between China and Great Britain over imports of opium into China.
British merchants were a major seller of opium to China; China banned opium shipments into their country as opium was killing their citizens

Opium Wars – Conflict between China and the British empire over the shipment of opium into China

British merchants were a major seller of opium to China; China banned opium shipments into their country as opium was killing their citizens
Otto von Bismarck – German statesman who united the separate German kingdoms into one nation (1871). Served as Chancellor for 19 years

Ottoman Empire (1299–1923) – Turkish Empire that stretched across parts of present day Europe and the Middle East

   

P

Palestinians – Inhabited Palestine until the creation of Israel; 726,000 Palestinians were then disbursed throughout the Middle East

Pancho Villa (1878 -1923) – One of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals

Partition of India (1947) – Process of dividing India into the nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India

Passive resistance – The nonviolent resistance to perceived unjust laws and government as a means for social and political protest

Pax Mongolia – Refers to the period of time with peace and stability within the Mongol Empire

Pax Romana – Period of peace and stability under the Roman Empire; expanded trade

Peninsula – Body of land that is bordered by water on three sides

Perestroika – Political and economic reform which allowed for limited capitalism in the Soviet Union

Peninsula – Body of land that is bordered by water on three sides

Italy and India are located on peninsulas

Peter the Great (1672-1725) – Russian emperor; heavily influenced by western style

Petition of Rights (1628) – English document; limited the Kings power

Phillip II (1527-1598) – During his reign the Spanish empire attained its greatest power

Pictographs – Ancient Chinese writing system that used pictorial drawings to convey it’s meaning

Plato – Greek philosopher who set the foundations of Western philosophy and science; wrote “The Republic”

Pol Pot (1925-1998) – Communist dictator who led a violent reform movement in Cambodia

Polish Group Solidarity (1980) – Movement in which pro-democracy workers went on strike to protest against the communist Polish government

Political purge – To get rid of people that are considered undesirable; get rid of potential political opposition

Porfirio Díaz ( 1830-1915) – Soldier and president of Mexico (1877-80, 1884-1911), who established a strong centralized state that he controlled for over three decades

Predestination – Calvinist belief that salvation was predetermined by God before birth

Primary source – Source of information from a first hand account (eyewitness); first hand knowledge

Printing Press – An invention that would allow for the printing of many copies of text on paper

Printing Press – An invention that would allow for the printing of many copies of text on paper

Literature and information were able to reach a much larger audience

Profit incentive – A person invests in a business in order to make a personal profit

Proletariat – Wage earners; poorest class of people; laborers

Protestant Reformation (16th Century) – Movement in Western Europe to reform doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church

Protestant Reformation (16th Century) – Movement in Western Europe to reform doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church

Martin Luther and John Calvin; objected to the rituals and ideals of the Catholic Church (for example, indulgences)

   

Q

Quota laws – restictions on the number of immigrants allowed into the country

   

R

Reconquista – During the 1400’s, Christian states attempted to recapture territory from Muslims. Muslims were expelled from Spain

Red Guard (China) – A mass social movement of young people in the People’s Republic of China who were mobilized by Mao Zedong in 1966 and 1967, during the Cultural Revolution

Reign of Terror (1793-1794) – Period of violence that occurred in the beginning of the French Revolution; mass executions of “enemies of the revolution”

Renaissance (1300-1600)

– Rebirth or revival of classical art and culture of the classical Greco-Roman world

– Humanist philosophy stressed the beauty of human nature and the human form

– The upper class supported arts and education

Renaissance (1300-1600) – Rebirth of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning. A movement that began in Italy and spread throughout Europe

Republic – A government where the head of state is not a Monarch

Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD) – Ruling empire during ancient Roman civilization

Russian Revolution (1917) – Series of revolutions in Russia led by the Bolsheviks to overthrow the Czar

Causes: economic hardship, heavy losses in WWI, and corruption Outcome: provisional government was formed

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) – Conflict between Japan and Russia for control of Korea and Manchuria

   

S

Saddam Hussein – Dictator of Iraq from 1979-2003

Sahara Desert – Desert located in North Africa; surrounded by several countries

Saigon – A city in South Vietnam; commonly referred to as Ho Chi Minh City

Saladin (1138-1193 CE) – First Sultan of Egypt; recaptured the holy city of Jerusalem from Christian Crusaders in the 12th century

Samurai – Soldiers in feudal Japan who received land in return for their service in battle

Sandinista Revolution (1962-1979) – Overthrew a dictatorship and installed a communist government in Nicaragua

Scientific Revolution – New ideas and discoveries in astronomy, physics, medicine and chemistry changed the way Europeans perceived the natural world

Second Estate – The Nobility; very wealthy; exempt from paying taxes; owned 30% of the land

Secular – Society in which religion is separate from government

Sepoy Mutiny (1857) – Indian soldiers (Sepoys) rebelled against British imperialism in India

Shaka Zulu (1787-1828) – Founder of the Zulu nation; innovative weaponry such as the short stabbing spear

Shiites – Branch of Islam that is based on the teachings of the Islamic holy book, the Quran

Shinto – The poly-theistic religion in Japan with its roots stretching back to 500 B.C. Respects the powers of nature primarily associated with such things as animals, trees, mountains, springs, boulders, the sun, and so forth

Shogun – Supreme commander of the Samurai armies

Silk Road – Ancient international trade routes; connected China with Europe, Mediterranean and Africa

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) – Leader of the Latin independence movement against Spain

Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) – Conflict between China and Japan for control of Korea

Six-Day War (1967) – Israel launched an attack on Arab countries of Egypt, Syria and Jordan

Slash and burn farming – Farming technique that consisted of cutting and burning down forest area to clear the land for farming

Slobodan Milosevic – “President” of the Socialist Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Serbia from 1989-1997; arrested and tried for war crimes and atrocities against ethnic minorities in Serbia

Social classes – People that are grouped into classes according to culture or economic status

Social Darwinism – Application of Darwin’s theory of evolution and “survival of the fittest” to human society

Stronger nations (economically and militarily) should take resources from weaker nations

Social issues – Issues within a society that affect peoples lives and interactions

Social Science – Study of human behavior and various forces that shape human behavior in a given society

Socrates – Greek philosopher who developed the idea that knowledge was acquired through questioning

Song Dynasty (960-1279) – Chinese ruling dynasty in which art, culture, technology and trade flourished; known as the Chinese Renaissance

Spanish conquistadors – People or soldiers at the service of the Spanish empire; set out on conquering lands in America

Spheres of influence – During the 19th century, China was divided into trade zones by Russia, Germany, France and England

Spheres of influence – During the 19th century, China was divided into trade zones by Russia, Germany, France and England


European nations would each trade in their own sphere

Steam engine – An engine that performs mechanical work by using steam. Allowed for development of the railroad and steamship

Subsistence farming – Form of farming in which production of crops and livestock is solely for the farmer and farmer’s family

Suez Canal – Artificial waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea

Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566) – Sultan of the Ottoman Empire; reformed tax laws and the education system. He strengthened the empire

Sun Yixian (1866-1925) – President of China; revolutionary; started nationalist movements

Sunnis – Largest branch of Islam; adheres to the orthodox tradition; based on the teachings of the Islamic holy book, the Quran.

Leader of the Muslim nation should be elected

   

T

Tang Dynasty (618-907) – Imperial dynasty of China in which art, culture, technology and trade flourished. Regarded as the high point of Chinese civilization

Terrace farming – The practice of carving farm land out of the sides of mountains

Terrorism – Use of violence or force to intimidate or inflict damage for coercion purposes (usually for political purposes)

The Dunkirk Evacuation (1940) – Miracle evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beach of Dunkirk, France during WWII; Allies were cut off by German troops

The First Balkan War (1912) – The members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro) fought against the Ottoman Empire

The Munich Pact of 1938 – Great Britain and France ceded Czech lands to Hitler; this was seen as APPEASEMENT of Hitler

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – Organization consisting of oil producing nations which controls and regulates the production and price of oil in the world

Three Gorges Dam – Dam in China; facilitates the production of energy; worlds largest capacity hydroelectric hub

Tiananmen Square Protests (1989) – Protesters wanted more freedom and economic liberalization in China. The government responded by sending in tanks

Protests in favor of freedom and democracy (anti-communist) occurred in both China (1989) and East Germany

Tiananmen Square Protests (1989) – Protesters wanted more freedom and economic liberalization in China. The government responded by sending in tanks

Tiananmen Square Protests (1989) – Protesters wanted more freedom and economic liberalization in China. The government responded by sending in tanks

Timbuktu – West African nation which was the center of trade and education during the 14th century

Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868) – Feudal military dictatorship in Japan which was ruled by the Shoguns

Totalitarian dictatorship – Political system in which one person has full control of country

Toussaint L’Ouverture (1743-1803) – Leader of the independence movement in Haiti

Traditional economic system – Traditions, customs and beliefs shape the goods and products that the society creates

Trans-Atlantic slave trade – The trading of slaves from West Africa, across the Atlantic ocean, to America from the 16th to the 19th centuries

Trans-Saharan trade – Refers to trade across the Sahara desert between Mediterranean countries and sub-Saharan Africa

Treaty of Nanking – Signed in 1842, ended the Opium War. Considered “unequal treaty” because Britain gave up nothing in return

Treaty of Versailles (1919) – Treaty at the end of WWI, ending the war between the Allied Nations and Germany; blamed Germany for starting war

– Germany had to pay war reparations

– Germany lost all of their overseas colonies

– Germany lost some lands in Germany that were in dispute

Triangular trade – Trading that is done among three ports

Triple Alliance (1882-1914) – Comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungry and Italy; guaranteed mutual support if any one member was attacked

Triple Entente (1907) – An agreement between England, France and Russia that guaranteed mutual support if any one member was attacked; had agreements with other countries including the United States

Twelve Tables – The earliest attempt by the Romans to create a code of law; the written laws were organized into 12 sections

   

U

Underdeveloped nations – Nations that are characterized by lack of industrial development

Other characteristics –

– high unemployment

– poor health care

– lack of food and water

– poor education

– limited housing

Illiteracy limits economic development

Unification of Germany (1870-1871) – At the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war, the many independent German states were unified into a German Empire

United Nations (1945) – International organization comprised of member countries; one of the United Nations goals is to maintain world peace

Urban Ghettos – A neighborhood dominated by one ethnic group

Urbanization – Growth of cities; usually associated with industrialization

   

V

Vasco Da Gama (1469-1524) – Portuguese explorer; discovered water route from Europe to India

Vietnam War (1959-1975) – Military conflict between communist North Vietnam and non communist South Vietnam

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) – Leader of the Bolsheviks; headed the Soviet Union from 1917-1924

   

W

Warsaw Pact (1955-1991) – A mutual defense agreement of the Soviet Union and European counterparts; controlled by the Soviet Union

Wealth of Nations (1776) – An essay written by Adam Smith that is considered to be the founding principles of capitalism

Weimar Republic (1919-1933) – Ruling government of Germany; overthrown by Nazi party

The Nazi party had a program to rebuild and made labor unions illegal.

West African trade routes – Trade routes that ran across the Sahara desert to Europe, Arabia, China and India

   

Y

Yalta Conference (1945) – Roosevelt (U.S.), Stalin (Soviet Union), and Churchill (United Kingdom) met to plan Europes post war reorganization

Yellow journalism – exaggerated news reports designed to sway public opinion

   

Z

Zheng He (1371-1433) – Asian explorer; sailed seven epic voyages throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East and East Africa

Zulu – Largest South African ethnic group