Global History Glossary
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Living Environment
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English
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
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