agriculture

The cultivating of land, producing crops, and raising livestock for human consumption

archipelago

A group or chain of islands

Bushido

code of conduct for Samurai and nobles during Japanese feudalism

Caste System

rigid social class system in Hinduism

centralized government

a government which controls all aspects of society from a central location or through a central system

chivalry

code of conduct for knight and nobles during European feudalism

Crusades

European Christian military expeditions made between the 11th and 13th centuries to retake the Middle Eastern Holy Lands occupied by the Muslims

cultural diffusion

The spreading of ideas through contact such as trade or war

democracy

A system of government in which the citizens hold the legislative, judicial, and executive power, based on majority rule

divine right

The justification of monarchy through the word of God

dynasty

A succession or series of rulers of a country from the same family

encomienda system

A system of production in Spain’s New World possessions w granted permission to conquistadors to enslave as many people needed to work a plantation

ethnocentric

A belief in the superiority of a certain ethnic group or race

famine

Widespread hunger caused by the near or complete lack of food

feudalism

A social, political, and economic system that dominated all aspects of medieval European life

golden age

Generally occurs in times of peace A time of high achievement in arts, literature, and science in a culture Generally occurs in times of peace

hieroglyphics

system of writing which uses pictures for concepts and ideas

humanism

A philosophical movement during the Renaissance stressed life on Earth, and the quality of being human Rejected living only for the afterlife

jihad

Religious duty of Muslims to defend the Islamic faith

Magna Carta

A document granting basic rights in England signed by King John in 1215 considered to be the beginnings of British democracy

Mecca

city in Saudi Arabia where Muslims must make a pilgrimage at least once in their life

merchant

a person who sells goods or services a member of the middle class in most societies

mercantilism

The policy of building a nation's wealth by exporting more goods than it imports. Colonies are instrumental in this policy as they supply their parent nations with raw materials that are used to produce finished goods, and then exported back to the colonies. Colonies not only served as a source for the raw materials, but also as an exclusive market for the parent country

militarism

Political policy that is dominated by the military and the competitive buildup of arms

monarchy

A political system in which a country is ruled by a monarch The head of state has complete power

monotheism

belief in one god

natural resources

Various materials found in nature used in manufacturing such as wood, coal, and oil

Neolithic Revolution

(10,000 - 8,000 BCE) development of agriculture and the domestication of animals as a food source led to the development of permanent settlements and the start of civilization

parliament

A government's legislative body

persecution

Treating a person, or a group of people unfairly or cruelly due to ethnic background, gender, or other difference

pilgrimage

A religious journey to visit a shrine or other holy site

polytheism

belief in many gods or goddesses

Protestant

Protestants reject the authority of the Roman Catholic Church Member of Christian religious sect which formed during the Protestant Reformation Protestants reject the authority of the Roman Catholic Church

reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul into another body

revolution

a dramatic change in ideas, practice, or government

rigid social class system

A social class system where there is no mobility A person remains in the same class their entire life

Roman Catholic

A branch of Christianity based in Rome The original Christian church

Silk Road

Trade route from China to the Middle East Called the Silk Road due to China’s most important export

terrace farming

The cutting out of flat areas (terraces) into near vertical slopes to allow farming appear as steps cut into a mountainside allowed both the early Chinese, and the Inca of Mesoamerica to grow enough food for their large populations

Triangle Trade

A catch all phrase for the trade occurring between Europe, Africa, and the Americas Trade goods include raw materials from the Americas, manufactured goods from Europe, and slaves from Africa

urbanization

The movement of people to urban areas in search of work

westernization

To adopt western ideas and culture