World History Important Terms

7/27/2019 World History Important Terms

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Agricultural Revolution A time in the 18th century when new inventions suchas the seed drill and the steel plow made farmingeasier and faster. The production of food rosedramatically.

Aristocracy The most powerful, wealthy, andprosperous members of a society

Berlin Blockade April 1, 1948 - Russia under Stalin blockaded Berlin completely in the hopesthat the West would give the entire city to the Soviets to administer. To bring infood and supplies, the U.S. and Great Britain mounted air lifts which becameso intense that, a t their height, an a irplane was landing in West Berlin every few minutes. West Germany was a r epublic under Franc, the U.S. and GreatBritain. Berlin was located entirely within Soviet-controlled East Germany.

Bible The Christian holy book that contains the writings or scriptures that Christians

recognize as the written word of God.

Buddhism A religion based on the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desireceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and

wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering andrebirth

Bushido Traditional code of the Japanese samurai which stressed courage and loyalty and

self-discipline and simple living

Chivalry A code that knights adopted in the late Middle Ages; requiring them to be brave, loyal and true totheir word; they had to fight fairly in battle

Christianity A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament.

Columbian Exchange The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, andtechnologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

Crusades A series of military expeditions launched by Christian Europeans (originally Pope Urban II) to

win the Holy land back from Muslim control.


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Cuban Missile Crisis An international crisis in October 1962, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the U.S. and the USSR. When the U.S.discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island;the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the U.S. demands a week later.

Democracy a political system in which the supremepower lies in a body of citizens who can

elect people to represent them

Enlightenment Movement during the 1700's that spreadthe idea that knowledge, reason, and

science could improve society

Fascism A totalitarian political system headed by adictator that calls for extreme nationalism

and racism and no tolerance of opposition

Feudalism A medieval political system in which nobles (lords/daimyo) aregranted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, inexchange for their loyalty, military service (knights/samurai), andprotection of the people who live on the land (peasants/serfs)

Heliocentric A model of the solar system in which Earth and theother planets revolve around the sun. Proposed by scientists such as Copernicus & Galileo.

Hinduism A body of polytheistic religious and philosophical beliefs andcultural practices native to India and characterized by a belief inreincarnation and a s upreme beingof many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and

by a

Humanism A renaissance intellectual movement in whichthinkers studied classical texts and focused onhuman potential and achievements

Imperialism A policy in which a strong nation seeks todominate other countries poitically,

socially, and economically.

Islam The monotheistic religion of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachingsof Muhammad as laid down in the Qur'an


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Joint-Stock Company A company in which investors buy stock inthe company in return for a share of its

future profits

Judaism the monotheistic religion of the Jews havingits spiritual and ethical principles embodied

chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud

Kyoto Protocol Establishes legally binding commitments for the reduction of fourgreenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfurhexafluoride), and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons andperfluorocarbons) Took place in Rio De Janeiro in 1992

Magna Carta This document, signed by King John of Endland in 1215, is the cornerstone of English justice and law. It declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens of England. It contained the antecedents of the ideas of due process and the right to a fair and speedy trial that areincluded in the protection offered by the U.S. Bill of Rights

Marshall Plan Introduced by Secretary of State George G. Marshall in 1947, heproposed massive and systematic American economic aid to Europeto revitalize the European economies after WWII and help preventthe spread of Communism.

Mercantilism An economic policy under which nations sought toincrease their wealth and power by obtaining largeamounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods(exporting) than they bought (importing)

Monotheistic Believing in only one God

Nationalism The aspiration for national independence felt by people under foreign domination. When taken toextremes, can result in tension and warfare betweencompeting nations.

Neolithic Revolution The shift from hunting of animals and gathering of food to the keeping of animals and the growing of food on a regular basis around 8,000 BCE. Led to theformation of societies.

Oligarchy A system of government in which asmall group holds power


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Polytheistic Believing in many gods

Qur'an The Muslim holy book, said to be revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during

his life at Mecca and Medina

Reformation A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attemptto reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creationof Protestant churches. Launched by Martin Luther's 95 Thesis ,and continued with figures such as John Calvin and Henry VIII.

Renaissance The great period of rebir th in art, literature, andlearning in the 14th-16th centuries, which marked thetransition into the modern periods of European

history

Republic A political system in which the supremepower lies in a body of citizens who can

elect people to represent them

Shintoism Religion located in Japan and related toBuddhism. This religion focuses particularly on

nature and ancestor worship.

Silk Road An ancient trade route between China and theMediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 km (4,000mi) and linking China with the Roman Empire. MarcoPolo followed the route on his journey to Cathay.

Social Contract The notion that society is based on an agreement betweengovernment and the governed in which people agree to give upsome rights in exchange for the protection of others. Advocated by philosophers such as Rousseau & Locke.

Theocracy A government controlled by religious leaders

Torah A Jewish holy book which consists of thefirst five books of the Hebrew Scripture is

written


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Totalitarianism A government that takes total, centralized, statecontrol over every aspect of public and private life.Enforced with aggressive police, fear, andpropaganda.

Triangular Trade A three way system of trade during 1600-1800s Africa sent slaves to America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe, and Europe sent Guns and Rumto Africa

Tyranny A form of government in which the ruler is anabsolute dictator (not restricted by a constitutionor laws or opposition etc.)

U.N. Declaration of Human Rights A declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently

entitled

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World History Important Terms