Key Terms of Global History

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Key Terms of Global History

• Regents Preparation

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NOMAD

• Definition person who moves from place to place
  in search of food
• Theme Movement of people and goods
• Historical Connection Paleolithic period. People
  traveled in small groups, and began to develop
  language, tools, and social structures.

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CULTURAL DIFFUSION

• Definition the exchange of ideas, customs,
  goods, and technologies among cultures.
• Theme Movement of people and goods. Culture and
  Intellectual Life. Economic systems. Science and
  technology.
• Historical Connection People started to create
  alliances through trade. Communities began to
  develop. People began to settle in one area.

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TECHNOLOGY

• Definition tools and skills people use to meet
  their basic needs.
• Theme Science and technology. Turning points.
  Change. Culture and intellectual life.
• Historical Connection People started to develop
  communities. Civilizations began to develop
  social systems. Government, religion, and writing.

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CIVILIZATION

• Definition Community characterized by elements
  such as a system of writing, development of
  social classes, and cities.
• Theme Change. Turning point. Political systems.
  Diversity and interdependence. Science and
  technology.
• Historical Connection Systems of government,
  roads, cities, and art began to develop.
  Alliances and enemies began to surface.

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EMPIRE

• Definition group of states or territories
  governed by one ruler.
• Theme Turning point. Political system.
  Nationalism. Imperialism. Culture and
  intellectual life.
• Historical Connection Leaders started to display
  influence over large areas of land and people.
  Political systems began to lay the foundation for
  societies.

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DYNASTY

• Definition ruling family
• Theme Political systems.
• Historical Connections Families began to display
  authority over long periods of time. Egyptians
  were famous for dynastic ruling classes.

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Polytheistic

• Definition believing in many gods.
• Theme Belief systems. Cultural and intellectual
  life.
• Historical Connection Many early civilizations
  practiced this form of religion. The Hindu
  religion is polytheistic. The early Greeks and
  Romans were also polytheistic.

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DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• Definition system of government in which
  citizens participate directly rather than through
  elected representatives.
• Theme Political systems. Nationalism.
• Historical Connection The ancient Greeks used
  this method of democracy. Men were encouraged to
  participate in the day-to-day running of the
  government.

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HELLINISTIC

• Definition type of culture, resulting from
  Alexander the Greats conquests, that blended
  eastern and western influences.
• Theme Change. Turning point. Geography.
  Political system. Imperialism. Movement of people
  and goods.
• Historical Connection This assimilation allowed
  Alexander to peacefully incorporate many people
  into the Greek world.

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REPUPLIC

• Definition system of government in which
  officials are chosen by the people.
• Theme Political system.
• Historical Connection The United States is based
  on the democratic values that the Early Roman
  Republic initiated.

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REINCARNATION

• Definition in Hinduism, the rebirth of the soul
  in a new body.
• Theme Belief system.
• Historical Connection This belief structure
  teaches people that their actions determine
  whether or not they will return to Earth to try
  and achieve Nirvana. Gandhi was a Hindu.

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KARMA

• Definition in Hinduism, all the deeds of ones
  life that affect existence in the next life.
• Theme Belief system. Culture and intellectual
  life
• Historical Connection This belief is
  instrumental in helping the ruling class to keep
  order by utilizing religion. The largest Hindu
  population is located in India.

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DHARMA

• Definition in Hinduism, the moral and religious
  duties that are expected of an individual.
• Theme Belief system. Culture and intellectual
  life
• Historical Connection The concept of Dharma
  helps people to share religious values and
  beliefs. It ties people together under one
  religious set of codes of conduct.

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Nirvana

• Definition in Buddhism, union with the universe
  and release from the cycle of death and rebirth.
• Theme Belief systems.
• Historical Connection The spread of Buddhism
  helped to create a way of living ones life that
  was based on compassion and kindness. Buddhism
  originated in India then spread to China.

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MONOTHEISTIC

• Definition believing in one god.
• Theme Belief system.
• Historical Connection When the Hebrews were
  enslaved in Egypt they began to worship one god,
  the protector. The religion they began was the
  foundation for Judaism (Jewish).

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Messiah

• Definition Jewish word for savior sent by god.
• Theme Belief system.
• Historical Connection Jesus was believed to be
  the new messiah sent by his father, God. The
  Romans and Jews were worried about Jesus
  popularity, so they crucified him

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Caliph

• Definition successor to Muhammad as political
  and religious leader of the Muslims
• Theme Belief system. Political systems. Culture
  and intellectual life.
• Historical Connection After the death of
  Muhammad in 632, the Islamic faith began to grow
  in popularity throughout the Arab lands. Abu Bakr
  was the first caliph.

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FEUDALISM

• Definition system of government in which local
  lords control their own lands but owe military
  service and other support to a greater lord
• Theme Economic systems. Political systems.
• Historical Connection This practice was commonly
  practiced during the Middle ages, or medieval
  period (500-1400s).

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MANORIALISM

• Definition an economic system structured around
  a lords manor or estate.
• Theme Geography. Economic Systems.
• Historical Connection During the medieval period
  this was a common way for lords to keep the
  peasants economically tied to the farmland.

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CHIVALRY

• Definition the code of conduct followed by
  knights during the Middle Ages.
• Theme Belief system. Culture and intellectual
  life. Justice and Human rights
• Historical Connections In medieval times there
  were many wars. The chivalrous code laid the
  foundation for training knights for battle, as
  well as being brave, loyal, and true to their
  word.

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SERF

• Definition in medieval Europe, peasant bound to
  the lords land.
• Theme Political systems. Justice and human
  rights. Conflict
• Historical Connections In the Middle Ages the
  serfs were instrumental to the success of the
  manor, or estate. Serfs were not slaves.

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EXCOMMUNICATE

• Definition to exclude from the Roman Catholic
  Church as a penalty for refusing to obey Church
  laws.
• Theme Belief systems. Conflict.
• Historical Connection Throughout history Popes
  often times kicked-out people for not doing
  what the Church wanted them to do.

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SECULAR

• Definition having to do with worldly rather than
  religious matters.
• Theme Political system. Economic system. Justice
  and human rights.
• Historical Connection During the Middle Ages two
  distinct Church's grew to power. The Roman
  Catholic church had authority and control over
  medieval society outside of the church.

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MONASTARIES

• Definition community where men or women focus on
  spiritual goals.
• Theme Belief systems. Culture and intellectual
  life. Diversity and interdependence.
• Historical Connection Monasteries were
  instrumental at preserving important written
  documents, and helping the poor.

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SHOGUN

• Definition in Japanese feudal system, top
  military commander.
• Theme Belief system. Geography. Political system
• Historical Connection The shoguns set up
  dynasties, and exerted control over the people.

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DAIMYO

• Definition in feudal Japan, warrior lords who
  held a place below the shogun.
• Theme Belief system. Political system.
• Historical Connections These individuals were
  given land to watch over by the shoguns. They had
  to lend military support in exchange.

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SAMURAI

• Definition member of the warrior class in
  Japanese feudal society.
• Theme Belief system. Political system. Culture
  and intellectual life.
• Historical Connections Samurai means those who
  serve. Samurais held strict codes of conduct,
  loyalty and honor were stressed.

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BUSHIDOThe Way of the Warrior

• Definition code of conduct for samurai during
  feudal period in Japan.
• Theme Belief system. Change. Justice and human
  rights.
• Historical Connection The Daimyo used a
  samurais pledge to be loyal as a way to keep
  order on their lands.

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GUILD

• Definition A type of trade association of
  merchants or artisans that was active in the
  Middle ages.
• Theme Economic system. Culture intellectual
  life.
• Historical Connection Guilds were the equivalent
  of modern day unions. Guilds would protect their
  members and make sure their interests were
  secured.

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Apprentice

• Definition young person learning a trade from a
  master.
• Theme Economic system. Movement of people and
  goods.
• Historical Connection families would often times
  give their children to a master to ensure their
  future as a professional.

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Capitalism

• Definition Economic system in which the means of
  production are privately owned and operated for
  profit.
• Theme Economic system. Movement of people and
  goods.
• Historical Connection Capitalism began to
  flourish towards the end of the Middle Ages.
  Merchants began to have control over society due
  to their ability to generate income.

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Humanism

• Definition Intellectual movement at the heart of
  the Renaissance that focused on worldly subjects
  rather than religious ones.
• Theme Change. Turning point. Culture and
  intellectual life.
• Historical Connection People during this period
  began to develop theories on how to better ones
  life. Also, the arts began to flourish.

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Common Law

• Definition Uniform system of justice, developed
  in England, based on court decisions that became
  accepted legal principles
• Theme Political system. Justice and human
  rights.
• Historical Connection This belief that all men
  were equal under the law was instrumental in the
  development of modern law making policies.

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Sultan

• Definition Muslim ruler.
• Theme Belief system. Political System.
• Historical Connection The Turks were the first
  to refer to their leaders as Sultans. Suleiman
  was one of the most famous Turkish sultans.

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Mosque

• Definition Muslim house of worship.
• Theme Belief system. Culture and intellectual
  life.
• Historical Connection The most famous Mosque is
  located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Islamic law
  states that all able Muslims must make a
  pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lives.

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Imperialism

• Definition Domination by one country of the
  political, economic, or cultural life of another
  country of region.
• Theme Economic system. Political system.
  Conflict.
• Historical Connection Powerful European nations
  began to spread their power throughout the world
  in attempts to strengthen their control.

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Sepoy

• Definition Indian soldier serving in the army
  set up by the British or French East India
  companies.
• Theme Turning point. Political system.
  Imperialism.
• Historical Connection When the British made
  alliances with local Indian leaders they
  incorporated the locals into the Imperialistic
  military force. Making the locals dependent on
  Imperial protection.

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Conquistador

• Definition name, meaning conqueror, for
  certain explorers of the 1500s and 1600s.
• Theme Change. Turning point.
• Historical Connection Hernan Cortes was one of
  histories most famous conquistadors. He was
  responsible for the destruction of the Aztec
  empire.

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Plantation

• Definition Large estate ran by an owner or
  overseer.
• Theme Economic system. Geography.
• Historical Connection Slaves were the primary
  work force on most southern American plantations.

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Encomienda

• Definition System created by Spanish government
  in the Americas allowing colonists to demand
  labor or tribute from Native Americans
• Theme Imperialism. Economic system. Conflict.
• Historical Connection Conquistadors would force
  Indians to plant crops under threat of death.
  Spanish began to import African slaves when many
  Indians died.

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Mercantilism

• Definition Economic policy by which a nation
  sought to export more than it imported in order
  to build its national wealth.
• Theme Economic system. Political system.
  Nationalism.
• Historical Connection many of the early European
  civilizations used this method to exert control
  over colonies in the Americas.