Unit 1 (CH 1 & 2)

civilization

A society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes

Patriarchy/Patriarchal

a society in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it

Caste System

A rigid Hindu hierarchical social class system determined at birth

Hinduism

A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms

Buddhism

a religion based on the teachings of the Buddha that developed in ancient India

Ashoka

Leader of the Mauryan dynasty of India who conquered most of India but eventually gave up violence and converted to Buddhism.

Theravada Buddhism

the oldest of the two major branches of Buddhism. (Practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia), its beliefs are relatively conservative, holding close to the original teachings of the Buddha

Mahayana Buddhism

Also known as popular Buddhism, is allows people more ways to reach enlightenment and boddhisatvas can help you reach enlightenment.

Confucianism

A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society, and stresses a moral code of conduct.

Daoism

A religion in China which emphasizes the removal from society and to become one with nature.

Judaism

A monotheistic of the Jewish people; emphasized belief in one god. It originated with Abraham and the Hebrew people.

Christianity

A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Jesus

Islam

A religion based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed which stresses belief in one god (Allah). Followers are called Muslims.

Quran

The holy book of Islam

Sufism

An Islamic mystical tradition that desired a personal union with God--divine love through intuition rather than through study of the shari'a.

Sufi missionaries help spread Islam; more open to adaptation to local beliefs

Sharia

Islamic law

Sunni

Branch of Islam that believed Muhammad had no rightful heir and that a religious leader should be elected through a vote among the Islamic community's people.

Shia

Branch of Islam that believed all caliphs must be direct descendants of Muhammad's family.

Mandate of Heaven

a political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source

Grand Canal

A canal linking northern and southern China that helped unify China politically (Sui dynasty)

Song Dynasty

(960 - 1279 AD) Chinese dynasty that introduced many important inventions like the magnetic compass, paper money, gun powder

Foot Binding

Chinese practice of tightly wrapping girls' feet to keep them small, in the Tang dynasty; an emphasis on small size and delicacy was central to views of female beauty

Tribute System

Chinese method of dealing with foreign lands and peoples that assumed all non-Chinese states inferior and required the payment of tribute (gift)—to the Chinese emperor.

Vietnamese Champa Rice

Fast ripening rice brought from Vietnam that led to population growth in (Southern ) China

Filial Piety

Confucian thought that stresses respect for parents and elders

Abbasid Caliphate

(750-1258 CE) The caliphate, after the Umayyads, who focused more on administration than conquering. Had a bureaucracy that any Muslim could be a part of.

Seljuk Turks

nomadic people from central Asia who converted to Islam and took command of the empire (in 1055)

Ottoman Empire

Islamic state centered on Anatolia that came to include the Balkans, the Middle East, and much of North Africa.

Sultanate of Delhi

Muslim Turkic state established in northern India (in 1206)

Dar al-Islam

an Arabic term that that refers to lands under Islamic rule

European Feudalism

A political system existing in medieval Europe where land was exchanged for loyalty and military service. Kings granted land to nobles, who then gave portions to knights in return for protection and service.

Serfdom

A type of labor in which the laborers work the land in return for protection but they are bound to the land. (Common in early Medieval Europe as well as in Russia until the mid 19th century.)

Manorialism

Economic system during medieval times that revolved around self-sufficient farming estates where lords and peasants shared the land.

Maya city-states

A major civilization of Mesoamerica known for the most elaborate writing system in the Americas and other intellectual and artistic achievements (e.g. mathematical system, calendar)

Aztecs (Mexica)

Also known as Mexica, they created a powerful empire in central Mexico, later conquered by the Spanish

Aztec tribute lists

Conquered regions of the Aztec empire were given a list of goods to provide the gov

Inca Empire

Powerful empire in Peru. later conquered by the Spanish in 1535

Mi’ta system

People in the Inca empire were required to provide labor and contribute to state-projects

Gunpowder

Invented in China but used by Europeans to dominate others

Casta system

A hierarchical social system in Spanish colonial America that classified individuals based on their racial ancestry (European, Indigenous, and African). Allowed the Spanish to maintain their power and superiority.