World History Master Deck

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering key historical terms, figures, and concepts from the 15th-century West African societies to the 20th-century Cold War and decolonization period.

Igbo

15th century West African society organized around villages and trade.

Melaka

Major Muslim trading port in Southeast Asia.

Vizier

High-ranking advisor in Muslim governments.

Timbuktu

Major center of Islamic learning in West Africa.

Forbidden City

Imperial palace built by the Ming dynasty.

Meritocracy

Advancement based on ability.

Fratricide

Killing of one's brother.

Paleolithic

Old Stone Age.

Tribute

Payment showing loyalty.

Byzantine Empire

Last remnant of Rome.

Timur

Turco-Mongol conqueror.

Confucianism

Chinese ethical system.

Renaissance

European cultural rebirth.

Christopher Columbus

Reached the Americas for Spain.

Vasco da Gama

Reached India by sea.

Martin Luther

Started Protestant Reformation.

Henry VIII

Created Anglican Church.

Hernán Cortés

Conquered Aztecs.

Doña Marina

Translator for Cortés.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer between Old and New Worlds.

Little Ice Age

Cool climate period.

Peninsular

Born in Spain, living in colonies.

Casta Paintings

Showed racial hierarchy.

Mexica

Aztec ruling people.

Tenochtitlan

Aztec capital.

Quipu

Inca record system.

Mita

Inca labor tax.

Encomienda

Spanish labor system.

Mercantilism

Colonies enrich mother country.

Commodification

Turning goods into products for sale.

Manila Galleon

Asia-Americas trade ship.

Subsistence Economy

Produce for own use.

Florentine Codex

Mesoamerican historical record.

Sapa Inca

Inca ruler.

Settler Colonies

Colonies populated by settlers.

Agricultural Revolution

Increase in farm output.

Enclosure Acts

Privatization of common lands.

Four-Field Crop Rotation

Improved soil and yields.

Selective Breeding

Breeding for desired traits.

Industrial Revolution

Machine production.

Capitalism

Private ownership and profit.

Means of Production

Land, labor, capital.

Bourgeoisie

Middle class owners.

Proletariat

Working class.

Karl Marx

Founder of Marxism.

Friedrich Engels

Wrote on workers' conditions.

Marxism

Class struggle theory.

Socialism

Public ownership.

Utopian Socialism

Ideal equal communities.

Trade Unionism

Workers organizing.

Chartism

Political reform movement.

Feminism

Women's equality.

Sphere of Domesticity

Women's role in home.

Nationalism

Loyalty to nation.

Liberalism

Individual freedoms.

Romanticism

Emotion over reason.

Anarchism

Opposition to government.

Luddites

Machine breakers.

Class Consciousness

Awareness of class interests.

Fruits of Labor

Benefits from work.

Imperialism

Domination of territories.

Social Darwinism

Justified imperialism.

Scientific Racism

False racial hierarchy.

Matthew Perry

Opened Japan.

Indian Rebellion

1857 revolt.

Direct Rule

Direct colonial control.

Indirect Rule

Rule through local leaders.

Berlin Conference

Division of Africa.

Scramble for Africa

European race for colonies.

Paternalism

Colonizers acting as guardians.

Self-Determination

Choose own government.

Anti-Colonial Nationalism

Resistance to empire.

Cash Crops

Grown for export.

Cecil Rhodes

British imperialist.

Edward Blyden

Pan-African thinker.

Pan-Africanism

Unity of African peoples.

Liberia

Nation of freed slaves.

Kikuyu

Kenyan ethnic group.

Congo Free State

Leopold II's colony.

Unequal Treaties

Favored imperial powers.

Vivekananda

Revived Hindu pride.

Hinduism

Major Indian religion.

WWI

Global war caused by alliances and nationalism.

Russian Revolution

Communist takeover in Russia.

Totalitarianism

Total government control.

Cold War

US-USSR rivalry.

Decolonization

Colonies gain independence.