History Final Terms

Absolute monarchy

A form of government where a single monarch holds absolute power over the state and its people.

Adam and Moses

Figures in Judeo-Christian tradition, Adam is the first man created by God, while Moses is a prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king who created one of the largest empires in ancient history through conquest and spread of Greek culture.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Transatlantic trading system in which African slaves were forcibly transported to the Americas for labor, primarily in plantation economies.

Buddhism

An ancient Indian religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama, emphasizing enlightenment through meditation, ethical living, and the Four Noble Truths.

Caliphate

A form of Islamic government led by a caliph, considered the political and religious successor to Muhammad.

Cannon

Early artillery weapons used in warfare, typically consisting of a metal tube mounted on wheels to fire projectiles.

Capitalism

Economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, market competition, and profit motive.

Caravan trade

Trading system in which merchants travel in caravans across land routes to exchange goods between regions.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, crucial for long-distance exploration.

Carrack

A large European sailing ship of the 15th-17th centuries, used for trade and exploration, characterized by its high stern and multiple masts.

Cartography

The science and art of map-making, including the study of projections, scales, and symbols.

Catholic vs Protestant

The division within Christianity that emerged during the Protestant Reformation, with Catholics adhering to the authority of the Pope and traditional sacraments, while Protestants emphasize faith, scripture, and individual interpretation.

Cavalry

Mounted soldiers trained for combat, historically significant in warfare for speed and maneuverability.

Centralized State

A political system in which power and authority are concentrated in a central government.

Christian missionaries

Individuals or groups sent to spread Christianity, often to regions where it was not previously practiced.

Christianity

A monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasizing salvation through faith, sacraments, and moral living.

Coercive labor

Work performed under duress or force, often without fair compensation or freedom.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas, Africa, and Europe following Christopher Columbus's voyages.

Confucianism

A philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing moral values, social harmony, and filial piety.

Crops

Essential agricultural products including corn, beans, rice, sugar, millet, coffee, sorghum, wheat, and tobacco.

Dar al Islam

The lands under Islamic rule where Muslims can practice their religion freely.

Devshirme

The Ottoman practice of forcibly recruiting Christian boys to be trained as soldiers or civil servants.

Diaspora communities

Scattered populations of people with a common origin who have settled in different locations around the world.

Divine Right of Kings

The belief that kings derive their authority to rule directly from God.

Dutch East India Company

A Dutch trading company established to carry out colonial activities in Asia, particularly in the spice trade.

European feudalism

Political and social system in medieval Europe characterized by hierarchical relationships between lords, vassals, and serfs.

Free trade

Economic policy allowing goods and services to move freely between countries without tariffs or other restrictions.

Galileo Galilei

Italian scientist known for his contributions to astronomy, physics, and the scientific method, famously persecuted for supporting the heliocentric model of the solar system.

Genoese shipyards

Shipyards in Genoa, Italy, known for producing maritime vessels during the Age of Exploration.

Gunpowder

A mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur used in firearms and explosives.

Gunpowder Empires

Islamic empires of the early modern period known for their military expansion and use of gunpowder weapons.

Ibn-Battuta

Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively throughout the Islamic world in the 14th century, documenting his journeys in his famous travelogue.

Imperial hegemony

The dominance and influence of one empire over others in terms of politics, economics, and culture.

Indentured Servitude

Labor system where individuals work for a specified period in exchange for passage to a new country or debt repayment.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

Maritime trading network that connected regions bordering the Indian Ocean, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.

Islam

A monotheistic religion founded by Muhammad, based on the Quran, emphasizing submission to the will of Allah and adherence to the Five Pillars.

Janissaries

Elite Ottoman infantry units composed of Christian boys who were converted to Islam and trained as soldiers.

Japanese feudalism

Social system in medieval Japan characterized by the dominance of regional lords (daimyo), samurai warriors, and the shogunate.

Joint-stock companies

Business organizations in which investors pool their capital to fund ventures and share profits or losses.

Judaism

The monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, based on the Torah and Talmud, emphasizing ethical living and covenant with God.

Judaism/Christianity/Islam

Abrahamic religions sharing common roots in the Middle East, while differing in beliefs about Jesus, scripture, and religious practices.

Khanate

A political entity ruled by a khan, typically associated with the Mongol Empire and its successor states.

Kievan Rus

A medieval East Slavic state centered in Kiev, considered the precursor to modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

King Arthur

Legendary British leader who, according to medieval tales, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

King Charles I of England

English monarch whose reign was marked by conflict with Parliament, leading to the English Civil War and his eventual execution.

King Sundiata

Founder of the Mali Empire in West Africa, known for his military conquests and establishment of a prosperous kingdom.

Little Ice Age

A period of cooler temperatures and harsh winters that occurred between the 14th and 19th centuries.

Mali Empire

A medieval West African empire known for its wealth, trade, and promotion of Islam, centered in the region of modern-day Mali.

Maritime innovations

Technological advancements such as the lateen sail, astrolabe, and magnetic compass that revolutionized navigation and exploration.

Maritime trade

Exchange of goods and services conducted via sea routes, facilitating globalization and cultural exchange.

Martin Luther (Diet of Worms)

German theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, famously defended his beliefs at the Diet of Worms in 1521.

Mercantilism

Economic theory advocating for government intervention to increase a nation's wealth through trade surplus, colonization, and protectionism.

Ming Treasure Fleet

A series of naval expeditions led by Chinese admiral Zheng He during the early Ming dynasty, aimed at asserting Chinese dominance in the Indian Ocean.

Ming and Qing dynasties

Successive Chinese dynasties known for their stability, cultural achievements, and expansion of trade.

Mongol Empire

Largest contiguous land empire in history, established by Genghis Khan and known for its military conquests and cultural impact.

Monsoon wind patterns

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean region that influenced maritime trade routes and navigation.

Mughal Empire

Muslim empire in the Indian subcontinent known for its cultural achievements, religious tolerance, and centralized administration.

Muhammad

Founder of Islam and the last prophet in the Abrahamic tradition, believed to have received revelations from Allah as recorded in the Quran.

Omani merchants

Traders from Oman known for their dominance of Indian Ocean trade routes and cultural exchange in the medieval period.

Ottoman Empire

A major Islamic empire centered in modern-day Turkey, known for its expansion, multiculturalism, and military prowess.

Peasant

A member of the rural laboring class, often tied to the land and subject to the authority of landowners or feudal lords.

Plantations

Large agricultural estates, often specializing in cash crops and worked by enslaved laborers or indentured servants.

Portuguese trading

Portuguese exploration and trade efforts during the Age of Discovery, leading to the establishment of trade routes and colonies.

Products of trade

Goods exchanged in global commerce including sugar, tobacco, cotton, gold, and pepper, contributing to economic growth and cultural exchange.

Quran

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by fasting from dawn to sunset as a religious obligation.

Religious fundamentalism

A conservative religious movement characterized by strict adherence to fundamental beliefs and opposition to secularism and modernity.

Renaissance

A period of cultural, artistic, and intellectual rebirth in Europe, spanning the 14th to 17th centuries.

Renaissance art

Artistic works produced during the Renaissance period, characterized by realism, perspective, and humanism.

Safavid Empire

Persian empire known for its promotion of Twelver Shia Islam, cultural achievements, and conflicts with the Ottomans.

Samurai

Japanese warriors who served the daimyo (feudal lords) during Japan's feudal period, adhering to a code of honor known as Bushido.

Scientific Revolution

A period of significant advancements in science and mathematics during the 16th to 18th centuries, challenging traditional beliefs and paving the way for modern science.

Serfdom

Feudal labor system in which peasants are bound to the land and subject to the authority of lords.

Shinto

Indigenous religion of Japan, emphasizing reverence for kami (spirits) and rituals honoring ancestors and nature.

Shogun

Military dictator of Japan during the feudal period, exercising power on behalf of the emperor.

Silk Road

Ancient network of trade routes connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean world, facilitating the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas.

Silk, porcelain and tea

Luxury goods traded along the Silk Road and other trade routes, representing cultural exchange between East and West.

Silver

Precious metal used as currency and traded globally, particularly mined in Spanish colonies in the Americas.

Slavery

System of forced labor where individuals are treated as property, historically prevalent in various forms throughout human societies.

Smallpox

Infectious disease caused by the variola virus, responsible for numerous epidemics and high mortality rates before vaccination.

Songhai Empire

West African empire known for its military prowess, trade networks, and promotion of Islam, centered in the Niger River valley.

Southern Song Dynasty

Period of Chinese history known for its economic prosperity, cultural achievements, and conflicts with northern invaders.

Steppe nomads

Nomadic peoples of the Eurasian steppe known for their horsemanship and mastery of mounted warfare, including the Mongols and Huns.

Sudan

Region in Africa encompassing the southern Sahara and savanna areas, historically home to various empires and kingdoms.

Sultan

Title for rulers in Islamic countries, particularly in the Ottoman Empire, denoting political and military authority.

Syncretism

The blending of different beliefs or cultures to create new cultural forms or expressions.

Timur

Central Asian conqueror known for his military campaigns, cultural patronage, and the Timurid Empire.

Tokugawa Japan

Period of Japanese history characterized by the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, marked by stability, isolationism, and cultural flourishing.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494, dividing the newly discovered lands outside Europe between them along a meridian line.

Triangular Trade

Trade network between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods.

Tsar

Title of the ruler of Russia from the 16th century until the Russian Revolution, derived from the Latin term "Caesar."

Typhoon

A tropical cyclone or hurricane occurring in the western Pacific Ocean.

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer who led the first European expedition to sail directly from Europe to India, establishing a sea route around Africa.

Virgin of Guadalupe

A Marian apparition and the patron saint of Mexico, whose image is widely venerated in Mexican culture.

Vizier

High-ranking official in Muslim countries, responsible for advising the ruler and managing government affairs.

World Economic Theory

The study of global economic systems, including theories of trade, development, and international finance.

Zheng He

Chinese explorer and admiral who led seven large voyages during the early Ming dynasty, expanding China's influence in the Indian Ocean region.