World History Honors

Maya

An advanced civilization located in modern-day Mexico and other Latin American countries known for their elaborate trade and economy.

Aztec

A civilization in modern-day Costa Rica recognized for its advanced laws, court system, and significant historical figure Montezuma.

Inca

An ancient civilization that thrived in modern-day Peru known for pioneering surgeries like lobotomies and their belief in reincarnation.

Confucius

A Chinese philosopher whose teachings focused on morality, social relationships, and justice.

Qin Shi Huang

The first Emperor of China known for unifying the country and initiating the Great Wall.

Caste System

A hierarchical social structure prevalent in India dictating social status and occupation.

Hinduism

A major Indian religion that emphasizes reincarnation, karma, and a wide array of deities.

Zoroastrianism

The founding religion of Persia based on the teachings of Zarathustra that focused on dualism and the worship of one god.

Judaism

The first monotheistic religion centered around the teachings of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Pax Romana

A period of peace and stability within the Roman Empire that lasted approximately 200 years.

Feudalism

A social system prevalent in medieval Europe where peasants were tied to lords' lands in exchange for protection.

Crusades

A series of religious wars initiated to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslim rule, marked by Christian and Muslim conflict.

Hundred Years War

A prolonged conflict (1337-1453) between England and France primarily over territorial disputes.

Renaissance

A cultural revival from 1350 to 1600 in Europe characterized by renewed interest in art, literature, and learning from ancient Greece and Rome.

Indulgence

A practice in the Catholic Church where believers could pay to absolve sins, heavily criticized by reformers like Martin Luther.

Natural Rights

The inherent rights of individuals, including life, liberty, and property, central to Enlightenment philosophy advocated by John Locke.

Social Contract

A theory in political philosophy, notably espoused by Rousseau, suggesting that government legitimacy arises from the consent of the governed.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory proposing that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, often applied in discussions of government and social policies.

Bourgeoisie

The middle class in Marxist theory, who own the means of production and exploit the proletariat.

Proletariat

The working class in Marxist theory who sell their labor in exchange for wages.

Industrial Revolution

A period of major industrialization that began in Britain around 1760, transforming economies from agrarian to industrial.

Laissez-faire

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in markets, promoting free-market principles.

Social Darwinism

A controversial social theory that applied Darwin’s principles of natural selection to human societies, often used to justify racism and imperialism.

Pasteurization

A process developed by Louis Pasteur to kill pathogens in food and drink, ensuring safety and prolonging shelf life.

Economic Conditions

The state of the economy that includes factors like wealth, employment rates, and production outputs.

Political and Social Conditions

The legal framework and cultural practices that shape societal behavior and government operation.

Morse Code

A method of encoding text characters through sequences of dots and dashes, developed for telegraph communication by Samuel Morse.

Guillotine

A device used for carrying out executions by beheading, prevalent during the French Revolution.