SS MIDTERM VOCAB

Allah

God of Islam

Apartheid

A social policy or racial segregation involving political and economic and legal discrimination against non

Aqueducts

Bridge

archaeologist

a scientist who learns about ancient people by studying the things they left behind

artifact

an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.

Atman

in Hindu belief, a person's essential self

Balance of Power

distribution of military and economic power that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong

Brahmin

the highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests

Buddism

A religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Guatama

Caste System

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life

civilization

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

Code of Hammurabi

A collection of 282 laws. One of the first (but not THE first) examples of written law in the ancient world.

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 in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.

Consuls

Two officials from the patrician class were appointed each year of the Roman Republic to supervise the government and command the armies

Pax Romana

Roman Peace

Plebians

Members of the lower class of Ancient Rome including farmers, merchants, artisans and traders

Republic

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting

Revolution

a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.

Riencarnation

the rebirth of the soul in the body of another living being

Silk Road

An ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 km (4,000 mi) and linking China with the Roman Empire. Marco Polo followed the route on his journey to Cathay.

Tang and Song Dynasties

golden age in China remembered for porcelain, block printing, gunpowder, and the compass

Ten Commandments

A set of laws for responsible behavior, which, according to the Bible, were given to Moses by God.

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Tribune

In ancient Rome, an official elected by the plebeians to protect their rights.

Twelve Tables

Rome's first code of laws; adopted in 450 B.C.

Upanishads

A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised.

Urbinization

the movement of people from rural areas into cities

Westernization

adoption of western ideas, technology, and culture

Covenant

A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made.

Culture

Beliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.

Culltural diffusion

the exchange of different ideas and goods between cultures

democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Dharma

In Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties

Encomienda System

A system whereby the Spanish crown granted the conquerors the right to forcibly employ groups of Indians; it was a disguised form of slavery.

Eightfold Path

In Buddhism, the basic rules of behavior and belief leading to an end of suffering

ethnic group

Group of people who share common ancestry, language, religion, customs, or combination of such characteristics

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

Fertile Crescent

A geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates

Filial Piety

In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Five Pillars of Islam

Declaration of faith, prayer, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage

Four Noble Truths

All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. 2) The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hated and desire. 3) The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirture. 4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

Fundamentalism

Conservative beliefs in the Bible and that it should be literally believed and applied

Golden Age

A time in a culture of high achievement in arts, literature, and science. Generally occurs in times of peace.

Siddhartha Gautama

Founder of Buddhism

Gupta Empire

(320

Hijrah (Hajj)

Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) in A.D. 622

Hinduism

a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from Vedic religion.

hunter_gatherers

People who hunt animals and gather wild plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts to survive

Islamic Fundamentalism

A movement among many Muslims to return to the fundamentals of Islamic Faith, Life, and Society.

Judiasm

The first monotheistic religion

Judeo_Christian heritage

A set of common beliefs held by followers of the Jewish and Christian religion. Both believe in the existence of one God and the importance of leading a moral and just life.

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation

Koran (Qur'an)

The holy book of Islam

Kshatriyas

The warrior and aristocrat varna of the caste system.

Legalism

the belief that people were bad by nature and needed to be controlled

Mandate of Heaven

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

Manorialism

Economic system during the Middle Ages that revolved around self