World History Vocab

caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century, used by the Portuguese and Spanish for exploration.

conquistadors

Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered territories in the Americas during the Age of Exploration.

colony

A territory controlled by a foreign power, often established for economic exploitation and settlement.

mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the importance of accumulating wealth through trade, particularly by exporting more than importing.

export

To send goods or services to another country for sale.

plantation

A large agricultural estate where crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton are cultivated, often using slave labor.

middle passage

The transatlantic journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas, characterized by brutal conditions.

peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals who held the highest social and political positions in colonial Latin America.

encomienda system

A labor system in colonial Spain where Spanish settlers were granted the right to extract labor from indigenous people.

mita system

A labor system used in colonial Peru that required indigenous people to work a certain number of days each year for Spanish landowners.

alliance in the context of international relations

Formal agreement between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes, often for mutual defense.

diplomacy

Practice of conducting negotiations and maintaining relations between nations.

appeasement

A diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding conflict by making concessions to an aggressor

mobilization

Refers to the process of assembling and preparing military forces for active service.

total war

A conflict where a nation uses all available resources and strategies to achieve complete victory, often involving the entire population.

espionage

Practice of spying or using spies to obtain secret or confidential information.

embargo

A government order that restricts commerce or trade with a specific country or the exchange of specific goods.

interdependence

Refers to the mutual reliance between countries, often economically or politically.

ideology

A set of beliefs or principles that guide a country's foreign policy and international relations.

reparations

Payments made by a defeated nation to compensate for damages caused during a conflict.

estates general

A legislative assembly in France representing the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the common people.

tennis court oath

A pledge made by members of the Third Estate in 1789 to not disband until a new constitution was established.

declaration of rights of man and the citizen

A fundamental document of the French Revolution that outlines individual and collective rights.

coup detat

A sudden overthrow of a government, often executed by a small group.

bourgeoisie

The middle class in France, often associated with capitalist interests and social status.

taille

A direct tax imposed on the common people in France before the French Revolution.

nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often leading to the desire for national independence.

conservatism

A political philosophy that promotes retaining traditional institutions and values.

liberalism

A political ideology advocating for individual freedoms, civil rights, and democratic governance.

absolutism

A political doctrine where a single ruler holds absolute power, often justified by divine right.

geocentric model

The Ptolemaic System, which posits that the Earth is at the center of the universe and all celestial bodies revolve around it.

heliocentric model

The astronomical model that places the Sun at the center of the universe, with Earth and other planets orbiting around it.

rationalism

A philosophical approach emphasizing reason as the primary source of knowledge, often contrasted with empiricism.

inductive reasoning

A logical process where generalizations are made based on specific observations or evidence.

scientific method

A systematic approach to inquiry that involves observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and conclusion.

deism

A belief system that posits a rational God who created the universe but does not intervene in human affairs.

laissez-faire

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in the economy and allowing free market forces to operate.

social contract

A theory in political philosophy that explores the legitimacy of authority and the agreement among individuals to form a society.

enlightened absolutism

A form of absolute monarchy inspired by the Enlightenment, where rulers implement reforms based on Enlightenment principles while maintaining their power.

militarism

The belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

secularization

The process by which religious thinking, practice, and institutions lose social significance.

natural selection

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

social darwinism

The theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals.

imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

protectorate

A state or territory partly controlled by (but not directly ruled by) a stronger state.

indirect rule

A system of government of one nation by another in which the governed people retain certain administrative, legal, and other powers.

direct rule

A system of government in which a province is controlled by a central government.

annex

To incorporate (territory) into the domain of a city, country, or state.

indigenous

Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.