World History Midterm Study Guide

Nomadic

People who move from place to place.

Sedentary

Settled, not moving from place to place.

Cuneiform

System of writing developed by the ancient Sumerians. Considered the first written language.

Neolithic Revolution

Transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement.

Ancient Civilizations

Early human societies that developed complex social, political, and cultural systems. Developed along major rivers.

Hammurabi's Code

Ancient Babylonian legal code, one of the oldest known legal systems.

Justinian's Code

Collection of laws and legal interpretations issued by the Byzantine emperor Justinian.

5 Major World Religions

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism.

Caste system

Social hierarchy in Hindu society, based on birth and occupation.

Greek rationalism

Philosophical belief in the power of human reason, logic, and observation to understand the world.

Theocracy

System of government in which priests rule in the name of a god or gods.

Golden Age

Period of great cultural achievements and prosperity.

Divine right

Belief that a ruler's authority comes directly from a god or gods.

Direct democracy

System of government in which citizens participate directly in decision-making.

Representative democracy

System of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Han China

Imperial dynasty that ruled China from 206 BCE to 220 CE. Major Inventions include: Paper, Gunpowder, Suspension Bridge, and Rudder.

Gupta India

Ancient Indian empire known for its golden age of arts and sciences.

Pax Romana

Period of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire. Innovations included: The Pantheon, Aqueducts, and Concrete.

Hinduism

Major religion of India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and karma.

Buddhism

Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama, emphasizing the end of suffering through enlightenment. Believed in reincarnation.

Feudalism

Social and economic system in medieval Europe, based on the exchange of land for military service.

Crusades

Series of holy wars fought between Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages.

Magna Carta

Charter of rights and liberties signed by King John of England in 1215.

Sunni Islam

Largest branch of Islam, believes in the legitimacy of the first four caliphs.

Shi'a Islam

Branch of Islam that believes in the divine right of Ali and his descendants.

Sharia Law

Islamic law based on the teachings of the Quran and the Hadith.

Foot binding

Practice in ancient China of tightly binding women's feet to keep them small.

Caliph

Title of the political and religious leader of the Muslim community.

Caliphate

Islamic state led by a caliph.

Silk Road

Ancient network of trade routes connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean.

China

Invented paper, compass, gunpowder, and printing during this time period.

Silk, spices, and precious metals

Goods exchanged on the Silk Road.

Spread of religions

Silk Road facilitated the spread of Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.

Mongol Empire

Largest land-based empire in history, founded by Genghis Khan.

Gold-Salt Trade

Exchange of gold from West Africa for salt from the Sahara Desert.

Khanate

Territory ruled by a khan, a Mongol leader.

Mongol social policies

Tolerant of different cultures and religions, and facilitated cultural exchange.

Islam

Predominantly adhered to in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Split into two groups after disagreements on who is the rightful leader.

European Merchants

They played a major role in the Columbian Exchange by introducing new goods and crops to the Americas.

Mercantilism

Economic system in which a country's wealth is measured by its accumulation of gold and silver. Export more than you import.

Oceanic trade route

European monarchs sought this route to bypass the Ottoman Empire and gain direct access to Eastern Asia.

Janissaries

Elite Ottoman infantry units composed of Christian boys taken from their families and converted to Islam.

Devshirme System

Ottoman practice of recruiting young boys from Christian families to serve in the government or military.

Triangular Trade System

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

Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Olmecs

Civilizations in the Americas known for their advanced agricultural and architectural practices.

Dark Ages

A time when academic thought was not advancing in Europe but was very active across the rest of the world.

Mandate of Heaven

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

Bubonic Plague (Black Death)

Deadly disease that spread across Asia, north Africa, & Europe in the mid-14th century, killing millions of people(1/3 of European population)
Began with infected fleas
Fleas traveled on rats and on poeple
First from the Mongols, then to China and rest of Asia, then to Euorpe through Italy
Spread through:
Trade, conquest, uncleanliness (gross)

Mayans

A Mesoamerican civilization of Central America and southern Mexico. Achievements include mathematics, architecture, and a 365 day a year calendar. They flourished between the 4th and 12th centuries C.E..

Aztecs

(1200-1521) 1300, they settled in the valley of Mexico. Grew corn. Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer others of the region. Worshiped many gods (polytheistic). Believed the sun god needed human blood to continue his journeys across the sky. Practiced human sacrifices and those sacrificed were captured warriors from other tribes and those who volunteered for the honor.

Incas

Highly advanced South American civilization that occupied present-day Peru until it was conquered by Spanish forces under Francisco Pizarro in 1532. The Incas developed sophisticated agricultural techniques, such as terrace farming, in order to sustain large, complex societies in the unforgiving Andes Mountains.