Theme 1 Study Guide - Government Structures, Power, Identity, and The World in 1750

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Theme 1 notes (government structures, power, identity, and the world in 1750).

Monarchy

A form of government where a king or queen holds supreme authority, usually hereditary.

Oligarchy

Ruled by a small group of people who hold all political power.

Aristocracy

Government controlled by a hereditary, privileged ruling class.

Direct democracy

Citizens have a direct say in decision-making; every voice is heard.

Representative democracy

Citizens elect representatives to exercise rights and make decisions on their behalf.

Dictatorship

A government in which a single leader has absolute power over citizens.

Power

The ability to influence others and determine outcomes, drawn from sources like wealth, law, population, norms, force, and ideas.

Wealth (Power)

Economic resources that enable influence and control.

State action

Use of laws and bureaucratic institutions to compel behavior.

Numbers

Power derived from the size of a population and the collective intensity of interest.

Social norms

Shared expectations about what is acceptable behavior that guide actions.

Force

Capacity to use violence or coercion to achieve ends.

Ideas

Beliefs or ideologies that motivate people to change thinking or action.

Identity

Our sense of self, including how we see ourselves and how we belong to social groups.

Social identity

Identity based on membership in particular social groups.

Personal identity

The unique ways you define yourself, comprising beliefs and characteristics that make you you.

Ottoman Empire (Late 13th century)

Empire where power was concentrated in bureaucrats and religious scholars within a monarchical framework.

Mughal Empire (1526-1803)

A hereditary monarchy with power passed down within the ruling family.

Qing Dynasty (1644–1912)

A double bureaucracy with power centralized in the emperor.

Tokugawa Empire (1500s-1776)

Japan’s ruling government led by the Shogun; began as a Monarchial system and evolved into a centralized military authority/dictatorship.

Rise of the West

Historical shift by around 1750 where Western Europe emerged as a dominant global power.

Networks

Connections for trade, communication, and exchange that spread concepts and innovations.

Merchants and travelers

People who carried goods and knowledge across regions, aiding learning and cultural exchange.

Sub-Saharan Empire (1750s)

Wealthy Igbo leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa competed for noble status and influence. Oligarchy.