Studied by 14 people
hierarchy
a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
stratification
A structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in a society.
Egalitarian
promoting equal rights for all people
Elites
a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
Aristocracy
A government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility
Middle Class
A social class made up of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and wealthy farmers
Merchant Class
people who make their livings doing trades
Working Class
A social class broadly composed of people working in blue-collar, or manual, occupations.
Patriarchy
A form of social organization in which males dominate females
Matriarchy
A society ruled or controlled by women
Filial Piety
In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.
Caste System
A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life
Minority Group
people who are singled out for unequal treatment and who regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination
Social Mobility
Movement of individuals or groups from one position in a society's stratification system to another
Meritocracy
government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.
Social Darwinism
The belief that only the fittest survive in human political and economic struggle.
Feminism
A female movement for gender equality.
city-state
a city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.
Divine Right
Belief that a rulers authority comes directly from god.
Kingdom
a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen.
Empire
A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler
nation/nation-state
A country who's population share a common identity.
agrarian
concerning farms, farmers, or the use of land
Autocracy
a system of government by one person with absolute power.
Theocracy
A government controlled by religious leaders
constitutional democracy
government of a community in which all citizens, rather than favored individuals or groups, have the right and opportunity to participate
Monarchy
A government ruled by a king or queen
Colonialism
Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Communism
A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
Fascism
A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition
Bureaucracy
A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
law code
written set of laws
Mandate of Heaven
a political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source
Diplomacy
the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad
caliphate
Islamic empire ruled by those believed to be the successors to the Prophet Muhammad.
Nationalism
A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country
Nomad
a person who moves from place to place
Pastoralist
a member of a nomadic group that herds domesticated animals
Agriculture
farming
Natural Resources
Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Demographics
statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
domestication of animals
the taming of animals and plants for human use, such as work or as food
Irrigation
A way of supplying water to an area of land
Metallurgy
the science of working with metals
Deforestation
Destruction of forests
Desertification
Degradation of land, especially in semiarid areas, primarily because of human actions like excessive crop planting, animal grazing, and tree cutting.
Plague
A widespread disease
Diaspora
A dispersion of people from their homeland
Crop Yield
the total quantity of crop that the land produces
Migration
Form of relocation diffusion involving permanent move to a new location.
Urbanization
An increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements.
Columbian Exchange
The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.
Industrialization
The development of industries for the machine production of goods.
Green Revolution
Rapid diffusion of new agricultural technology, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers.
epidemic
this is a regional outbreak of disease
pandemic
this is an outbreak of a disease the spreads worldwide
religion
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
Religion vs belief system
Mutually supportive beliefs may form belief systems, which may be religious, philosophical or ideological. Religions are belief systems that relate humanity to spirituality.
Philosophy
A system of beliefs and values
Ideology
a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Polytheistic vs. Monotheistic
Belief in multiple gods vs. belief in one god
monumental architecture
architectural constructions of a greater-than-human scale, such as pyramids, temples, and tombs
Reincarnation
The rebirth of a soul in a new body
Ancestor Veneration
The practice of praying to your ancestors. Found especially in China.
Monasticism
The practice of living the life of a monk
Animism
Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.
Syncretism
a blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith
Schism
division of a group with opposing beliefs
ethnic enclave
A place with a high concentration of an ethnic group that is distinct from those in the surrounding area
Government Propaganda
Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.
Pop Culture
modern popular culture transmitted via mass media and aimed particularly at younger people.
Subsistence Farming
farming in which only enough food to feed one's family is produced
Cash Crops
crops, such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton, raised in large quantities in order to be sold for profit
Specialization of Labor
Focusing work effort on a particular product or a single task
Artisans
skilled workers who make goods by hand
Coerced Labor
forced labor systems (slavery, indentured servitude, debt peonage)
Chattel Slavery
Absolute legal ownership of another person, including the right to buy or sell that person.
Industrialization
The development of industries for the machine production of goods.
Mercantilism
An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought
Export Economies
goods produced in that region were not meant for domestic consumption
Capitalism
An economic system based on private ownership of capital
Socialism
A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.
Liberalism
A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.
Efficiency
using resources in such a way as to maximize the production of goods and services
natural resources
Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Industrialization
The development of industries for the machine production of goods.
globalization
Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.
technology
Application of science to help people
technology
The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
output
Data that has been processed into a useful format.
fossil fuels
Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.
Green Revolution
Rapid diffusion of new agricultural technology, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers.
Agricultural Revolution
The time when human beings first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering (neolithic)
