history 9th grade meyer studying fr

Indus Valley Civilization

Civilization along the Indus River

Caste System

Social hierarchy based on birth: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits

Reincarnation

Belief that the soul is reborn into new bodies

Karma

Actions in life affect future rebirths

Dharma

A person's religious and moral duty

Vedas

Sacred texts of Hinduism

Moksha

Hindu escape from the cycle of rebirth

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Founder of Buddhism

Nirvana

Buddhist enlightenment and escape from rebirth

Middle Way/Eightfold Path

Buddhist path that avoids extremes and leads to enlightenment

Ashoka

Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism and spread it throughout his empire

Monsoons

Seasonal winds that create wet and dry seasons and affect agriculture

Dynastic Cycle

Pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

Mandate of Heaven

Belief that Heaven grants rulers the right to rule and can take it away

Warring States Period

Time of conflict in China before unification under the Qin

Shi Huangdi

First emperor of China and founder of the Qin Dynasty

Qin Dynasty

First imperial Chinese dynasty

Confucianism

Philosophy emphasizing order, hierarchy, education, and proper relationships

Filial Piety

Respect and obedience toward one's parents and elders

Han Dynasty

Golden Age of China

Daoism

Philosophy emphasizing harmony with nature and going with the flow

Silk Road

Trade network connecting China to the Middle East and Europe

Genghis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire

Pax Mongolia

Period of peace and stability under Mongol rule that encouraged trade

Monotheism

Belief in one god

Polytheism

Belief in many gods

Judaism

Oldest Abrahamic religion

Abraham

Patriarch important to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Muhammad

Founder and prophet of Islam

Mecca

Holiest city in Islam

Qur'an

Sacred text of Islam

Mosque

Islamic place of worship

Abbasid Caliphate

Powerful Islamic empire known for learning, trade, and cultural achievements

Jesus of Nazareth

Central figure of Christianity

Paul of Tarsus

Early Christian leader who spread Christianity throughout the Roman world

Shahada

Declaration of faith

Salat

Daily prayer

Zakat

Charity given to help the poor

Sawm

Fasting during Ramadan

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Swahili City-States

East African coastal trading cities connected to Indian Ocean trade

Griots

Oral historians and storytellers of West Africa

Animism

Belief that spirits exist in nature and living things

Aksum

Kingdom in Ethiopia that controlled Red Sea trade

King Ezana

King who converted Aksum to Christianity

Mali

Wealthy West African empire known for trade and learning

Sundiata

Founder of the Mali Empire

Mansa Musa

Wealthy ruler of Mali famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca

Gold-Salt Trade

Major West African trade network exchanging gold and salt

Great Zimbabwe

African kingdom known for massive stone structures and trade

Feudalism

System where kings granted land to lords in exchange for loyalty and military service

Crusades

Religious wars fought to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land

Pope

Leader of the Catholic Church

Black Death

Deadly plague that killed millions in Europe

Humanism

Renaissance belief emphasizing human achievement and potential

Secularism

Focus on nonreligious matters

Renaissance

Rebirth of art, learning, and culture in Europe

Printing Press

Invention that spread books, literacy, and ideas rapidly

Protestant Reformation

Movement that challenged the Catholic Church and led to Protestantism

Martin Luther

Wrote the 95 Theses and led the Protestant Reformation

Indulgences

Payments made to the Church for forgiveness of sins

Inquisition

Effort to identify and punish heresy, especially in Spain

Chinampas

Floating gardens used by the Aztecs for farming

Tenochtitlan

Capital of the Aztec Empire

Moctezuma

Aztec emperor during the Spanish conquest

Pachacuti

Inca ruler who expanded and strengthened the Inca Empire

Quipu

Knot-based record-keeping system used by the Inca

Terrace Farming

Farming on mountain slopes to create more farmland

Mita System

Required labor service for the Inca government

3 Gs of Colonization

Gold, Glory, and God

Middle Passage

Route used to transport enslaved Africans to the Americas

How does geography impact the development of a civilization?

Geography affects agriculture, trade, defense, and cultural exchange. Rivers, fertile land, mountains, and trade routes often help civilizations grow and become powerful.