Unit 1 Vocabulary –World History

Aryans

An Indo-European people who, about 1500 B.C., began to migrate into the Indian subcontinent.

Moksha

In Hinduism, a state of perfect understanding of all things and a release from the cycle of reincarnation.

civilization

A highly organized society marked by political organization, economic system, social hierarchy, inventions, and arts.

specialization

The development of skills in a particular kind of work, such as trading or record keeping.

artisan

A person skilled in a craft.

scribe

One of the professional record keepers in early civilizations.

cuneiform

Sumerian system of writing using wedge-shaped markings; the first writing system ever developed.

ziggurat

A tiered, pyramid-shaped structure that formed part of a Sumerian temple.

Fertile Crescent

An arc of rich farmland in Southwest Asia, between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea.

covenant

A solemn pledge or agreement.

city-state

An independent state consisting of a city and the surrounding land and villages.

dynasty

A line of rulers who belong to the same family.

cultural diffusion

The exchange of goods, ideas, and customs among different cultures.

matriarchal / patriarchal

Relating to a social system in which the mother (matriarchal) / father (patriarchal) is head of the family.

theocracy

Government headed by religious leaders or a leader regarded as a god.

push-pull factors

Conditions that draw people to another location (pull factors) or cause people to leave their homelands (push factors).

filial piety

Respect shown by children for their parents and elders; a core principle of Confucianism.

Surplus

An amount that is more than needed, excess.

Mandate of Heaven

In ancient China, authority granted by heaven to deserving rulers.

caste

One of the four classes of people in the social system of the Aryans who settled in India.

reincarnation

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding.

karma

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the totality of the good and bad deeds performed by a person, believed to determine their fate after rebirth.

animism

The belief that spirits are present in animals, plants, and other natural objects.

nirvana

In Buddhism, the release from pain and suffering achieved after enlightenment.

Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the most sacred writings in the Jewish tradition.