\n Confucianism
Chinese philosophy which stressed the importance of proper relationships and social duties within a society
Serf
Agrarian laborers in the Feudal system who sacrificed their freedom to stay on a Lord's land and work for him in exchange for the protection he would offer
\n Abbasid Caliphate
Major empire in the Middle East, which was considered the first Golden Age of Islamic history
\n Filial Piety
Element in Confucianism, in which children are supposed to respect and take care of their parents. Through cohesive bonds, the family dynamic will be strong
Caliph
Title during the early centuries of Islamic history, which meant the head of the Islamic Religion and head of the Islamic state. The top position within Islam before the Collapse of the Abbasid Empire
Sunni and Shia
The two main denominations within Islam. The split occurred over the first successor to Muhammad
Excommunication
The act of banning someone membership within the Roman Catholic Church
\n Ancestor Veneration
Idea in Confucianism and Chinese culture that families should worship and honor deceased family members
\n House of Wisdom
A medieval center of learning and library built by the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad
\n Patriarchy
Idea that males should dominate society. Most civilizations of the pre-modern era offered women very little rights and opportunities in society
Agrarian
Adjective meaning relating to agriculture. During the Middle Ages, Europe's economy was heavily based on agriculture
Roman Catholicism
The main religion practiced in Medieval Europe, which is headed by the pope in Rome
\n Muhammad
Arab founder of the Islamic religion
Buddhism
Religion which started in India, but became very powerful and influential in East and Southeast Asia.
\n Feudalism
Social and political system, where a king or higher lord would grant land to knights or lesser lords in exchange for their military service. Under the system, vassals would have to swear military service, collect taxes on their lord's behalf, and enforce the kings laws on his manor
\n Translation movement
Accomplishment of the Abbasid Caliphate to collect thousands of ancient manuscripts and copy them into Arabic. Once scholars translated the works of earlier scholars they furthered and enhanced their studies.
Jizya
A tax that all non-Muslims were required to pay the Islamic state to keep their religion
\n Eastern Orthodoxy
The main religion practiced by the Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire. Because of their differences, the two religions developed different cultural traditions
Nirvana
An enlightened state one seeks in Buddhism by following the 8 fold path
Tithe
A tax paid by Medieval European peasants to local clergy to help support them financially
Turks
Ethnic group from Central Asia, who broke away territories from the Abbasid Caliphate before 1200. After the Abbasid Caliphate collapsed they became the new rulers in the Islamic world and carried on many of its cultural and literary traditions
Fealty
Synonym for homage or loyalty.
Sufi
Islamic missionaries who believed in a more personalized worship of Allah
\n Samsara/ (Reincarnation)
Belief in both Buddhism and Hinduism that believes the soul is reborn into a new body after death.
Fief
Grant of land under the feudal system
Delhi Sultanate
Turkish Islamic empire located in Northern India during the period 1200-1450
Vassal
An individual who agrees to serve someone else in exchange for a grant of land from that individual. By accepting the fief you agree to serve with the authority of that individual
Dharma
Term used in Hinduism to explain the duties associated with one's caste, which affects they karma they accumulate
\n Byzantine Empire
Term for the Eastern Roman Empire
Manor
Because of all the infighting during medieval Europe, many fiefs owned by lords were converted into self-sufficient agricultural communities called these.
Civil Service Exam
Test required under the Song dynasty and other pre-existing Chinese dynasties that required government officials to take before they could serve in the imperial Chinese government
Hinduism
Polytheistic religion which originated in India and was the dominant religion in South Asia
Caste System
The social hierarchy associated with Hinduism. Under the system whatever social class one is born into, they must stay in that class for life. Depending on how well they perform their dharma, they can go up or down the social class system in their next life after they are re-incarnated
Kharma
Positive or negative energy that accumulated through ones' actions in Hinduism that effect their social status in the next life.
\n Monasteries
Catholic buildings in which Monks would copy bibles, preserve classical books, and teach literacy in the Middle Ages
\n Three estates
The main social classification and job expectations of the main social classes in medieval Europe
\n Vijayanagar Empire
Powerful South Asian Hindu Kingdom in Southern India during the Middle Ages
Latin
The official language of the Roman Catholic Church
Silk
Fine clothing made from the worms of a mulberry tree. One of the rarest pieces of clothing in the Middle Ages, which drew a lot of trade to China
Crusades
Set of holy wars between the Catholic West and Middle Eastern Muslims during the Middle Ages
Meritocracy
System of government and promotion based on one's achievement vs their natural born social status or familial connections
Knight
Elite mounted warriors of Medieval Europe
Clergy
Term used to identify Roman Catholic officials and priests
Papacy
The office of the pope
Song Dynasty
A period of Chinese rule from 900-1250, which marked a Golden Age of China, marked by commercial growth, innovations, and population growth
Porcelain
Glassy textured pottery unique to China. It was one of the specialty items of China, which drove high interest in trading with the region during the Middle Ages
Tribute System
Policy used by Chinese dynasties to make individuals bow and pay some form of tribute to the Chinese emperor or official to be allowed access to trade in China.
Gunpowder
Substance that is flammable and prone to explode invented in China
Champa Rice
Strain of rice that could be harvested multiple times of year and was prone to be resistant to drought. Because of this China experienced major population growth during the Song Dynasty
Woodblock Printing
World's oldest system of printing which helped to duplicate documents and information much quicker than by hand
\n Imperial Bureacucracy
During much of Imperial China's history the main source of government workers, who carried out the wishes and commands of the Emperor
\n People of the Book
Term given by Muslims to identify Christians and Jews who worshipped the same god as them. Though they still had to pay the non-Muslim tax, they could keep their religion and had protected status within Islamic empires.