World History Vocabulary (1200-1900)

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from a lecture on world history between 1200-1900.

Confucianism

A philosophy emphasizing social harmony, order, and good government, influencing Song China's bureaucracy.

Imperial Bureaucracy

A system of governance in Song China based on merit, achieved through civil service exams rooted in Confucian beliefs.

Meritocracy

A system where advancement is based on individual ability or achievement, exemplified by the civil service exam in Song China.

Theravada Buddhism

A form of Buddhism focused on personal spiritual growth through self-discipline and meditation, popular in Southeast Asia.

Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism emphasizing the spiritual growth of all beings and universal salvation, prevalent in China and Korea.

Zen Buddhism

A syncretic form of Buddhism blending elements of Buddhism and Confucianism, emphasizing meditation and intuition.

Filial Piety

The Confucian principle emphasizing respect and obedience to one's parents and elders, forming the basis of social hierarchy.

Footbinding

A practice in Song China involving the tight binding of young girls' feet to restrict their growth, symbolizing high social status.

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening rice variety that allowed for multiple harvests per year, significantly increasing agricultural production in Song China.

Grand Canal

A massive waterway system in China facilitating trade and transportation, contributing to its economic prosperity.

Tribute System

A system in which other states paid tribute to China as a recognition of Chinese dominance and to gain trade advantages.

Delhi Sultanate

An Islamic empire established in northern India, marked by tension between Hinduism and Islam.

Mamluk Sultanate

An Islamic empire primarily composed of Turkic people, relying on similar governing practices as the Abbasids.

Sufism

A mystical branch of Islam emphasizing a personal connection with Allah, playing a significant role in spreading Islam by adapting to local cultures

Jizya

A tax imposed on non-Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate, creating tension between Hindus and Muslims.

Bhakti Movement

A mystical movement within Hinduism emphasizing devotion to a specific deity, similar to Sufism in its appeal and spread.

Srivijaya Kingdom

A Hindu kingdom in Southeast Asia that prospered by taxing ships, demonstrating the influence of trade in state building.

Majapahit Kingdom

A Buddhist kingdom in Southeast Asia that controlled sea routes, highlighting the importance of maritime trade.

Khmer Empire

A land-based empire in Southeast Asia with complex irrigation systems, initially Hindu and later Buddhist.

Angkor Wat

A temple complex in the Khmer Empire, demonstrating architectural sophistication and religious evolution.

Cahokia

A Mississippian culture known for its rigid caste system and construction of massive mounds.

Aztecs/Mexicas

A civilization in present-day Mexico with a capital at Tenochtitlan, known for its tribute system and marketplaces.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec civilization, characterized by marketplaces and urban development.

Inca

A civilization in South America known for its large land area and the mita system.

Mita System

A mandatory public service system in the Inca Empire, where people were required to provide labor for state projects.

Great Zimbabwe

An African state that prospered from trade, connecting to the Indian Ocean Trade Route.

Swahili

A Bantu language influenced by Arabic, spoken in East Africa due to trade interactions with Muslims.

Feudalism

A decentralized political system in Europe based on land ownership and loyalty between classes.

Serfs/Peasants

The lowest class in the feudal system, responsible for tending the land.

Three-Field System

An agricultural innovation in Europe where fields were divided into three parts, improving soil fertility and food production.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns along trade routes like the Silk Road and Trans-Saharan routes, providing resting places for merchants.

House of Wisdom

An academy in Abbasid Caliphate Baghdad where scholars translated works, promoting scholarship and intellectual exchange.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes connecting East and West, facilitating the exchange of luxury goods.

Trans-Saharan Trade

A trade network across the Sahara Desert, exchanging goods like gold, slaves, salt, and horses.

Lateen Sail

Triangular sails that allowed ships to sail against the wind, essential for Indian Ocean trade.

Astrolabe

An instrument used to determine latitude, aiding navigation in the Indian Ocean trade.

Swahili City-States

Coastal cities in East Africa that rose to prominence due to their involvement in the Indian Ocean trade.

Ibn Battuta

A Muslim scholar and traveler who documented Islamic civilizations and Asia, providing valuable insights into the practices of Islam.

Mansa Musa

The ruler of Mali known for his pilgrimage to Mecca, which displayed his wealth and promoted Islam.

Marco Polo

A European traveler who documented his journeys in Asia, particularly during the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.

Syncretism

The blending of different cultures or religions, exemplified by Swahili (Bantu + Arabic) and Neo-Confucianism (Confucianism + Buddhism & Daoism).

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophy that emerged in China combining elements of Confucianism with Buddhism and Daoism.

Gunpowder Empires

Empires that used gunpowder technology to expand their territories, such as the Ottomans and Safavids.

Tax Farming

A system used by empires to collect taxes by contracting individuals to collect revenues.

Devshirme

A system in the Ottoman Empire where Christian boys were recruited, converted to Islam, and trained for the military or bureaucracy.

Janissaries

Elite soldiers in the Ottoman army, often recruited through the devshirme system.

Akbar

A Mughal ruler known for his religious tolerance, promoting trade and stability.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in Europe that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.

Sikhism

A syncretic religion in India blending elements of Islam and Hinduism.

Caravel

A small, fast, and highly maneuverable ship developed by the Portuguese, facilitating exploration and trade.

Fluyt

A Dutch cargo ship designed for maximum cargo space, contributing to Dutch dominance in sea trade.

Trading-Post Empire

An empire based on the control of strategic trade locations rather than large territories, exemplified by the Portuguese.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas after Columbus's voyages.

Mercantilism

An economic policy where states sought to maximize their wealth by accumulating precious metals and establishing colonies.

Encomienda System

A coerced labor system used by the Spanish in the Americas, where indigenous people were forced to work on plantations.

Hacienda System

A land grant system used by the Spanish in the Americas, often resulting in large estates with coerced labor.

Middle Passage

The brutal journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

Joint-Stock Companies

Companies with shared ownership, allowing for investment in exploration and trade with limited liability.

Atlantic Trade System

A trade network involving Europe, Africa, and the Americas, exchanging manufactured goods, slaves, and raw materials.

Triangular Trade

A specific route within the Atlantic Trade System involving Europe, Africa, and the Americas exchanging finished goods, slaves, and raw resources respectively.

Casta System

A social hierarchy in Spanish colonies based on race and ancestry.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Native American ancestry in the Spanish colonies.

Mulattos

People of mixed European and African ancestry in the Spanish colonies.

Peninsulares

In Spanish Colonialism, the highest class in society, were people born in Spain.

Creoles

In Spanish Colonialism, the class in society of European descent but born in the Americas.

The Enlightenment

An European intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and human rights.

Social Contract

The power to govern is in the name of the people and enter to a social contract with the government

Nationalism

Pride in ones national identity (language, religious customs, social customs, or land)

Free Market Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership, free trade, and minimal government intervention.

Social Darwinism

The idea of white people taking over non-white people

Monroe Doctrine

US in Latin America