World History Final Exam Review Notes (copy)

Agricultural Revolution

Transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural societies around 10,000 years ago.

Domestication

The process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use, leading to farming and permanent settlements.

Rise of civilization

An effect of the Agricultural Revolution characterized by the development of complex societies.

Feudal System

A hierarchical social and economic structure established to provide security and stability in medieval Europe.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement initiated in 1517 that resulted in the fragmentation of the Catholic Church.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of plants, animals, foods, human populations, diseases, and ideas between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial rule, particularly in the mid-20th century.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization established in 1949 to provide collective defense against Soviet expansionism during the Cold War.

Holocaust

The Nazi regime's plan to systematically exterminate the Jewish population of Europe during World War II.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among countries through trade, investment, technology, and culture.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

A violent crackdown by the Chinese government on pro-democracy protests in Beijing in 1989.

Indian Caste System

A social hierarchy in India dividing society into hierarchical groups known as castes.

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Chinese Communist Party and founding father of the People's Republic of China.

Ren

In Confucianism, the principle of benevolence, kindness, and humanity.

Shahada

The Islamic declaration of faith affirming the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

Five Pillars of Islam

Core beliefs in Islam including Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj.

Totalitarian Regimes

Governments that concentrate power in a single party or leader, suppress dissent, and control the media.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular ethnic, racial, or national group.

Economic Miracle

Rapid economic growth and development, as seen in Japan following World War II.

The Wealth of Nations

A book by Adam Smith arguing for free-market capitalism and individual economic freedom.

Cultural Assimilation

The process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture of another group.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social classes.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Communism

A political ideology advocating for a classless society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole.

Isolationism

The policy or doctrine of isolating one’s country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc.

Monarchy

A form of government with a monarch at the head.

Capitalism

An economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit.

Republic

A state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Marxism

A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Socialism

A way of organizing a society in which the government owns things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, etc.) and there is no privately owned property

Liberalism

Belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights.

Isolationism

The policy or doctrine of isolating one’s country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc.

Monarchy

A form of government with a monarch at the head.

Capitalism

An economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit.

Republic

A state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Marxism

A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Socialism

A way of organizing a society in which the government owns things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, etc.) and there is no privately owned property

Liberalism

Belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights.