Unit Reviews: Global History from 1200 to Present

Song Dynasty

China dynasty (960-1279) advances in technology, agriculture, and central bureaucracy

Neo-Confucianism

A revival of Confucianism mixed with Buddhism and Daoism emphasized morality and social order

Dar al-Islam

'House of Islam' referring to Arabic term connected by religion, trade, & culture

Abbasid Caliphate

A major Islamic dynasty (750-1258) with its capital in Baghdad, advances in science, medicine, and culture

Delhi Sultanate

A series of Muslim dynasties that ruled northern India (1206-1526) spreading Islam in the Indian Subcontinent

Srivijaya Empire

A powerful maritime kingdom in S.E. Asia (7th-13th cent.) that controlled trade routes and promoted Buddhism

Feudalism

A political and social system where land was exchanged for loyalty and military service, especially in medieval Europe & Japan

Mali Empire

A wealthy West African empire (1233-1600) known for gold trade and powerful leaders like Mansa Musa, who promoted Islam and education

Hausa Kingdoms

A group of West African city-states that flourished from around 1000 known for trade, Islamic influence, and military strength

Cahokia

A major Native American city near modern St. Louis known for its large earthen mounds and Mississippian culture

Enlightenment

Ideas emphasized reason, individual rights, and the social contract, sparking revolutions across the Atlantic world

Nationalism

A movement inspired by Enlightenment ideals leading to independence, democratic reforms, and new political ideologies

American Revolution

A revolution inspired by Enlightenment philosophies resulting in the establishment of a new state

Industrial Revolution

Began in Britain due to environmental and economic factors and spread to Europe, the U.S., and beyond

Second Industrial Revolution

Introduced electricity, chemicals, and steel production

Capitalism

Emerging as a dominant economic system, with free-market ideas replacing mercantilism and promoting global trade

Labor Unions

Arose in response to harsh industrial working conditions and inequality

Social Classes

New social classes emerged due to industrialization, changing gender roles, and urban challenges

Women's Roles

Differed by class: middle-class women were homemakers, while working-class women often labored for wages

Enlightenment

A movement of reason, silence, & individuals' rights across Europe, sparked revolutions.

Nationalism

The belief that people with a shared culture/language/history should have their own country & pride in one's country.

Social contract

Governments get their power from the people, who agree to be governed in exchange for protection of rights.

Capitalism

An economic system where business & trade are owned by individuals not the government, based on competition & profit.

Socialism

An economic system where the government owns or controls key industries to reduce inequalities & help workers.

Communism

An extreme version of socialism where there's no private property and everything is shared equally, linked with Marxism.

Industrial Revolution

A major change starting in Britain where factories & machines replaced manual labor.

Labor union

A group of workers who join together to demand better pay, hours, & working conditions.

Feminism

The belief in equal rights & opportunities for women, grew as women pushed for education, voting rights, & fair treatment.

Second Industrial Revolution

A later phase of the Industrial Revolution with new inventions like electricity, chemicals, & steel made factories more powerful.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances.

Joint-stock companies

Business entities where different stocks can be bought and owned by shareholders, used to fund exploration and colonization.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of goods, silver, and enslaved persons between the Americas and Europe, leading to massive demographic, environmental, and economic changes.

Plantation economies

Economic systems in the Americas that relied on large-scale agriculture and enslaved labor.

Atlantic trading system

A network of trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas, facilitating the exchange of goods and enslaved people.

Cultural mixing

The blending of different cultural practices and beliefs, often resulting from trade and migration.

Syncretic societies

Communities formed through the blending of different cultural and religious practices.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.

Demographic changes

Shifts in population dynamics, often resulting from migration, disease, or economic factors.

Resistance movements

Efforts by groups to oppose and challenge the authority or policies of an established power.

Trade networks

Systems of interconnected trade routes that facilitate the exchange of goods and services between different regions.

Societal demands

The calls for change or reform made by groups within society, often in response to perceived injustices.

Caravel

small, fast ship by the Portuguese that made long-distance sea travel easier

Columbian Exchange

transfer of animals, food, people, goods & diseases between Americas, Europe, & Africa

Encomienda

labor system by the Spanish where colonists were given land and Native workers in exchange for protection and religious conversion of Natives

Joint-stock company

business where many people invested together and shared profits and risks (British East India Company)

Mercantilism

economic idea that a country's power comes from wealth, colonies wanted to bring gold & silver in

Atlantic System

trade system that connected Americas (raw materials), Europe (weapons), Africa (people)

Plantation economy

an economy based on large farms that grew cash crops using forced labor (tobacco, sugar)

Casta system

Social hierarchy in Latin America by race (Spanish, creoles, Africans)

Syncretism

blending of different religions/cultures into new ones

Indentured servitude

labor system where people agreed to work in exchange for a trip usually to the Americas

Silk Roads

trading routes across Eurasia revived by the Mongols

Caravanserai

trading ports along the Silk Roads where travelers rest and eat

Credit

a financial innovation that allowed merchants to trade without large amounts of money, made trade more efficient

Paper Money

currencies made of paper, used a lot in China, made transactions easier without coins

Mongol Empire

largest continuous empire in world history, founded by Genghis Khan, unified Eurasia and expanded trade

Pax Mongolica

period of peace and stability in Mongol Empire 13th-14th century

Trans-Saharan Trade

trade across northern Africa known for gold, salt, and timber

Indian Ocean Trade

trade across the Indian Ocean that improved boat technology and could trade greater volumes of goods, quicker

Diasporic Communities

communities formed by people who have settled far from their original homelands, often along trade routes

Marco Polo

European traveler that wrote his travels down in a diary

Gunpowder Empires

Large empires that used gunpowder weapons like the Ottomans & Mughals.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful Islamic empire that controlled areas in Europe, Asia, & Africa, ruled by a Sultan and practiced Sunni Islam.

Safavid Empire

Persian empire in Iran that followed Shia Islam, clashed with Sunni Ottomans.

Mughal Empire

An empire in India that was a blend of Islam & Hindu, known for religious tolerance under Akbar and great architecture (Taj Mahal).

Manchu/Qing Dynasty

Final Chinese dynasty, started by Manchu people, expanded China's borders & kept Chinese traditions.

Protestant Reformation

A movement that began in Europe calling for reform in the Catholic Church.

Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, tried to fix corruption and draw people back to Catholicism.

Sikhism

A new religion that began in South Asia combining Islam and Hinduism; monotheistic, emphasizing morality and good actions.

Tax farming

System where governments let people collect taxes; they often took extra money for themselves which caused issues.

Monumental architecture

Large buildings made by empires to show power & wealth (e.g., Taj Mahal).

Social Darwinism

The belief that stronger nations or races were naturally better and should dominate weaker ones; used to justify imperialism.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often in opposition to foreign influence.

Civilizing mission

The belief that imperial powers had a duty to civilize and educate colonized peoples.

Economic imperialism

The practice of using economic power to influence or control other countries, often through trade advantages.

Indentured servitude

A labor system where individuals worked for a fixed term in exchange for passage to a new country.

Convict labor

The use of prisoners to perform work, often under harsh conditions, as a form of punishment.

Enslavement

The practice of owning individuals as property and forcing them to work without compensation.

Ethnic enclaves

Communities formed by migrants that maintain their cultural identity within a larger society.

Racial and ethnic discrimination

Prejudice and unequal treatment based on an individual's race or ethnicity.

Migration patterns

Trends and movements of people from one place to another, often influenced by economic, social, or political factors.

Urbanization

The process by which rural areas become urbanized as people move into cities.

Labor movement

A social movement advocating for the rights and interests of workers.

Civilizing mission

A belief that Europeans had a duty to spread their culture, religion, & way of life to people they considered 'uncivilized'.

Economic imperialism

When powerful countries used their influence to take control of economies of weaker countries, usually without taking full political control.

Ethnic enclave

A neighborhood or area where people from the same ethnic group live together, often formed between immigrants.

Indentured servitude

A form of labor where people worked for a set time in exchange for travel, food, or housing.

Convict labor

Forced labor of imprisoned people, used by colonial powers for plantations and building infrastructure.

Cash crop

A crop grown to be sold for money in bulk, such as rubber, cotton, tobacco, etc.

Settler colony

A colony where people from the ruling country live in large numbers, taking land from native peoples.

Export economy

An economy that relies on sending raw materials or goods to other countries to make money.

Anti-colonial resistance

Movements or rebellions by colonized people who wanted to fight back against foreign control and gain independence.

Total war

A type of war where a country uses all of its resources to fight and win.

Propaganda

Information used to shape public opinion, often through media, posters, etc., usually supporting a government or war effort.

Fascism

A political system with strong nationalism, one-party rule, and no tolerance for opposition.

Five Year Plans

Government programs in the Soviet Union that set goals for factories and farming to quickly grow the economy.

Trench warfare

A fighting style used in WWI where soldiers lived and fought in long ditches, leading to slow battles and many deaths.

Great Depression

A worldwide economic crisis that started in 1929 with the US stock crash, leading to poverty, unemployment, and political changes.

Holocaust

Genocide during WWII that killed millions of Jews and millions of Roma, disabled people, and prisoners.

Mexican Revolution

Major revolution against the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, leading to reforms and a new constitution in Mexico.