World History Final (9th Grade)

Indus Valley Civilization

An ancient civilization located in the northwestern regions of South Asia, thriving around 2500 BCE to 1500 BCE, known for its advanced urban planning, architecture, and social organization, including major cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Caste system

A hierarchical social structure that originated in ancient India, dividing society into different groups based on occupational and social roles.

Varnas

The four broad categories of social classes in Hindu society, which include Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Varnas are a key component of the caste system, determining individuals' roles and duties.

Reincarnation

The belief in the cycle of rebirth, where the soul is born into a new body after death, based on moral actions (karma) from previous lives.

Atman

The eternal soul in Hindu philosophy, believed to be a part of the universal soul (Brahman) and responsible for the cycle of life and reincarnation.

Karma

The principle of cause and effect in Hinduism, where a person's actions in this life will determine their fate in future lives.

Nirvana

A state of liberation and freedom from the cycle of rebirth in Buddhism, representing ultimate peace and enlightenment.

Dharma

The moral and ethical duties and responsibilities in Hinduism and Buddhism, guiding individuals on how to live a righteous life.

Moksha

The ultimate goal in Hinduism, representing liberation from the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Siddhartha Gautama

The founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment and became known as the Buddha.

Middle Way

A fundamental principle in Buddhism that advocates for a balanced approach to life, avoiding extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification to achieve enlightenment.

Eightfold Path

Right concentration, Right view/understanding, Right attitude/thought, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, performed simultaneously to achieve Nirvana.

Ashoka

An Indian emperor who ruled nearly all of the Indian subcontinent, known for converting to Buddhism and advocating peace.

Yellow River + Yangtze rivers

The two major rivers in China that have been integral to its agricultural development and cultural history.

Dynasty/Dynastic Cycle

A political system in which a series of rulers from the same family govern over a period of time, often characterized by a cycle of rise, decline, and replacement.

Mandate of Heaven

The philosophical concept in Chinese political theory that grants the emperor the right to rule based on their ability to govern well and justly; if a ruler becomes corrupt or despotic, they lose this mandate.

Confucianism

A philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing morality, social relationships, and justice as a means to achieve a harmonious society.

Filial Peity

The virtue of respect and duty towards one's parents and ancestors, emphasized in Confucianism as a fundamental principle of social harmony and moral conduct.

Han Dynasty

The second imperial dynasty of China, following the Qin Dynasty, known for its cultural and technological advancements, as well as for consolidating the foundation of the Chinese state.

Civil Service Exam

A system of testing used in Imperial China to select candidates for government positions based on merit and knowledge of Confucian principles.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes that connected China with the Mediterranean, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas between East and West.

Daoism

A philosophical and religious tradition from China emphasizing living in harmony with the Dao, the fundamental principle that is the source of everything in the universe.

Wu wui/“The Dao”

The ultimate principle of Daoism, representing the natural order and the way of the universe that one should align with.

Legalism

A Chinese political philosophy that advocates for a strong central government and strict laws to maintain order, emphasizing the importance of governance over morality.

Achievements of the Roman Empire

The significant accomplishments of the Roman Empire include advancements in engineering, architecture, law, and governance, such as the development of aqueducts, roads, and the codification of Roman law.

Monotheism

Belief in one god/deity

Polytheism

Belief in multiple gods/deities

Ethical monotheism

The belief that there is one god who guides humanity through ethical principles and moral laws.

10 commandments

A set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, central to both Judaism and Christianity.

Judaism

A monotheistic religion originating from the Hebrew Bible, centered on the covenant between God and the Israelites, emphasizing ethical principles and laws.

Abraham

The founding patriarch of the Israelites, regarded as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, who established a covenant with God.

Jesus of Nazareth

A Jewish teacher and religious leader believed by Christians to be the Son of God and the Messiah; founder of Christianity.

Spiritual Equality

The belief that all people are equal in worth and value in the eyes of God or a higher power.

Heaven/Salvation

The promise of eternal life with God, granted to those who are saved from sin through faith or divine grace.

Martyr

A person who suffers or dies for their religious beliefs or cause.

Paul of Tarsus

An early Christian missionary who spread Jesus' teachings and wrote many letters in the New Testament.

Emperor Constantine

The Roman emperor who legalized Christianity and helped it spread by converting and supporting the Church.

Constantinople

The capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, founded by Emperor Constantine; a major center of trade and Christianity.

Justinian I

A Byzantine emperor known for strengthening the empire, building the Hagia Sophia, and creating a unified legal code.

Schism 1054

The split between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches over theological and political differences.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam; birthplace of Muhammad and the site of the Kaaba, where Muslims make pilgrimage.

Arabian Peninsula

Large desert peninsula in Southwest Asia bordered by the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea, featuring vast deserts and mountain ranges; birthplace of Islam and home to Arab cultures.

Bedouins

Nomadic Arab tribes who traditionally live in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, known for herding.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five essential acts of worship in Islam:

1. Shahada (faith)

2. Salah (prayer)

3. Zakat (charity)

4. Sawm (fasting during Ramadan)

5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Muhammad

The founder of Islam and the last prophet, who received God’s revelations that form the Quran.

Prophet

A person chosen by God to deliver messages and guide people in matters of faith and morality.

Ka’aba

The sacred cube-shaped shrine in Mecca, considered the holiest site in Islam and the direction Muslims face during prayer.

Caliph/Caliphate

The leader (caliph) and the Islamic state (caliphate) governed as the political and religious successor to Muhammad.

Sunni + Shia

The two main branches of Islam; Sunnis believe leadership should go to the most qualified, while Shia believe only Muhammad’s family, especially Ali, should lead.

Qur’an

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the direct word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

Mosque

A Muslim place of worship

Baghdad

The capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, a major center of learning, culture, and trade in the Islamic Golden Age.

House of Wisdom

A major center in Baghdad where scholars translated, studied, and preserved knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age.

Abbasid Dynasty

A ruling family of the Islamic empire known for cultural growth and moving the capital from Damascus to Baghdad.

Griots

West African storytellers and historians who preserve oral traditions and history through music and storytelling.

Animism

The belief that spirits inhabit animals, plants, and natural objects.

Sahara Desert

he world’s largest hot desert in North Africa, known for vast sand dunes and extreme dryness.

Swahili City-States

Coastal trading cities in East Africa that blended African, Arab, and Persian cultures.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean that bring heavy rains and influence trade routes.

Aksum

An ancient kingdom in present-day Ethiopia, known for trade, Christianity, and impressive stone monuments.

King Ezana

The Aksumite ruler who made Christianity the official religion of Aksum in the 4th century.

Mali

A powerful West African empire known for wealth, trade (especially gold and salt), and the famous ruler Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa

The wealthy ruler of Mali famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca and promoting Islam and education.

Gold - Salt trade

A major trans-Saharan exchange where West Africa traded gold for North African salt, fueling powerful empires like Ghana and Mali.

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful southern African city known for its stone structures and role in regional trade from the 11th to 15th centuries.

Great Enclousure

The largest and most impressive stone structure in Great Zimbabwe, likely used for royal or ceremonial purposes.

Ibn Battuta

A Muslim explorer from Morocco who traveled across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, documenting his journeys in detail.

Ghengis Khan

The founder and first ruler of the Mongol Empire, who united the Mongol tribes and created the largest land empire in history through conquest.

Khan/Khanates

A khan was a Mongol ruler, and khanates were the regions or territories ruled by different khans after the Mongol Empire split.

Pax Mongolica (Mongolia)

A period of peace and stability across the Mongol Empire during the 13th–14th centuries that allowed safe trade, travel, and cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Kubilai Khan

The grandson of Genghis Khan who founded the Yuan Dynasty in China and expanded Mongol rule while promoting trade and cultural exchange.

Globalization

The process of increasing interaction and connection between people, cultures, and economies around the world.

Vikings

Scandinavian warriors and sailors from the 8th to 11th centuries known for raiding, trading, and exploring across Europe and beyond.

Feudalism/manor system

A medieval social and economic system where kings granted land to nobles, who allowed peasants to live and work on it in exchange for service and labor.

Fief

Land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service during the feudal era.

Manor

A large estate in medieval Europe, controlled by a lord and worked by peasants or serfs.

Tithe

A tax or offering of 10% of a person’s income or produce given to the Church.

Lord/Vassal/Knight

In feudalism, a lord owned land, a vassal received land in return for loyalty and service, and a knight was a warrior who served his lord, often as a vassal himself.

Serf/Free peasants

Serfs were farmers bound to a lord’s land with limited rights, while free peasants could own land and move more freely but still owed service or rent.

Clergy

Religious leaders in the Christian Church, such as priests, bishops, and the pope, responsible for guiding worship and spiritual life.

Pope

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church and spiritual head of Western Christianity.

Bishop

A Church leader who oversees multiple churches in a region

Monks/monasteries

Monks are religious men who live apart from society to dedicate their lives to God; they live in communities called monasteries.

Christendom

The worldwide community of Christians, especially in medieval Europe where the Church had major influence.

Crusades

A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land, especially Jerusalem.

Holy Land/Jerusalem

A sacred region for Jews, Christians, and Muslims; Jerusalem is its central city and a major religious site for all three faiths.

Byzantine Empire

The eastern continuation of the Roman Empire centered in Constantinople, known for preserving Roman law and Orthodox Christianity.

Muslim Turks

Nomadic Turkic peoples who converted to Islam and established powerful empires in the Middle East, including the Seljuks and Ottomans.

Rise of towns

The growth of urban centers in medieval Europe due to increased trade, craft production, and population, leading to economic and social changes.

Middle class (merchants)

A social group in medieval towns who gained wealth through trade and business, often bridging nobles and peasants.

Black Death (Black plague)

A deadly pandemic in the 14th century that killed millions in Europe, caused by bubonic plague spread by fleas on rats.

Italian city-states

Independent, wealthy urban centers like Venice and Florence that thrived on trade and banking during the Renaissance.

Middle class

A growing social group of merchants and professionals who gained wealth and influence during the Renaissance, changing society’s structure.

Humanism

A Renaissance movement that emphasized human potential, education, and the study of classical texts over religious doctrine.

Individualism

A key Renaissance idea emphasizing personal achievement, creativity, and the value of the individual beyond traditional roles.

Secularism

A Renaissance idea that emphasized worldly life and human experience over strictly religious matters.

Skepticism

A Renaissance approach that encouraged questioning accepted beliefs and seeking evidence before accepting truths.

Renaissance

A period of cultural rebirth in Europe (14th–17th centuries) marked by renewed interest in art, science, and classical learning.

Protestant Reformation

A 16th-century religious movement that challenged the Catholic Church’s practices and led to the creation of Protestant churches.

Indulgences

Church pardons sold to reduce punishment for sins.