WORLD HISTORY HONORS

Social structure of indigenous Americans after exploration

Indigenous people were placed at the bottom of society, often losing land, freedom, and population due to disease, forced labor, and violence.

Social structure of Mestizo after exploration

Mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Indigenous ancestry) were in the middle of society, with more rights than Indigenous people but fewer privileges than Spaniards.

Social structure of Spanish born nobility after exploration

Spanish-born nobles (Peninsulares) were at the top of society, holding the most power, land, and government positions.

Columbian Exchange structure

The transfer of plants, animals, people, diseases, and ideas between Europe, Africa, and the Americas after Columbus’s voyages.

Triangle Trade

A three-part trade route connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas that exchanged goods, enslaved people, and raw materials.

Middle Passage

The brutal journey where enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas under harsh and deadly conditions.

Caliph

A successor to Muhammad as the political and religious leader of the Muslim community.

Astrolabe

an ancient analog instrument used by explorers and sailors in the Americas (and elsewhere) to determine latitude and time by measuring the altitude of celestial bodies such as the sun and stars

Calligraphy

The art of beautiful or decorative handwriting, widely used in Islamic culture for religious texts.

Climate

vast diversity, stretching across nearly every major climate zone due to its massive north-to-south span

Sahara Desert

The largest hot desert in the world, located in North Africa and serving as a major trade barrier.

Stateless society

A society that is organized by family lineage rather than a formal, centralized government or state.

Lineage groups

Extended families or communities that claim descent from a common ancestor, forming the basis of social structure.

Subsistence farming

A farming practice where crops are grown primarily to feed the farmer's family with little surplus for trade.

Animism

The religious belief that spirits and spiritual essence exist within animals, plants, and natural elements.

Gold-salt trade

Trade routes across the Sahara linking West African gold mines with the salt resources of the North.

Griot

A traditional West African storyteller, historian, and musician who preserves a community's oral history.

Agricultural techniques in the Aztecs

The use of chinampas, or artificial floating gardens, to grow crops on shallow lake beds.

Agricultural techniques in Inca

The use of terrace farming, where steps were cut into steep hillsides to create flat land for agriculture.

Agricultural techniques in Maya

Utilized slash-and-burn agriculture and built raised fields to manage farming in swampy rainforests.

Unique environmental conditions in the Aztecs

Settled in the marshy Valley of Mexico, primarily centered on Lake Texcoco.

Unique environmental conditions in Inca

Occupied the high-altitude and rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains in South America.

Unique environmental conditions in Maya

Developed within the dense tropical rainforests and lowlands of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Major achievements in the Aztecs

Engineering feats such as causeways and aqueducts, and the creation of a complex 365365-day solar calendar.

Major achievements in Inca

A massive, thousands-of-miles long road network and the quipu, a string-based record-keeping system.

Major achievements in Maya

A sophisticated hieroglyphic writing system, advanced astronomical charts, and a mathematics system including 00.

Abraham

A Hebrew patriarch considered the father of the Jewish people and a central figure in Christianity and Islam.

Jesus

The central figure of Christianity, believed by followers to be the Son of God and the Savior.

Messiah

A promised savior or liberator of a group of people, specifically in the context of Jewish and Christian beliefs.

Muhammad

The prophet and founder of Islam who Muslims believe received the revelations of the Quran from God.

Prophet

A person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.

Allah

The Arabic word for God, used primarily by followers of Islam.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam, which believes that the community should choose its own leaders.

Shia

A branch of Islam that believes leadership should stay within the family of the Prophet Muhammad.

Hinduism

A major world religion originating in India that emphasizes karma, reincarnation, and various forms of the divine.

Dharma

The religious and moral duties that govern an individual's conduct in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Reincarnation

The belief that after death, a soul is reborn into a new physical body or form.

Buddhism

A religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, focusing on ending suffering and reaching enlightenment.

Sidhartha Gautama

The Indian prince who achieved enlightenment and became the founder of Buddhism.

Ashoka

A powerful Indian emperor who converted to Buddhism and helped spread its teachings across Asia.

Enlightenment

A state of perfect spiritual wisdom and peace that is the ultimate goal in Buddhism.

Democracy

A system of government where the power is held by the people, typically through voting and elected officials.

Philosophy

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.

Republic

A form of government in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives rather than a monarch.

Representative

A person chosen or elected to speak and act on behalf of a larger group of people.

Neolithic Revolution

The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities, characterized by the domestication of plants and animals, leading to permanent settlements and the rise of civilization.

Civilization

a complex society with organized government, social hierarchies, and cultural development.

Specialization of labor

The process by which individuals in a society focus on specific tasks or roles, leading to increased efficiency and the development of complex social structures.

Sedentary

referring to a lifestyle where people live in one place rather than moving around, often associated with agriculture and permanent settlements.

Hammurabi’s Code

an ancient set of laws established by Hammurabi, King of Babylon, that outlined legal standards and consequences for various offenses, emphasizing justice and order in society. “Eye for an eye”

Egalitarian

society characterized by equal rights and opportunities for all individuals, minimizing hierarchies and inequalities.

Hierarchical

referring to a system or organization in which individuals or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority, often leading to unequal access to resources and power.

Monotheistic

The belief in or worship of a single god or deity, distinguishing it from polytheistic systems which involve multiple gods.

Polytheistic

The belief in or worship of more than one god or deity, often involving a pantheon of gods representing different forces of nature or aspects of life.

Pyramid/Ziggurat

Monumental structures built in ancient civilizations; Pyramids (Egypt) served as tombs for Pharaohs, while Ziggurats (Mesopotamia) were stepped towers serving as temples and religious centers.

Geographic Isolation

The state of being separated from other cultures or civilizations by physical barriers like mountains, deserts, or oceans, which often leads to unique cultural developments.

Dynasties

A sequence of rulers from the same family or lineage, maintaining power over a country for generations

Dynastic Cycle/Mandate of Heaven

The Chinese political and religious doctrine used to justify rule; the belief that the heavens grant the right to rule to a just leader, creating a cycle where dynasties rise and fall based on their moral standing.

Confucianism

A central Chinese philosophy founded by Confucius, emphasizing social order, respect for elders, and moral integrity to ensure a stable society.

Filial Piety

A core virtue in Confucianism representing the deep respect, obedience, and care shown by children toward their parents and ancestors.

5 Relationships

The key social hierarchy in Confucianism (ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife, older brother-younger brother, friend-friend) that dictates how individuals should interact to maintain social harmony.

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes connecting East Asia with the West, facilitating the exchange of goods like silk, as well as ideas, technology, and culture.

Great Wall of China

A massive series of defensive fortifications built across the northern borders of China to protect the empire from invasions by nomadic groups.

SubContinent

A large, distinguishable part of a continent, such as India, which is physically separated by geographic features like the Himalayan mountains.

Monsoon

Seasonal winds in South Asia that bring heavy rainfall during the summer months and dry air in the winter, which are essential for agriculture in the region.

Indus Valley - Harappans

An ancient civilization located along the Indus River known for its advanced urban infrastructure, sophisticated drainage systems, and undeciphered writing system.

City Planning

The organized design and layout of urban areas, featuring grid systems and specialized zones, most prominently seen in the Indus Valley civilizations.

Aryan

Nomadic Indo-European people who migrated into the Indian subcontinent around 15001500 BCE, bringing the Sanskrit language and early religious traditions.

Caste system

A rigid social hierarchy in ancient India that determined a person’s status, occupation, and social interactions based on their birth into specific groups (varnas).