Social Studies Final Exam Prep

Merchants

Intermediaries in trade that bought goods from producers and distributed them usually through trade routes.

Commodity

A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.

Bartering

Exchanging products or services with others by agreeing on their values without using money.

The Silk Road

An ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 km (4,000 mi) and linking China with the Roman Empire.

Mandate of Heaven

An ancient Chinese philosophical concept that justified a monarch's rule over China.

Nirvana

The state of mind that signifies the lack of desires and the emotions of hatred and ignorance in a person. It stops one from continuing the cycle of suffering and rebirth.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul in a new body.

Arabian Peninsula

A peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf that includes the countries of Saudia Arabia, Qatar and Yemen.

Polytheistic

The adjective for a religion or person/group of people who believe in more than one God.

Patriarchal

An adjective for a society or group of people in which males generally have more power than females.

Propaganda

A noun for information that may be (but is not required to be) misleading or biased in nature to promote or publicize a point of view.

Ka'ba

A pre-Islamic cubed building in mecca believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham. It is the center of the Muslim Pilgrimage.

Prophet

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

Muslim

The noun for a follower of the religion of Islam.

Mecca

The most holy city for Muslims that is also Prophet Muhammad's birthplace.

Convert

A verb for the action of changing the religion one practices.

Quran

The holy book of Islam that contains revelations from God.

Boycott

A group's refusal to have commercial or political dealings with some organization in protest against its policies.

Jerusalem

A city in the Holy Land, regarded as sacred by Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

Caliph

The term used to describe a Muslim ruler / religious leader.

Sunni/Shia

The two sects of Islam that believe that different people should have been chosen as the first caliph.

Monotheism

The belief that only one God exists.

Whistling Arrows

Mongol arrows that were used to hunt and to intimidate enemies.

Zheng He

Ming admiral (1371-1433) who commanded a fleet of more than 300 huge ships (junks) in a series of maritime explorations throughout the Indian Ocean in search of tribute nations.

Nomad

A person who does not stay long in the same place, a wanderer.

Cathedral

The major church of a diocese, where the bishop has his seat / a large and important church.

Philosophy

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.

Fief

An estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service.

Vassal

A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.

Latin

The ancient language of Rome and its empire, used historically as a language of scholarship and administration.

Persecute

To subject someone to hostility or to ill - treat them because of their race, ethnicity, religion etc.

Chivalry

Code of conduct for knights during the Middle Ages

Machu Picchu

The wonder of the world that is located in modern day Peru. It is believed to have been an Incan citadel.

Pachacuti

The first ruler of the Incan Empire that greatly expanded its territories. He is believed to be responsible for the creation of Machu Picchu.