World H Notecards

Chronology

A sequence of events.

Source

The place of origin of information.

Artifact

A non-written record of an event.

Hypothesis

A tentative answer taking all the preliminary evidence into conclusion.

Bias

Prejudicial point of view.

Causation

The process of how events occurred.

Evidence

Information that can be used to prove or falsify a case.

Secondary Source

Information gained second hand, stories from those who were not actually there.

Primary Source

Letters, laws, official documents, newspapers, diaries, photographs, personal accounts created at the time of a particular historical event.

History

The study of past events, particularly in human affairs.

Surplus

More than necessary.

Traditional Economy

Relies on habit, custom, or ritual and tends to not change over time.

Civilization

Complex, highly organized social order.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods.

Monotheism

Belief in one god.

Specialization

Humans become talented at one task, as opposed to spreading their efforts across many.

City-State

Political unit that included a city and its surrounding land and villages.

Empire

A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler.

Civil Law

Deals with private rights and matters such as business contracts, property, inheritance, taxes, marriage, and divorce.

Bureaucracy

System of government through departments and subdivisions administered by officials who follow a set of rules.

Covenant

Promise with God.

Jewish People

Ethnic group and followers of Judaism.

Phoenicians

People from modern-day Lebanon and Syria known as sailors, manufacturers, and traders.

Hammurabi’s Code

The first attempt to set in writing laws that would govern each state.

Cuneiform

A writing system used to record traded goods in temple storehouses.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

An ancient Mesopotamian poem about the king Gilgamesh's quest for immortality.

Persian Empire

Founded by Cyrus the Great, known for its vast territory and cultural tolerance.

Trojan War

A war fought between Athens and Troy.

Oligarchy

Power in the hands of a small group of wealthy elites.

Monarchy

A hereditary ruler who exercises central power.

Aristocracy

Rule by hereditary land-holding elite.

Sparta

City-state conquered by Dorians, where children joined the military at age 7.

Athens

A city-state located in Attica.

Straight

A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.

Mediterranean Sea

A large sea located between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Balkan Sea

A small sea located in southeastern Europe.

Alliance

A formal agreement between two or more entities.

Polis

Greek city-state.

Legislature

A law-making body.

Geography of Greece

Characterized by many mountains and valleys, leading to independent city-states.

Persian Empire

An empire known for its vast territory and efficient administration.

Peloponnesian League

An alliance led by Sparta.

Delian League

An alliance led by Athens to defend against Persia.

Pericles

Leader in Greece during the golden age.

Athenian Democracy

A system where only landowning men could participate in government.

Peloponnesian War

War fought between Athens and Sparta.

Women in Greece

Had limited rights and roles in society.

Alexander the Great

King of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires of the ancient world.

Plebians

Commoners in ancient Rome who had legal rights of citizenship but little influence.

Patricians

The land-holding upper class in ancient Rome.

Republic

A form of government where power rests with the citizens who elect representatives.

Consul

Two officials who supervised the government and commanded the army in ancient Rome.

Dictator

A ruler with complete control over the government.

Tribune

An official in ancient Rome who protected the interests of the plebians.

Veto

To block laws.

12 Tablets

The laws of Rome set up in the Forum.

Legion

A military unit in ancient Rome.

Martyr

Someone who dies for their faith.

Pax Romana

A period of peace and stability throughout the Roman Empire.

Civil Law

A legal system based on written codes and statutes.

Messiah

A savior in Christianity.

Edict of Milan

Granted by Emperor Constantine to provide religious tolerance.

Romulus and Remus

Legendary figures who are said to have founded Rome.

Carthage

A city-state known for its trade dominance and rivalry with Rome.

Hannibal

A Carthaginian general known for his tactics during the Second Punic War.

Julius Caesar

An ambitious military commander in ancient Rome.

Causes for the fall of Rome

Invasions, corruption, and economic decline.

Feudalism

A medieval political and social system where land was exchanged for military service.

Medieval Time

An era marked by the rise of feudalism and the collapse of the Christian church.

Feudal Contract

Relationship between lords and vassals based on land for loyalty.

Sacraments

Sacred rites administered by the church.

Papal Supremacy

The authority of the pope over all secular rulers.

Secular

Not religious.

Excommunication

The action of excluding someone from participation in the sacraments.

Interdict

To forbid or prohibit.

Middle Class

Social class ranked between peasants and nobles.

Common Law

Legal system based on customs and court rulings.

Jury

A group sworn to speak the truth in legal matters.

Habeas Corpus

Principle that no person can be held in prison without being charged with a specific crime.

Nation State

Regions sharing a government and independent from other states.

Parliament

A legislative body of government.

Lay Investiture

A conflict over the appointment of church officials.

Inquisition

A church tribunal set up to try people accused of heresy.

Inflation

Rising prices.

Schism

A split or division.

William the Conqueror

Led troops from Normandy to become King of England.

Magna Carta

Great Charter asserting nobles' rights and limiting monarch's power.

Humanism

Philosophy emphasizing the importance of humans rather than divine.

Vernacular

The everyday language of ordinary people.

Utopia

A book depicting a perfect society, written by Sir Thomas More.

Indulgences

A lessening of time in purgatory.

95 Thesis

Written by Martin Luther arguing against indulgences.

Council of Trent

Organized to establish the church's reform direction.

Ghetto

Segregated neighborhoods for Jewish people.

Sect

A religious group that broke away from an established church.

Compromise

An acceptable middle ground.

Henry VIII

King of England who married 6 times and left the Catholic Church.

Italian Renaissance

A period of cultural revival in Italy.

Renaissance

A period of renewed interest in art and learning.

Martin Luther

Monk who started the Protestant Reformation with his 95 Thesis.