Chapters 8-9 - World History - Review Guide

Kaaba

(Islam) a black stone building in Mecca that is shaped like a cube and that is the most sacred Muslim pilgrim shrine

Quran

the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina

Caliph

successor to Muhammad as political and religious leader of the Muslims

Sunni

A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad

Shiite

A member of the branch of Islam that supports the descendants of Muhammad as his rightful successors

Mosque

Islamic house of worship

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

The fifth pillar of the Muslim faith: visit Mecca at least once in your lifetime

Ottoman Empire

A Muslim empire based in Turkey that lasted from the 1300's to 1922.

Istanbul

Capital of the Ottoman Empire; named this after 1453 and the sack of Constantinople.

Sultan

Military and political leader with absolute authority over a Muslim country

Suleiman

Great Ottoman leader, expanded land area of Ottomans, and restructured system of law.

Rajah

a king or prince in India; a minor chief or dignitary

Taj Mahal

A beautiful tomb built by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan to honor his wife.

Dowry

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage

Pagoda

multistoried Buddhist temple with eaves that curve up at the corners

Stupa

a dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine.

Tsunami

A huge destructive wave (especially one caused by an earthquake)

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

Successor to the Han Dynasty. Lasted from 618 to 907. Accomplishments such as the Grand Canal were some of the great feats achieved in this "Golden Age". Ended in rebellion, created another warring states period. Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism flourished during this time.

Genghis Khan

A Mongolian general and emperor of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, known for his military leadership and great cruelty. He conquered vast portions of northern China and southwestern Asia.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant and traveler. His accounts of his travels to China offered Europeans a firsthand view of Asian lands and stimulated interest in Asian trade.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

It was perhaps the peak of Chinese civilization with 300 years of peace and prosperity. They improved the Grand Canal, made great porcelain, and under Yong Le encouraged exploration.

Hangul

alphabet that uses symbols to represent the sounds of spoken Korean

Celadon Glaze

Sea-green glaze with percentage of iron as the colorant; fired in a reduced oxygen atmosphere, usually a stoneware or porcelain glaze, first used in the Orient. Jade like appearance.

Koryo Dynasty

Korean dynasty that ruled from 935-1392, Replaced the Silla Dynasty in Korea capital was Songak metal type print led to mass production of books also produced celadon, Confucianism flourished; lasted until 1892.

Archipelago

A chain of islands

Samurai

Class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land.

Shinto

"Way of the Kami"; Japanese worship of nature spirits

Zen

The Japanese word for a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on highly disciplined meditation.

Muhammad

the Arab prophet who founded Islam (570-632)

Mecca

the holiest city of Islam; Muhammad's birthplace

Schism in Islam

(650s) The Shia / Sunni split which occurred in the decades immediately following the death of the Prophet Mohammed in 632; they could not agree on a new leader. Mohammed failed to select a successor before his death.

Battle of Tours

(732 CE) European victory over Muslims. It halted Muslim movement into Western Europe.

Damascus, Syria

capital of the Umayyad dynasty

Baghdad, Iraq

Capital city of Iraq. As heart of the Arab Empire, it was second only to Constantinople in terms of size and grandeur in 1000 C.E.- Capitol of the Abbasid Dynasty

Ibn Sina (980-1037)

A.k.a. Avicenna; wrote about science and philosophy; wrote "Canon of Medicine", which set medical standards for centuries

Al-Khwarizmi

Muslim mathematician who pioneered the study of algebra

Hijra

The Migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622, marking the founding of Islam

Vizier

a high government official in ancient Egypt or in Muslim countries

End of Islamic Golden Age

in 1258 with the destruction of Baghdad

Five Pillars of Islam

Declaration of faith, prayer, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage

Akbar the Great

The most famous Mughal leader, known for religious tolerance toward the Hindu people of India.

Shah Jahan

Mughal ruler who built Taj Mahal

Yuan Dynasty China

Mongol dynasty initiated by Khubilai Khan that ruled China from 1271 to 1368.

Admiral Zhenghe (China)

led a series of voyages that spread Chinese influence far into the Indian Ocean, they were later discontinued in 1433

Silla Dynasty (Korea)

The first ruling dynasty to bring a measure of politcal unity to the Korean peninsula (688-900 CE)

King Sejong the Great

The king who commissioned scholars to create the Korean alphabet

Heian Period

The era in Japanese history from A.D. 794-1185, arts and writing flourished during this time

Shogun

A general who ruled Japan in the emperor's name

Kamakazi

Divine winds (typhoon) that destroyed mongol ships attacking Japan

China

In the classical and postclassical era, people in this country invented the compass, the rudder, and gun powder, among other things. Very influential to other countries in the Far East.