Silk Road
The most profitable trade network of its time, developed in Tang China.
Mahayana Buddhism
A branch of Buddhism that emphasizes devotion to bodhisattvas and was brought to China during the Tang Dynasty.
Bodhisattvas
Enlightened beings in Mahayana Buddhism who delay their own nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment.
Civil Service Exams
Merit-based tests established to select political officials, revived during the Tang Dynasty.
Neo-Confucianism
A new form of Confucianism that incorporated significant influences from Buddhism and Daoism created during the Song Dynasty.
Foot Binding
A practice that became mandatory for elite women during the Song Dynasty, symbolizing status.
Five Pillars of Islam
The fundamental acts of worship in Islam, including belief in one God, prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
Jihad
A struggle or effort in the way of Allah, which includes inner struggles for self-improvement.
Shi'a
A branch of Islam that holds that only the descendants of Muhammad can be leaders.
Umayyad Caliphate
The first major Islamic caliphate, noted for its expansion and administrative achievements.
Abbasid Caliphate
The second major Islamic caliphate known for cultural achievements and the capital in Baghdad.
Khmer Empire
One of the first organized political states in Southeast Asia, known for its capital Angkor.
Chinampas
Floating gardens used by the Aztecs for agriculture.
The Columbian Exchange
A biological exchange of plants, animals, pathogens, and people resulting from contact between the Old World and the New World.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of Western democratic nations.
Berlin Blockade
A Soviet attempt to limit the ability of France, the British, and the United States to travel to their sectors of Berlin.
Green Revolution
A period of agricultural transformation that increased food production worldwide.
Social Darwinism
A social theory that applies concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies.
Apartheid
A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa.
Protestant Reformation
A religious movement that challenged the practices and beliefs of the Catholic Church, leading to the establishment of Protestant churches.
Opium War
Conflict between Britain and China (1839-1842) over the trade of opium, leading to significant concessions from China.
Decolonization
The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, particularly in the mid-20th century.
Cultural Diffusion
The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.
Russian Revolution
The 1917 revolution that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a communist government in Russia.
Mercantilism
An economic theory that emphasizes the role of government in managing trade to increase national wealth.
Enlightenment
An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries promoting reason and individualism over tradition.
Industrial Revolution
A period of rapid industrial growth and technological innovation beginning in the late 18th century.
Capitalism
An economic system characterized by private ownership of production and market-based competition.
Socialism
An economic and political system where the means of production are owned and regulated by the state or the community.
Humanism
A cultural and intellectual movement during the Renaissance focused on human potential and achievements.
Natural Rights
The rights that individuals are born with, including the right to life, liberty, and property.
Manifest Destiny
The 19th-century belief that the expansion of the US across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
Totalitarianism
A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate all aspects of public and private life.
Fascism
A far-right political ideology that emphasizes authoritarianism, nationalism, and often racism.
Cold War
A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II.
Globalization
The process of increased interconnectedness among countries, often through trade, culture, and technology.
Imperialism
The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.
Urbanization
The process by which rural areas transform into urban areas as a result of population movement.
Secularism
The principle of separating religion from political, social, and educational institutions.
Renaissance
A period of renewed interest in art, science, and the classics in Europe, spanning the 14th to the 17th centuries.
Cartography
The study and practice of making maps, which involves understanding the Earth's geography.
Biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat, essential for ecosystem health.
Anthropocene
A proposed geological epoch characterized by significant human impact on the Earth's geology and ecosystems.
Biotechnology
The use of living systems and organisms to develop or create products, often in healthcare and agriculture.