Unit 2 Updated Flashcards

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer and navigator known for his four transatlantic voyages that initiated European colonization of the Americas.

Eunuch

Castrated males who originally managed harems and eventually played significant roles in government, particularly in China.

Hongwu

Founding emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, ruling from 1368-1398 C.E.

Humanist

Scholars focused on the humanities, encompassing literature, history, and moral philosophy.

Hundred Years War

A series of wars between France and England over control of modern France.

Ibn Battuta

The greatest Muslim traveler of his time, covering 75,000 miles and visiting numerous Muslim countries and China.

Leonardo da Vinci

Noted Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer, known for his contributions to the arts and sciences.

Little Ice Age

A period starting around 1300 C.E. characterized by cooler global temperatures lasting approximately 500 years.

Mandarin

A bureaucrat-scholar in Imperial China who served in the government.

Marco Polo

Italian merchant known for his legendary accounts of travels to China and other regions.

Melaka

A Southeast Asian kingdom predominantly practicing Islam.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for its cultural brilliance, established by Hongwu and lasting from 1368 to 1644.

Qadi

An Islamic judge who presides over legal matters in Islamic law.

Qing dynasty

Chinese dynasty from 1644 to 1911 that reached its peak during the reigns of Kangxi and Qianlong.

Renaissance

A cultural and intellectual period from the 14th to 16th century marked by a revival of art and learning, particularly in Western Europe.

Sharia

Islamic holy law derived from the Quran and accounts of Muhammad's life.

Sufis

Islamic mystics who emphasize emotion and devotion over strict adherence to religious laws.

Tsar

An old Russian term for king, derived from Caesar.

Yongle

Ming emperor known for promoting foreign exploration and cultural achievements during his reign from 1403 to 1424.

Zheng He

Chinese mariner and admiral known for his extensive voyages during the early Ming dynasty.

Astrolabe

Navigational device used to determine latitude at sea.

Captain James Cook

British explorer and navigator known for his expeditions to the Pacific Ocean during the 18th century.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

East India Company

Britain's joint-stock company that became a powerful entity in India, with its own military.

Ferdinand Magellan

Portuguese explorer who organized the first circumnavigation of the globe, from 1519 to 1522.

Joint stock company

An early form of corporation where investors could pool resources for trading and exploring ventures.

Manila galleons

Fast, armed ships that connected the Philippines to Mexico for trade.

Seven Years’ War

Global conflict resulting in British dominance in global affairs.

Taino

Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean who first encountered Columbus.

VOC

Dutch trading company granted a monopoly on Dutch trade between Europe and Asia.

Absolutism

Political philosophy advocating for absolute monarch authority, exemplified by Louis XIV of France.

Anglicans

Protestant community established in England under Henry VIII, combining Catholicism and Reformation elements.

Calvinists

Protestants who follow John Calvin's teachings emphasizing a strict moral code and predestination.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership and free market principles.

Carolingian

Germanic dynasty named after Charlemagne, its most famous member.

Catherine the Great

Longest-serving female ruler of Russia, known for her reforms and military victories.

Catholic Reformation

16th-century movement to reform the Catholic Church and counter Protestantism, inspired by the Council of Trent.

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor who ruled over a vast empire, including Spain and Austria.

Council of Trent

Assembly aimed at reforming the Catholic Church and addressing issues raised by the Protestant Reformation.

English Civil War

Conflict between the English crown and Parliament over governance.

Galileo Galilei

Italian astronomer whose work laid the foundation for modern science.

Glorious Revolution

Event leading to the replacement of James II of England with Mary II and William of Orange.

Habsburgs

Powerful dynasty known for extensive territorial control and influence in European politics.

Issac Newton

English mathematician and physicist who significantly advanced the Scientific Revolution.

Johannes Gutenberg

Inventor of the movable type printing press in Europe, revolutionizing information dissemination.

Johannes Kepler

Astronomer known for formulating the laws of planetary motion.

Louis XIV

Known as the Sun King, he had the longest reign of any French monarch.

Martin Luther

German monk who sparked the Protestant Reformation by posting the Ninety-Five Theses.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Polish astronomer who proposed that the Sun is at the center of the universe.

Ninety-Five Theses

Document by Martin Luther criticizing the Catholic Church's practices.

Peace of Westphalia

Treaties signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and established the modern state system.

Peter the Great

Russian tsar who modernized Russia in alignment with Western European practices.

Protestant Reformation

Movement in the 16th century leading to the establishment of various Protestant churches.

Protoindustrialization

Pre-industrial system involving small-scale production in rural households.

Romanov dynasty

Russian dynasty ruling from 1610 until the Russian Revolution.

Scientific revolution

Period of significant advancements in scientific thought and methodologies.

Serfs

Peasants tied to the land and obligated to their landlords.

Spanish Inquisition

Judicial institution aimed at maintaining Catholic orthodoxy in Spain.

Thirty Years’ War

Conflict in Europe primarily between Catholic and Protestant states from 1618 to 1648.

Versailles

Palace built for Louis XIV, symbolizing the absolute monarchy.

Witch-hunts

Periods in Europe where thousands were tried as witches.

Atahualpa

Last emperor of the Inca Empire, executed by Spanish conquistador Pizarro.

Audiencias

Spanish colonial courts in Latin America.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and conquerors of the Americas.

Criollos

People of Spanish ancestry born in the Americas.

Encomienda

System granting Spanish settlers the right to forced labor from indigenous peoples.

Engenho

Brazilian sugar mill and its associated agricultural complex.

Francisco Pizzaro

Conquistador responsible for the fall of the Inca Empire.

Hacienda

Large estate in Latin America.

Hernan Cortes

Conquistador who defeated the Aztec Empire.

Indentured labor

Labor system allowing poor individuals to work in exchange for passage.

Mestizo

Children of European and indigenous ancestry in Latin America.

Metis

Individuals of mixed European and indigenous heritage in Canada.

Mita system

Labor system requiring communities to provide workers for colonial projects.

Motecuzoma II

Aztec emperor during Cortes's invasion.

New Spain

Spanish colony established after the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Peninsulares

Spanish or Portuguese officials born in their respective countries governing the colonies.

Potosi

City in Bolivia known for its significant silver production.

Quinto

The portion of silver production in Mexico and Peru reserved for the Spanish crown.

Tenochtitlan

Aztec capital, now Mexico City.

Zambos

Individuals of mixed indigenous and African ancestry in Latin America.

Ghana

West African kingdom known for its wealth from trans-Saharan trade.

Great Zimbabwe

Sub-Saharan African kingdom known for its impressive stone structures.

Kongo

Central African kingdom that traded with the Portuguese.

Mali Empire

West African kingdom known for its wealth and influence, particularly during Mansa Musa's reign.

Manioc

A starchy root crop central to many indigenous diets in the Americas.

Middle passage

The brutal journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas.

Plantations

Large agricultural estates in the Americas that produced cash crops.

Santeria

Afro-Caribbean religion combining Yoruba traditions and Catholic elements.

Songhay Empire

Powerful West African state centered around Gao, known for its trade networks.

Timbuktu

City in the Mali Empire known for its wealth and education.

Triangular trade

Trade networks connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Voudou

Syncretic religion of enslaved Africans in Haiti.

Analects

Collection of sayings attributed to Confucius.

Civil service examinations

Rigorous tests that determined entry into the Chinese civil service.

Daimyo

Powerful territorial lords in feudal Japan.

Filial piety

Confucian value emphasizing respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Foot binding

Chinese custom of tightly binding women's feet to restrict growth, considered a symbol of beauty.

Jesuits

A Catholic religious order advocating for education and missionary work.

Manchu

Ethnic group that ruled China during the Qing dynasty.