Copy of World History Final study guide

Feudalism

A social system in medieval Europe where land was held by nobles in exchange for military service.

Manorialism

An economic system that was based on the manor as the basic unit of production.

Mutual Obligations

The responsibilities that lords and vassals had to each other in the feudal system.

Power Vacuum

A situation that occurs when a government collapses and no one assumes control, leading to chaos.

Charlemagne

A king who temporarily restored centralized authority in Western Europe and laid the foundation for the Holy Roman Empire.

Clovis

The first King of the Franks to unite all of the Frankish tribes under one ruler.

Treaty of Verdun

The agreement that divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms among Charlemagne's grandsons.

Papal Authority

The doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that the Pope has supreme authority in theological matters.

Monastery

A religious community of monks living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Lay Investiture Controversy

A conflict between secular and ecclesiastical powers over the appointment of bishops.

Vikings

Scandinavian seafaring warriors known for their raids and trade throughout Europe from the late 8th to early 11th centuries.

Battle of Tours

A decisive battle in 732 where Frankish leader Charles Martel halted the Muslim advance into Western Europe.

Caliphate

An Islamic state led by a caliph, considered a political and religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

The first four leaders of the Islamic community after Muhammad's death, known for their close association with him.

Umayyad Dynasty

The first dynasty of Islamic caliphs, ruling from 661 to 750 AD.

Abbasid Dynasty

The dynasty that succeeded the Umayyads and is known for its cultural, scientific, and economic achievements.

Sunni vs. Shi'a

The two main branches of Islam, differing primarily in their beliefs about the rightful successors to Muhammad.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five basic acts of worship that are considered the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice.

House of Wisdom

A major intellectual center during the Islamic Golden Age, located in Baghdad, where scholars gathered to study.

Muslim Trade Network

A vast trade network that connected different regions, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

Political Legitimacy

The right and acceptance of an authority, often a governing law or regime.

Mandate of Heaven

A political and religious doctrine used to justify the rule of the emperor of China.

Dynastic Cycle

The historical pattern of the rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties in China.

Civil Service Exam

A test used in China to select candidates for the state's bureaucratic positions.

Scholar-Bureaucrats

Highly educated individuals who held government positions in imperial China.

Tang Dynasty

A dynasty in Chinese history known for its cultural and political achievements from 618 to 907 AD.

Song Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty known for its advancements in science, technology, and culture from 960 to 1279 AD.

Selective Borrowing

The practice of adopting certain elements from another culture while maintaining unique elements of one's own.

Shogun

A military leader in Japan during the feudal period who had actual power despite the emperor's nominal authority.

Samurai/Bushido

A warrior class in Japan that adhered to a code of honor and ethics known as Bushido.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes that connected the East and West, promoting cultural and economic exchange.

Yuan Dynasty

The Mongol dynasty that ruled China, founded by Kublai Khan.

Psychological Warfare

A military strategy that uses fear to weaken the resolve of opponents.

Pax Mongolica

A period of peace and stability under Mongol rule across Eurasia.

Ortogh

Partnerships of merchants known as 'Ortogh,' supported by Mongol rulers to facilitate long-distance trade.

Plague

A devastating pandemic, such as the Black Death, that spread along trade routes.

Chinese/Mongol Relationship

The complex social and political dynamics between the Chinese people and their Mongol rulers.

Natural Rights

The idea that individuals are entitled to basic rights simply by being human.

Social Contract

The theory that government originates from an agreement among the governed.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Absolutism

A political system in which a single ruler has absolute power over the state and government.

Scientific Method

A systematic procedure for observing and experimenting to gather information and test hypotheses.

Galileo vs. Inquisition

The historical conflict between the scientific findings of Galileo Galilei and the authority of the Catholic Church.

Heliocentric

The astronomical model that places the sun at the center of the universe, contrary to the geocentric view.

Geocentric

The belief that the Earth is the center of the universe, which was widely accepted before the heliocentric theory.