World History-Midterm Review- Study Guide

What was the Renaissance?

A cultural movement in the 14th-17th centuries inspired by Classical achievements of the Greeks and Romans.

How did Islamic ideas impact the Renaissance?

The Islamic Golden Age preserved and taught many ancient European teachings and created new techniques in arts and philosophy.

What are the key characteristics of the Renaissance?

Greco-Roman influence, Humanism, Individualism, and Secularism.

Define Humanism in the context of the Renaissance.

An intellectual movement emphasizing the study of liberal arts or humanities such as grammar, logic, poetry, philosophy, and history.

What does Individualism mean in Renaissance thought?

An emphasis on the individual as a 'universal man' who is well-rounded and accomplished in various fields.

What is Secularism in the Renaissance?

A shift in focus from celebrating God to celebrating non-religious academic, artistic, and political achievements.

What is a Renaissance man?

An ideal person who is well-educated, an artist, a scientist, an inventor, a musician, and physically capable.

What were the main causes of the Protestant Reformation?

Problems with the Catholic Church, including its secularism and the sale of indulgences.

What are indulgences?

Pieces of paper sold by the Catholic Church that forgave sins, often only affordable to the wealthy.

Who was Martin Luther?

A Catholic priest who criticized the Church's corruption and wrote the 95 Theses, leading to the formation of Lutheranism.

What was the impact of the printing press on the Reformation?

It helped spread Martin Luther's ideas, leading many to leave the Catholic Church and weakening its power.

What was the European Scientific Revolution?

A period from around 1500 to late 1700s characterized by scientific experiments based on observation and experimentation.

What was the Catholic Church's response to the Scientific Revolution?

The Church arrested scientists and threatened excommunication to maintain control over teachings.

What did Galileo prove?

The heliocentric theory, which states that the Earth revolves around the sun, contradicting the geocentric theory.

What is the Scientific Method?

A systematic approach involving experimentation and observation to prove theories.

What was the Enlightenment?

A movement from mid-1600s to around 1800 where scholars applied the Scientific Method to question government and society.

What is Social Contract Theory?

A concept by Jean-Jacques Rousseau stating that governments must have the consent of the governed.

What are the characteristics of absolutist government?

Absolutist monarchs control everything without checks from the people.

What is imperialism?

A system where a foreign power exerts cultural, economic, and/or political control over other societies.

What enabled Old Imperialism to thrive?

Improved maritime technology, new trade routes, and the Ottoman Empire's control over land trade routes.

What was the purpose of Old Imperialism?

To establish trading posts and exert control over foreign societies.

Who was Vasco Da Gama?

A Portuguese explorer who sailed around Africa to reach India, bypassing the Ottoman Empire.

What technological advancements aided exploration during Old Imperialism?

The astrolabe, compass, caravels, and gunpowder for cannons.

What was the impact of the Ottoman Empire on trade?

It monopolized trade routes between Europeans and Asian nations.

How did European nations respond to the Ottoman monopoly?

They raced to establish their own imperial trading posts in Asia.

What was the significance of the Scientific Revolution?

It led to a new worldview focused less on religion and more on scientific inquiry and observation.

What motivated European nations to seek new trade routes with Asia?

The power of the Ottoman Empire.

What was the driving force behind the colonization of the Americas?

The desire for God, Glory, and Gold.

What does 'God' refer to in the context of European exploration?

The effort to convert native populations to Christianity.

What does 'Glory' signify for European explorers?

The desire for personal fame and national pride through conquest.

What does 'Gold' represent in the context of imperialism?

The pursuit of wealth through the acquisition of resources and trade.

What economic theory suggests that control over gold and silver equates to national wealth?

Mercantilism.

What was a significant consequence of the Transatlantic Slave Trade?

The depopulation of Africa due to the capture and enslavement of its people.

What was the Middle Passage?

The portion of the Triangular Trade where captured Africans were transported to the Americas.

What was the Encomienda System?

A labor system that allowed Spanish settlers to enslave Indigenous people in the colonies.

What is Chattel Slavery?

A form of slavery where enslaved people's children are also born into slavery, creating a hereditary system.

How did the Portuguese contribute to the development of race as a social construct?

By justifying the enslavement of Africans based on skin color to protect their wealth.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

The exchange of plants, ideas, diseases, and people between the Old World and the Americas.

What was a key driver of New Imperialism in the late 19th century?

The desire for resources fueled by the Industrial Revolution.

What is Social Darwinism?

The theory that competition leads to the survival of the fittest, justifying imperialism and racism.

What role did nationalism play in imperialism?

It fostered pride in one's country and competition for empire-building among nations.

What were some positive impacts of the Industrial Revolution?

Creation of jobs, new innovations, and the establishment of a middle class.

What negative effects did urbanization have during the Industrial Revolution?

Overcrowding, poor working conditions, and lower life expectancy.

What caused the Opium Wars between Britain and China?

Britain's desire to expand trade with China, particularly for tea, leading to trade restrictions.

How did the Atlantic Slave Trade affect African societies?

It weakened tribes and empires due to the capture and sale of their members.

What was the impact of European diseases on Indigenous populations?

It caused a dramatic decline, affecting up to 90% of the population due to lack of immunity.

What was the primary economic focus of European colonizers in the Caribbean and Americas?

Establishing cash-crop, plantation-based economies requiring large labor forces.

What was the significance of the Industrial Revolution on production methods?

It shifted production from hand methods to mechanized processes, increasing efficiency.

What were tenements, and what issues did they represent during urbanization?

Overcrowded and run-down apartments that highlighted poor living conditions in cities.

What was the role of nationalism in the competition for colonies?

Nations sought to build larger empires to demonstrate their power and prestige.

What was the relationship between capitalism and imperialism during the Industrial Revolution?

Industrialized nations sought new markets and resources to sustain profit and growth.

How did the concept of race evolve during the period of imperialism?

It became a social construct used to justify the enslavement and domination of certain groups.

What was Britain's intention in flooding China with opium?

To get the Chinese addicted so they would have something to trade for tea.

What was the result of China's ban on opium?

Britain declared war on China, claiming the right to trade opium.

What were the consequences of the Opium War for China?

Britain won the war, forced China to pay for it, and opened ports for trade.

What does 'Spheres of Influence' refer to in the context of China?

Economic imperialism where China was dominated by various imperialist powers.

What was the Boxer Rebellion?

A revolt by Chinese men seeking independence from European influence.

What led to the Sepoy Mutiny in India?

British Sepoys were forced to use cartridges greased with pig and cow fat, violating religious customs.

What was the outcome of the Sepoy Mutiny?

British victory and direct control of India by the British government.

Why did Japan seek to become an imperial power?

To modernize and adapt to a changing world after being threatened by the US.

What is Pan-Asianism?

An ideology advocating for a political and economic union of Asian nations, used by Japan to justify imperialism.

What was the Scramble for Africa?

A period when European nations competed to colonize Africa, increasing control from 10% in 1870 to 90% by 1914.

What was the significance of 'The White Man's Burden'?

A poem by Rudyard Kipling that reflected paternalistic attitudes of industrialized nations towards non-white peoples.

What was the Berlin Conference?

A meeting where European nations divided Africa to avoid conflict over territory.

What impact did the Berlin Conference have on Africa?

It politically destroyed Africa by forcing diverse tribes and cultures into the same nations.

What was the primary cause of the French Revolution?

Social inequality among the Three Estates, with the Third Estate being the poorest and heavily taxed.

What was the role of the Estates-General in the French Revolution?

Representatives from all three Estates met, leading to the formation of the National Assembly by the Third Estate.

What was the Reign of Terror?

A radical phase of the French Revolution led by the Jacobins, marked by mass executions.

Who led the Jacobins during the Reign of Terror?

Maximilien Robespierre.

What was the outcome of the radical phase of the French Revolution?

It led to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and the establishment of another absolutist state.

What was the significance of the National Assembly's vow?

To create a new Constitution for France based on Enlightenment ideals.

What was the impact of British cotton production in India?

Britain exploited Indian cotton to produce goods sold back to Indians at higher prices.

What traditional customs did the British ban in India?

Customs such as sati, the ritual suicide of a wife after her husband's death.

What was the main reason for the British presence in India?

To control cotton production and benefit economically from it.

What was the Boxer Rebellion's main goal?

To seek Chinese independence from European influence.

What was the outcome of the Boxer Rebellion?

The Boxers were defeated by a combined force of industrial nations' armies.

What did the British gain from the Opium War?

Continued trade of opium with China and economic dominance.

What was the impact of the Opium War on China's sovereignty?

China was forced to concede to British demands and lost control over its trade policies.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect European colonization efforts?

It provided new technologies that facilitated the colonization of Africa.