World History Periods and Systems Review

Comprehensive flashcards covering historical periods, global trade systems, major world religions, and political concepts discussed in the lecture transcript.

Period One

The historical era spanning from $1200$ to $1450$.

The Columbian Exchange

A process of transferring goods and materials between the New World and Old World, rather than a specific trade network.

The Atlantic System

The trade network that encompasses the processes of the Columbian exchange and the triangular trade.

Triangular Trade

The specific process involving the movement of goods and people between the New World, Europe, and Africa.

Period Three

The historical era spanning from $1750$ to $1900$.

Decolonization

The process of countries splitting and gaining independence, which expanded the UN from $64$ countries in $1948$ to about $200$ today.

Partition

The solution used when groups cannot figure out how to get along, with major examples being Vietnam, Korea, India, and Germany.

Magyars

The native Hungarians who were the biggest ethnic group in the Austro-Hungarian Empire other than Austrians.

Sick man of Europe

A nickname for the Ottoman Empire during Period Three when it was shrinking and losing territory in Southeastern Europe and North Africa.

Tanzimat reforms

Efforts made by the Ottoman Empire to modernize in an attempt to stay on top and maintain its power.

Hinduism

An Indian religion characterized by a strict caste system and belief in reincarnation.

Caste System

A rigid social structure in India with no upward mobility unless an individual is reincarnated into a better life.

Buddhism

A belief system extended out of Hinduism that emphasizes self-meditation, the Four Noble Truths, and reaching Nirvana.

The Four Noble Truths

Buddhist tenets stating that life is suffering caused by selfishness and sin, which can be overcome to reach enlightenment.

Confucianism

A Chinese philosophy focused on social harmony, hierarchical relationships, and filial piety.

Filial Piety

The core Confucian value of demonstrating honor and duty to one's parents and family.

The Analects

The main works of Confucius that describe the five layers of society.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese political concept used to legitimize a ruler based on their ability to govern effectively; a bad ruler causes society to suffer.

Civil Service Exam

A rigorous test based on Confucian classics used in China to determine who could join the imperial bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy

The part of government that enforces rules and deals immediately with the people; government's first responders.

Feudalism

A European political system where the king gives land to vassals in exchange for service.

Serfs

Laborers who belonged to the land rather than an owner; they were tied to the land and did not leave if a new noble took over.

Divine Right

The belief that a king gets his authority to rule directly from God.

Caliphate

A term used to describe an Islamic empire, ruled by a leader known as a Caliph.

Mita system

A forced labor system used by the Inca in South America to build roads, terraces, and other imperial projects.

Encomienda system

A labor system created by the Spanish in the New World that was similar to the Inca Mita system.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men are in charge of society.

Theocracy

A government system based on religious control or religion.

Centralized State

A political structure where power is concentrated in a single organized authority, such as the Inca Empire.

Caravansary

A stop on the Silk Road, similar to a modern truck stop or hotel, where travelers could stay with their camels.

Pax Mongolica

A period of relative peace established by the Mongols that allowed trade systems like the Silk Road to flourish.

Astrolabe

A navigation tool developed by the Arabs used to navigate by the stars.

Lateen Sale

A triangular sail created by the Arabs that allowed ships to tack against the wind and navigate monsoonal patterns.

Mali

A West African empire with the capital city of Timbuktu, famously ruled by Mansa Musa.

Zheng He

An Arabic captain for the Chinese who sailed eight treasure fleets across the Indian Ocean.

Devshirme

A forced labor system in the Ottoman Empire that involved taking Christian boys to serve as the sultan's elite forces.