9th Grade World History Review

Primary Source

A source that came directly from a person who experienced the event themselves.

Secondary Source

A source that came from someone’s perspective who didn’t experience the event themselves.

Neolithic Revolution

When people learned agriculture and started to settle down.

Paleolithic Time

When nomads traveled from place to place.

River Valley Civilizations

The main river valley civilizations associated with the Neolithic Revolution are Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, and China.

Turning Point

A significant change in life, marked by the discovery of agriculture during the Neolithic Revolution.

Nomadic Lifestyle

Traveling between places to hunt and search for shelter.

Traits of Civilization

1 - Cities; 2 - Government; 3 - Specialized workers; 4 - Social ranking system; 5 - Religion; 6 - Art and architecture; 7 - Public works; 8 - Writings.

Geography in Mesopotamia

The Euphrates and Tigris rivers helped Mesopotamia excel in development as a civilization.

Code of Hammurabi

The first set of recorded laws in a civilization.

Polytheistic Religion

Belief in many gods.

Monotheistic Religion

Belief in one god.

Reincarnation

To be reborn again; main religions that believe in it are Hinduism and Buddhism.

Siddhartha Gautama

Proposed to end human suffering by creating the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.

Legalism

A political philosophy that stabilizes China with strict laws.

Silk Road

Connected China to current-day Italy and was essential for trade and cultural diffusion.

Achievements of Greece

Includes mythology, writing, art and architecture, the Olympics, and prominent philosophers.

Alexander the Great

He combined Persian, Greek, Egyptian, and Indian cultures.

Geography’s Role in Greece

Mountains separated city-states; water led to cultural diffusion.

Fall of the Roman Empire

Occurred in 467 CE due to political causes, weak leaders, economic issues, and social decline.

Feudalism

A political system based on social ranking.

Purpose of European Feudal System

To maintain stabilized societies in Europe by establishing a hierarchical structure.

Key Differences Between Sunni and Shi’a

Shi’a believe caliphs should be descendants of Muhammad; Sunni advocate for broader leadership based on the Sunna.

Byzantine Empire’s Influence on Russia

Spread Orthodox Christianity and established the Cyrillic alphabet, significantly shaping Russian culture.

Causes of the Crusades

Christians aimed to reclaim the Holy Land, leading to increased cultural diffusion despite Jerusalem remaining under Muslim control.

The Black Death

Originated in China, significantly reduced population, and led to decreased feudalism.

Hundred Years' War

Fought over claims to the French throne; contributed to the development of the nation-state concept.

Spanish Conquest of Indigenous Peoples

Enabled by superior technology, leading to significant cultural and demographic changes.

Legacy of Mansa Musa

Established strong ties with Muslim countries and turned Timbuktu into a cultural center.

Importance of Zheng He

Expanded trade networks and facilitated cultural diffusion.

Benefits of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire

Controlled key trade routes and served as a cultural and political center.

Renaissance in Italy

Period of trade and cultural exchange, leading to significant achievements in art and literature.

Key Ideas from Machiavelli's The Prince

Emphasizes that 'the ends justify the means' in political strategy.

Key Figures of the Scientific Revolution

Copernicus (heliocentric theory), Galileo (empirical evidence), Newton (foundations of modern science).

Impact of Martin Luther

Initiated the Protestant Reformation, leading to widespread religious reform.

Encomienda System

Spanish system that allowed control over indigenous populations in exchange for protection and Christian teachings.

Effects of the Columbian Exchange

Transfer of people, goods, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds, reshaping global trade patterns.

Motivations for the Age of Exploration

Economic desires for trade routes and a desire to spread Christianity.

Changes Brought by the Commercial Revolution

Period of colonization, rise of capitalism, and emergence of mercantilism.