World History – Key Vocabulary for Final Exam

84 vocabulary flashcards covering political, religious, economic, and cultural terms from ancient through medieval history, designed for comprehensive exam review.

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Elected officials in ancient Rome who protected the interests and rights of the plebeians.

Deities

Gods or goddesses worshiped in a religion or mythology.

Missionary

A person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity in foreign lands.

Agora

The central public square and marketplace in an ancient Greek city-state.

Commodity

A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as gold, wheat, or oil.

Catacombs

Underground burial chambers used particularly by early Christians in Rome.

Polis

A city-state in ancient Greece, consisting of a city and its surrounding countryside.

Coalition

A temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action.

Pilgrimage

A journey to a sacred place for religious reasons, such as the Hajj to Mecca.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which power is held by a small group of elite individuals or families.

Script

A system of writing; also a handwritten text or manuscript.

Tetrarchy

The system of rule by four emperors established by Diocletian in the late Roman Empire.

Vetoed

Rejected or prohibited by the exercise of an authoritative right, especially by an executive’s refusal to sign legislation.

Republic

A state in which supreme power is held by elected representatives and an elected or nominated leader rather than a monarch.

Oratory

The art of public speaking, especially in a formal and persuasive manner.

Hoplites

Heavily armed foot soldiers of ancient Greek city-states.

Senate

A deliberative governing body, notably the upper chamber in ancient Rome and many modern legislatures.

Plague

A deadly infectious disease that spreads rapidly; historically, the Black Death of the 14th century.

Helots

State-owned serfs of ancient Sparta who worked the land for Spartan citizens.

Patricians

Members of the aristocratic families in ancient Rome who held most political power.

Stagnation

A period of little or no economic growth, development, or activity.

Archons

Chief magistrates in ancient Athens, each serving a one-year term.

Plebeians

The commoner social class in ancient Rome, as opposed to patricians.

Medieval

Relating to the Middle Ages in European history (roughly 500–1500 CE).

Aristocrats

People belonging to a hereditary ruling class or nobility.

Icons

Religious images or paintings, especially in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, venerated by the faithful.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through elected representatives.

Dictator

A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force or emergency appointment.

Venerated

Regarded with great respect; revered.

Quorum

The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct official business.

Currency

A system of money in general use in a particular country.

Iconoclasts

Individuals who destroy religious images or oppose their veneration; notably active in the Byzantine Empire.

Mercenaries

Professional soldiers hired to serve in a foreign army for pay rather than loyalty.

Moveable Type

A printing technology using individual, reusable characters, first developed in China and later in Europe by Gutenberg.

Mosaics

Artworks made by assembling small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials.

Pantheon

Originally a Roman temple to all the gods; more broadly, a group of illustrious people or deities.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to populations and particular groups within them.

Sheikh

An Arab leader, especially of a tribe, family, or village; also a title of respect in Islamic cultures.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and dominate political leadership, moral authority, and property.

Dialects

Regional or social varieties of a language with distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Oases

Fertile areas in a desert where water is present.

Lar

In ancient Roman religion, a household god protecting the home and family.

Habeas Corpus

A legal writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge, protecting against unlawful detention.

Hajj

The mandatory Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must make at least once if able.

Principate

The first period of the Roman Empire, beginning with Augustus, characterized by emperors holding the title princeps (‘first citizen’).

Assimilated

Absorbed into the cultural or social traditions of a group or nation.

Sharia

Islamic canonical law based on the Quran and Hadith, governing all aspects of life for Muslims.

Edict

An official order or proclamation issued by an authority.

Ratify

To formally approve and make valid, especially a treaty or constitutional amendment.

Mosque

A Muslim place of worship.

Legionnaires

Soldiers of a Roman legion; also, modern members of a foreign legion unit.

Knight

A mounted warrior of medieval Europe, typically granted an honorary title for service to a lord or king.

Caliph

The chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad.

Aqueducts

Artificial channels or bridge-like structures used to convey water to a city, most famously by the Romans.

Excommunicate

To officially exclude someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

Dhimmitude

The status of non-Muslims living under Muslim rule who were protected but required to pay a special tax.

Amphitheater

A round or oval open-air venue with tiered seating for public spectacles, such as Rome’s Colosseum.

Quashed

Suppressed, put down, or annulled, especially by legal or authoritative action.

Qadi

An Islamic judge who rules on matters of Sharia law.

Gladiators

Combatants in ancient Rome who fought in arenas for public entertainment.

Steppes

Large, treeless grasslands, especially of Eurasia.

Monastery

A building or complex where monks live, work, and worship.

Figurehead

A person who holds an important title or office but has little actual power.

Gers

Portable round tents (yurts) used by nomads in Central Asia, notably Mongolia.

Vassal

In feudal Europe, a person who received land from a lord in exchange for loyalty and service.

Arabesque

An ornamental design of intertwined flowing lines, common in Islamic art and architecture.

Khanates

Territories ruled by a khan, especially in the Mongol Empire.

Pogrom

An organized massacre or violent attack on a particular ethnic or religious group, especially Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Calligraphy

Decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering; highly valued in Islamic and East Asian cultures.

Envoy

A diplomatic representative or messenger.

Mystic

A person who seeks direct communion with the divine through contemplation and spiritual practices.

Astrolabe

An ancient astronomical instrument used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies and determine latitude.

Despotic

Relating to or characteristic of a ruler with absolute power and a disregard for individual rights.

Cathedral

The principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop’s official seat (cathedra).

Duchy

A territory or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.

Omnipotence

The quality of having unlimited or very great power; often attributed to a deity.

Parliament

A legislative body of government, especially the national legislature of the United Kingdom.

Truce

An agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting for a certain time; a temporary cease-fire.

Ghazis

Muslim warriors dedicated to expanding Islam, particularly on the frontiers of the Ottoman Empire.

Investors

Individuals or entities that allocate capital with the expectation of receiving financial returns.

Guild

A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants that regulated trade standards and protected members' interests.

Sultan

A Muslim sovereign or ruler, particularly in the Ottoman Empire.

Consolidated

Combined into a single, more effective or coherent whole; made stronger or more secure.

Tithe

One-tenth of a person’s income, formerly paid as a tax or contribution to support the Church.