World History Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering global historical movements, key figures, and societal systems from ancient civilizations through the Age of Exploration.

Gold and Salt Trade

Trade network in West Africa that exchanged valuable minerals and helped build powerful empires like Mali and Ghana.

Manorialism

System of local economic organization during the Middle Ages where lords provided protection and peasants farmed the land.

Feudalism

Political system in medieval Europe and Japan where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty.

Magna Carta

A document signed in $1215$ that limited the English king's power and established certain legal rights.

Catholic Church

A powerful force in medieval Europe that influenced politics, education, and daily life.

Crusades

Series of religious wars launched by Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslims.

Marco Polo

Italian merchant who traveled to China and inspired European interest in Asian goods and culture.

Mongols

Nomadic warriors who created the largest land empire in history under Genghis Khan.

Black Death

Deadly pandemic that killed millions in Europe and Asia during the $14\text{th}$ century.

Japanese Feudalism

Similar to European feudalism, this structure included a warrior class (samurai), landowners (daimyo), and a figurehead emperor.

Maya, Aztec, and Inca

Civilizations in the Americas known for advanced architecture, agriculture, and astronomy before European contact.

Divine Right of Kings

Political theory stating that monarchs receive authority directly from God.

English Bill of Rights

Document that limited the monarchy's power and established rights for Parliament and citizens.

Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors who overthrew civilizations in the Americas like the Aztecs and Incas.

Smallpox

Disease brought by Europeans to the New World that devastated native populations.

Age of Exploration

Period of European overseas exploration that led to global trade and colonization.

Humanism

A movement focused on human potential and achievements, rooted in classical learning.

Renaissance

Period of renewed interest in art, science, and the classical world, beginning in Italy.

The Prince by Machiavelli

Book advising rulers to use cunning and ruthless tactics to maintain power.

Galileo

Italian scientist who supported heliocentric theory and was condemned by the Church.

Scientific Revolution

Movement in which thinkers began to observe nature and use logic, laying the foundation for modern science.

Protestant Reformation

Religious movement that began as a protest against corruption in the Catholic Church.

Martin Luther

German monk who wrote the 95 Theses and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Gutenberg's Printing Press

Invention that allowed for mass production of books and spread of ideas across Europe.

Christopher Columbus

Explorer who sailed for Spain and reached the Americas in $1492$.

Columbian Exchange

Exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and goods between the Old and New Worlds.

John Locke

Philosopher who believed in natural rights and that governments

Zheng He

Chinese admiral who led large naval expeditions during the Ming Dynasty.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Movement of millions of Africans to the Americas as part of a brutal slave labor system.

Alexander the Great

A Macedonian king who created a vast empire and spread Greek culture

Hellenism

A blend of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian cultures

Twelve Tables

A system of laws publicly displayed in ancient Rome to protect citizen rights

Justinian Code

Byzantine legal code created under an emperor, influencing future European laws

Gupta Empire

Ancient Indian empire known for advances in math, science, and art

Golden Age of Greece

A period marked by achievements in drama, philosophy, and architecture in Athens

Socrates

Philosopher who questioned everything and taught through dialogue

Plato

Philosopher who founded the Academy and wrote "The Republic"

Aristotle

Greek philosopher and tutor of Alexander the Great

Republican Form of Government

Early Roman government where citizens elected representatives

Pax Romana

Period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire ($27\text{ BCE}-180\text{ CE}$)

Fall of the Roman Empire

Collapse of centralized government, economic trouble, and barbarian invasions

Goths, Visigoths, and Huns

Invading barbarian tribes that contributed to the fall of Rome

Culture

The way of life of a group of people, including beliefs, customs, and art.

Sociologist

A scientist who studies human behavior in groups and social structures.

Economist

Social scientist that analyzes production and distribution of goods and services.

Anthropologist

A researcher who studies past and present human cultures.

Archipelagos

A chain or group of islands.

Navigable Rivers

Waterways that are deep and wide enough for ships to travel through.

Mediterranean Sea

A sea crucial to the development of ancient civilizations like Rome and Greece.

Neolithic Revolution

The shift from hunting and gathering to farming and permanent settlements.

Polytheism

The belief in and worship of many gods.

Code of Hammurabi

A set of laws established by a Babylonian king, known for its harsh punishments.

Reincarnation

The belief in a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Caste System

A rigid social hierarchy in India associated with Hindu beliefs.

Monotheism

A belief in only one God.

Ten Commandments

A moral and ethical code followed in Judaism and Christianity, believed to be given to Moses by God.

Five Pillars of Islam

The core duties of Muslims, including faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage.

Eightfold Path

A spiritual guide to end suffering and reach enlightenment in Buddhism.