regents

38th Parallel

Line of latitude which divided North and South Korea.

95 Theses

Document written by Martin Luther detailing what he believed to be the problems in the medieval Church.

absolute monarchy

A political system in which a country is ruled by a monarch, who has absolute control.

Age of Exploration

Time period during the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans searched for new sources of wealth and for easier trade routes to China and India. Resulted in the discovery of North and South America by the Europeans.

Age of Reason

Term given to describe the Enlightenment.

Agrarian Revolution

A change in farming methods that allowed for a greater production of food. This revolution was fueled by the use of new farming technology such as the seed drill and improved fertilizers. The result of this revolution was a population explosion due to the higher availability of food. It was one of the causes of the Industrial Revolution.

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A disease of the human immune system caused by the HIV retrovirus.

Alexander the Great

(356 BCE-323 BCE) He conquered most of the ancient world from Asia Minor to Egypt and India, which began the Hellenistic culture which was a blending of Greek, Persian, Indian, and Egyptian influences.

Allied Powers

Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II.

Al-Qaeda

Islamic terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden. They are responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings in New York City.

American Revolution

Political revolution in the British North American Colonies starting in 1776 that removed the colonies from Great Britain's control, and established an independent nation know as the United States of America.

Animism

Animists practice nature worship. They believe that everything in the universe has a spirit. This is the practices of the Plains Indians in North America who would praise the spirit of the buffalo that they killed for giving its life to them so that they might survive. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from the spirit world. This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of communicating with and showing respect to ancestors.

apartheid

A political policy in South Africa where black South Africans could only live in certain areas, were required to use separate trains, beaches, restaurants, and schools, and could not enter into an interracial marriage.

appeasement

The policy of pacifying an aggressive nation in the hopes of avoiding further conflict.

armistice

A truce during wartime.

assassination

The killing of a political leader or other public figure.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Also known as Austria-Hungary, as it was ruled by the Habsburg monarchy from 1867 to 1918. Austria-Hungary extended over most of central Europe. It was composed the modern day countries of Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, as well as parts of present-day Poland, Romania, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Axis Powers

Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

Ayatollah Khomeini

(1900?-1989) Islamic religious leader who led a fundamentalist revolution in Iran in 1979. Ruled until 1989

balance of power

A political policy in which countries attempt to preserve peace by keeping an equal military and economic status.

Battle of Britain

The massive air war against Great Britain by the Nazi war machine in Germany. Nearly nightly bombings occurred between summer of 1940 and summer of 1941 before German withdrew. Great Britain fought alone during this year and never gave up.

Bay of Pigs

An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, which was sponsored by the United States. Its purpose was to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Berlin Airlift

A re-supply operation to the city of Berlin that lasted 11 months during 1948-49 when the Soviet Union attempted to close off the city.

Berlin Wall

A wall built in 1961 dividing Soviet controlled East Berlin from the democratic West Berlin. It was destroyed when communism ended in 1990.

blitzkrieg

German word meaning lightning war. It was a German army tactic during World War II which called for quick moving, hard hitting drives into enemy territory.

Bolívar, Simón

(1783-1830) Latin American revolutionary responsible for the ousting of Spain from much of South America during the 19th century. He is considered to be the most important figure in the fight for Latin American independence.

Bolshevik

Early name of communists during the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Bonaparte, Napoleon

(1769-1821) Emperor of the French. Responsible for many French Revolution reforms as well as conquering most of Europe. He was defeated at Waterloo, and died several years later on the island of Saint Helena.

Boxer Rebellion

(1900) A rebellion by the people of China to end foreign domination.

British East India Company

A joint stock company that controlled most of India during the period of imperialism. This company controlled the political, social, and economic life in India for more than 200 years.

Buddha

Hindu for "enlightened one." See also Siddhartha Gautama.

Buddhism

Buddhism developed in India, and is based on many of the core concepts of Hinduism.. Buddhists believe in an endless cycle of reincarnation, or samsara, which is similar to beliefs of Hinduism. However, Buddhists do not believe that deities are responsible for the phenomenon. In addition, the Caste System is rejected by Buddhists who believe instead that one is reincarnated until they can achieve nirvana, best described as spiritual enlightenment.

Caliph

In Islam, the successor to the Prophet Mohammed.

capitalism

An economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. Also promotes a free market regulated by supply and demand.

Caste System

A rigid social class system in Hinduism.

Castro, Fidel

(1926?- ) Leader of the Cuban Revolution and communist dictator of Cuba. He is responsible for making Cuba a socialist country which has often been at odds with the United States. Notably, the bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

check and balance

A system in government described by Baron de Montesquieu where legislative, judicial, and executive power is shared among the different branches to provide protection against abuses of power.

Christianity

Currently the most popular religion in the world based on the number of worshippers found throughout the world. While this monotheistic religion developed from Judaism, there are several key differences in its teachings. Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ in the 1st century CE. The Christian holy book is called the Holy Bible.

civil disobedience

The purposeful breaking of laws to protest actions by the government.

Cold War

Non shooting conflict between the Soviet Union and their allies and the United States and their allies. Numerous secondary conflicts arise due to the Cold War.

collective farm

A government owned farms where peasants work on a quota system.

colonialism

The policy of maintaining colonies as a source of raw materials and new markets. Practiced during old and new imperialism.

colonization

A group of people moving from their homeland to a new area in large numbers.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of goods and other things, such as disease from the Old World (Europe) to the new World (North and South America) and back.

Commercial Revolution

A dramatic change in the economy of Europe at the end of the Middle Ages. It is characterized by an increase in towns and trade, the use of banks and credit, and the establishment of guilds to regulate quality and price.

Confucianism

Confucius lived in China during the Chou Dynasty, when there was mass disorder and confusion and degrading moral standards. Confucius was appalled by what appeared to be the fracturing of Chinese society. He believed that the only cure was to stress a sense of social order and mutual respect, a philosophy that later became known as Confucianism. Confucianism teaches that there is a natural social order to society which can best be explained through the Five Relationships.

Confucius

(551-479 BCE?) Chinese philosopher and writer of The Analects, a collection of moral and social teachings, including the concept of the Five Relationships. Also known as Kong Fu Zi.

Cortez, Hernan

(1485-1547) Spanish conquistador who was responsible for the conquest of the Aztec Empire and the claiming of much of Central America for the Spanish.

Creoles

In colonial Latin America, American born Spanish gentry, They owned most of the land but were treated like second class citizens, and were denied political rights.

Crusades

European Christian military expeditions made between the 11th and 13th centuries to retake the Middle Eastern Holy Lands occupied by the Muslims.

Cuban Missile Crisis

(1961) Crises that developed as a result of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's decision to allow the Soviet Union to base nuclear missiles in Cuba. Upon discovery, the United States confronted the Soviet Union and demanded the missiles be removed. For nearly two weeks, nuclear war was imminent. Fortunately, diplomacy succeeded and crisis was averted.

cultural diffusion

The spreading of ideas through contact such as trade or war.

Czar

Title of the ruler of Russia. Taken from the word Caesar, which means emperor.

Da Vinci, Leonardo

(1452-1519) An Italian painter, sculptor, engineer, and inventor. Famous works include paintings Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Also left a variety of sketches showing flying machines and underwater boats centuries before the invention of planes and submarines.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Revolutionary document of the French Revolution. Written in 1789, it spelled out certain rights believed to be universal to all mankind. Patterned on the American Declaration of Independence.

democracy

A system of government in which the citizens hold the legislative, judicial, and executive power, based on majority rule.

diaspora

The enforced spreading out of a group of people. In history, there has been both a Jewish Diaspora and an African Diaspora.

dictatorship

A system of government in which a country is ruled by a single person with absolute power.

discrimination

To treat unfairly due to a persons ethnic background, gender, religion, or age

divine

Godlike, or coming from, or having to do with a god.

divine right

The justification of monarchy through the word of God.

Dome of the Rock

First Islamic religious shrine. It was built in 687 C.E., and is located in present day Jerusalem, Israel.

domesticate

To tame an animal to live with, or close to humans.

domino theory

The idea that countries bordering communist countries were in more danger of falling to communism unless the United States and other western nations worked to prevent it.

dynastic cycle

In China, a dynasty would remain in power only as long as it was providing good government. When a dynasty went into decline, and began to abuse its power, it was said to lose the Mandate of Heaven, or the favor of the gods. A strong leader would usually emerge to claim the Mandate, and establish a new dynasty. The dynastic cycle would then begin again.

economic rights

Rights such as owning property, or the choice to be employed.

Eightfold Path

Code of behavior for followers of Buddhism.

encomienda system

A system of production in Spain's New World possessions which granted permission to conquistadors to enslave as many people needed to work a plantation.

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that stressed the importance of reason and science in philosophy and the study of human society. Occurred in Western Europe.

ethnic cleansing

The removal of people of a specific ethnic group by means of genocide, terror, or forced expulsion.

export

The sending of goods to another country for sale or trade.

famine

Widespread hunger caused by the near complete lack of food.

Feudalism

A social, political, and economic system that dominated all aspects of medieval European life.

Five Pillars of Islam

Code of behavior for followers of Islam. Includes Charity, Daily Prayer, Profession of Faith, Fasting during Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca called the hajj.

Five Relationships

Confucian philosophy about social order where everyone has a place and respect is paid to elders, parents, and the government. The relationships are, ruler to ruled, father to son, older brother to younger brother, husband to wife, friend to friend.

Five Year Plans

Stalin's economic policy to rebuild the Soviet economy after World War II. Included massive industrialization and farm collectivization, where peasants lived collectively on government owned farms, often resulted in widespread famine as many peasants resisted this policy.

Four Modernizations

An economic and social program that called for limited privatization of agriculture and industry, encouraged foreign investment and foreign trade, and resulted in a boost for the Chinese economy. Unlike the Great Leap Forward, the Four Modernizations was an economic success.

Four Noble Truths

Siddhartha's Gautama philosophy of the nature of human suffering and its relation to desire is articulated by four statements

Gandhi, Mohandas

(1869-1948) Nationalist leader in India, who called for a non violent revolution to gain his country's freedom from the British Empire.

Gautama, Siddhartha

(563?-483?BCE), Indian philosopher and the founder of Buddhism. Siddhartha was born into the Brahmin caste, and by all account led a luxurious lifestyle. However, he was troubled by the human misery that he saw around him everyday. Upon reflection, he deduced that desire was the root caused of all suffering. Also known as the Buddha.

genocide

The killing of all the people from a ethnic group, religious group, or people from a specific nation.

Glasnost

A policy of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev which called for more openness with the nations of West, and a relaxing of restraints on Soviet citizenry.

golden age

A time in a culture of high achievement in arts, literature, and science. Generally occurs in times of peace.

Gorbachev, Mikhail

(1931- ), leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. His policies of Perestroika and Glasnost, which aimed at revitalizing the Soviet Union contributed to the downfall of communism.

Great Depression

(1929-1939) The dramatic decline in the world's economy due to the United State's stock market crash of 1929, the overproduction of goods from World War I, and decline in the need for raw materials from non industrialized nations. Results in millions of people losing their jobs as banks and businesses closed around the world. Many people were reduced to homelessness, and had to rely on government sponsored soup kitchens to eat. World trade also declined as many countries imposed protective tariffs in an attempt to restore their economies.

Great Leap Forward

The economic program designed to increase farm and industrial output though the creation of communes. Communes are similar to Soviet collectives in that groups of people live and work together on government owned farms and in government owned industry.

Green Revolution

Throughout the 20th century, scientists worked on improving agriculture, especially in areas with high populations. Some of the technologies developed included better irrigation systems so farmers could get water to their crops. New machinery was built to handle larger production and to take the burden of agriculture work off of humans. New chemical fertilizers and pesticides were created to increase food production, and new varieties of grains and livestock were developed also for greater production. The Green Revolution has had only limited success. The high costs associated with many of these new technologies have kept the small farmer from taking advantage of them.

Gupta Dynasty

(320-550 C.E.)Ruling family in India during its golden age. Responsible for many achievements.

Hinduism

A polytheistic religion that was formed from a variety of different religious practices. In Hinduism, salvation is achieved through a spiritual oneness of the soul, atman, with the ultimate reality of the universe, Brahma. To achieve this goal, the soul must obtain moksha, or liberation from the samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. As a result of these basic teachings, Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is influenced by karma (material actions resulting from the consequences of previous actions), and dharma (fulfilling one's duty in life). Because all forms of animal life possess souls, Hindus believe in ahimsa, or that all life is sacred. and should not be harmed. In fact, one animal which Hindus consider to be extremely sacred is the cow. The peaceful and contented existence of cows is considered virtuous by Hindus and would represent a rewarding reincarnation for a soul. For this reason, most Hindus are vegetarians so that they do not harm other living beings. The belief in reincarnation, karma, and dharma also provides the religious justification for the existence of the rigid social structure known as the Caste System.

Hitler, Adolf

(1889-1945) Austrian-born leader of Germany. He co-founded the Nazi Party in Germany, and gained control of the country as chancellor in 1933. Hitler started World War II with the invasion of Poland. He was responsible for the Holocaust.

Holocaust

The attempted genocide of European Jews, Gypsies, mentally retarded, homosexuals, and others by Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

human rights

The rights that are considered by most societies to belong automatically to all people, including the rights to justice, freedom, and equality.

Hussein, Saddam

(1937- ) President of Iraq since 1979. He has led his control into two devastating wars, one against Iran in 1980 to 1988, and the Persian Gulf War in 1990 - 1991 which started as a result of his invading Kuwait.

Imperialism

The complete control of a weaker nation's social, economic, and political life by a stronger nation.

Industrial Revolution

In the second half of the 19th century, it was the fundamental change in the way goods were produced through the use of machines, capital, and the centralization of work forces in factories. It completely altered the social, economic, and political structure of most of Europe, Japan, and the United States.

industrialization

The change to industrial methods of production such as the use of factories.

interdependence

Mutual assistance or reliance between two or more parties.

Iron Curtain

A term popularized by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to describe the Soviet Union's policy of isolation during the Cold War. The Iron Curtain isolated Eastern Europe from the rest of the world. Its most poignant symbol was the Berlin Wall.

Islam

The word Islam, which when translated from Arabic, means "to submit to the will of Allah," is the youngest of the world's major religions. Worshippers of this monotheistic religion are known as Muslims, which means "one who submits to the will of Allah." The Islamic holy book is called the Qur'an. Islam is currently the second most practiced religion in the world, and experts predict that it will overtake Christianity as the most popular religion in the world sometime during the 21st century.

Judaism

Judaism is the oldest known monotheistic religion still practiced in the world today. Its fundamental teachings have been influential and are the basis for more recently developed religions such as Christianity and Islam. Judaism teaches that there is one God who is the creator of all things. after the Hebrew exodus from Egypt, many Hebrews began to lose their faith in God. During this time, Moses went atop Mount Sinai and returned with two stone tablets containing laws that all Hebrews needed to follow. These laws, recorded in the Exodus 20:3-17, became known as the Ten Commandments.