Key Historical Concepts and Figures

Mandate of Heaven

Ancient Chinese belief; divine right to rule

Dynastic Cycle

Pattern in Chinese history; rise and fall of dynasties

Confucianism

Philosophy emphasizing moral values and social harmony

Daoism/Dao

Chinese philosophy; harmony with the Dao (the way)

Yin & Yang

Concept of dualism; balance of opposing forces

Shi Huangdi

First Emperor of China; unified the country

Legalism/Han Dynasty

Philosophy emphasizing strict laws and punishment

Civil Service Exam

Imperial exam for government positions in China

Great Wall of China

Massive wall built for protection against invaders

Filial Piety

Respect for elders and ancestors in Confucianism

Silk Roads

Ancient trade routes connecting East and West

Grand Canal

Artificial waterway connecting northern and southern China

Age of Buddhism

Spread of Buddhism in China during Han Dynasty

Neo-Confucianism

Revival of Confucian teachings with Buddhist elements

Reincarnation

Belief in rebirth of the soul in another body

Karma

Concept of moral cause and effect in Hinduism and Buddhism

Moksha

Release from the cycle of rebirth in Hinduism

Dharma

Duty and moral law in Hinduism and Buddhism

Brahman

Supreme cosmic spirit in Hinduism

The Vedas

Ancient sacred texts of Hinduism

Buddha

Enlightened one who founded Buddhism

Four Noble Truths

Core beliefs of Buddhism regarding suffering and its cessation

Eightfold Path

Buddhist path to end suffering and achieve enlightenment

Nirvana

Ultimate goal of Buddhism; state of perfect peace

Middle Way

Buddhist principle of moderation and balance

Siddhartha Gautama

Birth name of the Buddha

Theravada, Mahayna, Tibetan Buddhism

Three main branches of Buddhism

Indus Valley

Ancient civilization in present-day Pakistan and India

Gupta Empire

Golden age of Indian culture and science

Mauryan Empire

First major empire in India

Ashoka

Mauryan emperor who promoted Buddhism

Torah

Central religious text of Judaism

Abraham

Biblical figure considered the father of monotheism

Moses

Prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt

Exodus

Israelites' departure from Egypt under Moses

Diaspora

Scattering of the Jewish people outside of Israel

Monotheism

Belief in one God

Messiah

Savior figure in Judaism and Christianity

Jesus of Nazareth

Central figure of Christianity

Disciples

Followers of Jesus in Christianity

Apostles

Early Christian missionaries

Paul of Taurus

Prominent early Christian missionary and writer

Resurrection & Ascension

Beliefs in Christianity regarding Jesus' return to life and ascent to heaven

Constantine

Roman emperor who converted to Christianity

Muhammad

Founder of Islam

Hegira

Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina

Islam

Monotheistic religion founded by Muhammad

Muslims

Followers of Islam

Qur'an

Holy book of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam/The Hajj

Central acts of worship and pilgrimage in Islam

Caliph/Caliphate

Successor to Muhammad as leader of Islam

Sunnis

Major branch of Islam following the Sunna

Shia

Branch of Islam following Ali as the rightful leader

Sahel

Semi-arid region south of the Sahara in Africa

Savanna

Grassy plains in Africa with scattered trees

Griots

Oral historians and storytellers in West Africa

Bantu

Ethnic and linguistic group in Africa

The Sahara

Vast desert in North Africa

Animism

Belief that natural objects have spirits

Iron Age

Period characterized by the use of iron tools and weapons

Swahili

East African culture influenced by trade with Arab merchants

Kingdom of Aksum

Ancient African kingdom in present-day Ethiopia

Great Zimbabwe

Medieval city and trading empire in southern Africa

Sundiata

Founder of the Mali Empire

Mansa Musa

Wealthy and influential ruler of the Mali Empire

Sunni Ali

Great ruler of the Songhai Empire

Askia Muhammad

Prominent ruler of the Songhai Empire

Kingdom of Ghana

Medieval West African kingdom known for its gold

Kingdom of Mali

Medieval West African empire known for its wealth

Kingdom of Songhai

Successor to the Mali Empire in West Africa

Timbuktu

Prominent trading city in West Africa

Pax Mongolia

Period of peace and stability under Mongol rule

Kublai Khan/Yuan Dynasty

Mongol ruler of China; established the Yuan Dynasty

Marco Polo

Venetian explorer who traveled to China and wrote about it

Ghengis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire

Ottomans

Turkish empire that lasted from the 14th to 20th century

Mehmed II

Ottoman sultan known for conquering Constantinople

Suleyman I

Ottoman sultan known for his legal reforms and expansion

Charlemagne

Frankish king who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor

Knights and Lords

Noble warriors and landowners in feudal society

Fief/Vassal

Land granted by a lord in exchange for loyalty and service

Feudal system

Social and economic system based on land ownership and loyalty

Manorial system/Serfs

Economic system of manors and peasant laborers

William the Conqueror

Norman king of England after the Battle of Hastings

Magna Carta/Parliament

Document limiting the king's power; English legislative body

Reconquista

Christian reconquest of Spain from the Moors

Holy Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire

Medieval empires in Europe and the Middle East

Piety

Devotion and reverence to God

Church Reforms

Efforts to improve the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages

Crusades (1-4)

Series of religious wars to reclaim the Holy Land

Pope Urban II/Council of Clermont

Pope who called for the First Crusade

Effects of the Crusades (Economic, Political, and Social Changes)

Impacts of Crusades on Europe and the Middle East

Venice (Italian Trade Cities)

City known for trade and commerce during the Middle Ages

Scholasticism

Medieval philosophical and theological system

Heresy

Belief contrary to official church doctrine

Inquisitions

Church courts to suppress heresy and enforce doctrine

Henry VII

First Tudor king of England; ended the War of the Roses

Black Death

Pandemic that devastated Europe in the 14th century

Renaissance

Period of cultural rebirth in Europe

Humanism

Intellectual movement emphasizing human potential and achievement