World History Vocab

Agora: A public square in ancient Greece used for gathering, trade, and discussion.

Astrolabe: An ancient tool used for finding the position of stars and navigating at sea.

Commerce: The activity of buying and selling goods and services.

Democracy: A system of government where people have the power to make decisions, often through voting.

Excommunication: Being officially excluded from participation in church activities.

Feudalism: A system where land is owned by lords and worked by peasants or serfs in exchange for protection.

GRAPES: An acronym for Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social structure — used to study societies.

Guild: An organization of people with the same job or trade, ensuring quality and training.

Hoplites: Ancient Greek soldiers who fought in a phalanx group formation.

Knights: Trained soldiers in medieval Europe who served a lord and followed a code of chivalry.

Manorialism: The economic system in medieval Europe where peasants or serfs worked the lord’s estate.

Monotheism: The belief in one god.

Monarchy: A type of government where a king or queen rules.

Mosaic: Art made by arranging small pieces of stone or glass to form images or patterns.

Oligarchy: A government where a small group of people or families holds power.

Polytheism: The belief in many gods.

Qadis: Judges in Islamic law.

Serfs: Peasants who worked land for a lord and were not free to leave.

Vassal: A person who received land or protection from a lord in exchange for service.