Regents Prep: Global History & Geography: Vocabulary

Global History Review

Vocabulary Review

Multiple- Choice

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Movement of People & Goods Vocabulary List

African Trading Kingdoms : Three African kingdoms, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai that were important in the trans-Sahara trade of gold form the west coast of Africa to North Africa and the Middle East. Their trade provided enough wealth to create the conditions necessary for cultural and intellectual achievement. 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. 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. anti-Semitism : The hatred of people of Jewish descent. Aryans : Nomadic warriors from Central Asia who migrated into India around 1500 BCE. They are responsible for many aspects of current Indian culture including their language, sacred texts called the Vedas, and a system of government that later evolved into the caste system. Asoka : (?-232 BCE) King of the Maurya dynasty. He ruled nearly the entire subcontinent of India. He also was instrumental in the spread of Buddhism after his conversion. Association of Southeast Asian Nations : Multinational organization that cooperates economically by lowering trade barriers, such as, tariffs, to encourage commerce between member nations. BCE : Date designation meaning Before Common Era, or more than two thousand years ago. Boers : Dutch descended colonist living in South Africa. Also called Afrikaners. 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. bubonic plague : An infectious disease transmitted by fleas. It is characterized by fever, chills, and the formation of swellings. Also known as the Black Plague or Black Death. 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. Byzantine Empire : (330-1453) The eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived after the fall of the Western Empire at the end of the 5th century C.E. Its capital was Constantinople, named after the Emperor Constantine. Cape of Good Hope : Southern tip of the African continent. Cavalry : Mounted warriors. 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. civilization : A society that has a high level of culture and social organization including organized government, job specialization, and a organized belief system. colonialism : The policy of maintaining colonies as a source of raw materials and new markets. Practiced during old and new imperialism. 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. Columbus, Christopher : (1451-1506) Italian explorer working for Spain who, in 1492, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas for Spain. commerce : The large scale buying of goods and/or services. conquistadors : Spanish conquerors who came to the New World in search of gold and other riches. Constantine : (274 CE – 337 CE) Roman Emperor between 306 CE and 337 CE. He issued the Edict of Milan which outlawed the persecution of Christians. He also founded the city of Constantinople, the future capital of the Byzantine Empire. 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. craftsman : A person who makes quality, practical or decorative goods. Crusades : European Christian military expeditions made between the 11th and 13th centuries to retake the Middle Eastern Holy Lands occupied by the Muslims. cultural diffusion : The spreading of ideas through contact such as trade or war. culture : The shared beliefs, customs, practices, and social behavior of a particular nation or people Cyrillic : An alphabet created by Eastern Orthodox monks for the Slavic language. It is based on Greek, and still used through the various Slavic countries today, such as Russia. Da Gama, Vasco : (1469?-1524) Portuguese explorer who, in 1498, established an all water route to India Darius I : (558?BCE – 486BCE) King of Persia who expanded his empire to extend from the Mediterranean to the Indus River. Dias, Bartholomeu : (1450?-1500) Portuguese explorer who, in 1488, was the first person to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. diaspora : The enforced spreading out of a group of people. In history, there has been both a Jewish Diaspora and an African Diaspora. Diocletian : (245-313) Emperor of Rome who was responsible for dividing Rome into different provinces and districts. Eventually, the eastern portions of the Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire. domesticate : To tame an animal to live with, or close to humans. Dutch East Indies : A group of islands in South East Asia claimed by the Dutch during Imperialism. dynasty : A succession of rulers of a country from the same family. Edict of Milan : (313 CE) Proclamation by the Roman Emperor Constantine outlawing the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. emperor : Political ruler of a country of nation. Similar to a king. empire : 1. A collection of nations or peoples ruled by a single authority, usually a monarch, but can be other systems of government as well. 2. A very large and powerful industrial organization environment : Everything in nature including people, plants, and animals that affects development in life. European Community/European Union : Economic union between countries in Europe for mutual gain. Originally formed in 1951 as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), it later became the European Community in 1967, then the European Union in 1991. export : The sending of goods to another country for sale or trade. famine : Widespread hunger caused by the near complete lack of food. Ferdinand and Isabella : During the late 15th century, they became King and Queen of a united Spain after centuries of Islamic domination. Together, they made Spain a strong Christian nation and also provided funding to overseas exploration, notably Christopher Columbus. Feudalism : A social, political, and economic system that dominated all aspects of medieval European life. fundamental : Affecting the underlying principles or structure of something. Genghis Khan : (1167?-1227) One of the Mongol’s greatest leaders and founder of the Mongol Empire. Ghana : One of the west African Trading Kingdoms. They were rich in gold and established a vast trading network across the Sahara desert. Greco-Roman : The cultural mixing of both ancient Greek and Roman traditions. gunpowder : Chemical compound that burns very quickly. Used in weaponry. Hellenistic : Time period from the late 4th century BCE to the 1st century CE that was characterized by Greek achievement and a blending of Persian, Egyptian, Greek, and Indian cultures due to the empire of Alexander the Great. hunting and gathering : System of food production for prehistoric peoples. Involves hunting animals and gathering foods grown in the wild. immigration : The movement of people from one nation to another. Imperialism : The complete control of a weaker nation’s social, economic, and political life by a stronger nation. import : The bringing in of goods from another country for sale or trade. 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. inflation : The raising of prices on consumer goods due to an increase in the money supply. interdependence : Mutual assistance or reliance between two or more parties. Irish Potato Famine : A famine in 1845 when the main crop of Ireland, potatoes, was destroyed by disease. Irish farmers grew other food items, such as wheat and oats, but Great Britain required them to export those items to them, leaving nothing for the Irish to live on. As a result, over 1 million Irish died of starvation or disease, while millions of others migrated to the United States. 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. Kublai Khan : (1215-1294) Grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China. Magellan, Ferdinand : (1480?-1521) Spanish explorer who was the first to circumnavigate the globe. Mali : One of the west African Trading Kingdoms. They were rich in gold and established a vast trading network across the Sahara desert. Greatest ruler was Mansa Musa, who converted to Islam and made a famous pilgrimage. Mansa Musa : Emperor of the kingdom of Mali in Africa. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca and established trade routes to the Middle East. Marco Polo : (1254-1324) Italian explorer and author. He made numerous trips to China and returned to Europe to write of his journeys. He is responsible for much of the knowledge exchanged between Europe and China during this time period. Maurya Dynasty : (321? BCE - 185? BCE) Dynasty that united most of India under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya. Its greatest ruler, Asoka, converted to Buddhism and was instrumental in its spread. Mecca : A city in Saudi Arabia where Muslims must make a pilgrimage at least once in their life. Menes : (3100? BCE) King of Upper Egypt, united the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt Middle Ages : Time period in European history between the fall of Rome in 476 C.E. and the beginning of the Italian Renaissance in the early 15th century. Middle East : Geo-Political designation of the area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the western side of the Indian subcontinent. Consists of countries such as Israel, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Middle Kingdom (Egypt) : (2040 BCE – 1640 BCE) Period in ancient Egyptian history characterized by internal strife and hardships, and the invasion, and subsequent take over by the neighboring Hyksos. migration : The mass movement of people from one area to another. missionary : A person who spreads the teachings of a religion. multinational company : A company that does business in more than one country, usually by setting up branch offices. Neolithic Age : (10,000 BCE - 5000 BCE) New Stone Age. A period of time in human history characterized by the development of agriculture and permanent settlements. Neolithic Revolution : (10,000 - 8,000 BCE) The development of agriculture and the domestication of animals as a food source. This led to the development of permanent settlements and the start of civilization. New Kingdom : (1550 BCE - 1100 BCE) Period in ancient Egyptian history characterized by strong pharaohs who conquered an empire that stretched from Nubia in the south, to the Euphrates River in Mesopotamia. nomad : A person who belongs to a group of people who move from place to place seasonally in search of food and water. Northwest Passage : Mythical water route from the northeast region of North America to the Pacific Ocean. Many people during the Age of Exploration searched for this route that does not exist. However, the search resulted in the discovery of much of the northeast region of North America by the Europeans. Old Imperialism : A European policy of conquest that occurs in the 15th through 18th centuries in Africa, India, the Americas, and parts of Asia The motives were the same for most areas, the establishment of lucrative trade routes. Various European countries dominated these trades routes and one time or another, and a some countries, such as Great Britain and Spain, came to dominate entire countries. Orthodox Christianity : A branch of Christianity developed in the Byzantine Empire, after its split from the Roman Empire. It spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean and Russia. Paleolithic Age : (750,000 BCE - 10,000 B.C.E.) Old Stone Age. A period of time in human history characterized by the use of stone tools and the use of hunting and gathering as a food source. papyrus scrolls : Paper like material made from the reeds of the papyrus plant. It was used by the Egyptians for the writing and storing of documents. partnership : The cooperative relationship between two or more people who are involved in the same activity. Pax Mongolia : Also known as the Mongol Peace. A time when global trade expanded due to the political stability provided by Mongol rulers. Pax Romana : A 200 hundred year period of relative peace throughout the Roman Empire. Occurs during the first two centuries C.E.. peninsula : An area of land surrounded on three sides by water. Italy, Greece, and the southern part of India are all peninsulas. persecution : Treating a person, or a group of people unfairly or cruelly due to ethnic background, gender, or other difference. Persian Empire : Ancient Middle Eastern empire comprising modern day Iran. The Perisan Empire dominated the Middle East from the middle of the 6th century BCE to about the end of the 5th century BCE, Its greatest ruler was Dairus I. Persia was later conquered by Alexander the Great. pharaoh : In ancient Egypt, title given to the ruler who was considered both king and god. Phoenicians : An early trading civilization located in present day Lebanon and Syria along the Mediterranean. They produced various products, such as glass, papyrus scrolls, and dyes, and established trade across the entire Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenician trade empire benefited most cultures in this region. As their trade expanded, they setup colonies throughout the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians also developed an alphabet to keep track of their business dealings. This alphabet was later adopted and adapted by the Greeks and Romans, and is the basis for the western alphabets of today. Phoenician trade is responsible for the great exchange of ideas and culture that occurred during this time period. pilgrimage : A religious journey to visit a shrine or other holy site. Pizarro, Francisco : (1476?-1541) Spanish conquistador who was responsible for the conquest of the Incan Empire. porcelain : A hard, fine ceramic material used to make a variety of products. Reconquista : The re-conquest of Spain by the Christians after centuries of Islamic domination. religion : A person's beliefs concerning the existence and worship of a god or gods, and divine involvement in the universe and human life. revolution : a dramatic change in ideas, practice, or government. river : A moving body of water that usually has its source in an area of high ground. Roman Empire : The territories ruled by ancient Rome which at one time encompassed most of the Mediterranean world and parts of France, England, and Germany. The empire lasted from 27 BCE to 395 CE. Sahara Desert : The world’s largest desert, located in North Africa. Seljuk Turks : Dynasty that controlled Turkey during the 11th and 12th centuries. The Seljuk disruption of European travel to the Holy Lands resulted in the Crusades. Silk Road : Trade route from China to the Middle East. Called the Silk Road due to China’s most important export. slave : A person forced to work for another with no payment or freedom to seek work elsewhere. A slave can be bought and sold. slave trade : The buying and selling of people for the purposes of slavery. slavery : A system of forced labor. Slavic : Ethnic group of indo-European descent which includes Russians, Bulgarians, and Poles. Society of Jesus : Roman Catholic religious order founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1540 to setup schools and serve as missionaries, spreading church teachings. Songhai : One of the west African Trading Kingdoms. They were rich in gold and established a vast trading network across the Sahara desert. starvation : The process of dying due to lack of food. tariff : A tax on imports. tea ceremony : A Japanese ritual in which tea is prepared, served, and drunk in a certain way. technology : A society's practical knowledge, especially with reference to its material culture and modes of production. Theodosius : (346? CE – 395 CE) Emperor of the Roman Empire who is responsible for making the Christian religion the official religion of the empire. trade : The exchange of goods or service between people. trade fair : A gathering of merchants, craftsmen, and artisans to buy and sell goods and service during late Middle Ages. Triangle Trade : A catch all phrase for the trade occurring between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Trade goods include raw materials from the Americas, manufactured goods from Europe, and slaves from Africa. United Nations : An international body composed of many countries that seeks to promote peace, prosperity, and cooperation around the world. It was formed in 1945 at the end of World War II. Venice and Florence : Italians City-States which were the center of the rebirth of European trade and culture at the end of the Middle Ages. Zheng He : (1371-1433?) Chinese naval explorer who sailed along most of the coast of Asia, Japan, and half way down the east coast of Africa before his death.