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6722692673Abbasidsecond islamic dynasty, islamic society experienced its golden age under caliphate, stretched from spain to india (mid 8th cent. to mid 13th cent.)0
6722697261Absolutism/ Absolute Powerruler has total, absolute power within their borders and had right to rule by god; made all laws but were not subject to them1
6722701152Administrationthe officials in the executive branch of government under a chief ruler or executive2
6722704081Ahismain buddhist, hindu, and jain traditions the principle of nonviolence towards all living things3
6722708370Amphibiousof a military operation, involving forces landed from the sea4
6722712861Analectsa collection of short literary or philosophical extracts5
6722713401Anglicanismmainly catholic church of england formed when king henry vii was refused a divorce by the pope and the roman catholic church and broke from it as a result6
6722715536Animismreligious belief that focuses on the roles of gods and spirits in the natural worlds. Usually polytheistic and have been practiced in every part of the world7
6722719059Anti-Semitismhostility or prejudice for or against jews8
6722722333Aqueducta conduit that used gravity to carry water to a location that needed it. Romans built many during urbanization9
6722725141Arabesquecomplex designs typical of islamic art featuring intertwining plants and geometric patterns b/c islamic art does not feature living creatures esp humans, often have arabic words and quran verses highly stylized10
6722726074Arbitraryof power or ruling party, unrestrained or autocratic in the use of authority; no reason or system11
6722730784Arthashastraancient indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy; written during reign of chandragupta maurya12
6722734079Aristocracyhighest class in certain societies; form of government where power is held by the nobility13
6722736404Aristotlegreek philosopher and studied natural science and ethics; premier student of plato, distrusted democracy, supported geocentric model; basis of later medieval science and religion14
6722739815Artisansworker in a skilled trade especially one that involves making things by hand15
6722744383Asoka (Ashoka)Mauryan emperor of india, emperor reached height under him. Abandoned violence and became buddhist, promoted peace and right policy and ethics16
6722749105Assertion/Assertaction of stating something or exercising authority confidently and forcefully17
6722753373Assimilationprocess by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group18
6722754808Astrolabeinstrument used for astronomy and navigation, made in the middle east, became key to later european exploration19
6722756037Atheismdisbelief or lack of belief in the existence of god or gods20
6722757047AtmanHinduism; spiritual life principle of the universe; a person's soul21
6722758819Autocrata ruler who has absolute power22
6722759871Bantuafrican group that migrated from their homeland when the Sahara began to dry out, repopulated Africa and brought iron tech, farming, and language23
6722763411Bedouinnomadic pastoralists of the arabian peninsula, culture based on camel and goat nomadism; earliest converts to islam24
6722765754Brahmansingle deity or god of hinduism present in all things; all other deities are just aspects of him25
6722767165Brahminpriestly class of hindu society, highest position of society, ton of privilege and power26
6722776219Bureaucracysystem of government in which most decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives27
6722790851Bushidojapanese term for samurai way of life; similar to concept of european knight's chivalry28
6722793439Caliph/Caliphatecivil and religious leader of a muslim state considered to be a representative of allah; established in succession to muhammad, name of islamic empire29
6722794607Calvinismprotestant sect, emphasizes strong moral code and believed in predestination, supported separation of church and state30
6722797787Capitalwealth in the form of property or money owned by a business or individual31
6722799407Capitalismeconomic system based on private ownership of capital; created by adam smith32
6722801612Canon Lawlaw of the church; filled the hole of political authority in during early dark ages and later stopped it from developing33
6722803185Caste Systemrigid system of social standing used in India; position determined by birth and could not be changed or moved out of34
6722807877Cavalrypreviously warriors who fought on horseback, now soldiers who fight from armoured vehicles35
6722808961Centralized vs Decentralizedsystem of gov where concentration of power is centered at a capital vs decentralized where power is shared over multiple regional hubs36
6722809405Chandraguptafounder of the Maurya empire, relied on vinegar policies, Arthashastra37
6722810660Chinampastype of mesoamerican agriculture that used small squares of arable land to grow crops on shallow lake beds; used by Aztecs in Mexico38
6722811086Chivalrythe religious, moral, and social code of medieval european feudal knights39
6722812028City-Statesmall independent state consisting of an urban center and its surrounding agricultural land; characteristic of ancient greece, Phoenicia, early Italy, and Mesopotamia40
6722813233Civilizationadvanced form of human society with cities, social institutions, writing, and skill in science and technology41
6722814419Civil Servicepermanent professional branches of a government's administration excluding military, politicians, and judges42
6722815089Clergybody of officials who perform religious services such as priests, ministers, and rabbis43
6722815996Codifiedact, process, or result of arranging in a systematic form or code; Hammurabi's code was the first codified set of laws44
6722817513Coerced Laborwhere workers are forced to work based on threats, pressure, or intimidation45
6722818887Cosmopolitancommon to or representative of many parts of the world; not national or local46
6722819996Colonizeto set up a colony outside of your own country to obtain its resources and markets for your own gain; characteristic of capitalism, goes with imperialism47
6722821735Commercial Revolutionperiod of european economic expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism (late 13th century to mid 18th century)48
6726535709Council of Trentreaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings in opposition to Protestant beliefs49
6726537393Covenantagreement; in the Judeo-Christian heritage, an agreement between God and humankind50
6726548783Cuneiformthe wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit, surviving mainly impressed on clay tablets51
6726553892Cyrillicthe alphabet used by many Slavic peoples, chiefly those with a historical allegiance to the Orthodox Church52
6726561732Cyrus the Greatestablished massive Persian Empire by 550 B.C.E.; successor state to Mesopotamian empires., c. 530 B.C.E. A Persian ruler who captured Babylon. He was known for his mercy. He was tolerant of other religions and culture, and even incorporated different architectural styles into his buildings53
6726578745Czaran emperor of Russia before 191754
6726582802Daimyo(in feudal Japan) one of the great lords who were vassals of the shogun55
6726610286Daoisma Chinese philosophy developed by Laozi, which promoted humility, frugal living, and harmony with nature56
6726645601Dar-al-Islamthe area of the world under the rule of Islam57
6726693238Deitya supernatural being, like a god or goddess, that is worshipped by people who believe it controls or exerts force over some aspect of the world58
6726723520Delhi Sultanatethe kingdom established by Mahmud's succesors to spread islam in India59
6726754825Demographic/Demographythe study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations60
6726761903Despotism/Despot/Despotica ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way61
6726781101Dharmathe caste position and career determined by a person's birth; Hindu culture required that one accept one's social position and perform occupation to the best of one's ability in order to have a better situation in the next life62
6726800023Diasporaany group migration or flight from a country or region; dispersion. Particularly used in relation to Jews scattered by Romans in 70 CE or to Africans spread to new places during the Atlantic Slave Trade63
6726817850Diplomacythe profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad64
6726821300Disciplea follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher; i.e. a personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles65
6726831413Discouragecause (someone) to lose confidence or enthusiasm66
6726948272Disputea disagreement, argument, or debate67
6726952705Disregardpay no attention to; ignore68
6726957652Dominant/Dominancepower and influence over others69
6726983969Dynastya line of hereditary rulers of a country70
6726989192Economic Systemthe means by which countries and governments distribute resources and trade goods and services. They are used to control the five factors of production, including: labor, capital, entrepreneurs, physical resources and information resources; i.e. traditional - not much change in standards of living or in financial or occupational position, command - gov't controls economy, market - economic decisions are made by individuals and for the most part, the government doesn't interfere, mixed - combines elements of command and mixed economy (U.S. has mixed economy)71
6727051380Egalitarianrelating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities72
6727055003Eightfold Patha teaching of Buddhism that demands individuals to lead moderate lives, reject luxuries, and follow an ascetic way of life to obtain salvation73
6729733474Elitea small group of people within a larger group who have more power, social standing, wealth, or talent than the rest of the group74
6729766763Embraceaccept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically75
6729772686Encroachmentto trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, especially stealthily or by gradual advances76
6729784007Enlightenmentintellectual movement centered in France during the 18th century; featured scientific advance, application of scientific methods to study of human society; belief that rational laws could describe social behavior77
6729811430Epic of Gilgameshan epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia that is often regarded as the earliest surviving great work of literature78
6729908520Epidemica widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time79
6729915802Estates Generalin France of the pre-Revolutionary monarchy, the representative assembly of the three "estates," or orders of the realm: the clergy and nobility—which were privileged minorities—and a Third Estate, which represented the majority of the people80
6729926532Ethnicity/Ethnic Groupa social group that has a common national or cultural tradition81
6729940579Ethnocentrismevaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture82
6729945189Eunucha man who has been castrated, especially (in the past) one employed to guard the women's living areas at an oriental court83
6729958129Excommunicationthe action of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church84
6729965131Exploitationthe action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work; the action of making use of and benefiting from resources85
6729976594Facilitatemake (an action or process) easy or easier86
6729996578Factorsa circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome87
6730013885Factors of Productionan economic term that describes the inputs that are used in the production of goods or services in order to make an economic profit. The factors of production include land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship88
6730013886Feudalismthe dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection89
6730034741Filial Pietya virtue of respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors90
6730042720Five Pillars of IslamObligatory religious duties of all Muslims: (1) confession of faith "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet"; (2) prayer (5 times a day facing Mecca), (3) fasting during Ramadan, (4) zakat (tax for charity), and, (5) the hajj (pilgrimage)91
6730060725Fiefan estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service92
6730084229Foragingsearch widely for food or provisions93
6730089286Foreign Policya government's strategy in dealing with other nations94
6730094925Fratricidethe killing of one's brother or sister95
6730098574Genocidethe deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation96
6730172913Gentryan upper or ruling class; aristocracy97
6730181694Geocentric Theorythe belief that the Earth is the center of the universe, and that the Moon, Sun, stars and planets revolve around the Earth98
6752180579Glypha hieroglyphic character or symbol; a pictograph99
6752185304Golden Hordeone of four regional subdivisions of the Mongol Empire after the death of Chinggis Khan; conquered and ruled Russia during the 13th and 14th centuries100
6752196368Griota member of a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa101
6752200174Haciendarural estates in Spanish colonies in New World; produced agricultural products for consumers in America; basis of wealth and power for local aristocracy102
6752208059Haditha tradition based on reports of the sayings and activities of Muhammad and his companions103
6752243424Han FeiziCollected Legalist ideas and synthesized them in a collection of powerful essays on statecraft. Strengthen and expand the state at all costs. The state's power derived from agriculture and the armed forces. Need to have strict and harsh laws. Not a popular viewpoint, but use of Legalist approaches often bought results. Helped to unify China.104
6752254372Hajjthe Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the last month of the year, and that all Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime105
6752261567Haremthe separate part of a Muslim household reserved for wives, concubines, and female servants106
6752267445Hijrah (Heijra)the migration or journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib, later renamed by him to Medina, in the year 622107
6752280413Hegemonyleadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others108
6752287773Hellenisticrelating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31 BC. During this period Greek culture flourished, spreading through the Mediterranean and into the Near East and Asia and centering on Alexandria in Egypt and Pergamum in Turkey109
6752319078Hierarchya system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority110
6752325943Heresy/Hereticbelief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine111
6752330656Humanisman outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems112
6752345156Hunslarge nomadic group from northern Asia who invaded territories extending from China to Eastern Europe. They virtually lived on their horses, herding cattle, sheep, and horses as well as hunting113
6752364331Ibn BatuttaMoroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Islamic lands from China to Spain and the western Sudan.114
6752371588IconImages of religious figure venerated by Byzantine Christians115
6752378330Ideologya system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy116
6752384279Indifferencelack of interest, concern, or sympathy117
6752389524Indigenousoriginating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native118
6752400002Indo-Europeansseries of tribes from southern Russia who, over a period of millennia, embarked on a series of migrations from India through western Europe; their greatest legacy was the broad distribution of Indo-European languages throughout Eurasia119
6752431488Indulgence(in the Roman Catholic Church) a grant by the Pope of remission of the temporal punishment in purgatory still due for sins after absolution. The unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners was a widespread abuse during the later Middle Ages120
6752445431Inflationa general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money121
6752449203Interdicta prohibition by the pope that can deprive individual persons, groups, communities, and even nations of all priestly ministry. Thus, they no longer had access to the sacraments of the church122
6752459046Intoleranceunwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own123
6786830944Investiturea struggle between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope over who nominates clergymen. Pope won124
6786835289Imperialisma policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force125
6786839307Infantrysoldiers marching or fighting on foot126
6786840889Inquisitiontribunal established by Pope Gregory IX for the suppression of heresy127
6786843744Jainismextreme nonviolence and emphasizes ahimsa to extreme extents and believes even non-living things have souls128
6786847332JanissaryOttoman infantry, forcibly conscripted as young (Christian) boys, used guns, influenced politics and eventually became a social class129
6786854064Jihad"Holy War," a personal or collective struggle on the part of Muslims to reach the standards set by the Qur'an (spread Islam)130
6786859641Ka'aba(black box) most revered religious shrine in Pre-Islamic Arabia; in Mecca; center of worship for bedouins, and later, for Muslims131
6786867654Karmaeffects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation132
6786870305Khantitle given to Mongol ruler; means "supreme ruler"133
6786872058Khanatefour regional Mongol kingdoms that arose following the death of Genghis Khan134
6786993586Kow-towa Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission135
6786997905Land Redistributiongov't took private land and redistributes it equally (among peasants)136
6787000458Latifundiaa large landed estate or ranch in ancient Rome or Spain or Latin America137
6787004319Laotzifounded Daoism; encouraged people to give up worldly desires in favor of nature138
6787011375Legalismpolitical philosophy of unruliness of human nature which justified state coercion and control; used by Qin and Shi Huangdi to unite China139
6787019977Legiona unit of 3000-6000 men in the ancient Roman army140
6787023030Legislaturethe law-making body of a country or state141
6787026437Legitimacy/Legitimizequalified ruler (an heir or has the right skills)142
6787028162Lineagelineal descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree143
6787030327Machiavelli(1459-1527) author of the Prince; emphasized realistic discussions of how to seize and maintain power (Italian Renaissance)144
6787037877Magna Cartaissued by King John of England in 1215; confirmed feudal rights against monarchial claims145
6787044007Mandate of HeavenZhou started this tradition; Heaven granted power to the ruler of China and could take it away if the ruler failed to rule his people justly and well146
6787062464Manorialismrelations between landlords and peasants in Middle Ages; exchanged labor for access to land147
6787067001Mansa Musagreatest Mali king; brought Mali to peak from 1312-1337; made the hajj to Mecca; developed Timbuktu148
6787100315Marco PoloVentian merchant and traveler; his accounts of China stimulated interest in Asian trade; traveled during the reign of the Mongols - Pax Mongolica149
6787105229Matrilinealof or based on kinship with the mother or the female line150
6787107593Mercenarya professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army151
6787109745Meritocracygovernment or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability152
6787114264Messiahdescendant of King David expected by the Jews to become their king and return them to glory; many believed it to be Jesus153
6787119498Metallurgybranch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification154
6787150108Minareta tall slendertower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer155
6787156480Missionarya person sent on a religious mission, especially one to spread a religion in a foreign country156
6787162331Mokshain Hinduism, occurs when you are reunited with Brahman and escape reincarnation157
6787165518Monasticismliving in a religious community apart from secular society; monasteries were centers of learning and literacy158
6787170936Monsoona seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia; wet and dry monsoon159
6787175713Mosquea Muslim place of worship; were the leading places of academia during the Abbasid Caliphate160
6787182434Mysticismbelief that union with or absorption into the Deity of the absolute, man be attained through contemplation and self-surrender161
6787187008Nationalsimloyalty and devotion to a nation162
6787188540Neo-Confucianisma movement in religious philosophy derived from Confucianism in China around 1000 CE in response to the ideas and popularity of Daoism and Buddhism163
6787198710Neolithic Revolutionwide scale transition of many human cultures from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement164
6787202128Nepotismthe practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends; especially by giving them jobs165
6787300245Ninety-Five Thesespropositions for debate concerned with the question of indulgences, written and possibly posted by Martin Luther on the door of a church166
6787309704Nirvana(Buddhism) a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self and the subject is released from karma and reincarnation; final goal of Buddhism167
6787317760Oligarchya small group of people having control of a country, organization or institution168
6787324369Oracle Bonesin Chin, animal bones that were heated and the cracks were then interpreted as prophecies169
6787332955Ottoman Turksa group of Turks from northwest Asia Minor who conquered Byzantium and Constantinople (became Istanbul); Ottoman Empire existed from 1200's to 1900's170
6787346729Pagodaa Hindu or Buddhist temple or sacred building, typically a many-tiered tower, in India and East Asia171
6787352050Paleolithicpeople were nomadic hunter gatherers; called Old Stone Age (10,000-2.5 mya); people used stone and bone tools; people were completely at the mercy of their environment, shaping early belief systems and leading to Animism172
6788741774Pandemican outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects much of the population173
6788743808Parliament(in the UK) the highest legislature, consisting of the sovereign, the House of the Lords, and the House of Commons174
6788748646Pastoralismpeople who are nomadic and raise and graze cattle and animals; live on outskirts of civilization175
6788751325PatricianRoman aristocrats and wealthy class176
6788752320Patriarchya system of society or gov't in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through177
6788758606Patrilinealrelating to or based on relationship to the father or descent through the male line178
6788762205Patrona person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity (Italian Renaissance, patrons supported artists)179
6788770094Pax Romanathe period of stability and prosperity of the early Roman Empire180
6788779920Pax Mongolicathe stabilizing effects of the conquests of the Mongol Empire on the social, cultural, and economic life of inhabitants of the empire181
6788783710PericlesAthenian leader noted for advancing democracy; presided over Athens' Golden Age182
6788790281Periodizationthe process or study of categorizing the past into discrete, quantified named blocks of time in order to facilitate the analysis of history183
6788794739Phalanxa body of troops, standing or moving in close formation184
6788796174Pietythe quality of being religious or reverent185
6788797691Pilgrimagea journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion186
6788800089Plebeianmember of the lower class of Ancient Rome, including farmers, merchants, artisans and traders187
6788803132Polisa Greek city-state; served as the main political institution in Classical Greece188
6788805093Polygamythe practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time189
6788807929Pre-Destinationprimary idea behind Calvinism; states that salvation or damnation are foreordained and unalterable190
6788812531Predominantlymainly; for the most part191
6788814734Primarilymainly; for the most part192
6788815489Prosperoussuccessful in material terms; flourishing financially193
6788817075Prostratelying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward194
6788820317Protestant Reformationreligious reform movement within the Latin Christian Church beginning in 1519; led to new Protestant religions; initiated by Martin Luther195
6788824823Purdahthe practice among Muslim and Hindu women of living in a separate room or behind a curtain, or of dressing in all-enveloping clothing196
6788829555Quipuan ancient Inca device for recording information, consisting of variously colored threads knotted in different ways197
6788853231Radicaladvocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change; representing or supporting an extreme or progressive section of a political party198
6788856892Ramayanaa Sanskrit epic, traditionally attributed to Valmiki, that concerns the banishment of Rama from his kingdom, the abduction of his wife Sita by a demon and her rescue, and Rama's eventual restoration to the throne199
6788879105Rajahan Indian king or prince200
6788882324Reconquistain medieval Spain and Portugal, a series of campaigns by Christian states to recapture territory from the Muslims (Moors), who had occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century201
6788890526Regicidethe action of killing a king202
6788892960Reincarnationthe rebirth of a soul in a new body (in Hinduism and Buddhism)203
6788906574Renaissancethe cultural rebirth that occurred in Europe from roughly the fourteenth through the middle of the seventeenth centuries, based on the rediscovery of the literature of Greece and Rome204
6788947556Republica state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch205
6788997537Sacramentsa religious ceremony or act of the Christian Church that is regarded as an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual divine grace, in particular206
6789013662Sanskritan ancient Indic language of India, in which the Hindu scriptures and classical Indian epic poems are written and from which many northern Indian languages are derived207
6789028296Sati/Sutteea former practice in India whereby a widow threw herself onto her husband's funeral pyre208
6789032087Scribea person who copies out documents, especially one employed to do this before printing was invented209
6789036369Sectsa group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong210
6789043058Seculardenoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis211
6789050032Seige Warfare/Weaponrya Medieval military operation involving the surrounding and blockading of a town, castle or fortress by an army in the attempt to capture it212
6789064194Seljuk Turksnomadic Turks from Asia who conquered Baghdad in 1055 and allowed the caliph to remain only as a religious leader; they governed strictly213
6789079012Seppukuritual suicide by disembowelment carried out by samurai214
6789085383Serfan agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate215
6789089506ShariaIslamic canonical law based on the teachings of the Koran and the traditions of the Prophet216
6789094653Shi Huangdiking of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BC to 221 BC, and then the first emperor of a unified China from 221 BC to 210 BC, ruling under the name First Emperor217
6789145595Shintoa Japanese religion dating from the early 8th century and incorporating the worship of ancestors and nature spirits and a belief in sacred power ( kami ) in both animate and inanimate things. It was the state religion of Japan until 1945218
6789168708Shoguna hereditary commander-in-chief in feudal Japan. Because of the military power concentrated in his hands and the consequent weakness of the nominal head of state (the mikado or emperor), the shogun was generally the real ruler of the country until feudalism was abolished in 1867219
6789180232Shrinea place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, typically marked by a building or other construction220
6789190571Simonythe buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges, for example pardons or benefices221
6789204782Slash-and-Burn Agriculturea farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a field called a swidden222
6794462919Socialisma political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole223
6794462920Social Mobilityability of a person to work his way up from one social class to the next224
6794518152Socratic Methodcontinually asking questions to systematically clarify another person's ideas and identify core225
6794579825Specializationto train or specialize people in certain areas of work so that people can accomplish tasks quicker226
6794599843Standardizationthe process of making something conform to a standard (currency, writing, measurements, roads)227
6794616403Steppea large area of flat unforested grassland in southeastern Europe or Siberia228
6794625546Stupaa dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine229
6794642526Sultan/Sultanatea Muslim sovereign/ Muslim kingdom ruled by a Sultan230
6794646396Sufia mystical Muslim group that believed they could draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and a simple life; successful missionaries231
6794673189Surplusan amount of something left over when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply over demand232
6794686874Stoicisman ancient Greek school of philosophy founded at Athens by Zeno of Citium. The school taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge, and that the wise live in harmony with the divine Reason (also identified with Fate and Providence) that governs nature, and are indifferent to the vicissitudes of fortune and to pleasure and pain233
6794726113Social Stratificationthis phenomena creates a hierarchy or tiered system in which different groups of individuals have varying amounts of power within a society. Social stratification means that certain individuals (elites) have more power and influence than other individuals, such as commoners and slaves. In Neolithic times, social stratification emerged when food surpluses allowed some members of society to do things other than farm. This led to job specialization and the beginnings of a class system featuring elites, merchants, artisans, farmers and slaves234
6794757232Successionthe action or process of inheriting a title, office, property, etc.235
6794902015Syncretism/Syncretica union or attempted fusion of different religions, cultures, or philosophies236
6794906830Tenetsa principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy237
6794908805Terrace Farminga farming system that is in the form of steps going up a mountain (used in China and South America in the Andes)238
6794970833Titheone tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the church and clergy239
6794991341Theocracya form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler; religious law is state law240
6794994086Torah(in Judaism) the law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures241
6795006492Totalitarianisma system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state242
6795018476Transformationsa thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance243
6795025809Tribalisma European tendency, especially in African colonies, to identify and sometimes invent distinct "tribes" that had often not existed before, reinforcing European notions that African societies were primitive244
6795094655Tribute/Tributary SystemChinese method of dealing with foreign lands and people's that assumed the subordination of all non-Chinese authorities and required the payment of tribute to the Chinese emperor245
6795109568Tripitaka'Three baskets'; the collection of early sacred writings whose three sections consist of discourses attributed to the Buddha, rules of monastic discipline, and treatises on doctrine246
6795139125Law of Twelve Tablesthe Twelve Tables of Rome The laws of Rome, codified. Famously includes the concept of "innocent until proven guilty"247
6795140890Ummathe Muslim community or people, considered to extend from Mauritania to Pakistan; provided peace along thee lands248
6795179087Umayyadfirst hereditary dynasty of Muslim caliphs (661 to 750). From their capital at Damascus, the Umayyads ruled one of the largest empires in history that extended from Spain to India. Overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate249
6795199780Untouchableslowest level of caste system. Hauled trash and dead bodies; extreme prejudice against them250
6795214794Urbanizationthe gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas251
6795267658Urdua Persian-influenced literary form of Hindi written in Arabic characters and used as a literary language since the 1300s252
6795267659Varnathe four major social divisions in India's caste system: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class253
6795288170Vassalmembers of the military elite who received land or a benefice from a feudal lord in return for military service and loyalty.254
6795304357Vedasearly collections of prayers and hymns that provide information about the Indo-European Aryans who migrated into India around 1500 BCE255
6795319319Vernacularthe language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region256
6795328584Xiongnupeople of the Mongolian steppe lands north of China who formed a large-scale nomadic empire in the third and second centuries B.C.E.; Chinese used tributary system to stop them from invading257
6795354859Zakatreligious tax, one of the five basic requirements (arkan or "pillars") of Islam(The 4th). All adult Muslims of sound mind and body with a set level of income and assets are expected to pay this258
6795371871Zheng Hean imperial eunuch and Muslim, entrusted by the Ming emperor Yongle with a series of state voyages that took his gigantic ships through the Indian Ocean, from Southeast Asia to Africa259
6795422102Ziggurata Mesopotamian stepped pyramid. Unlike an Egyptian pyramid, a ziggurat was a solid structure of baked brick, an artificial hill at the summit of which stood a temple260
6795424429Zoroastrianisma religion that emerged in the Persian Empire; created by Zoroaster and emphasized struggle between good and evil (dualistic); later influenced elements of Christianity261

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