World History: Important Terms Flashcards

Important ideas from our World History course.

775579318	Neolithic Revolution	The shift from hunting of animals and gathering of food to the keeping of animals and the growing of food on a regular basis around 8,000 BCE. Led to the formation of societies.
775566491	Theocracy	A government controlled by religious leaders
775566492	Democracy	a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
775566493	Republic	A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
775566494	Oligarchy	A system of government in which a small group holds power
775566495	Tyranny	A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
775566496	Aristocracy	The most powerful, wealthy, and prosperous members of a society
775566497	Monotheistic	Believing in only one God
775566498	Polytheistic	Believing in many gods
775566499	Buddhism	A religion based on the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth
775566500	Christianity	A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament.
775566501	Bible	The Christian holy book that contains the writings or scriptures that Christians recognize as the written word of God.
775566502	Hinduism	A body of polytheistic religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme beingof many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a
775566503	Islam	The monotheistic religion of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachings of Muhammad as laid down in the Qur'an
775566504	Qur'an	The Muslim holy book, said to be revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina
775566505	Judaism	the monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud
775566506	Torah	A Jewish holy book which consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Scripture is written
775566507	Shintoism	Religion located in Japan and related to Buddhism. Shintoism focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship.
775566508	Silk Road	An ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 km (4,000 mi) and linking China with the Roman Empire. Marco Polo followed the route on his journey to Cathay.
775566509	Feudalism	A medieval political system in which nobles (lords/daimyo) are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service (knights/samurai), and protection of the people who live on the land (peasants/serfs)
775566510	Magna Carta	This document, signed by King John of Endland in 1215, is the cornerstone of English justice and law. It declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens of England. It contained the antecedents of the ideas of due process and the right to a fair and speedy trial that are included in the protection offered by the U.S. Bill of Rights
775566511	Chivalry	A code that knights adopted in the late Middle Ages; requiring them to be brave, loyal and true to their word; they had to fight fairly in battle
775566512	Crusades	A series of military expeditions launched by Christian Europeans (originally Pope Urban II) to win the Holy land back from Muslim control.
775566513	Bushido	Traditional code of the Japanese samurai which stressed courage and loyalty and self-discipline and simple living
775566514	Columbian Exchange	The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.
775566515	Triangular Trade	A three way system of trade during 1600-1800s Africa sent slaves to America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe, and Europe sent Guns and Rum to Africa
775566516	Mercantilism	An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods (exporting) than they bought (importing)
775566517	Joint-Stock Company	A company in which investors buy stock in the company in return for a share of its future profits
775566518	Humanism	A renaissance intellectual movement in which thinkers studied classical texts and focused on human potential and achievements
775566519	Renaissance	The great period of rebirth in art, literature, and learning in the 14th-16th centuries, which marked the transition into the modern periods of European history
775566520	Reformation	A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches. Launched by Martin Luther's 95 Thesis, and continued with figures such as John Calvin and Henry VIII.
775566521	Heliocentric	A model of the solar system in which Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun. Proposed by scientists such as Copernicus & Galileo.
775566522	Enlightenment	Movement during the 1700's that spread the idea that knowledge, reason, and science could improve society
775566523	Social Contract	The notion that society is based on an agreement between government and the governed in which people agree to give up some rights in exchange for the protection of others. Advocated by philosophers such as Rousseau & Locke.
775579319	Agricultural Revolution	A time in the 18th century when new inventions such as the seed drill and the steel plow made farming easier and faster. The production of food rose dramatically.
775566524	Imperialism	A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries poitically, socially, and economically.
775566525	Nationalism	The aspiration for national independence felt by people under foreign domination. When taken to extremes, can result in tension and warfare between competing nations.
775566526	Totalitarianism	A government that takes total, centralized, state control over every aspect of public and private life. Enforced with aggressive police, fear, and propaganda.
775566527	Fascism	A totalitarian political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition
775566528	Marshall Plan	Introduced by Secretary of State George G. Marshall in 1947, he proposed massive and systematic American economic aid to Europe to revitalize the European economies after WWII and help prevent the spread of Communism.
775566529	Berlin Blockade	April 1, 1948 - Russia under Stalin blockaded Berlin completely in the hopes that the West would give the entire city to the Soviets to administer. To bring in food and supplies, the U.S. and Great Britain mounted air lifts which became so intense that, at their height, an airplane was landing in West Berlin every few minutes. West Germany was a republic under Franc, the U.S. and Great Britain. Berlin was located entirely within Soviet-controlled East Germany.
775566530	Cuban Missile Crisis	An international crisis in October 1962, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the U.S. and the USSR. When the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island; the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the U.S. demands a week later.
775566531	Kyoto Protocol	Establishes legally binding commitments for the reduction of four greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride), and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) Took place in Rio De Janeiro in 1992
775566532	U.N. Declaration of Human Rights	A declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled