absolute monarchy
government in which the king or queen has total control over his or her subjects
agriculture
the science or practice of cultivating the soil
alliance
a bond or connection between countries, families, states, parties, or individuals
Allied Forces
World War I: Russia, Great Britain, France, Italy, United States, Romania, Serbia, and Belgium
appeasement
the act of buying off (an aggressor) by concessions usually at the sacrifice of principles
aristocracy
government by the "best" individuals or by a small privileged class
aristocrat
a member of a class of wealthy people who wield a large amount of power and influence, typically based on the ownership of land
artistic
relating to creative fields such as painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.
Aryan
used in Nazism to designate a supposed master race of non-Jewish Caucasians usually having Nordic features
assassination
the murder of a political leader or public figure by sudden or secret attack
barter
to trade by exchanging one commodity for another
The Black Hand
a Sicilian and Italian-American secret society of the late 19th and 20th centuries
Bolshevik
a member of the extremist wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party that seized power in Russia through the Revolution of November 1917
Buddhism
a religion based on teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) that evolved from Hinduism in northern India and Nepal and diffused from this core area (563 BC-483 BC)
buffer zone
a neutral zone between two hostile nations
bureaucracy
a multi-layered group of officials that run a large organization, such as a government
It typically has a fixed set of rules and a hierarchy of authority.
caliph
a successor of Muhammad as temporal and spiritual head of Islam
Carthage
an ancient city-state on the coast of Northern Africa
casualty
the victim of a fatality or serious injury lost through death, wounds, injury, sickness, internment, or capture
Central Powers
World War I: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria
Christianity
a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ
citizen
a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and enjoys all the rights and privileges that government provides
civil service exam
an exam taken by people who are interested in getting a job in the government
civilization
an advanced state of development in human society, marked by division of labor, forms of government, and a surplus of food
coinage
the act or process of coining (making coins)
Columbian Exchange
the large scale exchange of slaves, goods, plants, animals, and diseases that took place between the Europe and the Americas following Columbus's voyage
commonwealth
a group of people linked by something that they have in common
communism
a political and economic system in which factors of production are collectively owned and directed by the state
Confucianism
a philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) and emphasizes worship of one's ancestors, obedience, loyalty, education, and respect for others
Confucius
a Chinese philosopher who lived from 551 BC - 479 BC and who established rules for conduct that would govern China's culture for thousands of years
conquistador
a leader in the Spanish conquest of North and South America
consent of governed
political theory that the power of a government is justified by the will of the people over which that power is held
conscription
the compulsory enrollment of persons especially for military service
contractual
legally binding according to written agreement
cottage industry
industry of people producing goods by working in the home
culture
the customary beliefs, social forms, characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life), and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
Declaration of Independence
document signed on July 4, 1776, that provided justification for breaking ties between colonial Americans and the King of England
democracy
a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections
democratic
of, relating to, or favoring democracy; or
relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses of the people
dictatorship
a system in which a leader holds absolute power over the people of a country, usually by force
direct democracy
system in which citizens vote directly on issues (for example, whether or not to go to war)
disarmament
the reduction or removal or military forces and weapons
domesticate
to adapt (an animal or plant) to life in close association with, and to the advantage of humans
dynasty
a succession of rulers of the same descent
economic
related to production, distribution, and trade of goods  and services
Erasistratus
a Greek anatomist and royal physician under Seleucus I Nicator of Syria
escalate
to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope
factors of production
any commodities or services used to produce goods and services, specifically stocks including land, labor (the ability to work), and capital goods applied to production
Ferdinand de Lesseps
(19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) the French developer of the Suez Canal
feudalism
a political system based on the rule of local lords bound to a king by ties of loyalty; developed in western Europe during the Middle Ages as a system of local defense against invaders
Fourteen Points
proposal for ending the war put forth by President Woodrow Wilson in a speech on January 8, 1918
The proposal established the basis of a peace treaty and the foundation of a League of Nations.
genocide
the mass-murder of people based on ethnicity
ghetto
a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live
globalization
a process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade
Han Dynasty
Chinese Dynasty that ruled from roughly 200 BC to 200 AD (around the same time as the Roman Empire in Europe), considered one of the high points of Chinese civilization
Hannibal Barca
247–183 B.C. Son of Hamilcar Barca Carthaginian general
Hanseatic League
an economic alliance of trading cities and their guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Norther Europe in the later Middle Ages
Harappa
one of the oldest cities in the world, founded by the Harappan people around 2600 BCE in the Indus River Valley (around the present-day border between India and Pakistan)
hierarchy
the prescribed order of social, economic, or professional standing
hieroglyphs
pictorial characters used in a system of writing
Hellenism
a. devotion to or imitation of ancient Greek thought, customs, or styles; b. Greek civilization especially as modified in the Hellenistic period by influences from southwestern Asia; c. a body of humanistic and classical ideals associated with ancient Greece and including reason, the pursuit of knowledge and the arts, moderation, civic responsibility, and bodily development (merriam-webster.com)
Hellenistic Age
the time after Alexander’s death (323 BCE) to approximately 30 BCE in which Greek culture and power extended itself across the known world
Hinduism
a religion which evolved from an ancient Aryan religion and blended the beliefs of peoples conquered by the Aryans
Hinduism is a religion and philosophy based on one supreme force, Brahma, and other gods including Vishnu and Shiva.
Hormuz
ancient town in southern Iran on Strait of Hormuz (strait connecting Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman
Horn of Africa
the easternmost projection of Africa —variously used to refer to the region including Somalia, southeastern or all of Ethiopia, often Djibouti, and sometimes Eritrea, Sudan, & Kenya
imperialism
the domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region
individual rights
the right to life, liberty, and property
infrastructure
(1) the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization); (2) the system of public works of a country, state, or region; also: the resources (as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity
instability
the quality or state of being unstable; especially: lack of economic or political stability
intellectual
related to academic, technological, or scientific achievements
irrigation
the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth
Islam
a religion based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed which stresses belief in one god (Allah), (followers of Islam are called Moslem (Muslim)
joint-stock company
a company or association consisting of individuals organized to conduct a business for gain and having a joint stock of capital represented by shares owned individually by the members and transferable without the consent of the group
Judaism
a religion and philosophy with belief in one god (monotheism); originated with Abraham and the Hebrew people
jury
a group of citizens who decides whether someone is guilty or innocent during a trial
laissez-faire economy
an economy in which the government is not involved in private business
League of Nations
political organization established by the Allied powers at end of World War I; replaced by United Nations 1946
levee
continuous dike or ridge (as of earth) for confining the irrigation areas of land to be flooded
Locke, John
an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers, widely known as the Father of Liberalism and for contributions to classical republicanism and liberal theory that are reflected in the American Declaration of Independence
Lusitania
British ocean liner, the sinking of which by a German submarine on May 7, 1915, contributed indirectly to the entry of the United States into World War I
mandate
an authoritative command; especially: a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one: an authorization to act given to a representative (accepted the mandate of the people)
manorialism
an economic system based on the manor, lands including a village and surrounding acreage which were administered by a lord; developed during the Middle Ages to increase agricultural production
manuscript
any text written out by hand before the beginning of the printing press in the mid-15th century
Marx, Karl
(May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883) a German philosopher, sociologist, historian, political economist, political theorist and revolutionary socialist, who developed the socio-political theory of Marxism
Medieval Europe
from 400 A.D. to 1400 A.D. when there was no centralized power and feudal lords were the authorities in each region of Europe
mercantilism
an economic system developing during the decay of feudalism to unify and increase the power and especially the monetary wealth of a nation by a strict governmental regulation of the entire national economy usually through policies designed to secure an accumulation of bullion, a favorable balance of trade, the development of agriculture and manufactures, and the establishment of foreign trading monopolies
meritocracy
a system in which those who perform the best are given promotions or rewards
migration
moving from place to place and following the food and resources
militarism
predominance of the military class or its ideals b: exaltation of military virtues and ideals
Mohenjo-Daro
one of the oldest cities in the world, founded by the Harappan people around 2600 BCE in the Indus River Valley (around the present-day border between India and Pakistan)
monarchy
government controlled by a single leader
Muhammad Ali
(4 March 1769 – 2 August 1849) an Albanian commander in the Ottoman army who is regarded as the founder of modern Egypt
nationalism
loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups
navigation
the science of getting ships, aircraft, or spacecraft from place to place; the method of determining position, course, and distance traveled
Neolithic Age
era relating to the latest period of the Stone Age characterized by polished stone implements
Neolithic Revolution (Agricultural)
the New Stone Age (Neolithic) began about 10,000 BC and lasted until about 3,500 BC, and was marked by a change from hunting and gathering food to domesticating animals and cultivating land as farmers
nomadic
roaming from place to place
occupation
the holding and control of an area by a foreign military force
Paleolithic Age
era relating to the earliest period of the Stone Age characterized by rough or chipped stone implements
Pan-Slavism
a political and cultural movement originally emphasizing the cultural ties between the Slavic peoples but later associated with Russian expansionism
Paris Peace Conference
meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for Germany and other defeated nations
patriarchal
based on the patriarch, or the father of the family
petition
a written request signed by many people demanding change from their government
petroleum
an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
philosopher-king
the Platonic ideal of a ruler, philosophically trained and enlightened; an elite or wise person whose knowledge enables them to rule justly
political
related to the structure of government including who controls power and how decisions are made
popular sovereignty
rule of the people
printing press
invention that  increased the output of printed material and made such material available to much of the population
purpose of establishment of government
to protect people’s individual rights
religious
refers to a society’s spiritual beliefs and practices
Renaissance
time of great change in society and religion characterized by  great achievements in arts, literature, science, and classical learning (literally translated means "rebirth")
reparations
the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
representative democracy
system in which citizens vote for politicians who make decisions, such as in the modern United States
right of citizens to abolish an oppressive government
John Locke’s reasoning for abolishing existing government as described in the Declaration of Independence
self-evident
obvious to oneself
serfs
peasants who were bound to the land that they farmed for wealthy land owners
social
refers to the different groups of people in a society and how they relate to each other
For example, gender relationships between men and women, or the relationship between different racial groups.  These are what we call “social” differences.
social contract
when individuals give up their rights in order to be protected
socialism
an economic system in which government owns some factors of production and participates in answering the four economic questions of “what to produce,” “how to produce,” “how much to produce,” and “for whom to produce”
standarization of money
setting a standard for the value of money
state of nature
no government, no rules, absolute freedom
subjugation
overthrow by conquest
theocracy
government controlled by a religious organization or representatives of a religious organization
trade
the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities
trade fairs
large gatherings where goods and services from many regions were bought and sold
Treaty of Versailles
the formal agreement to end World War I
tyrant
a ruler who has absolute power
urbanization
the growth of cities and towns
ultimatum
a final proposition, condition, or demand; especially: one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action
unalienable
not able to be taken away
unrestricted submarine warfare
a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink military ships without warning
urban
refers to cities; for example “urban lifestyle” can be understood to mean “city lifestyle”
war of attrition
strategy of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack
weapons of war
weapons used by combatants to wage war
Yalta Conference
a meeting of Great Britain, U.S., and the Soviet Union to decide the fate of Germany
ziggurat
an ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top; also: a structure or object of similar form
Zimmermann Note
a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause
This message helped draw the United States into the war and thus changed the course of history.