Vocabulary

This Page will contain access to the Vocabulary of all the Units, simply click on the links to see the words.

Greece Vocabulary Chapter 8

Greece Vocabulary Chapter 9

Roman Vocabulary (Chapter 10)

Roman Vocabulary (Chapter 11)

Asian Vocabulary (Mixed chapters)

Middle East Vocabulary (Chapter 12)

African Vocabulary (Chapter 13)

Middle Ages Vocabulary (Chapter 17)

Middle Ages Vocabulary (Chapter 18)

Renaissance and Reformation Vocabulary (chapter 19)

Age of Exploration and Scientific Revolution Vocabulary (chapter 20)



__**Greece Chapter 8**__
 * ** Classical: ** referring to the cultures of ancient greece and rome
 * ** Democracy: ** A type of government in which people rule themselves.
 * ** Aristocrats: ** A rich landowner or noble
 * ** Oligarchy: ** A government in which only a few people have power
 * ** Citizens: ** A person who has the right to participate in government
 * ** Tyrant: ** An Ancient Greek leader who held power throught the use of force
 * ** Pericles: ** Athenian leader, he encouraged the spread of democracy and led Athens when the city was at its height.
 * ** Mythology: ** Stories about gods and heroes that try to explain how the world works.
 * ** Homer: ** Greek Poet, he wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey, two famous greek epic poems. They describe the deeds of heroes during and after the Trojan war.
 * ** Fables: ** A short story that teaches a lesson about life or gives advice on how to live
 * ** Influence: ** change, or have an effect on
 * ** Cleisthenes: ** Athenian statesman, he is considered the father of Athenian Democracy
 * ** City-State: ** A political Unit consisting of a city and its surrounding countryside. Or a mini-nation

Back to Top of Page



__**Greece Chapter 9**__
 * ** Cavalry: ** A unit of soldiers who ride horses
 * ** Darius I: ** Persian emperor, he restored order to the Persian Empire after a period of rebellion. Darius I built roads and made other improvements to Persian Society
 * ** Xerxes I: ** Persian Emperor, he lead the Persian Army and Navy against Athens following the rebellions under his father. He burned Athens but ultimately lost the war against the Greeks.
 * ** Alliance: ** An agreement to work together
 * ** Phalanx: ** A group of Greek warriors who stood together in a square formation
 * ** Hellenistic: ** Greek-like; heavily influenced by Greek ideas
 * ** Socrates: ** Greek philosopher, his teaching style was based on asking questions. He wanted people to question their own beliefs. Socrates was arrested and condemned to death for challenging authority.
 * ** Plato: ** Greek Philosopher, he was a student of Socrates. Plato started a school in Athens called the Academy and wrote The Republic, which describes an ideal society run by philosophers.
 * ** Aristotle: ** Greek Philosopher, he was a student of Plato. Aristotle taught that people should live lives of moderation and use reason in their lives.
 * ** Reason: ** Clear and ordered thinking
 * ** Strategy: ** A plan for fighting a battle or war
 * ** Persian Wars: ** A series of wars between Persia and Greece in the 400s BC
 * ** Ideal: ** Perfect
 * ** Civil War: ** A war fought between people of the same region or country
 * ** Peloponnesian War: ** A war between Athens and Sparts in the 400s BC
 * ** Alexander the Great: ** Macedonian ruler, he was one of the greatest military commanders in history. The sone of Philip II, Alexander conquered large areas of Asia and parts of Europe and Africa and spread Greek culture throughout his empire

Back to Top of Page



__**Rome: Chapter 10**__
 * ** Republic: ** A Political system (government) where people elect leaders to govern them. (a layered government)
 * ** Dictator: ** A ruler who has almost absolute power
 * ** Legions: ** a Group of about 6,000 Roman Soldiers
 * ** Plebians: ** The Common people of ancient Rome
 * ** Patricians: ** The nobility in Roman Society
 * ** Magistrates: ** An Elected official in Rome
 * ** Consuls: ** The two most powerful officials in Rome.
 * ** Veto: ** To reject or prohibit actions and laws of other government officials.
 * ** Roman Senate: ** A Council of wealthy and powerful citizens who advised Rome's leaders.
 * ** Cincinnatus: ** Roman Dictator, he was chosen by the Romans to defend their lands from attack. Later, he willingly gave up power and was considered an ideal leader by the Romans.
 * ** Checks and Balances: ** a system that balances the distribution of power in a government
 * ** Latin: ** The language of the Romans
 * ** Punic Wars: ** A series of wars between Rome and Carthage in the 200's and 100's BC
 * ** Primary: ** Main, MOST important
 * ** Purpose: ** The Reason something is Done.

Back to top of page



__**Rome: Chapter 11**__
 * ** Julius Caesar: ** Roman General, he was one of the greatest military leaders in history. Caesar conquered most of Gaul and was named dictator for life, but was later murdered by a group of citizens.
 * ** Augustus: ** First Roman Emperor, he was originally named Octavian. He was the Great-nephew of Julius Caesar and gained control of Rome after defeating Marc Antony in battle. As emperor, Augustus built many monuments and a new forum.
 * ** Currency: ** MONEY!!!
 * ** Pax Romana: ** Roman Peace: a period of general peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire that lasted from 27 BC to 180 AD (over 200 years)
 * ** Aqueduct: ** A human made raised channel that carries water from distant places.
 * ** Civil Law: ** A legal system based on a written code of laws
 * ** Christianity: ** A religion based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth that developed in Judea at the beginning of the first century.
 * ** Resurrection: ** In Christianity, Jesus's rise from the dead
 * ** Paul: ** One of the most important figures in the spread of Christianity, he worked to spread Jesus's teachings and wrote letters that explained key ideas of Christianity.
 * ** Constantine: ** Roman Emperor, he was th efirst Roman emperor to become a Christian. He moved the empire's capital from Rome to Constantinople and removed bans on Christianity.
 * ** Attila: ** Leader of the Huns, he led invasions of Constantinople, Greece, Gaul, and Northern Italy and was greatly feared by the Romans.
 * ** Corruption: ** The decay of peoples values
 * ** Justinian: ** Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, he organized all Roman laws into a legal system called Justinians's code. He also reconquered much of the Mediterranean and built the Hagia Sophia.
 * ** Byzantine Empire: ** The society that developed in the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the Western Roman Empire
 * ** Efficient: ** Productive and NOT wasteful

Back to top of page



__**Asian Unit (mixed Chapters)**__
 * ** Consequences: ** Effects of a particular event or events
 * ** Porcelain: ** A thin beautiful pottery invented in China
 * ** Woodblock Printing: ** A form of printing in which an entire page is carved into a block of wood, covered with ink, and pressed to a piece of paper to create a printed page
 * ** Gunpowder: ** A mixture of powders used in guns and explosives
 * ** Compass: ** An instrument that uses the earth's magnetic field to indicate direction
 * ** Bureaucracy: ** A body of unelected government officials
 * ** civil service: ** Service as a government official
 * ** scholar-official: ** An educated member of the government
 * ** Genghis Khan: ** Ruler of the Mongols, he led his people in attacks against China and against other parts of Asia. His name means "Universal Leader."
 * ** Kublai Khan: ** Mongol Ruler, he completed the conquest of China and founded the Yuan Dynasty
 * ** Zheng He: ** Chinese admiral during the Ming Dynasty, he led great voyages that spread China's fame throughout Asia
 * ** Isolationism: ** A policy of avoiding contact with other countries
 * ** Structure: ** The way something is set up or organized
 * ** Values: ** Ideas that people hold dear and try to live by
 * ** Daimyo: ** Large landowners of feudal Japan
 * ** Samurai: ** A trained professional warrior in feudal Japan
 * ** Figurehead: ** A person who appears to rule evne though real power rests with someone else
 * ** Shogun: ** A general who ruled Japan in the Emperor's name
 * ** Clan: ** An extended family
 * ** Regent: ** A person who rules a country for someone who is unable to rule alone

Back to top of page



__**Middle East Vocabulary (Chapter 12)**__


 * **//Oasis//**: A wet fertile area within a desert.
 * **//Caravan//**: A group of traders that travelled together.
 * **//Muhammad//**: Founder of Islam, he spread Islam’s teachings to the people of Arabia.
 * **//Islam//**: A religion based upon the messages Muhammad is believed to have received from God.
 * **//Muslim//**: A follower of Islam.
 * **//Quran/Koran//**: The Holy Book of Islam.
 * **//Pilgrimage//**: A holy journey or journey to a sacred place.
 * **//Mosque//**: A building for Muslim Prayer (a church or temple of Islam).
 * **//Jihad//**: To make an effort or struggle; it has also been interpreted to mean Holy war.
 * **//Sunnah//**: A collection of Writings about the way Muhammad lived that provides a model for Muslims to follow.
 * **//Five Pillars of Islam//**: 5 acts of worship required of all Muslims
 * **//Abu Bakr://** The First Caliph, he ruled the Muslim world after Muhammad’s death.
 * **//Caliph://** A title that the Muslims use for the highest leader of Islam.
 * **//Tolerance://** Acceptance
 * **//Shia://** A member of the second largest branch of Islam who believes that only Muhammad’s descendants could become Caliphs.
 * **//Sunni://** A member of the largest branch of Islam who believes that the Caliphs DID NOT have to be descendants of Muhammad’s.
 * **Sufism:** A movement in Islam that taught people they can find God’s love by having a personal relationship with God.
 * **Patrons:** A sponsor, (usually a rich person paying for something artistic)
 * **Minaret:** A narrow tower from which Muslims are called to prayer.
 * **Calligraphy:** Decorative writing
 * **Influence:** Change or have an effect on.
 * **Development:**Creation, The process of growing or improving.

Back to Top of Page



__**African Unit Vocabulary (chapter 13)**__
 * **Rifts:** Long deep valley’s formed by the movement of the earth’s crust.
 * **Sub-Saharan Africa:** The area of Africa South of the Sahara.
 * **Sahel:** A semi-Arid land strip of land between the Sahara desert and wetter areas to the south.
 * **Savannah:** An open grassland with scattered trees.
 * **Rain Forests:** Moist Densely wooded areas that contains many different plants and animals.
 * **Extended Family:** A family group that includes the father, mother, children, and close relatives.
 * **Animism:** The belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, and other natural objects have spirits.
 * **Silent Barter:** A process by which people exchange goods without contacting each other directly.
 * **Tunka Manin:** King of the Empire of Ghana, his kingdom was visited by Muslim writers.
 * **Sundiata:** Founder of the Empire of Mali, his reign is recorded in legends.
 * **Mansa Musa:** Mali’s greatest and most famous //Mansa//, or ruler, he was a devout Muslim. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca that helped spread Mali’s fame.
 * **Sunni Ali:** Sunni, or emperor, of Songhai, he conquered Mali and made Songhai into a powerful state.
 * **Askia the Great:** Songhai ruler, he overthrew Sunni Baru. His reign was the high point of Songhai Culture.
 * **Oral history:** A spoken record of past events.
 * **Griots:** A West-African Story teller
 * **Proverbs:** A short saying of wisdom or truth.
 * **Kente:** A hand woven, brightly colored West African Fabric.

Back to Top of Page




 * __Middle Ages (Chapter 17)__**
 * ** Topography: ** The shape and elevation of land in a region
 * ** Middle ages: ** A period that lasted from about 500-1500 AD. In Europe. Sometimes called the dark ages or Medieval times
 * ** Monks: ** A religious man who lived apart from society in an isolated community
 * ** Monasteries: ** A community of Monks
 * ** Charlemagne: ** King of the Franks, he was a brilliant warrior and strong leader. He was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD.
 * ** Knights: ** A warrior in medieval Europe who fought on horseback.
 * ** Vassal: ** A knight or person who promised support to someone higher than them in exhange for land or protection in medieval Europe.
 * ** Feudalism: ** The system of obligations that governed the relationships between lords and vassals in medieval Europe
 * ** William the Conquerer: ** Powerful French noble who conquered England, he brought feudalism to Britain
 * ** Manor: ** A large estate owened by a knight or lord
 * ** Serfs: ** A worker in medieval Europe who was tied to the land on which he or she lived
 * ** Chivalry: ** The code of honorable behavior for medieval knights.

Back to Top of Page




 * __Middle Ages (Chapter 18)__**
 * ** Excommunicate: ** To cast out from the church (according to catholic beliefs, need to be in the church to go to heaven)
 * ** Holy Land: ** The region on the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea where the Jewish religion began and where Jesus lived, preached, and died
 * ** Clergy: ** Church Officials
 * ** Religious order: ** a group of people who dedicate their lives to religion and follow common rules
 * ** Friars: ** A member of a religious order who lived and worked among the public
 * ** Natural Law: ** A law that people believed God had created to govern how the world operated.
 * ** Magna Carta: ** A document signed in 1215 by King John of England that required the king to honor certain rights
 * ** Parliament: ** The lawmaking body that governs England
 * ** Hundred years war: ** A long conflict between England and France that lasted from 1337 to 1453
 * ** Black Death: ** A deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351
 * ** Heresy: ** Religious ideas that oppose accepted church doctrine/teachings
 * ** Spanish Inquisition: ** an organization of priests in Spain that looked for and punished anyone suspected of secretly practicing their old religion

Back to Top of Page




 * __Renaissance and Reformation (chapter 19)__ **
 * ** Polo, Marco: ** Italian trader, he traveled to China and later wrote about his trip. During his time in China he served as a government official in Kublai Khan's court.
 * ** Renaissance: ** The period of "Rebirth" and creativity that followed Europe's Middle Ages.
 * ** Humanism: ** The study of history, literature, public speaking, and art that led to a new way of thinking in Europe in the late 1300s.
 * ** Alighieri, Dante: ** Italian Renaissance poet, he wrote the The Divine Comedy in the Italian language
 * ** Machiavelli, Niccolo: ** Italian writer, and politician, he wrote The Prince in which he advised leaders on how to rule.
 * ** Michelangelo: ** Italian Renaissance artist, he designed buildings, wrote poetry, and created sculptures, and paintings.
 * ** Leonardo Da Vinci: ** Genius of the Renaissance, he was a painter, sculptor, inventor, engineer, town planner, and mapmaker.
 * ** Petrarch: ** Early Italian Renaissance scholar, he wrote about the importance of knowing history.
 * ** Gutenberg, Johann: ** German printer, he developed a printing press that used movable type
 * ** Catholic Reformation: ** The effort of the late 1500s and 1600s to reform the Catholic Church from within; also called the Counter-Reformation.
 * ** Christian Humanism: ** The combination of humanist and religious ideas.
 * ** Erasmus, Desiderius: ** Dutch Priest, he published In Praise of Folly in which he cirticized corrupt clergy. His criticisms helped inspire the Protestant Reformation.
 * ** Durer, Albrecht: ** German Renaissance artist, he is famous for his prints and woodcuts
 * ** Miguel de Cervantes: ** Spanish writer, he wrote Don Quixote.
 * ** William Shakespeare: ** English Renaissance writer and playwright, he is considered by many to be the greatest English writer of all time
 * ** Reformation: ** A reform movement against the Roman Catholic Church that began in 1517; it resulted in the creation of protestant churches.
 * ** Luther, Martin: ** German priest credited with starting the Reformation, he nailed a list of complaints about the Catholic Church to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.
 * ** Protestants: ** Christians who protested against the Catholic Church
 * ** Calvin, John: ** Christian Reformer, he taught about predestination, living good lives, and obeying God's laws.
 * ** Federalism: ** The sharing of power between local governments and a strong central government.

Back to Top of Page




 * __Science and Exploration (chapter 20)__**
 * ** Scientific Revolution: ** A series of events that led to the birth of modern science; it lasted from about 1540 to 1700
 * ** Theories: ** An explanation a scientist develops based on facts
 * ** Ptolemy: ** Ancient Greek astronomer and geographer, he studied the skies and made maps of the Mediterranean region.
 * ** Nicolaus Copernicus: ** Polish astronomer, his book On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres,helped begin the Scientific Revolution.
 * ** Johannes Kepler: ** German Astronomer, he proved that the planets orbit the sun.
 * ** Galileo Galilei: ** Italian scientist, he was the first scientist to routinely use experiments to test theories. He was placed on trial for supporting theories that contradicted Church teachings.
 * ** Sir Isaac Newton: ** English Scientist, he studied and simplified the work of earlier scientists. He identified four laws that explained how the physical world works.
 * ** Scientific Method: ** A step by step method for performing experiments and other scientific research
 * ** Henry the Navigator: ** Prince of Portugal, he helped promote exploration by Portuguese sailors.
 * ** Vasco De Gama: ** Portuguese sailor, he sailed around Africa to reach India.
 * ** Christopher Columbus: ** Italian sailor supported by the rulers of Spain, he reached the Americas in 1492, becoming the first European to do so.
 * ** Ferdinand Magellan: ** Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, his crew was the first to circumnavigate the globe.
 * ** Circumnavigate: ** To go all the way around
 * ** Spanish Armada: ** A large fleet of Spanish ships that was defeated by England in 1588.
 * ** Plantations: ** Very Large Farms
 * ** Mercantilism: ** a system in which a government controls all economic activity in a country and its colonies to make the government stronger and richer.
 * ** Capitalism: ** An economic system in which individuals and private businesses run most industries
 * ** Market Economy: ** An economic system in which individuals decide what goods and services they will buy

Back to Top of Page