General Terms

A

abolition - the action or an act of destroying a system, practice, or institution. This term is commonly used when studying U.S. History in reference to Abolitionism.

absolutism - the acceptance of or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical, or theological matters.

administer / -stration - manage and be responsible for the running of (a government, organization, etc.).

A.D. - the abbreviation for the latin phrase "anno Domini" which translates to "in the year of our lord" (referring to Jesus of Christianity). The abbreviation is used with B.C. in referring to anything after the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, as decided by Romans (who were Christians) that everything his birth was the new modern era.

Afro- relating to Africa

agrarian- relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.

amer- prefix associated with the region(s) of North & South America

analyze / analysis - examine methodically and in detail the structure of something for the purposes of explanation and interpretation.

anarchism/anarchy - belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society.

ancient - belonging to the very distant past.

anti-semitism - hostility to or prejudice against Jews.

appeasement - agreeing to someone's demands in order to calm or satisfy them.

arable - (of land) used or suitable for growing crops

archaeology - the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

archaic - very old or old-fashioned.

architecture - the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures

-archy - a suffix meaning rule or government.

argue / argument - give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view.

aristocracy - the highest social class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices. Typically operate together as an elite above the bourgeoisie.

atheism - disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

asceticism - typically a religious lifestyle focused on avoiding personal pleasure or indulgence through self- discipline

authoritarian / -ism - often attributed to a government or personality that requires strict obedience

B

balance of power - when nations have approximately equal power in order to maintain peace

balance of trade - the difference in value between a country's imports and exports.

barbarian - (in ancient times) a member of a community or tribe not belonging to one of the great classical civilizations (Greek, Roman, Christian).

B.C. - an abbreviation for "Before Christ" used with A.D in determining years in history. See A.D. above. Example, the Egyptians began their civilization approximately 3000 BC.

B.C.E - an abbreviation for "Before the Common Era" used in conjunction with "C.E." to determine years of the common era in history. Example, the Egyptians began their civilization approximately 3000 BCE.

border (national) - a line separating two political or geographical areas, especially countries.

bourgeoisie - the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes especially when comparing it with the elite of a society.

bureaucracy - a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

C

capital - the most important city or town of a country or region, usually its seat of government and administrative center.

capitalism - an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

capitol - a building in which a state legislative body meets.

capitulate - cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.

cartel - an association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition.

casualty - a person killed or injured in a war or accident.

causation - the action of causing something.

celibacy / celibate - the state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations.

central / -centric - of, at, or forming the center.

century - a period of 100 years. We are currently in the 21st century. An event that took place in the 1900s was in the 20th century.

C.E. - an abbreviation for "Common Era" used in conjunction with B.C.E. to determine years of the common era in history. Example World War II ended in 1945 CE..

circa (c. ca.) - (often preceding a date) approximately. Ex: my grandfather was born circa 1938, but we don't know the exact date.

city-state - a city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent government. A city that acts like it is a country.

citizen - a legally recognized subject of a state.

civilization - a complex but also an organized society

chauvinism - exaggerated or aggressive patriotism.

chivalry - the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code. In the modern day, it is often associated with nobility or humility.

class struggle - the conflict of interests between the workers and the ruling class in a society, potentially violent.

classical - relating to ancient Greek or Latin literature, art, or culture.

coerce / coercive - persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.

coincidence - remarkable events occurring without any clear explanation. Ex: "It is such a coincidence that we ran into each other on the street!"

colony - an area under the control of another country

communal - shared by all members of a community; for common use.

communism - a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

compare - acknowledging he similarity or differences

conjuncture - a combination of events.

conscript / -ion - enlist someone typically into the armed services.

conservative - holding to traditional attitudes and values and typically cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

constitutionalism - constitutional government; conducted according to rules and principles, which are binding on all political actors, and which therefore help to constrain the unfettered exercise of power by separating or dividing it.

construct - to build something, or an idea or an idea that contains many elements and is subjective

consumer / ism - a person who purchases goods and services for personal use.

conflate - combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one.

context - the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea

continent - any of the world's 7 main continuous expanses of land (Ex: Africa)

contingency - a future event which is possible but isn't certain.

contrast - a distinctive difference

convention / -al -a way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity.

converge - arriving at the same point or destination. (Ex: The entire family converged on the same vacation house).

corporation / corporate - a company or organization

corollary: a proposition inferred from a proved proposition with no additional proof.

correlation - a relationship that exists between two or more things.

cosmopolitan - including people or cultures from many different places

coup d’état - a sudden, and violent seizure of power from a government.

-cracy - a suffix denoting a particular form of government, rule, or influence.

credit - the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future. (Ex: If you pay for something on a credit card, the bank is paying it for you, with the expectation you will pay them back or they will charge you interest)

currency - a system of money in general use in a particular country. (Ex: In America we pay for things with dollars, but in Europe they pay for things with Euros).

D

Darwinism - the theory of the evolution of species by natural selection advanced by Charles Darwin.

debit - an entry recording an amount owed, listed on the left-hand side or column of an account.

debt - something, typically money, that is owed or due.

deficit - the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.

deforestation - the action of clearing a wide area of trees.

deity / deism - a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion).

democracy - a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

demography - the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.

destiny - the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future.

determinism - the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.

dictator / -ship - a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

diffuse / diffusion - spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people.

diplomacy - the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad.

distinguish - point out a difference.

diversity - a variety of things

divinity - the study of religion; theology

divine - of, from, or like God or a god

doctrine - a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a religion, political party, or group.

document - a piece that provides information or evidence or that serves as an official record

dogma / dogmatic - a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.

domestic - relating to the running of a home or to family relations.

draft (v. & n.) - prepare a preliminary version of a piece of writing (v.); compulsory recruitment for military service (n.)

dualism - the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects. Also a religious doctrine that the universe contains opposed powers of good and evil, especially seen as balanced equals. Prevalent in American revolutionary leaders like Ben Franklin as well as a component of Zoroastrianism.

dynasty - a line of hereditary rulers of a country. Ex: Chinese dynasties like the Shang, Zhou, Han, etc

E

eclectic - deriving ideas or style from a diverse range of sources.

economy / economic - the wealth and resources of a country or region, in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services.

egalitarian - relating to the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

elite - a select group in society that is superior (usually financially) to the rest of the social classes.

empire - an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority

enlighten (v)- give someone greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation.

entrepót - a port, city, or other center to which goods are brought for import and export, and for collection and distribution.

era - a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic.

ethic - a set of moral principles, especially ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct.

ethnic - a subgroup (within a larger group) with a common cultural tradition.

euro- a prefix relating to Europe

evaluate - to form an idea based on observation

excerpt - a short extract from a piece of writing

executive (branch) - the branch of government charged with the execution and enforcement of laws and policies and the administration of public affairs

expense - the cost required for something; the money spent on something.

F

fascism - a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy. This came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.

feminism - the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.

feudalism - the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, while the peasants (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 protection provided by Knights.

fief / fiefdom - an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service.

filial - from a son or daughter. Es: Filial Piety in Song China.

fiscal - relating to government revenue, especially taxes.

forage - search widely for food or provisions.

frame of reference - a set of values or perspective from which you make your observations

free trade - trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions.

frontier - the wilderness which represents the edge of a country's boundary. Ex: During Manifest Destiny, Americans were pushing further west to settle in new frontiers.

fundamental / -ism - the necessary base

G

genocide - the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.

geo - prefix relating to the earth

globalization - the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

government - the governing body of a nation, state, or community.

-graphy - suffix of aa descriptive science.

guild - a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable influence.

H

hegemony - leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.

helio- relation to the sun

historiography - the study of historical writing.

hyper- a prefix for over; beyond; above.

hypo- a prefix that refers to below or beneath

I

iberian - relating to or denoting Iberia, or the countries of Spain and Portugal.

identity - being who a person or thing is

ideology - a system of ideas and ideals, especially of economic or political policy.

imperialism - a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force

incarnation / incarnate - a person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit, or abstract quality.

indenture (v.) - bind (someone) to be an apprentice or laborer.

independence - the state of being independent.

industrialism - an economic system built on manufacturing industries.

interpret - translate the meaning of something

-ism / -ist / -ize - suffixes for distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, typically a political ideology or an artistic movement.

J

judiciary - the judicial authorities of a country; judges collectively.

junta - a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.

K

kin / kinship - one's family and relations.

L

laissez-faire - the economic theory that says: the less the government is involved in the economy, the better off business will be

-lateral (uni- bi- multi-) a side part of something, especially a shoot or branch growing out from the side of a stem.

the Left - relating to a person or group that politically favor liberal, socialist, or radical views.

legislature / legislative - the part of the government has the power to make and write laws.

legitimacy - conformity to the law or to rules; ability to be defended with logic or justification; validity.

liberal - open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values in favor of progress.

-logy - a suffix denoting a subject of study or interest; denoting a characteristic of speech or language

M

malnutrition - lack of proper nutrition

mandate (v. & n.) - give (someone) authority to act in a certain way; (n.) an official order or commission to do something.

manifest - a document giving comprehensive details of a ship, it's cargo, passengers, and crew for the use of customs officers.

manifesto - a public declaration of policies and goals, especially one issued before an election by a political candidate.

manuscript - a book, or document written by hand rather than typed or printed.

maritime - connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring trade or military activity.

material - the matter from which a thing is or can be made.

materiel - military materials and equipment.

medieval - usually referring to the era of the Middle Ages

mercantilism - the idea that a nation's wealth and power were best served by increasing exports, in an effort to collect precious metals like gold and silver. Mercantilism replaced the feudal economic system in Western Europe.

meso- prefix for middle

meta- a prefix for referring to itself or to the conventions of its genre; self-referential.

metallurgy - the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification.

middle class - the social group between the upper and working classes, including professional and business workers and their families.

migration - movement from one part of something to another.

militarism - the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

millennium - a period of time that is 1,000 years

minister (of) ... - a member of the clergy, especially in Protestant churches; (in certain countries) or a head of a government department.

modernity - the quality or condition of being modern.

monarchy - a form of government with a monarch at the head that is the only person in the government with total authority.

monastery - buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.

monetary - relating to money or currency.

mono - prefix for one

monogamy - the practice or state of being married to one person at a time.

monopoly - the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service.

monsoon - a seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (the wet monsoon ), or from the northeast between October and April (the dry monsoon ).

mortality - eventually will die.

N

nation - a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

nation-state - a sovereign state whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent. The term is used more often in modern history or after the dark ages in Europe.

nationalism - identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

neo - the prefix referring to 'new'

NGOs - a nonprofit organization that operates independently of any government, typically one whose purpose is to address a social or political issue.

nobility / noble - the group of people belonging to the noble class in a country, especially those with a hereditary or honorary title.

nomad / nomadic - a member of a people having no permanent abode, and who travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock.

nun - a member of a religious community of women, especially a cloistered one, living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

O

optimism - hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.

oracle - a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.

oral - by word of mouth; spoken rather than written.

orthodox - of a person or their views, especially religious or political ones, or other beliefs or practices) conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved

P

pacifism - the belief that any violence, including war, is unjustifiable under any circumstances, and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.

pagan - a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.

paleo - older or ancient, especially relating to the geological past.

pan - all-inclusive, especially in relation to the whole of a continent, racial group, religion, etc.

papal / papacy - relating to a pope of the Catholic Church

pastoral - (especially of land or a farm) used for or related to the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle.

paternal - of or appropriate to a father.

patriarch / -archy - the male head of a family or tribe.

patrician - an aristocrat or nobleman.

peasant - a poor farmer of low social status who owns or rents a small piece of land for cultivation (chiefly in historical use or with reference to subsistence farming in poorer countries).

peonage - the use of laborers bound in servitude because of debt.

period - a length or portion of time.

perspective - a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

pessimism - a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen; a lack of hope or confidence in the future.

pilgrim / pilgrimage - a person (pilgrim) who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons (pilgrimage).

plague - a contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium, typically with the formation of buboes ( bubonic plague ) and sometimes infection of the lungs ( pneumonic plague ).

poly- a prefix referring to 'more than one'

polygamy - the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time.

post - a prefix referring to 'subsequent to' or 'after'.

pragmatism / pragmatic - an approach that assesses the truth of meaning of theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.

primary - of chief importance; principal; earliest in time or order.

principal - first in order of importance; main.

principle - a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.

proletariat - workers or working-class people, regarded collectively (often used with reference to Marxism).

propaganda - information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

protectorate - a state that is controlled and protected by another.

proto- a prefix referring to 'original or primitive'

province / provincial - a principal administrative division of certain countries or empires.

push-pull factors - In the study of migration, push factors are those that encourage a population to leave its home, pull factors are those that draw a population to another area or place

psycho - relating to the mind or psychology.

Q

qualify - be entitled to a particular benefit or privilege by fulfilling a necessary condition

quandary - a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.

quantify - express or measure the quantity of.

quantity - the amount or number of a material or immaterial thing not usually estimated by spatial measurement.

quest - a long or arduous search for something.

R

racism / racial - prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

radical - (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.

rational - based on or in accordance with reason or logic.

rationale - a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief.

raw material - the basic material from which a product is made.

rebel / rebellion - opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler.

reform - make changes in (typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it.

regime - a government, especially an authoritarian one.

reincarnation - the rebirth of a soul in a new body.

relate - to show a connection between two things or ideas

republic - a state in which supreme power is held (indirectly) by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

revenue - income, especially when of a company or organization and of a substantial nature.

revolution - a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system.

the Right - a grouping or political party favoring conservative views and supporting capitalist economic principles

rimland - a peripheral area of a country or region.

rural - in, relating to or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town.

Russo - a prefix often referring to 'russian'

S

sacred - connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration.

scholastic - of or concerning schools and education.

secede / secession - withdraw formally from membership of a federal union, an alliance, or a political or religious organization.

secondary - coming after, less important than, or resulting from someone or something else that is primary.

secular - denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis. The opposite of 'religious.'

sedentary - (of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive.

segregation - the enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.

serf - an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.

shaman / -ism - a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits. Typically such people enter a trance state during a ritual, and practice divination and healing.

Sino - a prefix often referring to Chinese or relating to China

skepticism - a skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.

slavery - the practice or system of owning slaves

Social Darwinism - the theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals. Social Darwinism was advocated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was used to justify imperialism, and racism and to discourage intervention and reform.

social democracy - a socialist system of government achieved by democratic means.

socialism - a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

socio-economic - relating to or concerned with the interaction of social and economic factors.

sovereignty / sovereign - supreme power or authority

sphere of influence state (n.) - the claim by a state to exclusive or predominant control over a foreign area or territory

state - a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

status quo ante bellum - a Latin phrase meaning "the situation as it existed before the war". The term was originally used in treaties to refer to the withdrawal of enemy troops and the restoration of prewar leadership.

strata / stratification - the arrangement or classification of something into different groups

subsistence - the action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level.

syncretic - the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion

T

tariff - a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.

teleology / teleological - the explanation of phenomena in terms of the purpose they serve rather than of the cause by which they arise.

terminal - (of a disease) predicted to lead to death, especially slowly; incurable.

territory / territorial - an area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state.

terrorism - the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

textile - a type of cloth or woven fabric. An important product an industry in many historical economies.

theocracy - a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.

thesis - a statement or hypothesis sought to be proved

Third World - a tier of countries that are in a lower stage of developing relative to first or second world countries

totalitarian - relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

tradition - the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

trust (n.) - an arrangement whereby a person (a trustee) holds property as its nominal owner for the good of one or more beneficiaries.

U

unanimity - agreement by all people involved; also known as a consensus.

union (n.) - an association of people with a common interest or purpose

urban - in, relating to, or characteristic of a town or city.

utopian - modeled on or aiming for a state in which everything is perfect; idealistic.

V

veneration - great respect; reverence.

verbal / verbalize - relating to or in the form of words.

vernacular - the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

viceroy - a ruler exercising authority in a colony on behalf of a sovereign

W

the West - a reference to the nations of the Western hemisphere, typically including Europe

working class - the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.

X

Y

Z

The original inspiration for this webpage and several of its first draft terms originated from this site and it's author(s).