Angkor Wat: A massive temple complex in Cambodia built in the early 12th century by the Khmer Empire. Originally dedicated to Hinduism, it later became a major Buddhist site.
Astrolabe: An ancient astronomical tool used for navigation and determining time. This sophisticated instrument helped sailors and travelers measure the positions of stars and planets, making it crucial for medieval maritime exploration and astronomical studies.
Bubonic Plague: A devastating disease that caused the "Black Death" in the 14th century, killing about one-third of Europe's population. Spread by infected fleas on rats, it caused fever, chills, and painful swollen lymph nodes called buboes.
Buddhism: A spiritual tradition founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) that teaches the path to end suffering through meditation, ethical living, and understanding of the Four Noble Truths. It emphasizes personal enlightenment and breaking the cycle of rebirth.
Capitalism: An economic system where private individuals or businesses own the means of production and operate for profit. It features free market competition, private property rights, and minimal government intervention in the economy.
Caste System: A rigid social hierarchy traditionally practiced in India that divided society into hereditary groups with different levels of privilege and restrictions. The system determined occupation, marriage, and social interactions.
Champa Rice: A fast-ripening, drought-resistant variety of rice from present-day Vietnam. Its introduction to China during the Song dynasty boosted agricultural productivity and population growth.
Chinampas: Mesoamerican agricultural islands built in shallow lakes by piling up mud and vegetation. Used by the Aztecs to increase crop yields in limited space.
Communism: An economic and political system advocating for a classless society where all property and wealth are communally owned. Under communism, the government controls the economy, aiming to provide equal distribution of resources to all citizens.
Confucianism: A philosophical system developed by Confucius in ancient China that emphasizes proper social relationships, moral behavior, and respect for authority and hierarchy. It significantly influenced East Asian society and governance.
Fascism: A far-right nationalist ideology that emphasizes absolute power of the state, strict social order, and suppression of opposition. It typically features a dictatorial leader, extreme nationalism, and control over society.
Feminism: A social movement advocating for women's rights and equality between genders in political, economic, personal, and social spheres. It challenges traditional gender roles and fights against discrimination.
Filial Piety: A key Confucian virtue emphasizing respect, obedience, and care for one’s parents and ancestors. It shaped family structure and social order in many East Asian societies.
Golden Horde: A Mongol khanate that ruled over parts of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia from the 13th to 15th centuries. It was a major power in Eurasian politics and trade.
Hinduism: One of the world's oldest religions, originating in India, that encompasses various beliefs, practices, and philosophies. It recognizes multiple paths to the divine, believes in reincarnation, and includes concepts like karma and dharma.
House of Wisdom: A major intellectual center in Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate where scholars translated, preserved, and expanded upon works in science, philosophy, medicine, and mathematics.
Imperialism: The policy of extending a country's power through colonization, military force, or other means of influence over other regions. This often involved economic exploitation and cultural domination.
Islam: A monotheistic religion founded by Prophet Muhammad, teaching submission to Allah (God). It follows the Five Pillars of Islam and the teachings recorded in the Quran.
Magna Carta: A 1215 English charter limiting the king’s power and establishing certain legal rights for nobles. It became a foundation for constitutional government.
Mandate of Heaven: A Chinese political philosophy stating that rulers received their right to govern from divine approval. Good leadership maintained this mandate; poor leadership could result in its loss.
Mansa Musa: The 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, famed for his wealth and his pilgrimage to Mecca. His journey showcased Mali’s prosperity and helped spread Islamic culture and knowledge in West Africa.
Mercantilism: An economic theory prevalent in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries that emphasized maximizing exports and minimizing imports to accumulate wealth, particularly gold and silver, for the nation.
Militarism: The belief that military strength is the most important aspect of a nation, often leading to increased military spending and influence of military leaders in civilian government.
Mita System: A labor system used by the Inca Empire requiring communities to provide workers for public projects. It was later adapted and exploited by Spanish colonizers in the Americas.
Monasticism: A religious way of life where individuals (monks or nuns) withdraw from society to devote themselves to spiritual practice, often living in monasteries or convents.
Nationalism: Strong identification with one's own nation and support of its interests, sometimes at the expense of other nations. It often involves pride in national achievements and culture.
Opium War: Conflicts between Britain and China (1839-1842 and 1856-1860) over Britain's illegal opium trade in China, resulting in China being forced to open its ports to foreign trade.
Ottoman Tax Farming: A system in the Ottoman Empire where the right to collect taxes was auctioned to private individuals (tax farmers) who would then collect more than the required amount for personal profit.
Ottomanism: A 19th-century political ideology promoting equality among the different ethnic and religious groups within the Ottoman Empire, attempting to create a common Ottoman citizenship identity.
Rudder: A crucial naval innovation that improved ships' maneuverability by allowing better steering control, significantly advancing maritime technology and exploration capabilities.
Schism: A formal split within a religious community, often due to doctrinal or political disputes. Examples include the Great Schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in 1054.
Serfdom: A medieval social system where peasants (serfs) were bound to work on a noble's land in exchange for protection and the right to farm small plots for themselves.
Sikhism: A monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak in Punjab, India, emphasizing equality, social justice, and devotion to one God. Sikhs follow the teachings of ten Gurus and their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. Syncretic of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Socialism: An economic and political system advocating for collective or government ownership of resources and means of production. It emphasizes equal distribution of wealth and social services for all.
Stirrups: A riding innovation that supports a rider’s feet, increasing stability and control. Its use revolutionized cavalry warfare and expanded military tactics.
Sufism: The mystical dimension of Islam focusing on direct personal experience of God through meditation, music, and other spiritual practices. Sufis seek inner knowledge and divine love.
Swahili City-States: A network of coastal trading states in East Africa that flourished from the 10th to 15th centuries. They blended African, Arab, and Persian influences and thrived on Indian Ocean trade.
Tamerlane: A 14th-century Central Asian conqueror who built a vast empire through military campaigns. Known for both cultural patronage and brutal conquests.
Thalassocracy: A maritime-based empire or state whose power and wealth are derived from controlling sea routes and naval dominance. Examples include Phoenicia and Venice.
Tribute System: A traditional foreign relations framework where neighboring states offered gifts (tribute) to an empire in exchange for trading rights, political recognition, and safety.