Word

Definition

Image

Significance

Mesoamerica

The area of the

Americas that
stretches from central
mexico to belize
around

Was the land that the

mighty Aztec Empire
ruled and provided a
rich environment for it
to build on

Maize

Maize is the spanish

word for corn and is
much more starchy
and bland compared
to the American
sweet corn

Served as a main
source of food (like
an oat) for the people
of Mesoamerica; it
was also used for
tribunes to the Aztec
Empire

Oceania and
Polynesia

Area of the south

west Pacific that is
characterized by
many small islands

The culture there was

very similar to the
farming people of
Mesoamerica

Chavin Civilization

Was a highly
advanced civilization
that was present in
Peru 1200 BCE-200
CE

Was the basis for the

Inca empire

Olmec

First major civilization

in Guatemala in 1200
BCE-400 CE

Known for their

massive head art

Easter Island

Island off the coast of

Chile that is scarcely
inhabited due to its
lack of fresh water

It is famous for its

900 monumental
statues called moais
which are one of the
wonders of the world

Aboriginals

Native people of an
area or place before
colonists arrive

Is an example of the
cruelties of foreign
people to a
civilization

ziggurats

A form of temple
common to the
Sumerians,
Babylonians and
Assyrians of ancient
Mesopotamia.

The Mesopotamians
believed that these
pyramid temples
connected heaven
and earth. The
ziggurats were the
center of religious
and political life.
Legal records were
kept there.

Teotihuacan

Ancient
Mesoamerican city
located in Central
Mexico and flourished
around the first
millennium CE.
Dominated by two
giant pyramids and a
huge sacred avenue.
Aztec name meaning
Place of the Gods.

The city, its

architecture, art and
religion would
influence
Mesoamerican
cultures. There was
a writing system.
Pottery and luxury
goods. The city was
deliberately
destroyed by fire for
unknown reasons but
felt be due to a
change in the elites.

Maya/Mayan

A Mesoamerican
civilization developed
by the Mayan people.

Known for
hieroglyphic script,
the only known fully
developed writing
system of the preColumbian Americas.
Also known for art,
architecture, math,
calendar and
astronomical systems

Chichen Itza

A major focal point in

the Northern Maya
Lowlands. The site
exhibits a multitude of
architectural styles
seen in central
Mexico.

The presence of
central Mexican
styles was once
thought to have been
evidence of direct
migration or conquest
from central Mexico.
But current ideas feel
the presence of nonMayan styles
represents cultural
diffusion.

Slash and burn

agriculture

A method of
agriculture used in
the tropics in which
forest vegetation is
felled and burned and
the land is cropped
for a few years, then
the land is allowed to
reforest.

A basic type of
agriculture used in
tropical areas. The
slash and burn
techniques damage
the landscape
especially if done in
large areas. Trees
often do not have
time to grow back.

tribute

Tax in the form of

goods and labor.
Often elicited from
defeated people.

Important transfer of
food, cloth, and other
goods and subsidized
the development of
large cities. Used
mainly by Aztec and
Incan cities.

Moche

Civilization (200-700
CE) that flourished
along the northern
coast and valleys of
ancient Peru.

Important Andean
civilization with
architectural
achievements that
included extensive
irrigation and urban
centers with brick
temples,

Abbasid

The second of the

two great dynasties of
the Muslim Empire of
the Caliphate.

It overthrew the
Umayyad caliphate in
750 AD and was in
power until it was
destroyed by the
Mongol invasion in
1258. This phase of
the caliphate now
focused on the east.
The capital was
moved to Baghdad
and the influence for
the empire was
international,
community was not
just based on Islam.

Baghdad

Baghdad the capital

of Iraq, on the River
Tigris. It was
established in 762 AD
by the Abbasid
caliphate.

Became the center of

Islamic civilization
and the focus of
caravan routes
between Asia and
Europe. Destroyed
by Mongols in 1258.
This was a blow to
the Islamic
Civilization from
which it has never
fully recovered.

viziers

High official in some

Muslim countries.

Under the Abbasid,

the Vizier was the
chief minister or
representative of the
caliphs.

Seljuk Turks

A major branch of the

Oghuz Turks that
ruled parts of Central
Asia and Middle east
for the 12-14 th
centuries.

They are considered

the ancestors of the
modern Turks of
today. They
defended the Islamic
works in the Middle
Ages against the
Crusaders and
conquering large
parts of the Byzantine
Empire. They also
were a barrier to the
Mongols reaching
Europe. And, they
lay the foundation for
the Ottoman Turks.

sultan

A military or political
leader with absolute
powers over a Muslim
country.

Originally was a
spiritual or moral
leader and eventually
gained political
power.

Cordoba

A city in Spain that

flourished in the 8th
century after the
Moorish conquest.
There were mosques
and palaces and
public buildings built
to rival the splendors
of Constantinople,
Damascus and
Bhaghdad.

The Great Mosque of

Cordoba is a unique
artistic achievement
due to size and
height. The capital of
Islamic Spain. One
of the greatest cities
of Europe at the time.

Muhammad

Central figure of
Islam and referred to
as the Holy Prophet
Born in Mecca
around 570.

He is the chief
prophet of Islam and
the source for the
Quran. His name
means highly
praised. He is the
great unifying agent
in Islamic civilization.

bedouins

Arabic-speaking
nomadic peoples of
the Middle Eastern
deserts.

The first converts to

Islam came from the
Bedouin tribes and
are Sunni Islam.
There focus is prayer,
there are no
mosques in the
desert.

polygyny

The marriage of a
man with several
women, an accepted
form of polygamy.

Polygamy is more
than one spouse,
while polygyny is
specifically more than
one wife. Under
Islamic marital law,
Muslim men are
allowed to practice
polygyny up to a total
of four

Allah

The Arabic word for

God in Abrahamic
religions.

Allah is the focal point

of the Muslim faith.
The Quran preaches
the reality of Allah.

Mecca

Is a city in Saudi
Arabia.

Is the center of the

Islamic world and the
birthplace of the
Prophet Muhammad
and the religion he
founded.

Quran

The central religious

text of Islam.
Believed to be a
revelation from God.

Regarded as the
finest piece of
literature in the Arabic
language. Revealed
by God to
Muhammad through
the angel Gabriel.

Medina

Is a city in Saudi
Arabia. Muhammad
left Mecca to live in
Medina. Muhammed
broke ties with Mecca
because of the failure
of the conversion of
Jews and Christians
he moved to Medina,
the hegira, breaking
of former ties.

The journey to
Medina became a
foundation of the
Islamic faith. At
Medina, Muhammad
created an Islamic
community where he
governed over
religion, diet and
activities and legal
systems. The
followers in Medina
became more
powerful and
eventually conquered
Mecca and made it
the center of the
Islamic world.

Kaaba

Is a building at the
center of Islams most
sacred mosque in
Mecca that is built
around a sacred
Black Stone.
Muslims believe that
Muhammad once
kissed the stone.

The pilgrimage to
Mecca and to Kaaba
is a once in every
lifetime journey that is
mandatory for a
Muslim. The stone is
black, but was
believed to once be
white and has
absorbed humanities
sins and is now black.

jihad

An Islamic term
referring to the
religious duty of
Muslims to maintain
and spread the
religion.

Jihad has many

meanings and means
struggling or striving.
It can refer to internal
as well as external
efforts to be good
Muslims or believers
as well as working to
inform people about
the faith of Islam.
Jihad is not a violent
term.

Ramadan

The ninth month of

the Muslim year,
during which strict
fasting is observed
from sunrise to
sunset.

Fasting is one of the

five fundamental
principles of Islam.
Ramadan is a time of
introspection and
prayer.

Shariah

Islamic canonical law

based on the
teaching of the Koran
and the traditions of
the Prophet.

The religious laws are

often supplemented
by legislation adapted
to the conditions of
the day. The
application of the
Islamic laws are a
source of conflict
between Islamic
fundamentalists and
modernists.

Abu Bakr

Was a senior
companion and the
father in law of
Muhammad.

Close companion of
Muhammad and
supported him
monetarily. One of
the first men to
convert to Islam.

caliph

The chief Muslim civil

and religious ruler,
and believed to be
the successor of
Muhammad. Used
by Ottoman sultans
until 1924.

This individual is the

religious successor
Muhammad and the
leader of the entire
Muslim community.
Maybe like the pope.

Sunnis

One of the two main

branches of Islam,
described as
orthodox

The majority of the

Muslims are Sunnis.

Shias

Adherents to Shia
Islam, make up
around 10% of the
world's Muslim
population. These
are the followers of
Ali, the closest
relative of
Muhammad.

The Imam is the

leader of the
congregational
prayer. The twelve
imams did not
assume rule the
Islamic government.

Dar al-Islam

Literally means
house of Islam or
house of peace.

It is significant to
mean countries
where Muslims can
practice their religion
as the ruling sect.

Umayyad Dynasty

Also known as the

Omayyad Dynasty
was the first great
Muslim dynasty to
rule the empire of the
Caliphate 661-750
CE, also known at
the Arab kingdom

The Umayyad
Dynasty was short
lived. The dynasty
was founded through
the struggle between
Sunnis and Shiites.
The Sunnis won to
form the Umayyad
dynasty.

Damascus

A city founded in
3000 BC one of the
oldest of the Middle
East. The capital of
the Umayyad
Dynasty.

The capital of the

Umayyad Dynasty

imam

The person who

leads prayers in a
mosque.

A title of Muslim
leaders especially
ones succeeding
Muhammad as leader
of the Shiite Islam.

dowries

Transfer of parental
property at the
marriage of a
daughter.

hijab

Head covering worn

in public by Muslim
women.

Women wear hijab in

Islam as part of
decency and
modesty in
interaction between
members of the
opposite sex. The
hijab is felt to
contribute to the
stability and
preservation of
marriage, and allows
ment to focus on the

real personality of a
woman and not her
physical beauty.
Sufis

A muslim aesthetic
and mystic.

The belief and

practice in which
Muslims seek to find
the truth of divine
love and knowledge
through direct
personal experience
of God.

Congo River

Is a river located in
mid western Africa
that goes through
multiple countries;
deepest river in the
world

The Congo River is

the main
transportation source
in central Africa.
Served as a way to
transport goods and
is now used for
hydroelectric power.

Ibn Battuta

Was a medieval
Moroccan traveler
and scholar who is
widely recognised as
one of the greatest
travelers of all time

Battuta traveled
throughout Asia and
North Africa and
experienced many
different cultures.

Indian Ocean trade

Trade that spread

throughout the Indian
Ocean

Africa would supply

raw goods to the rest
of Asia, and they
would supply East
African states with
swords and luxury
items such as silk,
furs and porcelain.

trans -Saharan trade

Route that connected

North and South
Africa

Items were delivered

through the use of
camels and
caravans. Precious
metals such as gold
was transported, but
also spices from

India, iron tools and

weapons. Salt and
slavess were also
transported
Timbuktu

Timbuktu was a
major city in the
empire of Mali

Was a major trade

route city on the route
of the Trans Saharan
trade routes.

Matrilineal descent

The child of the

family is passed by
the mother

Exemplifies the
difference in gender
roles.

Ghana

More properly known

as Awkar;
arrangement of city
states along the Sub
Saharan trade route

Was the site of the

first trade society

Mali

Was an empire
located in
Northwestern Africa

Was luxurious and

gave rise to rulers
such as Mansa Musa

Sundiata

Was the puissant

prince and helped
found the Empire
Mali

Accompanied Mansa
Musa in his travels

Mansa Musa

Extremely wealthy
ruler of the Mali
Empire

Spent so much gold

in the cities he went
to that gold became
less valuable. His
affluence exposed to
the world the wealth
of Africa.

Zimbabwe

Medieval Kingdom
located in Modern
day Zimbabwe
thought to have had
dealings with the
Egyptians.

Had stone structures

of great size and had
a library.

Byzantium

Ancient Greek colony

that later became
Constantinople.

Became the trading

region of the world
and the center of
multiple empires.

Justinian I

Was the Byzantine

emperor that fended
off the Germans.

He was the reason

for reforming the
Byzantine Empire
and attempted to
reclaim the glory of
Rome.

Constantinople

Capital of the
Byzantine Empire

Was trading hotspot

of the world for a time

Bosphorous Strait

The trade route that

separates Asia and
Europe.

Was important for

linking trade and links
the Black Sea to the
Sea of Marmara and
the site of ancient
Constantinople. It
connects European
Turkey to Asian
Turkey.

Slavs

They are the IndoEuropean people

who live in modern
day Baltic Region and
areas around that

They are responsible

for creating Russias
first Empire and
traded with the
Byzantine Empire.

Rus

Russias first real

empire that was
created by
indigenous people
and the Slavs and
was destroyed by the
Tartars

They traded with the

Byzantine empire and
created their own
language and are
considered to be the
last civilization that
was attached to
Rome.

boyars

Rank in Russian
aristocracy below a
prince

Were important in
ruling the regional
states

Hagia Sophia

Large church built by

Justinian the first and
is located in Istanbul,
Turkey

Was considered an
architectural
achievement
because of the size
of its dome

Magyars

A group of nomadic
hunters that migrated
towards Central
Europe. And
eventually founded
Hungary.

Main population that

formed Hungary.

Eastern Orthodox
Church

A split from the

Roman Catholic
Church

Was responsible for

animosity between
certain empires

Cyrillic alphabet

Was the alphabet of a

language developed
by the first Bulgarian
Empire. It is based
on the Greek
alphabet but has
some additional
letters to represent
sounds in the slavic
languages not heard
in Greek

It had influence on
many Southwestern
and Northeastern
languages

Bulgars

Bulgarian people who

were a subgroup of
Slavic

Destroyed the
Byzantine Empire

hippodrome

Was a place where

chariots raced

Shows the parallels

between the Roman
and Byzantine
Empire.

Kievan Rus

Was a loose
organization of East
Slavic clans

Had a lot of influence

over Northern
Europe. Kievan Rus
was the first eastern
Slavic state. And
after defeat by
Mongols in the 13 th
century, eventually
becomes Poland and
Lithuania.