Glossary


Browse the glossary using this index

Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

Page:  1  2  3  (Next)
  ALL

A

Abbassid Dynasty

(750 - 1258) Ruling family of the Islamic Empire during its golden age and responsible for many achievements.

Abraham

The first patriarch in the Bible. Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and was rewarded for being prepared to do so. He is considered by Jewish people as the father of the Israelites through his son Isaac, and by Muslims as the father of Arab peoples through his son Ishmael.

absolute monarchy

A political system in which a country is ruled by a monarch, who has absolute control.

acid rain

Rain that contains pollutants due to the burning of fossil fuels. It is damaging to the environment.

acupuncture

Chinese method of treating disorders by inserting needles into the skin. This is to help with the flow of energy that is thought to be blocked.

adaptation

A change made to survive an environment or to overcome a disadvantage.

African Trading Kingdoms

Three African kingdoms, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai that were important in the trans-Sahara trade of gold form the west coast of Africa to North Africa and the Middle East. Their trade provided enough wealth to create the conditions necessary for cultural and intellectual achievement.

Afrikaners

Dutch descended colonist living in South Africa. Also called Boers.

Age of Exploration

Time period during the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans searched for new sources of wealth and for easier trade routes to China and India. Resulted in the discovery of North and South America by the Europeans.

Age of Reason

Term given to describe the Enlightenment.

Age of Transition

Term given to describe the Renaissance.

Agrarian Revolution

A change in farming methods that allowed for a greater production of food. This revolution was fueled by the use of new farming technology such as the seed drill and improved fertilizers. The result of this revolution was a population explosion due to the higher availability of food. It was one of the causes of the Industrial Revolution.

agriculture

The cultivating of land, producing of crops, and raising of livestock for human consumption.

Ahimsa

In Hinduism, it is the principal of non violence against all living things.

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A disease of the human immune system caused by the HIV retrovirus.

Akbar the Great

(1542-1605) Emperor of the Mughal Empire in India. He is considered to be their greatest ruler. He is responsible for the expansion of his empire, the stability his administration gave to it, and the increasing of trade and cultural diffusion.

al-Khwarizimi

Islamic mathematician who pioneered the study of algebra. His textbook on the subject became a standard in European universities for centuries.

Al-Qaeda

Islamic terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden. They are responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings in New York City.

al-Sadat, Anwar

(1918-1981) President of Egypt between 1970 and 1981. He was assassinated by Islamic fundamentalists for making peace with Israel.

Alexander the Great

(356 BCE-323 BCE) He conquered most of the ancient world from Asia Minor to Egypt and India, which began the Hellenistic culture which was a blending of Greek, Persian, Indian, and Egyptian influences.

algebra

A branch of mathematics pioneered by Islamic mathematician al-Khwarizimi in which letters are used to represent unknown numbers to generalize arithmetic.

Allied Powers

Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II.

American Revolution

Political revolution in the British North American Colonies starting in 1776 that removed the colonies from Great Britain’s control, and established an independent nation know as the United States of America.

Amritsar Massacre

April 3rd of 1919. British soldiers killed close to 400 unarmed Indian men, women, and children, and wounded 1,100 more. People had gathered in the center of town to protest British occupation of their country, and to demand equality. This was a turning point in British domination of India. Independence movements became very popular and eventually forced India's independence.

Analects, The

Collection of moral and social teachings of Confucius, including the concept of the Five Relationships.

Page:  1  2  3  (Next)
  ALL