Glossary
Browse the glossary using this index
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balance of powerA political policy in which countries attempt to preserve peace by keeping an equal military and economic status. |
Balfour DeclarationA promise made by British Prime Minister Balfour to create a homeland for the Jewish people. |
bankA business that exchanges currencies, makes loans, and keeps the money of individual depositors. |
Baron de Montesquieu(1689-1755) Enlightenment thinker from France who wrote a book called, The Spirit of the Laws in 1748. In his book, Montesquieu describes what he considers to be the best government. He states that government should divide itself according to its powers, creating a Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. Montesquieu explained that under this system each branch would Check and Balance the others, which would help protect the people's liberty. |
barterThe exchange of goods or services for other goods or services. |
Batista, Fulgencio(1901-1973) Cuban president from 1940 to 1944 and 1952 to 1959. He was responsible for some reforms in the country before leaving office for the first time. Later, he overthrew the legitimate government and ruled as a dictator until he was forced from office by Fidel Castro. |
Battle of BritainThe massive air war against Great Britain by the Nazi war machine in Germany. Nearly nightly bombings occurred between summer of 1940 and summer of 1941 before German withdrew. Great Britain fought alone during this year and never gave up. |
BayA body of water partly surrounded by land but having a wide outlet to the sea. |
BCEDate designation meaning Before Common Era, or more than two thousand years ago. |
Belief SystemBelief in a reverence for a supernatural power or powers reguarded as creator and governor of the universe. |
Bell, Alexander Graham(1847-1922) American inventor of the telephone. |
Ben-Gurion, David(1886-1973) First Prime Minister of Israel. |
Berlin AirliftA re-supply operation to the city of Berlin that lasted 11 months during 1948-49 when the Soviet Union attempted to close off the city. |
Berlin Conference(1884-1885) During European Imperialism, various European leaders met in Berlin, Germany to discuss plans for dividing Africa peacefully. These leaders had little regard for African independence, and had no representation for native Africans. This began the process of imperializing Africa. |
Berlin WallA wall built in 1961 dividing Soviet controlled East Berlin from the democratic West Berlin. It was destroyed when communism ended in 1990. |
Bessemer, Sir Henry(1813-98) Inventor who developed a more cost efficient process for making steel. |
Bhagavad GitaA Hindu holy book where the god Krishna teaches the importance of selflessness, performing religious duties, and of devotion to God. |
bill of exchangeA document purchased from a bank that allowed a person to travel without having to carry large amounts of money. Worked like a modern check. |
Black HandSerbian nationalist/terrorist group responsible for the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand which resulted in the start of World War I. |
blended familyA stepfamily |
blitzkriegGerman word meaning lightning war. It was a German army tactic during World War II which called for quick moving, hard hitting drives into enemy territory. |
block printingA system of printing where characters are carved onto a wooden block. The block is then inked and pressed onto a sheet of paper. |
Blüt und EisenBlood and Iron policy of Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck to unify all of Germany under Prussian control and build and expand it into a great empire. Very successful. |
Boer War(1899-1902) War between Great Britain and the Boers in South Africa over control of rich mining country. Great Britain won and created the Union of South Africa comprised of all the South African colonies. |
BoersDutch descended colonist living in South Africa. Also called Afrikaners. |