Final Exam Vocabulary Words Review Agriculture the business of farming alchemy A combination of science, magic, and philosophy that was practiced in medieval times anti-semitism prejudice toward Jews. apprentice A person who works for an expert in a trade or craft in a return for training aristocracy a ruling class of noble families barter to buy and sell by trading goods and services rather than money. bubonic plague a deadly contagious disease caused by bacteria and spread by fleas bureaucracy a highly organized body of workers with many levels of authority caliph a title taken by Muslim rulers who claimed religious authority to rule. 1
charter A written grant of rights and privileges by a ruler or government to a community, class of people or organization chivalry the medieval knight s code of ideal behavior, including bravery, loyalty, and respect for women. commerce the buying and selling of goods commoner a person who is not of noble rank crusades a series of religious wars launched against Muslims by European Christians. cultural diffusion the spread of cultural elements from one society to another currency the form of money used in a country domain the land controlled by a ruler or lord elements of culture objects, ideas, and customs of a particular culture excommunicate To formally deprive a person membership in a church 2
feudalism the economic and political system that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages fief land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service genealogy an account of the line of ancestry within the family griot A West African Story Teller habeas corpus The principle that accused persons cannot be held in jail without the consent of a court. heretic a person who holds beliefs that are contrary to the teachings of a church or other group hierarchy a system of organizing people into ranks, with those of higher rank having more power and privileges Imperial China under the rule of emperors inoculate to protect against disease by transmitting a disease-causing agent to a person, stimulating the body s defensive reactions Inquisition 3
a judicial body established by the Catholic Church to combat heresy and other forms of religious error. Jerusalem a sacred city to Muslims, Jews & Christians. Muslims: Muhammad & Nigh Journey Jews: Great Temple once stood there Christians: Jesus was crucified there magna carta A written agreement from 1215 that limited the English king s power and strengthened the rights of nobles. manor a large estate, including farmland and villages, held by a lord mass-produce to make similar items in quantity using standardized designs and dividing labor among workers matrilineal based on a woman s family line meritocracy rule by officials of proven merit millets communities can rule themselves under their own system of government monarch 4
A ruler, such as a king or queen monotheism belief in a single God. noble a person of high rank by birth or title nomad A person who moves from place to place often in search of water and vegetation. patrilineal based on a man s family line persecute To cause a person to suffer because of his or her beliefs philosophy The study of wisdom, knowledge, and the nature of reality. pilgrimage a journey to a holy site polytheist A person who believes in more than one God. proverb A popular saying that is meant to express something wise or true. province 5
a division of a country or an empire. regent one who rules in the name of another relic an object that is considered holy because it belonged to, or was touched by, a saint or holy person rhetoric the study of persuasive writing and speaking schism a formal division in a church or religious body scribe A person trained to write or copy documents by hand. sedentary Permanently settled in one place segregation the forced separation of one group from the rest of a community siege an attempt to surround a place and cut off all access to it in order to force a surrender Silk Road Camel caravan routes crossing the deserts of Central Asia to Europe. Silk was not the only thing traded along this route. succession 6
inheritance of the right to rule sultan the sovereign ruler of a Muslim state tribute a payment made by one ruler or country to another for protection or as a sign of submission truce an agreed-upon halt (stop) in fighting urbanization the growth of cities kowtow When ambassadors from tributaries come before an emperor, they kneel before him three times and each time touch their heads to the floor. 7