World History and Cultures Final Vocab
Constituency
A body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body
Tariff
A customs duty or tax levied on imports of merchandise goods
Polity
A form or process of civil government or constitution
Deflation
A general decrease in prices and rise in the purchasing value of mone
Inflation
A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of mone
Referendum
A general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Meritocracy
A government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability
Vanguard
A group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas
Sect
A group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong
Vassal
A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance
Edict
A law or order made or given by an authority
Guerilla
A member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces
Figurehead
A nominal leader or head without real power
Heretic
A person believing in or practicing religious heresy
Heir
A person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death
Emissary
A person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative
Sycophant
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage
Collaborator
A person who cooperates traitorously with an enemy; a defector
Heathen
A person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those who do
Apostate
A person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle
Demagogue
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument
Privateer
A private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war
Mercenary
A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army
Manumission
A release from slavery
Despot
A ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way
Extortality
A side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved
Cadre
A small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession
Faction
A small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics
Apocryphal
A story or statement of doubtful authenticity
Allegory
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one
Subsidy
A sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive
Peonage
A system where an employer compels a worker to pay off a debt with work
Duties
A task or action that someone is required to perform
Stimulus
A thing or event that evokes a specific response
Concubine
A woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives
Colloquialism
A word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation
Charter
A written grant by a country's legislative or sovereign power, by which a body such as a company, college, or city is founded and its rights and privileges defined
Tribute
An act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration
Embargo
An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country
Mandate
An official order or commission to do something
Edict
An official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority
Mutiny
An open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers
Hierarchical
Arranged in order of rank
Anachronistic
Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed
Conscription
Compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces
Secular
Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis
Nominal
Existing in name only
Polemical
Expressing or constituting a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something
Default
Failure to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a court of law
Xenophobic
Having or showing a dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries
Hegemony
Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others
Nomadic
Living the life of a nomad
Specie
Money in the form of coins rather than notes
Liminal
Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold
Antidisestablishmentarianism
Opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England
Puppet
Someone whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence
Reparations
The act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
Appeasement
The action or process of appeasing
Succession
The action or process of inheriting a title, office, property, etc
Partition
The action or state of dividing or being divided into parts
Revanchism
The actions of taking back land that was previously yours
Proxy
The authority to represent someone else, especially in voting
Infrastructure
The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
Mercantilism
The belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism.
Syncretism
The blending of different religions and cultures
Plebiscite
The direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution
Barter
The exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money
Monopoly
The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service
Irredentism
The idea of taking back land that was previously yours
Anomie
The lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group
Vernacular
The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region
Chivalry
The medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code
Coercion
The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats
Polygamy
The practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time
Temperance
The quality of moderation or self-restraint
Depose
The removal from office suddenly and forcefully
Historiography
The study of historical writing
Patronage
The support given by a patron
Thesis/Antithesis
The thesis is an intellectual proposition, the antithesis is the negation of the thesis
Annex
To append or add as an extra or subordinate part, especially to a document
Co-opt
To appoint to membership of a committee or other body by invitation of the existing members.
Maritime
To be connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring commercial or military activity
Specious
To be superficially plausible, but actually wrong
Balkanize
To divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups
Deference
To have humble submission and respect
Excommunicate
To officially exclude (someone) from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church
Sack
To plunder and destroy (a captured town, building, or other place)
Abdicate
To renounce one's throne
Pillage
To rob a (place) using violence, especially in wartime
Plunder
To steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder
Usurp
To take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force
Nationalize
To transfer (a major branch of industry or commerce) from private to state ownership or control
Secede
To withdraw formally from membership of a federal union, an alliance, or a political or religious organization
Infidel
a person who does not believe in religion or who adheres to a religion other than one's own.
Bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives
Assimilate
to conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a dominant social group, nation, or the like
Pastoral/pastoralist
(Especially of land or a farm) Used for or related to the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle
Canonize
(In the Roman Catholic Church) To officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint
Endemic
(Of a disease) Regularly occurring within an area or community