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