World History: Core Concepts and Approaches

The study of past events in a chronological order, examining change over time.

A way of studying history in its specific time and place, focusing on lived experiences.

Interpreting history based on a grand narrative or overarching meaning, often linked to an ultimate goal.

The ongoing discussion and debate regarding the interpretations of the past, constantly evolving.

A set of ideas originating from the Enlightenment, focused on reason, science, secularism, democracy, and a global perspective.

A 17th and 18th-century intellectual and scientific movement that championed reason and rational deduction.

A system of government where power resides with the people, and decisions are made by them.

Focuses on interconnected societies and civilizations across the globe, emphasizing the impact of trade, people, and ideas.

The process of turning from a mainly oral culture to one that heavily depends on written language and literacy.

Human history that can only be reconstructed based on non-written evidence, often studied by archaeologists and paleo-anthropologists.

The study of knowledge, its foundations, methods, and validity.

Ideas and practices that give meaning to activities in human societies.

The idea that the study of global connections can help educate future generations to become responsible and informed global citizens.

A complex society with shared territory, rules, identity, communication, and religion; a major player in world history.

A primary source produced at the time of the historical event that is unmediated by later interpretations.

A source produced after the historical event containing analysis and interpretations.

The development of writing, which revolutionized communication and allowed societies to store and share information.

The act of transferring information through verbal or nonverbal means.

Professional storytellers and keepers of West African history who relied on oral tradition.

A key development after the last Ice Age that allowed humans to control their environment, leading to agriculture and the rise of civilization.

The growth of complex societies and empires, with specialized labor, bureaucracy, and cities.

The spread of information through technology, including the printing press, telephone, radio, television, and computers.

The interconnectedness of societies through trade, religion, and other forms of communication; a primary driver of historical change.

The idea that geographical location influences a civilization's power and influence, with the 'heartland' being considered the most important.

Trade routes that connected Asia, Europe, and Africa through land and sea.

The exchange of goods, ideas, and knowledge between pastoralist societies and agricultural empires, facilitated by the mobility of pastoralists.

The rivalry between the British and Russian empires for control of Central Asia in the 19th century.

A theory that divides the world into three sets of states based on their economic production and role: core, semi-periphery, and periphery.

An economic system where production is privately owned and used to generate profit.

The development of large empires, explained by the interaction between nomadic and sedentary populations, leading to a cycle of organizational growth and conflict.

Territorial states controlling vast regions, usually exceeding 1 million square kilometers.

An intellectual movement focusing on the human in its natural environment, emphasizing self-determination and reason.

A method of learning based on tradition, dogma, and authority.

An error in chronology or a misplacement of events in time.

The ability to decide how resources are allocated.

A territorial unit with a monopoly of force within its borders, often with a bureaucracy, legal system, and social order.

The evolution of political power from monarchies to constitutions, reflecting a shift from coercion to more complex forms of governance.

The ability to make decisions and take actions, often seen in a political context.

A political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, liberties, and equality before the law.

A system of rule based on a hierarchy of patrons and clients, where goods, labor, and favors are exchanged to maintain power.

A territorial unit ruled by a hereditary monarchy.

A form of government where authority is held by the people through elected representatives.

A territorial unit centered around a city and its surrounding area.

Repressive rule based on dictatorial power, usually by one individual or a small group.

A system of rule where power is held by a small group, often sharing a common ethnicity, social class, ideology, or religion.

Supreme authority and freedom of action, with no higher internal or external source of power.

A political order based on a constitution, which outlines rights, obligations, and norms.

A period of significant change in political order, often involving overthrowing existing power.

The shift from personal rule to impersonal rule, where governance is carried out through institutions and the state is distinct from the ruler.

The process of transition from traditional forms of power to more modern state-based systems.

A pivotal event in European history that established the principle of state sovereignty and religious freedom.