Era 3 Vocab Guide
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1Key Era VocabularyThis report provides a summary of key vocabulary for this era. For each word, you will find the definition, part of speech, word forms (plurals/tenses), synonyms, and examples of how the word, or forms of the word, are used in a sentence.animism• the belief that spiritual beings or souls can exist without a body to house them or in plants, animals, and other objectsPart of speech:nounWord forms:animistic, animistSynonyms:In a sentence:Immigrants from various Asian countries have brought the belief in animism to various US communities.assimilate• to absorb and incorporate (an ethnically distinct group) into the dominant culture of an areaPart of speech:verbWord forms:assimilates, assimilating, assimilatedSynonyms:integrate, naturalizeIn a sentence:The villagers were forcibly assimilated into the society of the conquerors.belief system• a set of principles or tenets which together form the basis of a religion, philosophy, or moral codePart of speech:nounWord forms:belief systemsSynonyms:value systemIn a sentence:Cheating on a test violates her personal belief system.caste system• a social structure in which one’s class in society is determined by heredityPart of speech:nounWord forms:caste, caste systemsSynonyms:social hierarchy, social classesIn a sentence:The Indian caste system was very rigid and made it difficult for someone of a lower class to move into a higher class.centralized government• a type of government in which decisions are made by one executive powerPart of speech:nounWord forms:central governmentSynonyms:monarchyIn a sentence:Although the nation is controlled by a centralized government, local governments are also able to make laws.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 2city• a large and significant town, usually a locally governed commercial and population centerPart of speech:nounWord forms:citiesSynonyms:metropolis, municipalityIn a sentence:Many people work in the city and commute to their homes in the suburbs.city-state• a self-governing state made up of a city and its surrounding territoryPart of speech:nounWord forms:city-statesSynonyms:commonwealth, communityIn a sentence:Venice was once a powerful city-state.coercive• of or using coercion (power to persuade someone using threats or intimidation)Part of speech:adjectiveWord forms:coercively, coercivenessSynonyms:compulsory, involuntary, forcedIn a sentence:The cult leaders sometimes used coercive methods to obtain recruits.convert• to change or influence change in someone else’s or one’s own faith or beliefsPart of speech:verbWord forms:converts, converting, convertedSynonyms:compulsory, involuntary, forcedIn a sentence:She began the process to convert to Judaism when she became engaged to someone of the faith.culture• the sum of the language, customs, beliefs, and art considered characteristic of a particular group of peoplePart of speech:nounWord forms:cultures, cultural, culturing, culturedSynonyms:civilization, folkwayIn a sentence:The Catholic Church has played a large role in the development of French culture.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 3cuneiform• of, concerning, or written in wedge-shaped characters, as were many languages of the ancient Near East, such as Sumerian and BabylonianPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:Synonyms:pictographs, hieroglyphicsIn a sentence:A team of linguists are studying the ancient cuneiform texts in hopes of translating them into English.diaspora• a scattering of any people with a common culturePart of speech:nounWord forms:diasporasSynonyms:exodus, dispersal, exileIn a sentence:When war broke out in their home country, a large diaspora settled in a neighboring nation.divisions of labor• the breakdown of labor into its components and their distribution among different persons, groups, or machines to increase productive efficiencyPart of speech:nounWord forms:division of laborSynonyms:delegateIn a sentence:After implementing divisions of labor, the company became more efficient at producing products in a timely manner.doctrine• a belief or system of beliefs held and promoted by a religious, governmental, academic, or other group; dogmaPart of speech:nounWord forms:doctrines, doctrinalSynonyms:dogma, creed, gospelIn a sentence:This book compares Christian doctrine with Hindu doctrine.dynasty• a succession, lasting several generations, of rulers from the same family or groupPart of speech:nounWord forms:dynasties, dynastic, dynasticallySynonyms:empire, regimeIn a sentence:The 800-year dynasty came to an end when rebel forces attacked the royal palace, killing the last of the imperial family.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 4elite• those having the greatest authority or privilege or highest statusPart of speech:nounWord forms:elitesSynonyms:aristocrats, nobilityIn a sentence:The posh (fancy) restaurant on 9th Avenue only caters to the elite.empire• territory controlled by a central government, with one supreme ruler, who governs a diverse populationPart of speech:nounWord forms:empiresSynonyms:kingdom, domainIn a sentence:The Ottoman Empire ruled over a vast territory with multiple ethnicities and belief systems.enslaved• to cause to be a slave or to be in a condition of bondagePart of speech:verbWord forms:enslaves, enslaving, enslaveSynonyms:subjugated, coerced, imprisoned, forcedIn a sentence:The Romans enslaved thousands of people, with many being owned by the state to work in agricultural and mining industries.government• the direction and control exercised politically over people living in a community, state, or nationPart of speech:nounWord forms:governments, governmental, governmentallySynonyms:administration, authority, regimeIn a sentence:The government recently decided to place a heavy tax on the people.inequality• the condition of being unequal, especially in natural talents or social or economic statusPart of speech:nounWord forms:inequalitiesSynonyms:injustice, unfairness, disparityIn a sentence:One of the many inequalities experienced by the lower class is lack of access to resources.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 5infrastructure• the basic structures and facilities, such as roads and bridges, that are necessary for a system or state to functionPart of speech:nounWord forms:infrastructuresSynonyms:base, frameworkIn a sentence:This country has a highly developed infrastructure of highways and bridges.Iron Age• the stage or level of development of human culture that followed the Bronze Age and that was characterized by the use of iron tools and weapons, beginning about 1000 BCEPart of speech:proper nounWord forms:Synonyms:In a sentence:The Iron Age marked a period of technological advancement as people began to make their tools and weapons out of iron, which was stronger and more durable than bronze or stone.irrigation system• the supplying of water to land by man-made means to aid in growing cropsPart of speech:nounWord forms:irrigation systemsSynonyms:well system, watering systemIn a sentence:Farmers rely heavily on irrigation systems to water their crops.kinship• the state or fact of being a relative or relatives, especially by birthPart of speech:nounWord forms:kin, kinshipsSynonyms:family, clan, relativeIn a sentence:Most of the people living in this mountain region are connected by kinship.legal code• a code of laws adopted by a state or nation; “a code of laws”Part of speech:nounWord forms:legal codesSynonyms:code of law, penal code, written lawIn a sentence:It has been difficult to establish a legal code for the control of advertisements.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 6matrilineal• pertaining to, derived from, or tracing descent through the mother’s familyPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:matrilineallySynonyms:maternal lineageIn a sentence:Jewish ancestry is passed down through matrilineal descent.merchant• one who buys goods and sells them for a profitPart of speech:nounWord forms:merchantsSynonyms:dealer, trader, vendor, salesmanIn a sentence:We order our food from whichever merchant gives us the best price.meritocracy• a system in which people attain power, influence, and wealth because of their intellectual abilities rather than because of their class status or family lineagePart of speech:nounWord forms:meritocraciesSynonyms:merit systemIn a sentence:In order to move up in the meritocracy, all government officials must pass a series of tests used to measure their intellectual abilities.monotheism• the belief that there is only one supreme beingPart of speech:nounWord forms:monotheist, monotheistic, monotheisticallySynonyms:In a sentence:Monotheism is a core belief of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.nomadic• pertaining to, being, or resembling a member of a group or tribe that has no permanent home and moves from place to placePart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:nomad, nomadsSynonyms:migratory, vagabondIn a sentence:The nomadic tribes moved as the weather changed and prey migrated.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 7oral tradition• the stories, beliefs, etc., that a group of people share by telling stories and talking to each otherPart of speech:nounWord forms:oral traditionsSynonyms:oral historyIn a sentence:Tales of my great-great-great grandfather's adventures as a sea captain have been passed down through my family by oral tradition.origin stories• a narrative about the beginning of the Universe or humanityPart of speech:nounWord forms:origin storySynonyms:narratives, oral historiesIn a sentence:Spiderman's origin story begins with Peter Parker being bitten by a radioactive spider.pantheon• all gods of a people, collectively; a temple dedicated to all of a people’s godsPart of speech:nounWord forms:pantheonsSynonyms:templeIn a sentence:The Ancient Greek pantheon includes the Olympians such as Zeus and Athena.patriarchal• relating to a social system in which a father rules, and descent and succession are traced through the fatherPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:patriarchy, patriarchiesSynonyms:fatherlyIn a sentence:When the queen took the throne, she ended the country's patriarchal system of government.periphery• the outer edge of an area; the less important part of a group or activityPart of speech:nounWord forms:peripheriesSynonyms:brink, perimeter, fringeIn a sentence:Many women feel they are being kept on the periphery of the armed forces.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 8persecute• to subject (especially those belonging to a different political, religious, or racial group) to persistent harassment, punishment, or ill-treatmentPart of speech:verbWord forms:persecutes, persecuting, persecuted, persecutionSynonyms:harass, oppressIn a sentence:The Nazis wanted to persecute Jews, Roma, Poles, and political opponents, as well as people with disabilities, by sending them to concentration camps.philosophy• the study of the nature and principles of knowledge, truth, existence, and moral and aesthetic values; any system of ideas and theories based on such studyPart of speech:nounWord forms:philosophies, philosophicalSynonyms:ideology, theory, doctrineIn a sentence:The philosophy of Confucius emphasized virtues such as loyalty and trustworthiness. pilgrimage• a long trip undertaken for religious purposes, such as to visit a holy placePart of speech:nounWord forms:pilgrimagesSynonyms:journey, voyage, missionIn a sentence:The family of Muslims set off on their pilgrimage to Mecca.polytheistic• the belief in more than one godPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:polytheist, polytheisticallySynonyms:In a sentence:Christianity is not a polytheistic religion because it only accepts the existence of one god.portable• capable of being carried or transportedPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:portably, portabilitySynonyms:mobile, movable, transportableIn a sentence:She was able to take her portable camera everywhere with her during her trip.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 9prophet• a teacher, leader, or spokesperson of a movement or cause, especially a religious one, who is believed to be the recipient of some special inspiration or revelationPart of speech:nounWord forms:prophets, propheticSynonyms:guide, messengerIn a sentence:The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple.ritual• an established and prescribed procedure for a ceremony, especially a religious onePart of speech:nounWord forms:rituals, ritualisticSynonyms:ceremony, custom, practiceIn a sentence:Drinking sips of rice wine is part of the traditional marriage ritual in Japan.sedentary• living in a fixed location; not migratoryPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:sedentismSynonyms:stationaryIn a sentence:Longhouses were built by mostly sedentary tribes because they take a long time to build and migratory tribes do not have enough time to build such ornate structures.Silk Road• a name given to the ancient trade routes between China and southern Europe, through southern AsiaPart of speech:proper nounWord forms:Synonyms:In a sentence:The Silk Road was not only a number of trade routes for the buying and selling of goods, but also for the exchange of religion and ideas.smelting• to melt or fuse (ores) as a means of separating and obtaining the metal contentPart of speech:verbWord forms:smelt, smelts, smeltedSynonyms:melt, extractIn a sentence:In order to extract iron from ore you need to smelt the metal compound in a furnace.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 10social order• the totality of structured human interrelationships in a societyPart of speech:nounWord forms:social ordersSynonyms:social harmonyIn a sentence:Police officers will be walking around the rally grounds in order to help keep the peace and maintain social order.social stratification• the differentiation and categorization of people into social hierarchiesPart of speech:nounWord forms:Synonyms:social classes, social hierarchiesIn a sentence:Often, social stratification can make it difficult for people of lower classes to find success because they do not have access to the same resources as do people of the upper classes.society• a community or group of people who live in the same country or area and are linked with each other by such things as laws and customsPart of speech:nounWord forms:societies, societalSynonyms:community, association, network, groupIn a sentence:Every society considers some behaviors acceptable and others unacceptable.specialist• a person who pursues a single interest or area of studyPart of speech:nounWord forms:specialists, specializationSynonyms:expert, authorityIn a sentence:The medical specialist helped treat wounds because no official medical practices had been established yet.steppe• a broad, somewhat arid grass plain, especially the great plains in southeast Russia and southwest AsiaPart of speech:nounWord forms:steppesSynonyms:grassland, plainIn a sentence:Pastoralists wandered the steppes to let their animals graze.
ERA 3 VOCABULARYWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 11syncretism• an attempted combination or reconciliation of different principles, beliefs, or practices, especially in religion or philosophyPart of speech:nounWord forms:syncretic, syncretistic, syncretistSynonyms:unification, consolidationIn a sentence:The syncretism of the two religions was made possible by their shared goal to unite the people of the river valley.taxes• a sum of money levied by government on income, property, or sales and used for its services and administrationPart of speech:nounWord forms:tax, taxation, taxing, taxedSynonyms:tariff, surchargeIn a sentence:The English monarchy imposed many taxes on the American colonists for items such as sugar and stamps.trade• the act of buying and selling commodities, or all such acts collectivelyPart of speech:nounWord forms:tradeable, tradelessSynonyms:commerce, business, exchangeIn a sentence:The new treaty will strongly affect trade between the two countries.trade network• a series of roads, waterways, railroads, and air routes that allow groups to trade goods with one another; a loose organization of societies that exchange goods with each otherPart of speech:nounWord forms:trade networksSynonyms:exchange networkIn a sentence:In both ancient and modern times, trade networks have allowed for cultural exchange between societies. urban• of or pertaining to a city or townPart of speech:adjectiveWord forms:urbanizationSynonyms:metropolitanIn a sentence:New York City is one of the most populous urban areas in the United States.