| A | B |
|---|
| Abbassid Dynasty | (750 - 1258) Ruling family of the Islamic Empire during its golden age. This dynasty is responsible for many achievements |
| Age of Exploration | Time period during the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans searched for new sources of wealth and for easier trade routes to China and India. Resulted in the discovery of North and South America by the Europeans. |
| agriculture | The cultivating of land, producing of crops, and raising of livestock for human consumption. |
| Allied Powers | Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II. |
| American Revolution | Political revolution in the British North American Colonies starting in 1776 that removed the colonies from Great Britain’s control, and established an independent nation know as the United States of America. |
| arable | Land that is able to support the growing of crops. |
| Aztecs | A Mesoamerican civilization of Mexico who created a strong empire that flourished between the 14th and 15th century. The arrival of Hernando Cortez and the Spanish Conquistadores ended their empire. |
| balance of power | A political policy in which countries attempt to preserve peace by keeping an equal military and economic status. |
| bank | A business that exchanges currencies, makes loans, and keeps the money of individual depositors. |
| barter | The exchange of goods or services for other goods or services. |
| BCE | Date designation meaning Before Common Era, or more than two thousand years ago. |
| bill of exchange | A document purchased from a bank that allowed a person to travel without having to carry large amounts of money. Worked like a modern check. |
| capital | Money that is used for investment. |
| capitalism | An economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. Also promotes a free market regulated by supply and demand. |
| Cash Crop Economy | An economic system based on the exportation of certain crops such as sugar, cotton, and coffee. |
| Cavalry | Mounted warriors. |
| centralized government | A government which controls all aspects of society from a central location or through a central system. |
| chinampas | floating islands of land anchored to a lake bottom used for agriculture. This technique was used by the Aztecs. |
| civilization | A society that has a high level of culture and social organization including organized government, job specialization, and a organized belief system. |
| Cold War | Non shooting conflict between the Soviet Union and their allies and the United States and their allies. Numerous secondary conflicts arise due to the Cold War. |
