New economic Policy
Initatiated by Lenin in 1921; state continued to set basic economic policies, but efforts were now combined with individual initiative policy allowed food production to recover.
New feminism
New wave of women's rights agitation dating from 1949; emphasized more literal equality that would play down domestic roles and qualities for women; promoted specific reforms and redefinition of what it meant to be female.
New France
French colonies in North America; extended from St. Lawrence River along Great Lake and down Mississippi River valley system.
New Spain
Spanish colonial possessions in Mesoamerica; included most of central Mexico based on imperial system of Aztecs.
Newton, Isaac
English scientist during the 17th century ; author of Principia; drew the various astronomical and physical observations and wider theories together in neat framework of natural laws; established principles of motion; defined forces of gravity.
Nezhualcoytl
leading aztec king of the 15th century.
Nguyen
Rival Vietnamese dynasty that arose in southern Vietnam to challenge traditional dynasty of Trinh in north at Hanoi; kingdom centered on Red and Mekong Rivers; capital at Hue.
Nyguyen Anh
Last surviving member of Nguyen dynasty following Tayson Reellion in Vietnam; with French support retook southern Vietnam; drove Tayson from northern Vietnam by 1802; proclaimed himself emperor with capital at Hue; also known as Gia Long.
Nicolas II
Tsar of Russia 1894-1917; forcefully suppressed political opposition and resisted constitutional government; deposed by revolution in 1917.
Nobili, Robert di
Italian Jesuit missionary; worked in India during the early 1600s; introduced strategy to convert elites first; strategy later widely adopted by jesuits in various parts of Asia; mission eventually failed.
Nobunaga
Japanese daimyo; first to make extensive use of firearms; in 1573 deposed last of Ashikaga shoguns; unified much of central Honshu under his command; killed in 1582.
Nok
Culture featuring highly developed art style flourishing between 500 b.c.e. and 200 c.e. located in forests of central Nigeria.
nomads
cattle and sheep-herding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized societies; commonly referred to as "barbarian" by civilized societies.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Agreement that created an essentially free trade zone among Mexico, Canada, and the United States, in hopes of encouraging economic growth in all three nations; after difficult negotiations, went into effect January 1, 1994.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Created in 1949 under united states leadership in group most of the western european powers plus Canada in a defensive alliance against possible Soviet aggression.
Northern Renaissance
Cultural and intellectual movement of northern Europe; began later than Italian Renaissance c. 1450; centered in France, Low Countries, England, and Germany; featured greater emphasis on religion than Italian Renaissance.
Nur Jahan
Wife of Jahangir; amassed power in court and created faction of male relatives who dominated Mughal empire during later years of Jahangir's reign.
Nurhaci
Architect of Manchu unity; created distinctive MAnchu banner armies; controlled most of Manchuria; adopted Chinese bureaucracy and court ceremonies in Manchuria; entered China and successfully captured Ming capital at Beijing.
obeah
African religious ideas and practices in the English and French Caribbean islands.
Obregon, Alvaro
Emerged as leader of the Mexican government in 1915; elected president in 1920.
Odyssey
Greek epic poem attributed to Homer but possibly the work of many authors; defined gods and human nature that shaped Greek mythos.
Ogedei
Third son of Ghengis Khan; succeeded him as khagan of the Mongols following the father's death.
Old Believers
Russians who refused to accept the ecclesiastical reforms of Alexis Romanov (17th century) many exiled to Siberia or southern Russia, where they became part of Russian colonization.
Olmec culture
Cultural tradition that arose at San Lorenzo and La Venta in Mexico c. 1200 b.c.e; featured irrigated agriculture, urbanism, elaborate religion, beginnings of calendrical and writing systems.
Olympic games
One of the pan-Hellenic rituals observed by all Greek city-states; involved athletic competitions and ritual celebrations.
Opium War
Fought between the British and Qing China beginning in 1839; fought to protect British trade in opium; resulted in resounding British victory, opening of Hong Kong as British port of trade.
Orabi, Ahmad
Student of Muhammad Abduh; led revolt in 1882 against Turkish influence in Egyptian army; forced khedive to call on British army for support.
Ormuz
Portuguese factory or fortified trade town located at southern end of Persian Gulf; site for forcible entry into Asian sea trade network.
Jose Clemente Orozco
Mexican muralist of the period after the MExican Revolution, like Rivera's