abdicate
to give up a position, right, or power
agrarian
concerning farms, farmers, or the use of land
animism
the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.
antiquity
ancient times
appeasement
Satisfying the demands of dissatisfied powers in an effort to maintain peace and stability.
aristocracy
A government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility
asceticism
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
assimilate
to absorb fully; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully
authoritarian
A style of government characterized by submission to authority. It tends to opposed individualism and democracy. In its most extreme cases it is one in which political power is concentrated in a leader or leaders, who possess exclusive, unaccountable, and arbitrary power.
autocracy
a system of government by one person with absolute power.
barbarism
uncivilized, brutal behavior; cruelty; a nonstandard word or expression
bureaucracy
A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
civic
adj. relating to the city or citizens
coerced
to compel by force, intimidation, or authority
colonial
of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colonies.
commerce
trade
communal
held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
concubine
a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives
conscription
A military draft
cosmopolitan
familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures
coup
the violent overthrow of a government by a small group; a victorious accomplishment
demographic
relating to the structure of populations
despot
a dictator with absolute power
diaspora
the dispersion of the Jews outside Israel
dissent
(v.) to disagree; (n.) disagreement
domestic
native to a country, not foreign; relating to the life or affairs of a household; a household servant
dynasty
A series of rulers from the same family
edict
an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority
egalitarian
believing in the social and economic equality of all people
emigrate
To leave one country or region and settle in another
ethnocentric
believing in the superiority of one's own ethnic and cultural group, and having a corresponding disdain for all other groups
gentry
A class of powerful, well-to-do people who enjoy a high social status
hierarchy
a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
homogeneous
of the same kind; alike
imperialism
A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically.
indigenous
native
infrastructure
the basic framework of a building or a system
lineage
direct descent from an ancestor; derivation
linguistic
relating to language
maritime
relating to the sea
monarchy
A government ruled by a king or queen
mercenary
a professional soldier hired by a foreign army
matrilineal
of or based on kinship with the mother or the female line
monopoly
Complete control of a product or business by one person or group
monotheism
Belief in one God
neo
new
nomadic
wandering, moving about from place to place
oligarchy
A government ruled by a few powerful people
papacy
the office or authority of the pope
parliament
A body of representatives that makes laws for a nation
pastoral
rural
patriarchal
Dominated by men
patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
peasant
a member of a class of persons who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank
piety
religious devotion
polygamy
having more than one spouse at a time
polytheism
belief in more than one god
proselytize
to convert someone to a faith, belief, or cause
republic
A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting
secular
Non-religious
sedentary
(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place
Sinification
extensive adaptation of Chinese culture in other regions
steppe
partly dry grassland often found on the edges of a desert
stratification
A structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in a society.
succession
The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time
suffrage
the right to vote
syncretism
a blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith
theocracy
A government controlled by religious leaders
theology
the study of religion and God
totalitarian
referring to a form of government in which one person or party holds absolute control
tributary state
A country that pays tribute in money or goods to a more powerful nation
tyranny
Cruel and oppressive government or rule
urbanization
An increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements.
usurp
to seize and hold a position by force or without right
vernacular
the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.