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P

Pacific Rim

The countries that border the Pacific Ocean, specifically, the countries of East Asia, considered as an economic unit.

pagoda

A multistoried building with the corners of the roof curved up that were used as a temple.

Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza

(1919-1980), Dictator ruler of Iran from 1941 to 1979. He was supported by the United States throughout most of the Cold War due to his anti communist stance. Overthrown during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Paleolithic Age

(750,000 BCE - 10,000 B.C.E.) Old Stone Age. A period of time in human history characterized by the use of stone tools and the use of hunting and gathering as a food source.

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

One time terrorist organization, now considered to be a legitimate political body whose goals have been to create a nation-state for the displaced Palestinians. The PLO is lead by Yasir Arafat.

Pan Africanism

Nationalistic movement which emphasized the unity of all Africans, and sought to end foreign control.

Pan Slavism

Nationalistic movement which emphasized the unity of all Slavic peoples, and sought to end foreign control of various Slavic nations.

Panama Canal

A canal that crosses the isthmus of Panama connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Built by the United States between 1904 and 1914.

Pantheon

A domed temple in Rome that was completed in 27 BCE, and still stands today.

papyrus scrolls

Paper like material made from the reeds of the papyrus plant. It was used by the Egyptians for the writing and storing of documents.

parliament

A government's legislative body.

parliamentary democracy

A form of government where the citizens elect members to represent them in a parliament, or legislative assembly.

Parthenon

A large temple dedicated to the goddess Athena on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was built in the 5th century BCE, during the Athenian golden age.

partnership

The cooperative relationship between two or more people who are involved in the same activity.

Pasteur, Louis

(1822-1895) French scientist who discovered the link between germs and disease. He also showed that killing germs, often prevented the spread of certain diseases.

patrician

A member of the upper class of ancient Roman society.

patrilineal

Relating to, based on, or tracing ancestral descent through the paternal line.

patron

Someone who provides support to a specific cause and/or person/people.

Pax Mongolia

Also known as the Mongol Peace. A time when global trade expanded due to the political stability provided by Mongol rulers.

Pax Romana

A 200 hundred year period of relative peace throughout the Roman Empire. Occurs during the first two centuries C.E..

peasantry

Members of the lowest class in some social class systems.

peninsula

An area of land surrounded on three sides by water. Italy, Greece, and the southern part of India are all peninsulas.

Peninsulares

In colonial Latin America, Spanish official sent to govern Latin American colonies. They controlled government completely.

Perestroika

A policy of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to revitalize the Soviet economy by opening it up to more free enterprise.

Pericles

(495? BCE-429? BCE) Athenian statesman. He was the central ruler of Athens during its golden age. He was the central patron behind many of their achievements. He was also a very skilled speaker. Athens City-State of Ancient Greece and center of Greek golden age that occurred in the 5th century BCE.

Perry, Matthew

(1794-1858) Commodore. United States Navy officer who is responsible for opening Japan to trade and imperialism.

persecution

Treating a person, or a group of people unfairly or cruelly due to ethnic background, gender, or other difference.

Persian Gulf War

(1990 – 1991) Conflict between Iraq and a coalition of countries led by the United States to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait which they had invaded in hopes of controlling their oil supply. A very one sided war with the United States’ coalition emerging victorious.

pesticides

Chemicals used to destroy insects and other pests.

Peter the Great

(1672-1725) Czar of Russia. He was responsible for the westernization of Russia in the 18th century.

pharaoh

In ancient Egypt, title given to the ruler who was considered both king and god.

Philip II

(1527-1598) King of Spain from 1556 to 1598. Absolute monarch who helped lead the Counter Reformation by persecuting Protestants in his holdings. Also sent the Spanish Armada against England.

philosopher

A person who seeks to understand and explain the nature of things around them. A scholar of philosophy.

philosophy

A system of thought devoted to the examination of ideas such as truth, existence, reality, causality, religion, and freedom

Phoenicians

An early trading civilization located in present day Lebanon and Syria along the Mediterranean. They produced various products, such as glass, papyrus scrolls, and dyes, and established trade across the entire Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenician trade empire benefited most cultures in this region. As their trade expanded, they setup colonies throughout the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians also developed an alphabet to keep track of their business dealings. This alphabet was later adopted and adapted by the Greeks and Romans, and is the basis for the western alphabets of today. Phoenician trade is responsible for the great exchange of ideas and culture that occurred during this time period.

pictographs

Writing system that uses drawings of objects.

pilgrimage

A religious journey to visit a shrine or other holy site.

Pizarro, Francisco

(1476?-1541) Spanish conquistador who was responsible for the conquest of the Incan Empire.

plebeian

A member of the lower class of ancient Roman society.

Pol Pot

(1925-1998) Leader of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Pol Pot is responsible for the deaths of almost 2 million of his own people due to starvation, execution, and beatings.

political autonomy

A nation governing itself independently from a centralized point.

political ideologies

An organized system of political beliefs, values, and ideas.

political rights

Rights such as voting, and the ability to hold public office.

polytheism

The belief in many gods or goddesses.

Pope

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Chosen by the College of Cardinals.

Pope Urban II

(1040?-1099) The head of the Roman Catholic Church who issued the proclamation the began the First Crusade.

porcelain

A hard, fine ceramic material used to make a variety of products.

power loom

A device that combined thread to make cloth using steam power.

Pre-Columbian

Period of North and South American history before the arrival of the Europeans in the late 15th century.

predestination

The idea of Calvinist Protestants that certain people were pre-selected to go to heaven.

priest

A spiritual leader in a variety of religions.

Prince Metternich

(1773-1859) Chancellor of the Astro-Hungarian Empire between 1821 and 1848. He was the most powerful political figure in Europe between 1814 and 1848. He was driven from power in the Revolutions of 1848.

Prince, The

A book of political advice written by Niccolo Machiavelli during the Renaissance in which he describes the methods that a prince should use to acquire and maintain political power. This book was used to defend policies of despotism and tyranny. Machiavelli wrote that a ruler should take any action to remain in power, or that “the ends justifies the means.”

Princip, Gavrilo

(1894 -1918) Serbian nationalist/terrorist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in 1914. This event resulted in the start of World War I.

proletariat

Term given to the working class people in society.

property

Something of value that is owned by a person.

protectorate

A country or region that is controlled by a more powerful country.

Protestant

Member of Christian relgious sect which formed during the Protestant Reformation. Protestants reject the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Protestants

A member of a Western Christian church whose faith and practice are founded on the principles of the Reformation, especially in the acceptance of the Bible as the sole source of revelation, in justification by faith alone, and in the universal priesthood of all the believers, and refers to the theologies of Luther, Calvin, or Zwingli.


provisional government

A temporary government assembled during times of change.

Prussia

Former independent kingdom and state of Germany. In the late 19th century, it formed the central state of the German Empire, which was one of the largest in Europe.

Ptolemy

(100?-170 CE) Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer. His geocentric model of the universe lasted until the 16th century.

Puritan Revolution

Political and Religious revolution in England between 1640 and 1660. The monarchy was abolished in favor of a Republic led by Oliver Cromwell. It ended with the seating of Charles II on the throne. Also known as the English Revolution.

Puritanism

Movement in the English church in the late 16th to remove all catholic influences and purify.

Put Out System

Manufacturing system where work was distributed and retrieved from individuals in their homes.

pyramid

A triangular shaped building.

Pythagoras

(582?-500?BCE) Greek mathematician responsible for the Pythagorean Theorem which states the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.


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