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T

Taiping Rebellion

(1850-1864) A revolt by the people of China against the ruling Manchu Dynasty because of their failure to deal effectively with the opium problem and the interference of foreigners.

Talmud

The collection of Jewish writings that is the basis of Jewish religious law.

Tao-te-Ching

Collected teachings of Chinese philosopher Lao Tze, the founder of Taoism/Daoism.

Taoism / Daoism

The Chinese philosophy of Taoism (or Daoism) developed in the latter part of the Chou Dynasty, during a period of turmoil in which it was not clear that Chinese civilization would survive. It represents a naturalistic ideal of how one should live their life. The Chinese term Tao can be translated into English, meaning "the way." It is a philosophy which teaches that nature has a "way" in which it moves, and that people should passively accept the "way" of nature, rather than resist it. One concept related to this is that of wu-wei, which means "not doing." This means that people should not act unnaturally by doing things, but rather should openly accept the natural way. An emphasis is placed on the link between people and nature. Taoism teaches that this link lessened the need for rules and order, and leads one to a better understanding of the world.

tariff

A tax on imports.

tea ceremony

A Japanese ritual in which tea is prepared, served, and drunk in a certain way.

technology

tools and skills people use (i.e. computers and machines assist in research and production)

telescope

A device used to see distant objects, such as those in space.

Ten Commandments

The ten laws given to Moses by God, according to the Bible.

terrace farming

The cutting out of flat areas (terraces) into near vertical slopes to allow farming. Terrace farms appears as steps cut into a mountainside. This adaptation allowed both the early Chinese, and the Inca of Mesoamerica to grow enough food for their large populations.

terrorism

The use of violence for political purpose.

The Bible

The sacred book of Christianity, a collection of ancient writings including the books of both the Old Testament and the New Testament.


Theodosius

(346? CE – 395 CE) Emperor of the Roman Empire who is responsible for making the Christian religion the official religion of the empire.

Theory of Relativity

Theory of motion and energy developed by Albert Einstein in the 20th century.

Three Gorges Dam

A dam across the Yangtze River in China scheduled to be completed in 2009.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

A political and social protest by university students in Beijing, China in 1989. The protest called for political and social reforms and resulted in the government using the military to end it, which caused hundreds of deaths, thousands of injured, and many more imprisoned.

Tokugawa Shogunate

(1603-1867) Feudal Warlord rulers of Japan. Responisble for closing Japan off from the rest of the world. Overthrown during the Meiji Restoration.

Torah

The holy book of Judaism. It describes the creation of the world, the history of ancient Israel, the Ten Commandments, and contains the Psalms and the prophetic books.

Torri

The red gateway entrance to a Shinto shrine.

totalitarian state

A state or country completely controlled by a single power, such as a monarch or dictator.

totalitarianism

Totalitarianism- Of or relating to the government haveing total controll of of ones life

trade

The exchange of goods or service between people.

trade fair

A gathering of merchants, craftsmen, and artisans to buy and sell goods and service during late Middle Ages.

tradition

A long-established custom or belief.

traditional economy

Economic system in which decisions are made on the basis of customs, beliefs, habits, and religion.

Treaty of Nanjing

(1842) An unequal treaty between Great Britain and China resulting from the Opium War. The treaty stated that China was to reimburse Britain for costs incurred fighting the war. The Chinese were forced to open several ports to British trade, provide Britain with complete control of Hong Kong, and grant extraterritoriality to British citizens living in China.

Treaty of Portsmouth

(1905) The treaty that ended the Sino-Japanese War. It granted Japan Chinese port city trading rights, control of Manchuria, the annexation of the island of Sakhalin, and Korea became its protectorate.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A treaty dividing the New World possessions between Portugal and Spain. This treaty, signed in 1494 was a product of the Catholic Church.

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty ending World War I. It was extremely unfair to Germany, forcing them to accept all of the blame for the war. It is a major cause of World War II.

trench warfare

A form of combat where armies fight each other from opposing fortified positions, usually consisting of long, dugout holes or trenches.

Triangle Trade

A catch all phrase for the trade occurring between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Trade goods include raw materials from the Americas, manufactured goods from Europe, and slaves from Africa.

Tribalism

The organization, culture, or beliels of a tribe.


Tripitka

The collection of religious writings by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.

Triple Alliance

An alliance that was made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during World War I.

Triple Entente

An alliance that was made up of France, Russia, and Great Britain during World War I.

Truman Doctrine

A policy if the Truman presidency that called for supporting any nation resisting communism.

Tull, Jethro

(1674-1741) British farmer and inventor, created the mechanical seed drill to aid in planting.

Two Treatises of Government

Also known as The Three Baskets of Wisdom, a book written by John Locke describing his views on government which explained that all men have Natural Rights, which are Life, Liberty, and Property, and that the purpose of government was to protect these rights. This book is the basis for many modern democracies.


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