Geography & Maps
The imaginary line that circles the globe halfway between the North and South Poles.
The Equator
The ancient civilization famous for building pyramids, using hieroglyphics, and mummifying pharaohs
the Egyptians
The Document signed in 1776 by the continental congress declaring the 13 colonies independent from Britian
the Declaration of Independence
The highest law of the land in the United States, written in 1787
The U.S. Constitution
A firsthand account of an event, such as a diary, photograph, or speech from someone who was there
Primary source
The map feature that explains what the symbols, lines, and colors on the map mean
A Map Key
The European historical period characterized by knights, castles, and the feudal system
The 1620 agreement signed by passengers on the Mayflower to establish self-government in Plymouth Colony
The Mayflower Compact
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, protecting individual liberties
The Bill of Rights
A textbook, biography, or encyclopedia written after an event took place by someone who did not witness it
Secondary Source
The directional tool on a map that shows North, South, East, and West
Compass
The type of government born in ancient Athens where citizens vote directly on laws and decisions
Democracy
The historical group of people who originally traveled to New England on the Mayflower seeking religious freedom
The fundamental right protected by the First Amendment that allows citizens to criticize their government or print the news
Freedom of Speech (or Freedom of the Press)
A strong, often unfair preference for or against a particular point of view that a historian must look out for
Bias
The deep-rooted, geographic reason early civilizations started near these specific natural features (something we need to live)
Rivers (water)
The massive trade network connecting China and Europe, trading luxury goods and ideas
The Silk Road
The exchange of plants, animals, culture, and diseases between the Old World and the New World following 1492
the Columbian Exchange
The branch of the United States government responsible for writing and passing federal laws
The Legislative Branch
The process of looking at the time, place, and background situation of a historical source to understand its meaning
Contextualization
The absolute location of a place is determined by combining these two sets of imaginary grid lines
Latitude and longitude
The 1215 English document that limited the King's power, laying the foundation fro modern consistutional law
Magna Carta
The cash crop that saved the struggling Colony of Jamestown from financial ruin
Tobacco
The system of government where power is shared between a central national government and individual state governments
Federalism
The historical skill of comparing multiple sources to see where they agree, disagree, or fill in gaps
Corroboration