Glossary of Terms

Ibn Batuta   Arabic traveler who described African societies and cultures in his travel records. (p. 337)

Ibn Khaldun   [i buhn kal dUn, KHUn] A Muslim historian; developed concept that dynasties of nomadic conquerors had a cycle of three generations–strong, weak, dissolute. (pp. 95, 311)

iconoclasm   Religious controversy within the Byzantine Empire in the 8th century; emperor attempted to suppress veneration of icons; literally "breaking of images"; after long struggle, icon veneration was restored. (p. 361)

icons   Images of religious figures that became objects of veneration within Christianity of the Byzantine Empire; particularly prevalent in Eastern monasticism. (p. 361)

ideographic writing   Pictographic characters grouped together to create new concepts; typical of Chinese writing. (p. 64)

Ieyasu, Tokugawa   [tO koog ä wä] Vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; succeeded him as most powerful military figure in Japan; granted title of shogun in 1603 and established Tokugawa shogunate; established political unity in Japan. (p. 684)

Ifriqiya   [if ree ki uh] The Arabic term for eastern North Africa. (p. 334)

Iliad and Odyssey   Two Greek epic poems attributed to Homer but possibly the work of many authors; defined gods and human nature that shaped Greek mythos. (p. 127)

Ilkhan Empire   One of four regional khanates, or subdivisions of the Mongol Empire after Chinggis Khan's death; located south of the Golden Horde; eventually conquered much of territory of Abbasid Empire. (p. 485)

imams   According to Shi'ism, rulers who could trace descent from Ali. (p. 624)

import substitution industrialization   Typical of Latin American economies; production of goods during the 20th century that had previously been imported; led to light industrialization. (p. 939)

Inca   Group of clans centered at Cuzco that were able to create empire in Andean civilization c. 1438. (p. 414)

Inca socialism   A view created by Spanish authors to describe Inca society as a type of utopia; image of the Inca Empire as a carefully organized system in which every community collectively contributed to the whole. (p. 411)

Indian   Misnomer created by Columbus referring to indigenous peoples of New World; implies social and ethnic commonality among Native Americans that did not exist; still used to apply to Native Americans. (p. 399)

Indian National Congress party   Grew out of regional associations of Western-educated Indians; originally centered in cities of Bombay, Poona, Calcutta, and Madras; became political party in 1885; focus of nationalist movement in India; governed through most of postcolonial period. (p. 963)

Indies piece   Term utilized within the complex exchange system established by the Spanish for African trade; referred to the value of an adult male slave. (p. 643)

Indra   Chief deity of the Aryans; depicted as a colossal, hard-drinking warrior. (p. 58)

Indus River valley   River sources in Himalayas to mouth in Arabian Sea; location of Harappan civilization. (p. 52)

Industrial Revolution   Series of changes in economy of Western Europe between 1740 and 20th century; stimulated by rapid population growth, increase in agricultural productivity, commercial revolution of 17th century, and development of new means of transportation; in essence involved technological change and the application of machines to the process of production. (p. 704)

intelligentsia   [in teli jent sEE uh, -gent-] Russian term denoting articulate intellectuals as a class; 19th century group bent on radical change in Russian political and social system; often wished to maintain a Russian culture distinct from that of the West. (p. 815)

internationalization   Idea that peoples should unite across national boundaries; gained popularity during the mid-19th century; led to establishment of International Red Cross, Telegraphic Union, Postal Union, series of international fairs. (p. 838)

investiture   Practice of state appointment of bishops; Pope Gregory VII attempted to ban the practice of lay investiture, leading to war with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. (p. 383)

Ionic   Along with Doric and Corinthian distinct style of Hellenistic architecture; more ornate than Doric, but less than Corinthian. (p. 141)

iron curtain   Phrase coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division between free and communist societies taking shape in Europe after 1946. (p. 659)

Isabella of Castile   Along with Ferdinand of Aragon, monarch of largest Christian kingdoms in Iberia; marriage to Ferdinand created united Spain; responsible for reconquest of Granada, initiation of exploration of New World. (p. 582)

Isandhlwana   [EE sän dl wä nuh] Location of battle fought in 1879 between the British and Zulu armies in South Africa; resulted in defeat of British; one of few victories of African forces over Western Europeans. (p. 742)

Isfahan   [isfuh hän] Safavid capital under Abbas the Great; planned city laid out according to shah's plan; example of Safavid architecture. (p. 624)

Islam   Major world religion having its origins in 610 c.e. in the Arabian peninsula; meaning literally submission; based on prophecy of Muhammad. (pp. 277)

Islamic Fundamentalism, see Religious Revivalism  

Ismâ'il   Sufi commander who conquered city of Tabriz in 1501; first Safavid to be proclaimed shah or emperor. (p. 621)

Isolationism   United States foreign policy after World War I, in which U.S. refused to join the League of Nations or engage in diplomatic alliances; lasted until U.S. entry into World War II. (p. 845)

Italian front   Front established in World War I; generally along Italian border with Austria-Hungary; also produced trench warfare; somewhat greater mobility than on western front. (p. 839)

Iturbide, Augustín de   Conservative Creole officer in Mexican army who signed agreement with insurgent forces of independence; combined forces entered Mexico City in 1821; later proclaimed emperor of Mexico until its collapse in 1824. (p. 757)

Ivan III   Also known as Ivan the Great; prince of Duchy of Moscow; claimed descent from Rurik; responsible for freeing Russia from Mongols after 1462; took title of tsar or Caesar–equivalent of emperor. (p. 566)

Ivan IV   Also known as Ivan the Terrible; confirmed power of tsarist autocracy by attacking authority of boyars (aristocrats); continued policy of Russian expansion; established contacts with Western European commerce and culture. (p. 566)

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