Glossary of Terms

radical   Political viewpoint with origins in Western Europe during the 19th century; advocated broader voting rights than liberals; in some cases advocated outright democracy; urged reforms in favor of the lower classes. (p. 703)

Rajput   [räj pUt] Regional princes in India following collapse of empire; emphasized military control of their regions. (p. 630)

Rama   Major figure in the popular Indian epic Ramayana. (p. 176)

Recopilación   [rAY kO pEEl ä sEE On] Body of laws collected in 1681 for Spanish possessions in New World; basis of law in the Indies. (p. 596)

Red Army   Military organization constructed under leadership of Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik follower of Lenin; made use of people of humble background. (p. 891)

Red Guard   Student brigades utilized by Mao Zedong and his political allies during the Cultural Revolution to discredit Mao's political enemies. (p. 1034)

Red Heads   Name given to Safavid followers because of their distinctive red headgear. (p. 620)

Reform Bill of 1832   Legislation passed in Great Britain that extended the vote to most members of the middle class; failed to produce democracy in Britain. (p. 703)

reincarnation   The successive attachment of the soul to some animate form according to merits earned in previous lives. (p. 177)

reindeer-herding nomads   Nomadic pastoralists dependent on domesticated reindeer; common to tundra of northern Europe; generally isolated from civilizations. (p. 86)

Religious Revivalism   An approach to religious belief and practice that stresses the literal interpretation of texts sacred to the religion in question and the application of their precepts to all aspects of social life; has been increasingly associated in the late 20th century with revivalist movements in a number of world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism. (p. 1002)

Renaissance   Cultural and political movement in western Europe; began in Italy c. 1400; rested on urban vitality and expanding commerce; featured a literature and art with distinctly more secular priorities than those of the Middle Ages. (p. 504)

republic   The balanced constitution of Rome from c. 510 to 47 b.c.e.; featured an aristocratic Senate, a panel of magistrates, and several popular assemblies. (p. 153)

Republic of Korea   Southern half of Korea sponsored by United States following World War II; headed by nationalist Syngman Rhee; developed parliamentary institutions but maintained authoritarian government; defended by UN forces during Korean War; underwent industrialization and economic emergence after 1950s. (p. 920)

Ridda Wars   Wars that followed Muhammad's death in 632; resulted in defeat of rival prophets and some of larger clans; restored unity of Islam. (p. 288)

revisionism   Socialist movements that at least tacitly disavowed Marxist revolutionary doctrine; believed social success could be achieved gradually through political institutions. (p. 713)

Revolutions of 1848   Generally refers to those nationalist and liberal movements within France, Germany, and the Habsburg Empire, specifically in Italy, Austria, and Hungary; after temporary success, the revolutions failed. (p. 708)

Rhodes, Cecil   British entrepreneur in South Africa around 1900; manipulated political situation in South Africa to gain entry to resources of Boer republics; encouraged Boer War as means of destroying Boer independence. (p. 750)

Ricci, Matteo   [rEEt chEE] Along with Adam Schall, Jesuit scholar in court of Ming emperors; skilled scientist; corrected calendars, forged cannons, fixed clocks; won few converts to Christianity. (p. 683)

Rio de Janeiro   Brazilian port; close to mines of Minas Gerais; importance grew with gold strikes; became colonial capital in 1763. (p. 599)

Rivera, Diego   [ri vär uh] Mexican artist of the period after the Mexican Revolution; famous for murals painted on walls of public buildings; mixed romantic images of the Indian past with Christian symbols and Marxist ideology. (p. 936)

The Romance of the West Chamber   Chinese dramatic work written during the Yuan period; indicative of the continued literary vitality of China during Mongol rule. (p. 493)

Romanov, Alexis   Second Romanov tsar; abolished assemblies of nobles; gained new powers over Russian Orthodox church. (p. 568)

Romanov dynasty   Dynasty elected in 1613 at end of Time of Troubles; ruled Russia until 1917. (p. 568)

romanticism   Artistic and literary movement of the 19th century in Europe; held that emotion and impression, not reason, were the keys to the mysteries of human experience and nature; sought to portray passions, not calm reflection. (p. 717)

Rosas, Juan Manuel de   Strongman leader in Buenos Aires; took power in 1831; commanded loyalty of gauchos; restored local autonomy. (p. 751)

Rowlatt Act   Placed severe restrictions on key Indian civil rights such as freedom of the press; acted to offset the concessions granted under Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of 1919. (p. 971)

Royal African Company   Chartered in 1660s to establish a monopoly over the slave trade among British merchants; supplied African slaves to colonies in Barbados, Jamaica, and Virginia. (p. 642)

Rurik   Legendary Scandinavian, regarded as founder of the first kingdom of Russia based in Kiev in 855 c.e. (p. 366)

Russian Communist party   Bolshevik wing of the Social Democratic party in Russia in 1917; came to power under Lenin after the November expulsion of Kerensky's liberal government. (p. 890)

Russian Orthodoxy   Russian form of Christianity imported from Byzantine Empire and combined with local religion; king characteristically controlled major appointments. (p. 366)

Russian Revolution of 1905   Consisted of strikes by urban workers and widespread insurrections among the peasantry; resulted in some temporary reforms such as the creation of the duma. (p. 816)

Russo-Japanese War   War between Japan and Russia over territory in Manchuria beginning in 1905; Japan defeated the Russians, largely because of its naval power; Japan annexed Korea in 1910 as a result of military dominance. (p. 808)

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