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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. decline
    change toward something smaller or lower
    In the late first century CE, the Han Empire began to decline for a number of reasons. (2.7.A)
  2. extraction
    taking out something
    Peasant unrest arose as Han taxes and resource extraction increased and warlords forced serfdom on many farmers. (2.7.A)
  3. serf
    (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
    Peasant unrest arose as Han taxes and resource extraction increased and warlords forced serfdom on many farmers. (2.7.A)
  4. stagnation
    a state of inactivity
    In the third century, successful invasions that shrank the empire’s borders led to a decline in the supply of slave labor and contributed to economic stagnation. (2.7.B)
  5. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
    German mercenaries were increasingly used to defend the frontier. (2.7.B)
  6. burden
    a serious or difficult concern
    The need to pay troops increased costs, and the rising tax burden on Roman citizens further contributed to economic decline and to rising political instability. (2.7.B)
  7. instability
    a disorderly state
    The need to pay troops increased costs, and the rising tax burden on Roman citizens further contributed to economic decline and to rising political instability. (2.7.B)
  8. succession
    the action or process of taking over an office or position
    After a series of violent succession crises, which saw 26 emperors rule in the span of 50 years, the empire was divided in half. (2.7.B)
  9. missionary
    someone sent to a foreign country to spread a religion
    Buddhism was brought to China by missionaries and merchants along the Silk Roads from India. (2.7.C)
  10. initially
    at the beginning
    Buddhism was initially opposed by Daoist and Han Confucian elites. (2.7.C)
  11. particularly
    specifically or especially distinguished from others
    The Mahayana form of Buddhism was particularly appealing in a time of violence and division. (2.7.C)
  12. uniform
    the same throughout in structure or composition
    The translation of sacred Buddhists texts into a uniform writing system and the roads and canals built by the Han were essential to spreading Buddhism across China. (2.7.C)
  13. appeal
    be attractive to
    Like Mahayana Buddhism, Christianity’s emphasis on eternal salvation appealed to individuals in a time of political and social crisis, especially in Europe. (2.7.C)
  14. infrastructure
    the basic features of a system or organization
    Roman transportation infrastructures, and the availability of the Christian bible in Greek and Latin, allowed Christianity to spread in both the eastern and western empire. (2.7.C)
  15. convert
    change religious beliefs, or adopt a religious belief
    Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312 CE, and Christianity was established as an imperial religion by the end of the fourth century. (2.7.C)
Created on Thu Jul 16 10:49:38 EDT 2020 (updated Wed Jul 22 15:50:23 EDT 2020)

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