7th Grade Social Studies Vocabulary

A custom is a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time. While culture encompasses a broader range of features including beliefs and values, a custom specifically refers to the repeated practice itself. Ethics refers to moral principles rather than traditional practices.

AD stands for Anno Domini, which translates to "in the year of our Lord" and is used to label years after the birth of Jesus Christ. This system is equivalent to CE, which stands for Common Era. BC and BCE refer to the period before the birth of Jesus.

BC stands for "Before Christ" and is used to denote the era before the estimated birth of Jesus. This is equivalent to BCE, which stands for "Before Common Era." CE and AD are used for dates after the birth of Jesus.

A civilization represents an advanced stage of human social development and organization, characterized by its own unique culture, technology, and social structure at a specific time and place. While culture is a broader term for beliefs and customs, civilization refers to the organized societal expression of that culture. Economy refers specifically to the production and consumption of goods.

An economy is the system of trade, production, and consumption of goods and services within a region or country. Imports and exports are specific components of trade within that economic system, referring to goods brought in or sent out of a country.

An alliance is a formal agreement or treaty between nations, groups, or individuals to cooperate for specific purposes. "Cooperate" is a verb describing the action of working together, rather than the noun representing the agreement itself. A "colleague" is a person with whom one works.

Checks and balances is a system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power. Democracy is a form of government where people rule, and oligarchy is rule by a small group, neither of which specifically defines this balancing mechanism.

An aqueduct is a conduit or artificial channel designed to conduct water from a remote source, often elevated on arches. While bridges carry roads or railways over obstacles, and tubes are simple pipes, aqueducts are specifically engineered for transporting water over long distances.

BCE stands for "Before Common Era" and is used to designate the years before the start of the traditional calendar era. BC also refers to this period but stands for "Before Christ." CE refers to the "Common Era" itself, which covers dates after the birth of Jesus.

Climate refers to the long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area, typically averaged over 30 years. A forecast or prediction is a short-term estimate of upcoming weather conditions.

Cultural diffusion is the social process through which beliefs, technologies, customs, and ideas spread from one group of people to another. A missionary is an individual who travels to spread a religion, which is just one specific way diffusion can occur. Elusion is the act of escaping or avoiding.

A dictator is a ruler who wields unrestricted, absolute power over a state, typically obtained by force. Republicans and democrats are participants in democratic systems where power is shared and limited by laws.

Ethics refers to the rules of conduct or moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior. While culture and customs shape a society's lifestyle and traditions, ethics specifically deals with concepts of right and wrong.

Geography is the comprehensive study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth, encompassing both physical geography and human (cultural) geography. Topography is more limited, focusing specifically on the detailed mapping or charting of physical surface features. Scientology is a religious movement and not an academic study of the Earth.

An era is a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic. While a decade (10 years) and a century (100 years) are also periods of time, they have fixed, specific lengths, whereas an "era" is a general term for a period of time defined by notable events or developments.

CE stands for "Common Era" and is used to label the years from year 1 onward. It is the secular equivalent of AD (Anno Domini). BC and BCE refer to the period before this era.

Commerce is the activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale, between different countries or regions. Exports and imports are specific directions of trade (sending goods out or bringing them in), whereas commerce is the overarching term for the trade activity itself.

A century is a specific unit of time equal to 100 years. A decade is a period of 10 years, and an era is an indefinite distinct period of history.

Culture is the all-encompassing term for the shared knowledge, beliefs, customs, values, arts, and behaviors of a particular group of people. Traditions are specific customs passed down through generations, and ethics refers specifically to moral principles.

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. In an oligarchy, a small group of people rules, while a dictatorship is ruled by a single absolute leader.

A republic is a form of government in which the citizens elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf. In a direct democracy, citizens vote on laws and policies directly rather than electing representatives to do so. Democrats refers to members of a political party or supporters of democracy, not the system itself.

Physical features refer to the natural shapes and characteristics of the land's surface, such as mountains, valleys, and plains. Political maps show human-made boundaries, while climate refers to long-term weather patterns.

A primary source is a first-hand account created by someone who directly experienced or witnessed the historical event. Secondary sources are created later by people who did not experience the event firsthand.

Politics refers to the activities, actions, and policies used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence a government. Culture represents shared beliefs and customs, while society refers to a community of people.

Resources are materials found in nature, such as water, minerals, and timber, that people use to meet their needs and wants. Goods are manufactured products, and primary sources are historical documents.

A society is a community of people living together who share common traditions, institutions, and activities. Republics and democracies are specific types of government systems rather than the social group itself.

An oligarchy is a form of government where power is held by a small, elite group of people. In contrast, a democracy distributes power among all citizens, and a dictatorship concentrates power in a single ruler.

Karma is the belief in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism that a person's actions in this life determine their fate in future existences. Dharma refers to one's spiritual duties, and an era is a period of historical time.

A secondary source is written or created after an event by someone who did not experience it firsthand, often analyzing primary sources. Primary sources are direct, firsthand accounts of events.

A suburb is a residential district located on the outskirts of a city. Regions are larger geographic areas with shared characteristics, and civilizations are complex human societies.

Polytheism is the belief in or worship of multiple deities. Monotheism is the belief in only one god, while cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities.

Secular refers to attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis. Democracy is a form of government, and culture encompasses the customs and beliefs of a group.

Trade is the action of buying, selling, or exchanging goods and services between people, companies, or countries. Resources are the raw materials used, and alliances are formal agreements between nations.

A monarch is a sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor, who rules a kingdom or empire. Oligarchy is a system of government by a few, and a missionary is someone who spreads religious beliefs.

Inoculation is the historical term for vaccination, which involves introducing a mild form of a pathogen to stimulate immunity. Karma is a spiritual concept of cause and effect, and culture refers to societal customs.

Rural areas are located in the countryside, away from cities and towns, and are often characterized by farming and low population density. Urban areas refer to cities, and regions are geographic areas with distinct features.

A region is a geographic area defined by one or more distinctive characteristics, such as climate, culture, or landforms, that set it apart from other areas. Republics are political systems, and physical features are specific landforms.

Urban areas are characterized by high population density and built-up infrastructure, commonly known as cities or towns. Rural areas represent the countryside, and civilizations are advanced human societies.

Monotheism is the belief in a single, all-powerful deity, as seen in religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Polytheism is the belief in multiple gods, and politics relates to government.

A missionary is a person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country or new community. While preachers deliver sermons, missionaries focus specifically on spreading their faith to new areas.