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73 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Era of Warring States |
Spring and Autumn Era (771-403) nomadic invasion overwhelmed the Zhou capital (a weak king, no aid) |
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Qin Dynasty
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Qin adopted legalist policies and soon dominated its neighbors, imposing centralized imperial rule. Shang Yang encouraged peasants to migrate to sparsely populated regions. He granted them private land, weakening the hereditary aristocratic classes. 221 BCE, Qin Shihuangdi proclaimed himself the first emperor. Died 210 BCE, tomb constructed by 700k laborers. Revolts caused collapse in 207, slaughtering Qin court.
Capital Xianyang Built roads and demolished fortresses, built defensive walls, linked old walls into a precursor of the Great Wall of China Ordered execution of critics and burning of all books other than medicine, fortune-telling, and agriculture. Many scholars executed, some hid and committed books to memory, 451. Standardized laws, currencies, weights, measures, writing |
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Former Han Dynasty |
Former Han (206 - 9 CE) ruled from Chang'an (wood city, nothing remains). Temporarily displaced (9 - 23 CE)
Liu Bang Han Wudi |
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Later Han Dynasty
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(25 - 220 CE) ruled from Luoyang
Difficulties - Military caused economic strain, agriculture colonies were expensive, raised taxes, confiscated wealth and land of nobles, which discouraged investment. Social tensions between classes due to land distribution. Later Han dynasty was weakened, restored some stability Yellow Turban Uprisings - revolt by peasants, further weakened Collapse due to court factions, 189 CE slaughter Central government disintegrated, 4 centuries of regional kingdoms |
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Confucius
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first Chinese thinker who addressed the problem of political and social order in a self-conscious way. Born Kong Fuzi (551 - 479 BCE). From an aristocratic family in Lu in Northern China, at court. Traveled for 10 years looking for job, failed. Served as educator and political advisor and attracted disciples. Compiled his sayings into the Analects. Fundamentally moral, ethical and political, practical. No philosophical puzzles or religious questions due to practicality. Did not deal with structure of state, should arise from human relationships rather than state offices. Appoint educated and conscientious people. Techniques of learning adopted by China for 2000 years. High ethical standards
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Laozi
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Founder of Daoism
Collaboration on Daodejing (Classic of the Way and of Virtue), which is the basic exposition of Daoist beliefs. |
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Confucianism |
Fundamentally moral, ethical and political, practical. No philosophical puzzles or religious questions due to practicality.
Junzi Ren - attitude of kindness and benevolence or a sense of humanity Li - sense of propriety, behave in conventionally appropriate fashion, deference to elders and respectful nature Xiao - filial piety Two of his spiritual disciples extended Confucianism Mencius (372 - 289 BCE) - spokesman for Confucian school Emphasis on ren and applied it to government, humans good Critics held he was naïve, not practical, but he held long-term influence Xunzi (298 - 238 BCE) - government minister More practical than Mencius, less rosy, Humans selfish Emphasized Li, strong social discipline and standard of conduct |
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junzi
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Part of confucianism
superior individuals - take a broad view of political affairs and do not allow personal interests to cloud judgment. |
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Daoism
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pointless to waste time and energy on "unsolvable" problems, critics of Confucian activism. Devote energy to reflection and introspection to understand natural principles that govern the world and live in harmony with them. Founder named Laozi.
The Dao is "the Way" of nature and the cosmos (The Force) Passive, yielding retreat from the world Wuwie - disengagement from competitive exertions and active involvement in the world, refrain from advanced education and personal striving, self-sufficient communities. |
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Legalism
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promoted practical and ruthlessly efficient approach to statecraft. No concern with ethics, morality, and propriety or with principles governing the world.
Shang Yang Han Feizi (280 - 233 BCE) - student of Xunzi, advisor of Qin court, forced to end his life by poison. Compiled ideas of Legalist thinkers. Foundation of state's strength: agriculture and military Discourage other pursuits Harness energy of people through laws, severe punishments Amputation for littering Encouraged family members to spy on each other |
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Shang Yang (Lord Shang)
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(390 - 338 BCE) - chief minister to the duke of the Qin state in Western China. Methods compiled in Book of Lord Shang. Despised, feared. When the Duke of Qin died, Yang was executed, mutilated, and his family was slaughtered.
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Qin Shihuangdi |
Qin Shihuangdi proclaimed himself the first emperor. Died 210 BCE, tomb constructed by 700k laborers. Revolts caused collapse in 207, slaughtering Qin court.
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Liu Bang |
Liu Bang - a methodical commander, with the loyalty of his troops, founded a new dynasty immediately - the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), named after native land.
Consolidated centralized imperial rule Tried to find balance between decentralized and centralized Gave land to imperial family for their support Divided empire into administrative districts governed by officials In 200 BCE, an army of Xiongnu nomadic warriors besieged him, but he managed to escape. He received no support from imperial family, moved to full centralization, reclaimed land he gave. |
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Han Wudi |
The "Martial Emperor" - dynasty's greatest and most energetic ruler. Reigned 141 to 87 BCE
Two policies: administrative centralization and imperial expansion increased authority and prestige of central government Legalist principles, enormous bureaucracy More roads and canals, taxes, imperial monopolies on iron and salt State supervision of liquor industry Recruitment problems since education on individual basis Confucian Education System - imperial university Imperial Expansion - invaded N Vietnam and Korea |
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Wang Mang |
Wang Mang - Program of reform, minister when 2 year old boy took Han throne, regent
(9 - 23) seized throne, regarded today as the socialist emperor Limited amount of land family could hold Broke up large estates Caused chaos, revolts |
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Silk Roads
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Pive Pecks of Rice Rebellion / Millenarian movements / Yellow Tuban Uprisings |
A. The Yellow Turban Uprisings B. The Five Pecks of Rice Rebellion—Sichuan Province established as separate theocratic state based on Daoism C. The Celestial Masters Movement (Zhang Ling)—millenarianism |
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Minoan civilization
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Between 2000 - 1700 BCE, Minoan society arose around the island of Crete, named so due to Minos - a legendary king of ancient Crete. Built series of palaces, notably an enormous complex at Knossos. Palaces served as ruler's residence and tax centers.
Linear A script - symbols stood for syllables rather than words, ideas, vowels, or consonants. Between 2200 - 1450 BCE, Crete was a center of Mediterranean commerce Established colonies on Cyprus and other islands in the Aegean Sea. After 1700 BCE, Minoan society experienced earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tidal waves. For example, the famous 628 BCE Thera Island eruption. They rebuilt their palaces with indoor plumbing, flush toilets, and drainage systems, but their wealth attracted invaders after 1450 BCE. |
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Mycenaean civilization
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(1600 - 1100 BCE) began as Indo-European migrants filtered over the Balkans about 2200 BCE into the Greek Peninsula.
They began trading with Minoan merchants 1600 BCE and learned about writing and construction. As a result, they devised Linear B and built massive stone fortresses and palaces throughout the Peloponnesus, the Greek peninsula. These attracted settlers, who formed agricultural communities. Mycenae was one of their most important settlements. Overpowered Minoan society, turned Cretan palaces into craft workshops. Established settlements in Anatolia, Sicily, and Southern Italy. 1200 BCE, conflict with Troy led to the Trojan War Coincided with invasion of Sea people, creating chaos from 1100 to 800 BCE, making it impossible to maintain stable governments or even agricultural society. Palaces fell into disarray, and population levels dropped radically. Linear A and B disappeared. |
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the polis
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In the absence of centralized state, local institutions took the lead in restoring political order in Greece. The polis, a citadel or fortified site that offered refuge, arose. These sites developed into urban localities, levying taxes on their hinterlands and appropriating agricultural surpluses.
By 800 BCE, many poleis became city-states, principal centers of Greek society. They took various political forms, due to their independent formation and different rates of economic development. Some city-states formed monarchies, while others were under the collective rule of local notables, who formed oligarchs. Still others fell into the hands of generals or ambitious politicians. These men were called tyrants, a term that originally referred to one's route to power rather than their oppressive nature. Two of the most important city-states were Sparta and Athens. |
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Aristotle's classification of Greek poleis
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Athens |
Maritime trade brought prosperity to aristocratic landowners who controlled Athens' government, damaging the lives of lower classes. |
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Sparta |
Sparta was situated in a fertile region of the Peloponnesus |
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Athenian democracy |
In Athens, population growth had created political and social strain, which they relieved by establishing a government based on democratic principles. In this new form of government, they consolidated the interests of the poleis various constituents. |
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Solon |
Aristocrat named Solon served as a mediator between the classes
He allowed aristocrats to keep their lands, but cancelled debts, forbade debt slavery, and liberated those who had already succumbed to their debts. He provided representation for common classes in the Athenian government by opening council to any citizens wealthy enough to devote time to public affairs. Later reformers further increased opportunity of commoners. Paid salaries to office holders to prevent financial hardship. |
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Pericles
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the most popular Athenian leader, led from 461 BCE to his death in 429 BCE. He established construction programs that employed thousands. Athens became a vibrant community of scientists, philosophers, poets, dramatists, artists, and architects. "The education of Greece"
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Greco-Persian Wars
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499 The Ionian Revolt. Athenian support. Darius vows revenge. Persian invasions
492 Marathon. Xerxes I and his army 480 Thermopylae—the 300 Spartans. Naval battle of Salamis 479.Battle of Platea 478 Persians expelled by Spartan-led Greek force |
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Delian League, Athen's Golden Age |
The Delian League
Poleis created alliance to discourage Persian actions in Greece Athens was the leader due to superior fleet and provided military protection The other poleis provided Athens with financial support, which Pericles used to fund the vast construction projects In the absence of further Persian aggression, the other poleis began to resent giving Athens funds for seemingly no reason. |
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Peloponnesian War
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(431 - 403) - a civil war between the poleis that had allied with Sparta and the poleis that sided with Athens. The advantage went back and forth, but eventually Sparta forced Athens to surrender in 404 BCE.
Spartan victory caused further conflicts and the center of power shifted from Sparta to Thebes, Corinth, and other states. Melo massacre by Athens Lost reputation for moral and intellectual leader |
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Philip of Macedon
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Kingdom of Macedon
Initially consisted of cultivators and herders Recognized king, but semiautonomous clans controlled affairs. Proximity to wealthy poleis brought change to Macedon due to trade. Philip II of Macedon (359-336 BCE) under his reign Macedon underwent transformation Built powerful military machine that allowed him to overcome traditional clans. Infantry of landowners and cavalry of aristocrats. After Philips consolidated rule of Macedon, turned attention to Greece & Persia. Moved into Northern Greece, annexing poleis that fought independently Conquered all of Greece by 338 BCE Killed by assassin in 336 BCE before he could invade Persia |
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Alexander the Great
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Rule fell to, Alexander of Macedon at the age of 20
333 BCE - Alexander subjected all of Ionia and Anatolia under his control, and within another year he conquered Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. 331 BCE - Controlled Mesopotamia, destroyed Persepolis at the end of the year Pursued last Achaemenid emperor until he was assassinated 327 BCE - Marched across Indus river into the Punjab, but his troops refused to go any further. 324 BCE - returned to Mesopotamia, feasting 323 BCE - fell ill and died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II Brilliant conqueror, but did not live long enough to construct a genuine state |
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Hellenistic
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Alexander's generals jockeyed for position
By 275 had divided up empire into 3 large states Antigonus took Greece and Macedon and his Antigonid successors ruled until the Romans established their authority Ptolemy took Egypt, which the Ptolemaic dynasty ruled until the Roman conquest of Egyptian in 31 BCE. Seleucus took the former Achaemenid Empire from Bactria to Anatolia, where his Seleucid successors ruled until the Parthians took most of the empire. Hellenistic empires governed cosmopolitan societies and sponsored interactions between peoples from Greece to India |
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Hellenistic world
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Antigonid Empire - smallest of the 3 empires, but benefited handsomely. Continual tension between Antigonid rulers and the Greek cities, which sought to retain their independence by forming defensive leagues that resisted efforts by rulers to control the peninsula. Poleis struck bargains with Antigonids, offering to recognize their rule in exchange for tax incentives and local autonomy.
Ptolemaic Empire - wealthiest, Greek and Macedonian rulers did not interfere with Egyptian society, helped organize agriculture, industry, and tax collection. Alexandria was founded by Alexander at the mouth of the Nile. Capital of Ptolemaic empire, administrative headquarters. Enormous harbor, 1200 ships could port at once, Great wealth. Greeks, Macedonians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Jews, Arabs, and Babylonians all lived together. Cultural capital of the world.Alexandrian Museum and Alexandrian Library Seleucid Empire - Greek influence at greatest extent Great influence on neighbors, Ashoka had his edicts promulgated in Greek and Aramaic. 250 BCE - governors of Bactria (Afghanistan) withdrew from Seleucid empire and established independent Greek kingdom. Mainly Greek, some Persians and Asian culture |
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Pre-Socratics |
first true philosophers—only fragments of their writings have survived Thales, Anaximander, Anaxamines, Parmenedes, Heraclitus, Democritus Concerned in general with the problems of Being—what is the Universe made of? Why do things change? |
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Socrates
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pinnacle of classical Greek thought, represented by these three towering figures, was reached in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. This was the period of the great crisis of the Greek world with the Peloponnesian War and Macedonian Conquest. This crisis prompted an intense interest in questions of politics, ethics, morality, and individualism, in addition to the traditional ones of metaphysics and epistemology. (Compare this to late Zhou and Warring States China) A. Socrates (470-399) and the Sophists Left no writings, and is known only though Plato Teaching--The Socratic Method Ethics and individualism—“the unexamined life is not worth living” “the gadfly” and the role of the philosopher Critic of democracy |
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Plato |
B. Plato (430-347)—student of Socrates The Academy First systematic philosopher—united ethics, politics, epistemology, metaphysics, education, and aesthetics The dialogues Idealism and the “Doctrine of the Forms” “Allegory of the Cave” The Republic—the ideal state and society ruled by “philosopher kings” --Platonic ideas greatly influenced early Christianity and medieval Islam |
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Aristotle |
C. Aristotle (384-322)—student of Plato and onetime tutor to Alexander the Great The Lyceum Materialism and empiricism Collection, classification, and systematization—wrote on physics, metaphysics, logic, biology, astronomy, literary criticism, ethics, and rhetoric. Aristotelian logic (example--a simple syllogism) Politics—not the “ideal state” but the most stable and realistic possible state—the “practical philosopher. --Aristotelian ideas greatly influenced medieval Christianity and medieval Islam (the faith-reason synthesis) |
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Stoicism
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Stoics - all humans are part of universal family
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Skepticism
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extreme skeptics claimed that no true or certain knowledge is possible. More moderate skepticism is essential to all philosophical undertakings |
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Epicureanism |
Epicurus (342-271) and the Epicureanism—purpose of life not knowledge but happiness and pleasure—defined primarily negatively as absence of fear and pain. Goal was easy, untroubled life. |
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naturalism |
is "the philosophical belief that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural or spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted." |
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rationalism |
a belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response. |
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Roman Republic |
Tarquin the Proud (Lucius Tarquinius Superbus), the last Etruscan king of Rome, was deposed in 509 BCE and replaced with an aristocratic republic.They built the Roman forum, a political and civic center of temples and public buildings, at the heart of the city
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Consuls
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Instituted constitution that entrusted executive responsibilities to the consuls, who wielded civil and military power for a term of one year.
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Senate, Patricians
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Consuls were elected by an assembly of elite class, determined by birth, called the patricians. The patricians, who made up the Roman Senate, advised the consuls and ratified all decisions.
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dictator
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When faced with a civil or military crisis, the senate appointed a dictator, who wielded absolute power for six months.
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Plebeians |
There was constant tension between the patricians and the plebeians, the common people
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Tribunes
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In the early 5th century, the plebeians threatened to secede from Rome. Patricians granted plebeians the right to elect officials, known as tribunes, who represented their interests. Originally there was only 2 tribunes, but eventually 10. Tribunes had the power to intervene in political matters and veto unfair measures.
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Punic Wars
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The Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) were three conflicts between the Romans and the Carthaginians.
Friction arose from economic competition, mainly over Sicily, which was an important grain source. The conflict ended when Rome subjected Carthage to a long siege, which resulted in Rome burning of much of the city and pressing the fifty thousand survivors into slavery. This allowed Rome to be the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean. They annexed North Africa and Iberia, which were rich in grain, oil, wine, silver, and gold. |
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latifundia
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Land distribution caused serious social tensions, as it did in Classical China and Greece. Conquered lands fell into the hands of the elites, who organized plantations known as latifundias.
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the Gracchi brothers
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Chief proponents of social change were brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, who worked to limit the amount of land one could hold (Wang Mang did this). Tiberius was assassinated in 132 BCE and Gaius was executed on trumped up charged in 121 BCE.
Following their assassinations, Roman politicians & generals jockeyed for power. Military commanders began to recruit urban workers and landless rural residents instead of farmers. These men had nothing to fall back on after military service and became extremely loyal to their commanders. |
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populares |
("favoring the people", singular popularis) were leaders in the late Roman Republic who relied on the people's assemblies and tribunate to acquire political power. |
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Marius and Sulla |
Gaius Marius, a prominent general, sided with the social reformers who advocated land redistribution, while Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a veteran commander, sided with the conservative aristocratic classes. |
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Julius Caesar
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Gaius Julius Caesar continued to recruit the urban poor into his army. He was a nephew of Marius and favored liberal policies and social reform, but escaped the attention of Sulla due to his youth and a well-timed excursion to Greece. Julius played an active role in politics during the 60s BCE. He spent enormous sums on public spectacles to build a reputation, which allowed him to be elected to posts in the Republic. |
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imperium
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Augustus' government was a monarchy disguised as a republic. |
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Octavian/Augustus |
The power struggle left the Second Triumvirate in Power, composed of Gaius Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus. |
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princeps |
is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person." |
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pax Romana
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The Pax Romana was an era of "Roman Peace" persisting from the reign of Augustus for two and a half centuries.
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Gibbon's Decline and Fall |
There was no single cause for the decline and fall of the Roman empire. A combination of internal problems and external pressures weakened the empire and brought an end to Roman authority in the west. From 235 to 284 CE there were 26 emperors |
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Roman law
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In 449 BCE, the patricians formulated Rome's first laws, the Twelve Tables, which were influenced by Greek laws in establishing a framework for social organization. |
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Constantine |
Constantine |
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Roman slavery |
Romans developed the institution of slavery to a greater extent than any society before them. First to use slaves as a permanent workforce in mass, commercialized agriculture—the latifundia.
1/3 slaves Roman slavery between c. 1 CE-c. 400 CE rivaled only by African slavery in the Americas, 1500-1850, in its commercialization, scale, and importance to the wider economy.
Spartacus rebellion—73 CE |
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Germanic "barbarians"
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Population declined and the economy contracted, causing problems in fending off foreign threats. Formidable military threats. Sassanid dynasty toppled Parthians in 224 and established powerful state in Iran, clashing with Romans in Anatolia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Roman emperor Valerian fell captive to Sasanid forces in 260 CE. Served as a mounting stool when Sasanid king wanted to ride horse. Migratory Germanic Invasions. Nomadic Huns began aggressive migration westward , cousins of the Xiongnu. Attila the Hun organized the Huns into an unstoppable juggernaut. Huns invaded Hungary and probed Roman borders. Attacked Germanic settlers. |
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Paul of Tarsus |
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tetrarchy |
Diocletian (284-305 CE) attempted to divide empire into two distinct administrative districts. Assigned a co-emperor to each district with a powerful lieutenant. These 4 officials were known as tetrarchs.
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Arian Christians |
belief that Christ was not co-eternal with God the Father (declared heretical by Council of Nicaea (325) which established the doctrine of the Trinity as orthodox). Arians persecuted. |
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Council of Nicaea |
(323 or 325) - Jesus' nature, fully divine and human |
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Augustine of Hippo |
(354-430)—single most influential Manichaein Christian theologian. City of God. The Confessions. Defined basic Christian problem as the conflict between spiritual purity and earthly desire---this dualism likely came from his earlier Manichaeism.With Augustine, the doctrine of “original sin”—debated by Christians since the 1st century—became recognized as orthodox. Anchoritic emphasis on the renunciation of sexuality and the body—which carried the taint of original sin—Asceticism (from Hellenistic askesis—training) brought into orthodox Christianity. |
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"mystery religions" |
Competition from popular “mystery religions” like Mithraism and the cults of Osiris and Isis which also stressed the concepts of salvation and eternal life but did not emphasize preaching and conversion; |
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Benedict of Nursia |
Nursia (c. 480-587) and the Benedictine Order—the Rule of St. Benedict—a strict, though still relatively mild form of asceticism and discipline. This became main model in the west, as opposed to the east. In this way, monastic life became regularized and began to appeal to a much wider section of the population. Thousands and thousands of people joined these self-sufficient communities, which provided not only for a deeply felt spiritual need but also for a sense of order in a world or warfare, chaos, and economic breakdown. Self-sufficient monastic communities spread throughout Western Europe, helping to Christianize the Germanic tribes and maintain economic, cultural and intellectual life in decentralized, chaotic society. |
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Monophysite Christians |
Monophysitism (Christ had only a single nature) and Nestorianism (Christ born human but became divine) suppressed by Council of Chalcedon in 451. Orthodox position became that Jesus’ divine and human natures comingled with his person, but remained distinct. |
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doctrine of Papal primacy |
By the 300 and 400ss, the early, almost “communistic” community of Christian believers throughout the Roman Empire had been transformed into an increasingly centralized institution with hierarchical leadership.
No Women
Organized into bishoprics and dioceses based on Roman imperial model with male authority figures.
Papal supremacy—gradually, in the 400s, the Bishop of Rome emerged as the head of the Church, although this was resisted in the East (Byzantine Empire) where the bishop (Patriarch) or Constantinople claimed supreme authority over the church.
1054 Great Schism
Establishing Orthodoxy—developing and expanding Church hierarchy pushed hard for uniformity in belief in practice, both to ensure spiritual purity and to maintain authority. Early Christians had embraced a very wide variety of beliefs and practices. Gradually, many of these were declared unorthodox and heretical, and suppressed. |
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Monasticism |
profoundly influenced by ideas of asceticism and renunciation of the world. Single-sex communities. “The devil is always present in the monastery.” Drew on Hellenistic ideas of individual perfection through renunciation and denial—askesis. |
