• Shuffle
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Alphabetize
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Front First
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Both Sides
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Read
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
Reading...
Front

Card Range To Study

through

image

Play button

image

Play button

image

Progress

1/80

Click to flip

Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;

H to show hint;

A reads text to speech;

80 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Archaelogist
study of past people and cultures through their material remains (artifacts)
historian
scholars who study and write about the historical past
Old Stone Age: characteristics
era of prehistory that lasted from 2 million B.C. to about 9000 B.C. Early modern people living in this time were nomads that survived by hunting and gathering food. They depended heavily on their environment for food and shelter. They made tools out of stone. Toward the end they may have had belief in life after death and animism (world is full of spirits and forces that might reside in animals, objects, or dreams)
social class hierarchy
social classes ranked according to jobs. In ancient Sumer it was priests and nobles>wealthy merchants>artisans>peasant farmers (most people)>slaves (in many civilizations)
cultural diffusion
spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another.
scribes
specially trained people who could read and write, and kept records for priests, rulers, and merchants. (Sumer)
8 features of civilizations
organized governments, complex religions, job specialization, social classes, arts and architecture, public works, writing, and cities
Sumerian Government Structure
Rival for control led to war leaders led to hereditary rule. The ruler of each city-state was responsible for maintaining city walls and irrigation systems, leading armies in war, enforcing laws, employed scribes to collect taxes and keep records. The rulers were seen as servants of gods and they led ceremonies to please them.
ziggurat
a large, stepped platform thought to have been topped by a temple dedicated to the city's chief god or goddess (ancient Sumer)
first number system
the Sumerians developed a number system based on 6. They divided the hour into 60 minutes and the circle into 360 degrees, like we do today.
Darius
Unified the Persian Empire. He ruled from 522 b.c. to 486 b.c. He set up a bureaucracy and divided the empire into provinces called satrapies ruled by a governor called a satrap. Each satrapy had to pay taxes. Darius adapted laws from conquered peoples and developed a single code of law. He built/repaired hundreds of miles of roads. He set up a common set of weight and measures and encouraged the use of coins to improve trade.
Pyramid Age
the same as the old kingdom
Old Kingdom
From about 2575 b.c. to 2130 b.c. Egyptian Pharoahs organized a strong centralized state. Pharoahs were seen as gods and they had absolute power, although they were expected to behave morally. There was a bureaucracy, with the vizier (chief minister) supervising the many departments of the government. Beneath the pharaoh, there were locally powerful aristocrats/nobles, then a small middle class of merchants and scribes, most Egyptians were peasant farmers. Pharaohs built necropolises (cemetaries) with majestic pyramids containing tombs for their pharaohs. They preserved their dead and gave them everything they would need in the afterlife. Building pyramids took so long that often pharaohs started their tomb as soon as they came to power.
Middle Kingdom
From about 1938 b.c. to 1630 b.c. After the Old Kingdom collapsed from power struggles, crop failures, and the cost of building the pyramids, there was a century of disunity and then new pharaohs reunited the land, starting the Middle Kingdom. It was a turbulent period with corruption, rebellion, and the Nile not rising as often. However, strong rulers organized a large drainage project to make more arable land and ended the powers and privileges of the regional aristocrats. Egyptian armies occupied Nubia (aka Kush, a gold-rich land in the south) and traders had greater contacts with the Middle East and Crete. In about 700 b.c. Hyksos invaded and occupied the Nile delta region and took over the governance although there was little conflict between the new rulers and the Egyptian people. They impressed each other. After 100 years of Hyksos rule, new Egyptian leaders ushered in the New Kingdom.
New Kingdom
From About 1539 b.c. to 1075 b.c. Large empire created by powerful ambitious pharaohs. It was an age of conquest that brought Egypt into greater contact with those in southwestern Asia and parts of Africa. Powerful rulers during this time including Hatshepsut (first female ruler), Thutmose III (Hatshepsut's stepson & stretched borders to larges extent ever) and Ramses II (boasted of great conquests). During Ramses II's reign, they fought fierce battles with the Hittites of Asia Minor that ended in the first peace treaty known to have survived. They had been fighting/trading with Nubia in the south for centuries, during New Kingdom, Egypt conquered Numbia. Numbians served in Egypt's armies and influenced their culture. After 1100 b.c. Egypt declined and was conquered by many different conquerors.
Osiris
Egyptian god (said to have ruled Egypt until his jealous brother killed him) god of the dead and judge of the souls entering the afterlife, also the god of Nile who controlled the annual flood.
David
2nd King of Israel who was strong and wise. He united the 12 tribes of Israel.
Abraham
father of Israelite people. Migrated with his family from near Ur to Canaan around 2000 b.c. Covenant with G-d: "chosen people" and promised land (Canaan)
Moses
Israelite who later renewed G-d's covenant with Israelites, leads Israelites on exodus out of Egypt to Canaan. (passover story)
Solomon
David's son who followed him as king. He was known as wise and understanding and turned Jerusalem into an impressive capitol including a splendid temple. He tried to increase Israel's influence around the region. After his death there were revolts.
geography of Sumer
In between Tigris and Euphrates rivers- flooded & gave very arable land & was used for irrigation. Few natural resources like timber or stone- used clay bricks to build. Moderate climate gave long growing season.
Hammurabi's Code
Hammurabi was the king of Babylon from 1790 b.c. His code was the first written law and he had artisans carve it into a pillar for all to see. There were nearly 300 laws.
Civil Law
branch of law dealing with offenses against others. (Hammurabi's civil law protected the powerless like slaves and women and gave husband legal authority and duty towards wife)
Hittites
Came to Mesopotamiafrom Asia Minor in about 1400 b.c. They knew how to get iron from ore and tried to keep this knowledge a secret until their empire collapsed in about 1200 b.c. which started the Iron Age.
bureaucracy
system of government that includes different job functions and levels of authority (Old Kingdom of Egypt)
pharaoh
title of the rulers of ancient Egypt. They held absolute power and played key roles in government and religion. They were believed to be gods, but also judged as humans for their moral behavior and deeds.
Torah
Jew's most sacred text and the first five books of the Hebrew bible.
Egyptian Social Hierarchy
pharaoh and royal family> government officials, high priests and priestesses who served gods and goddesses> tiny class of merchangs, scribes, and artisans who provided for needs of rich and powerful>peasants who worked the land (most people) Women had higher status than other civilizations. During the New Kingdom , the classes became more fluid and there was a growing merchant class more business for artisans.
Egyptian beliefs
polytheistic, sun-god was main god (Amon-Re). Viewed the afterlife as very important. Relied on Book of the Dead for journey through underworld. Thought afterlife was like life on Earth so they buried them with anything they would need.
Indus Valley structure
located on the Indian subcontinent, around the Indus river on the Gangetic Plain. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro may have been twin capitals; they were well planned which indicates organized government. They were large, and dominated by a massive hilltop structure whose purpose is unknown. They both also had a huge warehouse.
Chandgragupta Maurya
a young adventurer who forged the first Indian empire. The Maurya dynasty ruled over a vast dynasty from 321b.c. to 185 b.c. He maintained a well organized bureaucracy. His ruling was effective but harsh.
Shi Huangdi/Great Wall
literally "First Emperor" who was a brutal ruler but ushered in China's classical age. He unified the divisions of Zhou China and built the Qin empire. He ruled with legalism (the only way to get order was strict laws and harsh punishments). He abolished feudalism, replaced coins with Qin coins, made universal system of weights and measures, ordered cart axles to be the same with, etc. His biggest achievement was the great wall by ordering the walls of individual feudal states to be joined. Eventually it was 25 feet high and had a road going along the top. Many workers died working for years in cold and heat. Over the centuries, it was extended a rebuilt many times. It didn't keep out invaders, but it showed the emperor's ability to mobilize China's vast resources and to keep their civilization separate from nomadic bands north of the wall.
Han golden age achievements
science/medicine- science texts written, studied the movement of the starts -> better calenders and time keeping devices, Wang Chong- eclipses happen regularly & no scientific theorys should be accepted w/o proof. diagnose diseases, anesthetics, herbal remedies, and drugs. many scientists promoted acupuncture. technology-method for making paper out of wood pulp that we use today, advanced methods of shipbuilding and invented rudder to steer, bronze and iron stirrups, fishing reels, wheelbarrows, suspension bridges. Arts- beautiful temples, palaces, and parks, jade and ivory carvings, ceramic figures, improved bronze working and silk making, Lessons for Women was a handbook on proper behavior
Aryans
(India) nomads who migrated across europe and asia. intermarried w/locals- combined local traditions of the nomads w/those of early indian people. warriors. valued cattle. left behind little trace except Vedas- religious teachings that aryan priests memorized and eventually wrote down. Later became farmers and gained power. tribes were led by rajahs , structured their society by occupation, and were polytheistic, later mvoing towards the notion of brahman and mysticism.
Caste System
(India) Closely tied to Hindu beliefs-people of dif. castes were different species of beings. believed that karma determined their caste. brahmin(priests)>Kshatriyas(warriors)> vaisyas(herders, farmers, artisans, merchants)>sudras(little or no Aryan heritage)>dalits (untouchables, did work noone else would do) This changed over time and later developed into 1000s of major castes and subcastes
Hinduism
chief religion of India. everything is part of the unchanging, all powerful spiritual force called brahman. polytheistic, but all gods are part of the supreme being brahman. teachings recorded in the vedas and upanishads. different sects worship dif. gods (main 3 are Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva). ultimate goal of existance is reaching moksha (achieve union w/ brahman). believe in reincarnation to continue working towards moksha. karma affects a persons fate in the next life. caste system v. important, karma determines one's caste. karma= every deed, mental or physical, in this life affects a person's fate in a future life. dharma=religious and moral duties of a person, according to their social class ahimsa= non violence atman=each person has an essential self
Buddhism
(India to China) siddhartha gautama-founder, after enlightenment, he was known as the buddha. the 4 noble truths. eightfold path. through meditation, one might reach nirvana-union with the universe and release from rebirth. believed in karma and reincarnation but rejected the existence of gods and caste system.
Asoka
Chandgragupta Maurya's grandson who was the most honored Maurya emperor. After a long bloody war he converted to Buddhism and sent missionaries to spread Buddhism throughout Asia. He also preached tolerance for other religions. His rule brought peace and prosperity.
geography of China
the many mountainss (tian shan, himalayas, kunlun), rivers (huang, chang) and desert (gobi) secluded the civilization from all others at that time, thus developing a unique culture and they thought they were the center of the universe. yellow sea and bay of bengal too.
Mandate of Heaven
the divine right to rule (China) to justify the rebellion against the Shang, the Zhou used this to explain the dynastic cycles. if rulers became weak or corrupt, the chinese believed gods would withdraw its support.
Zhou Dynasty
overthrew the Shang and lasted from 1122 bc to 256 bc. They claimed the Mandate of Heaven. they gave supporters control over regions so China developed into feudal states. For most of their rule, the feudal lords actually had all the power. economy grew, ironworking reached China, farming and commerce expanded, coins introduced, increase in population. finally ended when one feudal lord (Shi Huangdi) overthrew them to start the Qin dynasty.
oracle bones
in shang china, animal bone or turtle shell used by preists to predict the future by writing a question on it and then heating it until it cracked and interpreting the pattern of cracks
Confucian values
little intrest in religious matters-> developed philosophy to ensure social order and good government. harmony resulted when people accepted place in society.
5 key relationships: ruler-subject, parent-child, husband-wife, elder brother-younger brother, friend-friend. none equal besides friendship.
superiors should care for inferiors, inferiors owe loyalty.
filial piety above all else, & honesty, hard work, concern for others.
leaders must be educated and set good example
Wudi
most famous Han emperor (Han dynasty was after Shi Huangdi) who strengthened the gov. and economy. improved canals and roads, set up granaries, reorganized finances, imposed gov. monopoly on iron and salt to give income besides taxes on peasants, expansionism-expanded China's borders and added outposts, opened up trade routes that later became silk road
geography of Greece
isolated valleys and islands separated by rugged mountains and seas>isolated city states. mild climate> lots of time outdoors. on the sea>trade and colonize
Spartan women
trained rigorously to produce healthy sons. had to obey father and husband but had the right to inherit property. some took on big responsibilities like running an estate b/c men were occupied with war.
tyrants
(Greece) people who gained power by force- not necessarily bad, many governed well and won support of the middle and lower class by making reforms to help them
Persian Wars: causes, results
persians vs. greeks. causes- long term: lack of food, growing population, persian control of Greek colonies immediate causes: Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persian rule and Athens helped them, Darius was infuriated and decides to punish Athens and annex all of Greece. Greece briefly unifies against Persians results- immediate: Greece saved itself and the rest of the world from Eastern domination and despotism. long term: Athens becomes leading maritime city of the Greek world, Athens developed economically and built an empire, Athens celebrates a Golden Age (meeting place of artists, writers, center of culture) under Pericles. forms Delian League to continue defense against Persia (leads to Peloponnesian war)
Socrates
(Greece) he was an outspoken critic of Sophists who never wrote down any ideas. He spent days in town square questioning passing people and challenging them to examine the implications of their answers- socratic method. seen as a threat to accepted values and traditions and was condemned to death in a trial for corrupting the city's youth
Plato
Socrates' most famous student- wrote down his ideas. He set up a school called the Academy where he emphasized the importance of reason. wrote book The Republic about his ideas state which included 3 classes: workers, soldiers, and ruling philosophers
Aristotle
Plato's most famous student, developed his own ideas about gov. favored rule by 1 strong and virtuous leader. thought good conduct was pursuing the golden mean- moderate course between the extremes. promoted reason as guiding force for learning. ser up the Lyceum for studying all branches of knowledge, left writings on many subjects
Sophocles
great Athenian playwright who wrote the tragedy the Antigone examining what happens when an individual's moral duty conflicts with the laws of the state.
tragedy
(Greece) a play about human suffering often ending in disaster
comedy
(Greece) a play that mocked people or social customs
Hellenism
culture that blended Greek, Egyptian, Indian, and Persian influences after Alexander the Great's death.
Archimedes
famous Hellenistic scientist who applied the principle of physics to make practical inventions such as the lever and pulley
Athens
Greek city state that was a democracy. education was valued as well as athleticism and military greatness
Sparta
Greek city-state that was very war and fitness oriented. children were prepared for the military from a young age. they isolated themselves from other Greeks.
Pericles
lead a golden age in Athens after the Persian Wars. direct democracy, directed rebuilding of the Acropolis that Persians had destroyed, council of 500 and jury, turned Athens into the cultural center of Greece
Spartan education
preparation from young age- at 7 boys moved into barracks and were toughened by hard exercise, course diet, and rigid discipline. very hard life but made excellent soldiers.
Zeus
in Greek religion, the most powerful god who presided over affairs of gods and humans and had many children who were gods
Peloponnesian Wars
athens (& Delian League) vs. sparta (& Peloponnesian League). causes- long term: Sparta and Athens were long time enemies, Athens used its position in the Delian League to create an empire and used other city-states' money to rebuild, and forced its allies to stay in the league. short term-many greeks resented Athenian domination, Sparta & other states formed the Peloponnesian League to counter Delian League, Greece was split in 2 camps and war broke out in 431 b.c. lasted 27 years, sparta allied itself with onetime enemy, Persia, Sparta wins. results- immediate:Sparta took away Athens' fleet and empire but didn't destroy Athens, Athenian domination of the Greek world ended. long term: Athens remained the cultural center of Greece but its spirit and vitality declined, Greeks continued to battle among themselves while power rose in Macedonia
oligarchy
government in which ruling power belongs to a few people- a small wealthy elite. (Greece- type of gov.'t that had evolved from monarchy to aristocracy to oligarchy)
Greek architecture
conveyed a sense of perfect balance to reflect harmony of universe. Parthenon was a temple to Athena that had lots of columns holding up a gently sloping roof- shape was a basic rectangle
Roman architecture
used concrete to show dignity, strength, and power. emphasized grandeur and everything was very big. improved structural devices like columns and arches (Pantheon), developed round dome for roofs of large spaces
Euripides
Athenian playwright who wrote the tragedies that suggested humans caused human misfortune and suffering, not gods. he wrote The Trojan Women to show suffering of women victims in war
Alexander the Great
a young great conqueror who conquered the Persian Empire, Babylon, Palestine, Egypt, and most of the known world. He spread Greek culture and influence throughout the world, encouraged blending of Eastern and Western cultures, and after his death the Hellenistic age began.
patricians
(Roman republic) member of the landholding upper class. originally the only ones who could be in senate.
plebeians
(Roman republic) member of the lower class, including farmers, merchants, artisans, and traders. gradually gained more rights in gov.'t.
tribunes
(Roman republic) officials elected by plebeians to protect their rights. they could veto a law they felt harmful to plebeians.
Punic Wars
Rome vs. Carthage causes- long term: Roman Imperialism-they wanted to expand their empire westward (conquest of the Italian Peninsula) short term- revenge (in the 2nd carthage retaliates against Rome and in the 3rd Rome wants revenge on Carthage). 3 wars 1st-Rome wins, 2nd- Hannibal lead Carthaginians to surprise Rome from north, destroys much of italy but can't capture rome. Rome sends forces to Carthage so Hannibal turns back to defend, Rome wins and Carthage has to pay more. 3rd-Rome wants more revenge so they go and completely destroy Carthage. results- immediate: 1st-Rome defeated Carthage & won sicily, corsica, and sardinia 2nd-carthage gave up its land except Africa. 3rd- Carthaginian survivors are sold into slavery or killed, Romans poured salt on the land so nothing could grow. long term: Romans now masters of the western mediterranean, new class of wealthy romans emerged, farmers went into debt, reforms sought
Jesus of Nazareth
taught a new faith, which came to called Christianity. recruited followers & spread his message widely. He preached Jewish values but also said he was the son of god, people viewed him as messiah, gained followers, was crucified
Greco-Roman
civilization produced by the blending of Greek, Roman, and Hellenistic traditions
Augustus
ruled Rome from 31 bc to 13 ad and acted like a king- under him the Roman Republic ended and the Roman Empire began. He set up a stable government, left senate in place and created a civil service to enforce its laws, opened high-level jobs to men of talent, cemented allegiances of cities and provinces to Rome by allowing them a lot of self-government, ordered a census for a better tax system, set up a postal service, issued new coins, gave jobless work building roads and temples or farming. His gov. worked well for 200 yrs. but the problem of who would rule next often led to violence or war
stoicism
philosophy during the Hellenistic age founded by Zeno. urged people to avoid desires and disappointments by accepting calmly whatever life brought, high moral standards like protecting the rights of fellow humans, said that all ppl. even women and slaves, though unequal in society, were morally equal b/c all had the power of reason
Constantine
Roman emperor who ended the persecution of Christians in 313 bc by issuing the Edict of Milan giving freedom of worship to all Roman citizens. he continued Diocletian's reforms (dividing empire in 2, fixing prices of goods and services, laws forcing farmers to remain on land & sons follow their father's occupations to ensure production of goods & other services). renamed the centuries-old city of Byzantium Constantinople and made it a new capital, making the eastern empire the center of power.
engineering
application of math and science to develop useful structures and machines. Romans excelled at it and used it to build roads, bridges, harbors, and aqueducts.
law of nations
system of law that applied to all people under Roman rule, both citizens and non-citizens. It later merged with the civil law when Rome extended citizenship across the empire.
Church hierarchy
pope/patriarch (bishops of the most important cities that gained authority over other bishops)>bishops(above the priest and all people in his diocese- christian clergy and community)>priest (one for each diocese)>communities
Fall of Rome
CAUSES: political- corruption, oppressive gov.'t, internal power struggles, empire divided in half, civil wars. economic- small farmers couldn't compete with the low prices that latifundia had from slave labor (reliance on slave labor), inflation, indenture of farmers to wealthy landowners, taxes had to be raised often to pay for army and bureaucracy. social- high crime rage from unemployment, values like patriotism , discipline and devotion to duty declined, population decline from disease and war, devotion of upper class to luxury and self-interest. It was a long slow decline with no exact moment when it "fell"