Worldhist1: Unit 2: Classical Civs: Flashcards

Front 1

democracy

Back 1

Government in which the people hold ruling power.

Front 2

reincarnation

Back 2

In Hinduism, belief in the rebirth of the soul in another bodily form.

Front 3

yoga

Back 3

A system of exercises practiced as part of the Hindu discipline to promote control of the body and mind.

Front 4

Vedic gods

Back 4

The gods that are described in the ancient Indian religious scriptures called the Vedas. The gods form the basis of Hinduism.

Front 5

Aryans

Back 5

The Aryans were a group of Indo-European nomadic people who moved from central Asia to India in about 1500 BC.

Front 6

karma

Back 6

In Hindu belief, it is all the actions that affect a person's fate in the next life.

Front 7

dharma

Back 7

In Hindu belief, it is an individual's religious and moral duties.

Front 8

deity

Back 8

A god or goddess.

Front 9

moksha

Back 9

In Hindu belief, it is the ultimate goal of existence, or achieving union with brahman.

Front 10

Mahabharata

Back 10

An ancient religious epic of India. It contains stories about gods, kings, and common people.

Front 11

Siddhartha Gautama

Back 11

Indian prince who founded the philosophy of Buddhism.

Front 12

nirvana

Back 12

In Buddhism, union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.

Front 13

Dalai Lama

Back 13

The traditional governmental ruler and highest priest of the dominant sect of Buddhism in Tibet and Mongolia.

Front 14

Zen Buddhism

Back 14

Type of Buddhism commonly accepted in Japan. It stresses meditation and devotion to duty.

Front 15

Silk Road

Back 15

Named after China's most valuable export. This trade route eventually linked China and the Middle East.

Front 16

Alexander the Great

Back 16

Young king who created an empire which included Greece, Persia, and Northern Africa. He allowed the Hellenism, or ancient Greek culture, to spread and flourish.

Front 17

assassinate

Back 17

To murder a public figure, usually for political reasons.

Front 18

filial piety

Back 18

Respect for parents.

Front 19

philosophy

Back 19

System of ideas.

Front 20

autocrat

Back 20

Ruler with unlimited authority.

Front 21

merit

Back 21

System in which people gain success on the basis of ability and performance.

Front 22

tragedy

Back 22

In ancient Greece, it was a play that focused on human suffering and very often ended in disaster.

Front 23

Renaissance

Back 23

The period from about 1350 until 1500, during which, western Europeans experienced a profound cultural reawakening; signaled the beginning of modern times.

Front 24

citadel

Back 24

A fortress in a commanding position in or near a city.

Front 25

Homer

Back 25

Great Greek writer. He wrote the epics, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey", which are still widely read today.

Front 26

aristocracies

Back 26

Governments headed by a privileged minority or upper class.

Front 27

tyrant

Back 27

In ancient Greece, it was a ruler who gained power by force. (Not necessarily bad.)

Front 28

polis

Back 28

City-state in ancient Greece.

Front 29

helot

Back 29

Member of a class of state-owned slaves in ancient Sparta.

Front 30

oligarchy

Back 30

Government in which ruling power belongs to a few people.

Front 31

monarchy

Back 31

Government in which a king or queen exercises central power.

Front 32

direct democracy

Back 32

System of government in which citizens participate directly in the day-to-day affairs of government rather than through elected representatives.

Front 33

acropolis

Back 33

Highest and most fortified point within a Greek city-state.

Front 34

colony

Back 34

A settlement of people outside their homeland, linked with the parent country and direct government control.

Front 35

imperialism

Back 35

Domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region.

Front 36

jury

Back 36

Group of people sworn to make a decision in a legal case.

Front 37

Socrates

Back 37

The most famous Greek philosopher who emphasized reason and inquiry. Developed a famous questioning technique named after himself.

Front 38

heresy

Back 38

Belief that is contrary to the official teachings of the government.

Front 39

exile

Back 39

Forced removal from one's native country.

Front 40

comedy

Back 40

In ancient Greece, it was a play that mocked people or social customs.

Front 41

republic

Back 41

System of government in which officials are chosen by the people.

Front 42

patrician

Back 42

Member of the land-holding, upper class in ancient Rome.

Front 43

veto

Back 43

Power to block a government action.

Front 44

tribune

Back 44

Official who was elected by the plebeians to protect their interests.

Front 45

plebeian

Back 45

Member of the lower class in ancient Rome, including farmers, merchants, artisans, and traders.

Front 46

constitution

Back 46

Plan of government.

Front 47

consul

Back 47

Official from the patrician class who supervised the government and commanded the armies.

Front 48

praetor

Back 48

An annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic, ranking below but having approximately the same functions as a consul.

Front 49

dictator

Back 49

Ruler who has complete control over a government; in ancient Rome, a leader was appointed to rule for six months in times of emergency.

Front 50

monopoly

Back 50

Complete control of a product or business by one person or group.

Front 51

Julius Caesar

Back 51

Skilled military commander and absolute ruler of Rome. He attempted to reform the Roman Republic before being famously assassinated.

Front 52

soothsayer

Back 52

One who claims to be able to foretell events or to predict the future.

Front 53

engineering

Back 53

Application of science and mathematics to develop useful structures and machines.

Front 54

idealism

Back 54

The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form.

Front 55

realism

Back 55

Artistic movement whose aim was to represent the world as it is.

Front 56

mosaic

Back 56

Picture made from chips of colored stone or glass.

Front 57

aqueduct

Back 57

A bridge-like structure supporting a conduit or canal passing over a river or low ground.

Front 58

inflation

Back 58

Economic cycle that involves a rapid rise in prices, linked to a sharp increase in the amount of money available.

Front 59

Jesus Christ

Back 59

The founder of Christianity.

Front 60

apostle

Back 60

Leader or teacher of a new faith or movement.

Front 61

messiah

Back 61

Savior sent by God.

Front 62

disciple

Back 62

One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another. Also one of Jesus' original followers.

Front 63

martyr

Back 63

Person who suffers or dies for his or her beliefs.

Front 64

paganism

Back 64

One who has no religion.

Front 65

pope

Back 65

Head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Front 66

icon

Back 66

Holy image of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Front 67

bishop

Back 67

High-ranking Church official with authority over a local area, or diocese.

Front 68

province

Back 68

Land outside the city of Rome that was controlled by the Roman government.

Front 69

anarchy

Back 69

State of lawlessness or political disorder.