Pre-AP World: Unit 0

Patriarchy

Male domination of society.

Agricultural Revolution

The change from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to planting crops in one place.

Mesopotamia

Site of the world's first civilization; located around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq.

City-state

An independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

Egypt

Ancient civilization known for its writing system (hieroglyphics) and its monumental architecture (pyramids).

Indus River Valley Civilization

Ancient civilization with technology such as indoor plumbing, little known about them due to their language never being deciphered.

China

Ancient civilization that developed along the Yellow River (Huang He); highly patriarchal, special honor given to ancestors.

Hinduism

Ancient religion based on a set of texts called Vedas; teaches that humans are in a cycle of reincarnation and that society should be divided into castes.

Judaism

Ancient religion based on the belief that the chosen Hebrew people are in a covenant with their god Yahweh.

Silk Road

Network of trade routes between Europe and East Asia.

Buddhism

Religion based on the idea of reincarnation without social castes.

Mauryan Empire

First major empire in modern-day India; reached its peak under the rule of Ashoka.

Gupta Empire

Second major empire in modern-day India; sparked the Golden Age of India, when Base 10 and place value were invented.

Mandate of Heaven

Concept developed by the Zhou Dynasty of China; stated that some universal force granted the emperor the right to rule.

Confucius

Chinese philosopher responsible for the teachings that became the foundation of Confucianism; teachings focused on education, benevolence, virtue, respect for authority, and a patriarchal society.

Daoism

Chinese religion that focused on living in harmony with nature.

Qin Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that standardized Chinese script and established uniform weights and measures.

Han Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known as a Golden Age of Chinese history; extended trade to the Mediterranean, paper and magnetic compasses were invented.

Civil service exam

Exam created by the Han Dynasty; those who did well received high positions in government.

Persian Empire

Large empire developed in modern-day Iran; stretched from the Aegean Sea to India, government practiced religious toleration.

Rome

One of the most influential civilizations in history; patriarchal but women held more rights than other patriarchal societies, contained the entire Mediterranean inside of its territory at peak.

Diaspora

A people group who are spread out across a large area, often a minority within inhabited political/geographical regions.

Christianity

A religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ; teaches of better life after death for its followers.

Entrepôt

A coastal trading hub.

Byzantine Empire

Empire formed from the Eastern half of the Roman Empire after its collapse.

Teotihuacan

Early Mesoamerican civilization near modern-day Mexico City; prospered through trade, featured streets in a grid pattern and temples to the sun and moon gods.

Mayans

Early Mesoamerican civilization south of Teotihuacan; known for their complex written language and advanced calendar.

Islam

Religion created in the Middle East around 7th century CE; based on five core principles.

Dar al-Islam

Arabic term that means 'House of Islam' and refers to land under Islamic rule.

Abbasid Caliphate

The most influential Islamic Caliphate; heralded the Islamic Golden Age.

Sui Dynasty

Chinese dynasty created after three centuries of internal conflict; reestablished a centralized government.

Tang Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that expanded China's borders into Vietnam and Central Asia and ushered in a second Golden Age of Chinese history.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that continued the Golden Age from the Tang; had the largest cities in the world.

Shogun

Historical title for a military leader of Japan.

Daimyo

A Japanese feudal warlord below the Shogun.

Shinto

Traditional Japanese religion; focuses on nature spirits and veneration of elders.

Ghana

Empire in Africa which became very wealthy from trans-Saharan trade routes.

Great Zimbabwe

Large kingdom in Southeast Africa.

Roman Catholic Church

Branch of Christianity headed by the pope; created as a result of the Great Schism (1054).

Eastern Orthodox Church

Branch of Christianity adhered to by most Christians in Eastern Europe; created as a result of the Great Schism (1054).

Mississippian Civilization

A Native American civilization that flourished between 8th and 12th century due to large trading hubs in the city of Cahokia.

Toltec Civilization

A Mesoamerican civilization which adopted many Mayan practices.