World History EH Semester 1 Final Review Guide

Specifically made for studying at Glenbrook South Highschool and for those studying AP WORLD HISTORY Duiker/Spielvogel

Fertile Crescent

Curved region of useful land for farming, separate from desert climate that dominates most of the land between the Gulf and Med. Provided some of the best farming in SW Asia.

Mesopotamia

"Land between the rivers" in Greek, part of Fertile Crescent.

Env. challenges and how they were solved

Mesopotamia was constantly flooded due to the 2 rivers bordering the region, so the people developed irrigation systems.

City-state

A city with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.

Priests

People who performed religious ceremonies. In this case also control govt.

Dynasty

A powerful family or group of rulers that maintains its position or power for some time.

Cultural diffusion

The process in which a new idea or product spreads from one culture to another.

Sumerian Culture

polytheistic religion, social classes, ziggurat central to city life, slaves were captured in war or needed to pay off debts, women could be priests/work/have property/write

Ziggurat

A pyramid shaped temple tower

Polytheism

belief in more than one god

Social classes

a ranking of people into higher or lower positions of respect

Cuneiform

A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge shaped stylus and clay tablets.

Hammurabi

Amorite ruler of Babylon (r. 1792-1750 B.C.E.). He conquered many city-states in southern and northern Mesopotamia and is best known for a code of laws, inscribed on a black stone pillar, illustrating the principles to be used in legal cases (Code Of Ham.).

Yellow River (Huang He)

which river takes its name from loess soil? Deposits yellow silt when it overflows. North.

Yagtze River

Central river

Loess

Fine yellowish light silt deposited by wind and water. It constitutes the fertile soil of the Yellow River Valley in northern China. Because of the tiny needle-like shape of its particles, it can be easily shaped and used for underground structures (but vulnerable to earthquake)

Xia Dynasty

This was the earliest known dynasty. There is no written evidence of this early time period, but artifacts have been found. The people of this time were farmers and made pottery. Around 2000 B.C.

Shang Dynasty

Second Chinese dynasty (about 1750-1122 B.C.) which was mostly a farming society ruled by an aristocracy mostly concerned with war. They're best remembered for their art of bronze casting.

The Middle Kingdom

2050 BC. - 1800 BC.: A new dynasty reunited Egypt. Moved the capital to Thebes. Built irrigation projects and canal between the Nile and Red Sea so Egyptian ships could trade along coasts of the Arabian Penninsula and East Africa. Expanded Egyptian territory: Nubia, Syria. ?????

Ancestor Veneration

The practice of praying to your ancestors. Found especially in China.

Oracle Bones

The earliest known Chinese writing is found on these from the ritual activity of the Shang period. Priests scratch questions for the gods into animal bones or tortoise shells.

Chinese writing system

uniform standard helped unify China; used characters; first trace on oracle bones.

Mandate of Heaven

a political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source. Lost or gained depending out the strength of their rule.

Dynastic Cycle

the historical pattern of the rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties. Mandate of Heaven controls public opinion of dynasty.

Zhou Dynasty

the longest lasting Chinese dynasty, during which the use of iron was introduced.

Canaan

An ancient name for the land of Israel, "promised land." Located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean sea.

Phoenicians

Semitic-speaking Canaanites living on the coast of modern Lebanon and Syria in the first millennium B.C.E. Famous for developing the first alphabet, which was adopted by the Greeks.

Torah

The first five books of Jewish Scripture, which they believe are by Moses, are called this. 1/3 main sections of te Hebrew bible.

Hebrew Bible

the name used by Jews for their scripture that is basically the same as Christians' Old Testament.

Abraham

Founder of Judaism who, according to the Bible, led his family from Ur to Canaan in obedience to God's command.

Ethical Monotheism

Religion believing in one god, emphasizing ethics.

Covenant

A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made.

Ten Commandments

A set of laws for responsible behavior, which, according to the Bible, were given to Moses by God. Part of covenant.

Moses

(Old Testament) the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt across the Red sea on a journey known as the Exodus.

Aryans

nomads from Europe and Asia who migrated to India and finally settled; Vedas from this time suggest the beginning of caste system.

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

Dasas

Name the Aryans gave to the people they found in India; means dark skin.

Varnas

Another word for the social classes in the Caste system that ranked people from high to low.

Caste System

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life.

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, (Untouchables)

Ranking of the caste system, highest to lowest.

Untouchables

lowest class of people in the caste system of Hinduism, do all the dirty work of society.

Mahabarata

India's greatest epic, such as the Bhagavad Gita (discusses welfare and religion).

Upanishads

A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised.

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of reincarnation.

Brahman

The term for The Universal Soul in Hinduism.

Atman

the individual soul.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul in a new body.

Karma

The belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life.

Siddartha Gautama (Buddha)

Founder of Buddhism.

Nirvana

The state of enlightenment for Buddhists, end of reincarnation cycle.

Four Noble Truths

1) All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. 2) The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hated and desire. 3) The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirture. 4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path

In Buddhism, the basic rules of behavior and belief leading to an end of suffering

The Middle Way

A basic Buddhist teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial of asceticism, focusing instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment.

Three Jewels of Buddhism

Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

Warring States Period

time of warfare between regional lords following the decline of the Zhou dynasty in the 8th century B.C.E.

Confucius

(551-479 BCE) A Chinese philosopher known also as Kong Fuzi who created one of the most influential philosophies in Chinese history. Founder of Confucianism.

Analects

The most important writings of Confucianism.

Five Relationships

1. husband and wife 2. parent and child 3. elder and younger brother 4. ruler and Minister or subject 5. friend and friend.

Filial Piety

respect for parents.

Laozi

Founder of Daoism.

Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching)

The most important text of Daoism.

the Dao

The proper way Chinese kings were expected to rule under the mandate of heaven.

Daoism

A religion in China which emphasizes the removal from society and to become one with nature.

Hanfeizi and Li Si

founders of legalism

Legalism

A Chinese philosophy that was devoted to strengthen and expand the state through increased agricultural work and military service.

Yin and Yang

A Daoist concept that the universe is governed by a cosmic duality, sets of two opposing and complementing principles or cosmic energies that can be observed in nature.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen.

Oligarchy/Aristocracy

A government ruled by a few powerful people.

Tyranny

Cruel and oppressive government or rule.

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them.

Solon

Early Greek leader who brought democratic reforms such as his formation of the Council of Four Hundred.

Clesithenes

turned Athens into a democracy.

Athenian Education

The sons of wealthy families were formally educated, beginning at the age of 7. They studied reading, grammar, poetry, history, mathematics, music, logic, and public speaking. They were also trained in athletics. When they got older, they went to military school. Girls learn how to run house from mothers.

Helots

enslaved people in ancient Sparta.

Spartan Government

consisted of two kings who controlled (one king dealt with the military while the other took care of matters at home), a Council of Elders, and an assembly.

Spartan Societal Structure

1. Descendants of land, ruling families.

2. Free noncitizens, workers in commerce and industry.

3. Helots.

Pericles

Athenian leader noted for advancing democracy in Athens and for ordering the construction of the Parthenon.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives.

Delian League

Allied group consisting of Athens and many of its allied cities following the first attempted invasion of Persia into Greece. Caused a lot of wealth to flow into Athens and thus contributed to the Athenian "golden age."

Classical Art

the art of ancient Greece and Rome, in which harmony, order, and proportion were emphasized.

Greek Theater

Comedy and tragedy plays.

Greek Historians

Herodotus and Thucydides

The Peloponnesian War

(431-404 BCE) The war between Athens and Sparta that in which Sparta won, but left Greece as a whole weak and ready to fall to its neighbors to the north (Macedonia).

Philosophers

"Lovers of wisdom", a thinker who uses logic and reason.

Socrates

(470-399 BCE) An Athenian philosopher who thought that human beings could lead honest lives and that honor was far more important than wealth, fame, or other superficial attributes.

Plato

(430-347 BCE) Was a disciple of Socrates whose cornerstone of thought was his theory of Forms, in which there was another world of perfection.

Aristotle

A Greek Philosopher, taught Alexander the Great, started a famous school, studied with Plato

Romulus and Remus

The traditional story of how Rome began. Twins abandoned at the Tiber River, rescued by a wolf, and raised by a shepherd. Grew to build Rome. Romulus later killed Remus.

Early Inhabitants of Rome

Etruscans, Latins and Greeks

Republic

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting

Patricians

The wealthy, hereditary aristocrats during the Roman era.

Plebians

Members of the lower class of Ancient Rome including farmers, merchants, artisans and traders

Tribunes

an official in ancient Rome chosen by the plebeians to protect their interests.

Twelve Tables

Rome's first set of laws, written by Plebians in 451 B.C. and scribed into 12 tablets. These were hung in the Forum and eventually became the basis of Roman Law.

Rome's Government

Representative Democracy (Republic)

- Assemblies

- The Senate

- Consuls

- Emergency Dictator

Roman Military

Military is valued highly. Organized into legions which are then divided into centuries.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome's dominance over the western Mediterranean.

Roman Empire Economic Struggle

The gap between the rich and the poor increases as well as the population.

Military problems of the Roman Empire

In Rome there was Civil War and unrest in the empire. There was also division of the Empire. Generals attempt to take land for themselves and the once loyal Roman Military falls apart.

Julius Caesar

A Roman general who worked his way up to being appointed "dictator for life." The senate assassinated him in 44 B.C.E, a year after his rule began.