Classical Civilization of Africa, India, and China Study Guide

Fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the study guide on classical civilizations of Africa (Aksum), India (Mauryan and Gupta), and China (Qin and Han).

The ancient African civilization located in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea listed on the study guide is __________

Aksum/ Axum

The Aksumite ruler who officially adopted Christianity in the 4th century CE was __________

King Ezana

The religious transition in East Africa described in the study guide is __________

Christianity in Aksum

The written language developed and used in ancient Aksum was __________

Ge'ez

Tall, carved stone pillars erected as funerary monuments in Aksum are known as __________

Stele (Stelae)

The classical empire that unified much of India from 322 BCE to 185 BCE was the __________

Mauryan Empire

The Macedonian conqueror whose campaign into northwestern India influenced the rise of the Mauryans was __________

Alexander the Great

The strategic political advisor to Chandragupta Maurya was __________

Kautilya

The Greek ambassador to the court of the Mauryan Empire who documented Indian life was __________

Megasthenes

The grand capital city of both the Mauryan and Gupta empires was __________

Pataliputra

The famous Mauryan ruler who embraced non-violence after a bloody conflict was __________

Ashoka

The brutal military conquest that led Emperor Ashoka to renounce violence was __________

Kalinga

The major world religion adopted and actively spread by Emperor Ashoka was __________

Buddhism

The classical empire in India that succeeded the Mauryans and oversaw a cultural revival was the __________

Gupta Empire

The founder and first ruler of the Gupta Empire was __________

Chandra Gupta !

The Gupta ruler under whose reign artistic and cultural achievements peaked was __________

Chandra Gupta II

The ancient legal text detailing social rules, morality, and caste duties in India is the __________

Laws of Manu

The hereditary social classes that structured classical Indian society are known as __________

Castes

The era of major peace, stability, and artistic achievement in classical India is known as the __________

Gupta Golden Age

The renowned classical Sanskrit poet and playwright of India was __________

Kalidasa

The famous Sanskrit play written by Kalidasa is __________

Sakuntala

The metallurgical achievement developed and refined in ancient India listed in the study guide is __________

Iron working

The positional base-10 numerical system developed in classical India is known as __________

Hindu-Arabic Numerals

The prominent Gupta mathematician and astronomer who approximated pi was __________

Aryabhata

The imperial dynasty that first unified China under a central government in 221 BCE was the __________

Qin Dynasty

The ruler who unified China and declared himself the First Emperor was __________

Shi Huangdi

The state philosophy of strict control, clear laws, and harsh punishments implemented by Shi Huangdi was __________

Legalism

The massive northern border defense connected and expanded during the Qin Dynasty is the __________

Great Wall of China

The founder and first emperor of the Han Dynasty was __________

Liu Bang

The long-lasting dynasty that followed the Qin and established a Golden Age in China was the __________

Han Dynasty

The philosophical belief that a ruler held divine authorization to govern China was the __________

Mandate of Heaven

The early Han empress who maintained authority over the throne through her young children was __________

Empress Lu

The ethical system and state philosophy adopted during the Han Dynasty was __________

Confucianism

The administrative framework in China that used examinations to recruit government officials was the __________

Civil service system

The Han emperor who expanded the territory of China and established the civil service system was __________

Wudi

The major peasant revolt during the late Han Dynasty inspired by Daoist teachings was the __________

Yellow Turbans

The Confucian value requiring deep respect and devotion toward parents and ancestors is __________

Filial piety

The female Han scholar who wrote 'Lessons for Women' was __________

Ban Zhao

The vast network of trade routes connecting Han China with western civilizations was the __________

silk roads

The famous court historian of the Han Dynasty who authored the 'Records of the Grand Historian' was __________

sima Qian

The ancient Chinese medical technique of inserting fine needles into points on the body is __________

acupuncture

The writing material invented in Han China that revolutionized record-keeping was __________

paper

The agricultural technology that enhanced farming efficiency in Han China was the __________

iron plow

The scientific instrument invented during the Han Dynasty to detect earthquakes was the __________

seismograph