Western Civilization Flashcards

Here are some flashcards to help study key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes.

Bering Strait Theory

Early humans migrated from Asia to North America by crossing a land bridge, now submerged, that connected Siberia and Alaska during the last ice age, known as Beringia.

Pacific Ocean Theory

Some Native American peoples could have crossed the Pacific Ocean from Asia by boat.

rubber people

The term Olmec means __ because the Olmec tribe created rubber through a mixture of material from rubber trees and substances from plants.

San Lorenzo

A significant Olmec trading center, developed around 1200 BC.

Maya language

Mayan is used for the __ group, not the term itself.

Mayapan

Maya people, named after the last Maya capital city, __ , were a collection of city-states connected through language, culture, and trade.

Ahau

A concept that became common around AD 250.

stars and planets

The Maya believed these revealed their deities.

El Castillo

The city where the Kukulkan temple is located.

glyphs

Unique writing system consisting of over 100 representing words and sounds.

Grolier Codex

These are the four codices in the Maya writing system: Paris Codex, Madrid Codex, , Dresden Codex.

Toltecs

These people settled in Mexico around AD 900, and the Aztecs admired this culture and began claiming lineage from the Toltec tribe.

Mexica

The proper name for the Aztec civilization.

Templo Mayor

The main attraction of the Aztec empire, where human sacrifices took place.

pipiltin

The Aztec social class for nobles.

macehualtin

The Aztec social class for commoners.

calpulli

A group of families who owned land, established schools, and collected tributes.

huey tlatcani

The capital city of Tenochtitlan had a senate, led by the __, who ruled like an emperor.

Quetzalcoatl

A feathered serpent, was considered the god of wind and learning.

human sacrifices

The Aztec civilization practiced _ based on fear of a future where the sun would cease to shine and darkness reign supreme.

Hernán Cortés

He led the Spanish conquest in 1521, leading to the destruction of the Aztec civilization.

Tawantinsuyu

The Inca called their empire __ , meaning 'Land of the Four Quarters.'

Inti

The Inca mythology states that the sun god, , sent his son, Manco Capac, into the world

Cuzco

The Inca city that was based on a wildcat, and Emperor Pachacuti installed Inti as the official god.

supply-by-command

The Inca system that was not based on a European supply-and-demand model, but on a supply-by-command economy.

quipu

The Inca kept business transactions, taxes, and historical facts with __, knotted strings.

Kollasuyu

Over eighty provinces within the Inca empire were divided into those four parts: Chinchaysuyu, Cuntisuyu, Antiquity, and _.

kuraka

The ruling leaders within the Inca empire, overseeing specific families within each division.

Early Woodland

The tribe that saw people flow, trade establishment, mound-building, and ceramics use.

Adena and Hopewell

These two were the earliest known North American tribes.

Serpent

One of the most impressive examples of the religion-filled tribes, the Great _ Mound in western Ohio.

St. Louis

Cahokia, a city near modern __, was the most impressive in North America.

Christopher Columbus

He landed on the island of Hispaniola in 1492, seeking a westward ocean route to Asia.

Spain

In 1493, the __ was granted control over certain remote islands and even mainland, discovered, or yet to be discovered.

northern

New Spain encompassed the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and __ South America.

encomienda

The Spanish established the __ system, granting conquistadors the right to demand labor from natives.

plants

The arrival of Christopher Columbus and his Spanish explorers brought new __, animals, tools, and diseases to the Americas.

Maya

The __ also examined the stars to determine seasons and weather patterns, aiding in planning agricultural systems.

Edward the Confessor

He built Westminster Abbey, where generations of English rulers have been buried.

William

_ , Duke of Normandy, claimed Edward promised him the English throne in 1052.

Domesday

Ordered survey for tax information, known as the _ Book

England

William the Conqueror divided __ among Norman soldiers and nobles and executed or imprisoned key English leaders.

noble

King John's attempts to raise taxes without __ approval led to rebellion.

Magna Carta

John was forced to sign the __, restricting his power and ensuring habeas corpus, or legal due process.

Verdun

The Kingdom of France was established in 843 through the Treaty of __, dividing the Franks' empire into West Francia, Lotharingia, and East Francia.

England's

French kings gradually developed more power but struggled against __ power. Richard the Lionheart and Philip II fought over land in France, leading to the Hundred Years' War.

Reconquista

The series of campaigns to retake their land by the Spanish.

Pyrenees Mountains

The modern border of France and Spain, was invaded by Muslims in 732.

Spain

__ became one of the strongest countries in Europe and led the way in exploring the New World during the Age of Discovery.

Holy Roman

Germany, also known as the __ Empire, was created from the Treaty of Verdun in 843.

Otto the Great

He declared him the savior of Germany and conqueror of the Magyars.

Crusades

Europe launched nine _ from 1095 to 1291 to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control.

third

Muslims view Jerusalem as the __ most sacred city, believed to be where Muhammad was taken into heaven.

Muhammad's

In 632, __ death led to the selection of Abu Bakr, a close friend of him, as his successor.

Bosporus

After bows, the Crusaders were transported across the __ Strait and into Asia Minor.

Frederick Barbarossa

Three European kings, King Richard the Lionheart of England, King Philip of France, and Emperor __ swore an oath to recapture Jerusalem.

Innocent III

Pope __ ordered the Albigensian Crusade, which effectively eliminated most Cathars in southern France.

Lollards

_ , followers of John Wycliffe, were active in Britain during the 14th and 15th centuries.

indulgences

Martin Luther criticized the sale of __, arguing it takes advantage of the poor and should be abolished.

Hastings

William the Conqueror won the Battle of ___ and took control of England in 1066.

English

England controlled the ___ Channel, preventing France's invasion.

Hundred

Long history of conflict between France and England caused the _ Years' War.

Black

In 1356, Edward the __ Prince launched a chevauchée into central France.

Joan of Arc

Led to rallying of French forces and defeated the English at the Battle of Orleans.

Black Death

The nursery rhyme 'Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, a-tishoo, a-tishoo, we all fall down!' is believed to be a song about the ___ in Europe.

Yersinia

The Black Death is believed to be caused by ___ pestis, a bacteria native to Africa and China.

fleas

The disease, also known as the Black Death, spreads through the bite of infected ___

septicemic

Three forms this plagued civilian were: the bubonic plague, the __ plague, and the pneumonic plague.

Arabic

Italian scholars traveled to find lost knowledge, including __ translations of Aristotle and Plato's works.

French

Renaissance, ___ for rebirth, began in Italy and spread to Western Europe.

The Medici

Wealthy Italian family began to exhibit their wealth through art and hiring artists to create masterpieces with Roman and Greek themes.

Francis Rabelais

French writer and humanist __ summed up the Renaissance spirit by saying, 'Let nothing in the world be unknown to you.'

realism

Renaissance artistic style emphasized ___ , individualism, and vibrant color.

Leonardo Da Vinci

This person painted The Last Supper and Mona Lisa between 1495-1506.

Mona Lisa

Suspected to be the wife of a wealthy merchant in Florence, Italy.

Pieta and David

Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and sculpted the __ between 1498-1501.

Renaissance

Francesco Petrarch, a significant figure in 14th-century Italy, was known as the 'Father of the __ .'

Niccolo Machiavelli

He emphasized the importance of abandoning moral principles and ethics to maintain authority.

Miguel de Cervantes

His most famous work, Don Quixote, is a satire of chivalry and mocks medieval ideas.

Francis Rabelais

French writer and humanist __ summed up the Renaissance spirit by saying, Let nothing in the world be unknown to you.

Erasmus

He was renowned for his intelligence and extensive education and used satire to criticize societal evils and the abusive practices of the Catholic Church.

music

English Renaissance saw primarily focused on literature and ___ , with less emphasis on paintings.

Sir Thomas More

His work, Utopia, portrayed an imaginary country based on Christian principles, promoting equality, brotherly love, and God's honor.

William Shakespeare

A renowned English Renaissance poet and playwright, is considered the greatest poet and playwright of all time.

Erasmus

Sir Thomas More, a close friend of __ , was a prominent English humanist and statesman.

Macbeth

His plays include Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and __ .

Sir Thomas More

He argued for a society governed by reason, contrasting it with current English and European society.

Francis Bacon

Believed in the truth coming to light through long discussions.