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Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Prologue to 1200 CE.
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Homo sapiens
Modern humans; first appeared in East Africa between 200,000 and 100,000 BCE, living as hunter-gatherers with no permanent homes.
Migration Out of Africa
Movement of humans beyond East Africa between about 100,000 and 60,000 years ago, populating the rest of the world.
Animism
Belief system in which nature and natural features are inhabited by spirits or deities.
Sumer
A Mesopotamian city-state region; birthplace of cuneiform and several early urban developments.
Mesopotamia
Cradle of civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq).
Cuneiform
First writing system developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia; used for laws and records.
Ziggurat
Massive temple-pyramid in Mesopotamian cities symbolizing centralized authority.
Hieroglyphics
Ancient Egyptian writing system using pictorial symbols.
Indus Valley (Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro)
Indus River civilization known for planned cities and urban infrastructure; language undeciphered.
Indus script
The still undeciphered writing system of the Indus Valley civilization.
Monotheism
Belief in a single deity; examples include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism in certain contexts.
Hinduism
South Asian religion with roots in the Vedas; often described as polytheistic with a caste system and belief in reincarnation.
Vedas
Ancient Hindu scriptures that outline social order, ritual, and cosmology.
Caste system
Rigid, hereditary social hierarchy in Hindu society that limits social mobility.
Reincarnation
Belief that the soul is reborn into new lives after death.
Zoroastrianism
Monotheistic religion from Persia emphasizing the struggle between good and evil and human free will.
Judaism
Monotheistic faith of the Hebrews; covenant with Yahweh; development of Hebrew Scriptures.
Christianity
Monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus; spread throughout the Roman Empire; later legalized by Constantine.
Islam
Monotheistic faith founded by Muhammad; revealed in the Qur'an; Five Pillars; sharia; Sunni/Shi'a split.
Five Pillars of Islam
Core practices: faith in Allah, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
Sharia
Islamic law code derived from the Qur'an and Hadith governing religious and civic behavior.
Abbasid Caliphate
Islamic caliphate (750–1258) based in Baghdad; Golden Age of science, trade, and culture.
Silk Roads
Network of land and sea routes connecting Eurasia for commerce and exchange of ideas.
Buddhism
Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama; Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path aiming for nirvana.
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
Founder of Buddhism; attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree around 6th century BCE.
Four Noble Truths
Core Buddhist teachings about suffering and its cessation.
Eightfold Path
Buddhist path of right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
Mauryan Empire
First mass unity in South Asia (c. 322–187 BCE); Ashoka expanded prosperity and roads; edicts on pillars.
Ashoka
Mauryan emperor who promoted Buddhism, built pillars with edicts, and spread Buddhist ideas.
Gupta Empire
South Asian empire (c. 320–550 CE); Golden Age with advances in medicine, math (zero/place value), and centralized governance.
Confucianism
Philosophy emphasizing education, benevolence, virtue, respect for authority, and filial piety.
Daoism
Philosophy stressing harmony with nature and inner reflection; counterpoint to Confucian ideals.
Mandate of Heaven
Chinese idea that heaven grants emperors the right to rule; disasters signal its withdrawal.
Qin Dynasty
First Chinese imperial dynasty (221–207 BCE); standardized script, weights, measures, and infrastructure.
Han Dynasty
Chinese dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) that expanded bureaucracy, court exams, and trade along the Silk Road; Golden Age of science and technology.
Civil service exam
Merit-based examinations in Han/Song China that staffed government bureaucracy.
Paper money
Early use of printed currency in China, aiding long-distance trade.
Magnetic compass
Chinese innovation that improved navigation and maritime trade.
Gunpowder
Explosive mixture developed in China that transformed warfare and safety.
Grand Canal
Large canal linking northern and southern China, boosting trade and unification.