AP World-Unit 0 Vocabulary 🕍

Vocabulary flashcards derived from the provided ancient history lecture notes.

Second-Temple Judaism

The period in Jewish history between the construction of the Second Temple (c. 516 BCE) and its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE, shaping early Jewish theology and scriptural traditions.

Primary source

Firsthand accounts or original artifacts created during the time period under study (e.g., diaries, letters, official records, artifacts).

Confucius

An ancient Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ideas on morality, social order, and filial piety formed the basis of Confucianism.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean that facilitated predictable, long-distance maritime trade between East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Christianity

A major monotheistic world religion based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Tanakh

The Hebrew Bible, consisting of the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

Monotheism

The belief in a single, supreme God.

Han Dynasty

An imperial dynasty of China (202 BCE - 220 CE) known for economic prosperity, cultural development, and administrative expansion using a civil service system based on Confucianism.

Analects

The collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius and his contemporaries, compiled by his disciples.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

A major maritime network connecting East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India, and Southeast Asia, driven by monsoon winds and cross-cultural trade.

Shi Huangdi of Qin

The first emperor of a unified China who founded the Qin Dynasty, enforced Legalism, and initiated monumental building projects like early sections of the Great Wall.

Confucianism

A Chinese system of philosophical and ethical teachings emphasizing family respect, ritual, moral leadership, and social harmony.

Paul of Tarsus

An early Christian apostle who played a central role in spreading Christianity across the Roman Empire to non-Jewish (Gentile) communities.

Zoroaster

An ancient Persian prophet whose teachings formed the foundation of Zoroastrianism, emphasizing the struggle between good and evil.

Warring States Period

A period in ancient Chinese history (c. 475-221 BCE) characterized by intense warfare among rival states before unification under the Qin Dynasty.

Liu Bang

The founding emperor of the Han Dynasty who overthrown the Qin Dynasty and restored political stability to China.

Secondary source

A historical document, text, or work created by someone who did not experience or witness the event firsthand, analyzing or interpreting primary sources.

Lateen sails

Triangular sails invented to catch the wind on either side of a ship, allowing vessels to sail against the wind and revolutionizing maritime trade.

Zoroastrianism

An ancient monotheistic/dualistic religion of Persia focused on the worship of Ahura Mazda and the dualistic forces of good and evil.

Polytheism

The belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities.

Wu of Han

Long-reigning emperor of the Han Dynasty who expanded China's borders, established Confucianism as the state ideology, and initiated the Silk Road trade network.

Dharma

In Hinduism, one's moral and religious duty based on caste; in Buddhism, the teachings and truth of the Buddha.

Skepticism

A philosophical movement questioning the possibility of certain knowledge and emphasizing critical inquiry.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king who built one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to Egypt and northwestern India, spreading Hellenistic culture.

Julius Caesar

Roman general and dictator whose political actions played a critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Hinduism

A major religion that developed in ancient India, characterized by belief in reincarnation, karma, and a collection of varied spiritual traditions.

Democratic

A system of rule in which power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives.

Satrap

A provincial governor in the ancient Persian Empire.

Punic Wars

A series of three conflicts fought between Rome and Carthage, resulting in Carthage's destruction and Rome's dominance over the Western Mediterranean.

Ashoka the Great

Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism and promoted its spread, non-violence, and moral governance across India.

Gupta Empire

An ancient Indian empire (c. 320-550 CE) marked by a Golden Age of classical culture, mathematics, and science.

Maurya Empire

The first major empire to unite most of the Indian subcontinent (c. 322-185 BCE), founded by Chandragupta Maurya.

Silk Roads

An extensive network of trade routes connecting East Asia with Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.

Legalism

A Chinese philosophy that advocated for strict laws, harsh punishments, and absolute state power to maintain social order.

Qin Dynasty

The first imperial dynasty of China (221-206 BCE), which unified the country using Legalist principles and standardized weights, measures, and writing.

Roads

Infrastructure networks created to connect cities, facilitate trade, and move military forces efficiently (e.g., Roman roads, Persian Royal Road).

Roman citizenship

A privileged legal status granted to Romans and conquered peoples, offering rights to vote, hold property, and receive legal protections under Roman law.

Cyrus the Great

Founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire known for his military conquests, religious tolerance, and administrative organization.

Centralized

A system of governance where authority and decision-making power are concentrated in a single central government or ruler.

Karma

The principle of cause and effect in Hinduism and Buddhism where a person's actions determine their future rebirth and fate.

Philip of Macedonia

King of Macedon who unified Greece and developed advanced military tactics, paving the way for his son, Alexander the Great.

Governor

An official appointed to govern a town, province, or region on behalf of a centralized ruler or empire.

Reincarnation

The belief found in Hinduism and Buddhism that a soul is reborn into a new physical body after death.

Buddhism

A major world religion founded in ancient India by Siddhartha Gautama, focusing on achieving enlightenment through the Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths.

Caste System

A rigid social hierarchy in ancient and traditional India that divided society into hereditable social classes (varnas).

Siddhartha Gautama

The historical Buddha ("The Awakened One"), whose spiritual teachings formed the foundation of Buddhism.

Macedonian Wars

A series of conflicts between the Kingdom of Macedonia and the Roman Republic, resulting in Roman control over Greece.

Athens

A prominent Greek city-state famous for developing an early form of direct democracy, philosophy, and classical architecture.