Prologue: World History Modern AP Edition — Flashcards

Ten Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from the Prologue: Human Development, the Agricultural Revolution, early civilizations, religions, and cross-cultural exchange.

When and where did modern humans first appear, and what was their lifestyle?

In East Africa between 200,000 and 100,000 BCE; they survived by hunting animals and foraging for seeds and edible plants, living in small groups with no permanent homes.

What is animism?

A system of religious beliefs venerating deities associated with natural features such as animals, mountains, or rivers.

What marked the Agricultural Revolution and where did it begin?

Around 10,000 years ago (8000 BCE) in the Middle East; the shift to farming and animal domestication created food surpluses and allowed specialization.

Which writing system did the Sumerians invent and what was its use?

Cuneiform; the first written language used to record laws, trade, and administration.

Who was Ashoka and what did he promote in the Mauryan Empire?

Ashoka was a Mauryan emperor who promoted prosperity through an efficient tax system and roads, and spread knowledge of the law through edicts and Buddhism.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Belief in Allah, ritual prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

What is the Justinian Code?

A consolidation of Roman laws enacted under Justinian in the Byzantine Empire, which influenced European legal tradition.

Which Chinese dynasty expanded a merit-based bureaucracy through the civil service exam?

The Han Dynasty; it developed a civil service exam to staff government with educated officials.

Name two major Afro-Eurasian trade networks that facilitated exchange between 600 BCE and 600 CE.

The Silk Roads and the Indian Ocean trade network (also important were Trans-Saharan routes in Africa).

What were Teotihuacan and the Maya known for in the Americas?

Teotihuacan was a major Mesoamerican city with grid streets and monumental temples; the Maya developed a complex writing system and an accurate calendar, and understood the concept of zero.