Unit 0-Classical States & Empires (600 BCE-600 CE)

empire

a large, unified political unit, with different territories and peoples under a single ruler or authority

bureaucracy

system of organizing and managing government, through departments and agencies run by appointed officials

Zoroastrianism

system of religion (arguably monotheistic), founded in Persia in the 6th century BC by the prophet Zoroaster

filial piety (xiao)

Confucian concept of respect for one's elders, specifically parents and ancestors

conscription

compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces (ex: a military draft).

eunuchs

castrated males used within the palace of Chinese emperors, usually to guard concubines and serve as administrators

civil service system (China)

the practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and demonstration of merits

tribute

Money paid by one group of people to another in return for protection (and in acknowledgement of submission)

missionaries

messengers or travelers commissioned by a religious institution to spread its faith or carry on humanitarian work

Jainism

a religion founded by Mahavira in India in the 6th century BCE; members believe that everything in the universe has a soul and shouldn't be harmed.

Buddhism

Belief system founded by Siddhartha Gautama in India in the 6th c BCE. Happiness can be achieved through removal of one's desires. Believers seek enlightenment (nirvana) and the release from suffering.

Bodhisattva

A follower of Mahayana Buddhism who has attained enlightenment, but who has postponed nirvana in order to help others achieve their own enlightenment

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the force generated by the sum of a person's actions and deeds

Dharma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) principles of existence, or divine law; the adherence to one's religious and moral duties as outlined by divine law

Samsara

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the cycle of rebirth

stupa

Buddhist shrine that is shaped like a dome or mound

Varnas

each of the four Aryan castes--Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.

Jati

sub-castes within the Hindu caste system; were groups of people within each caste that worked together for one economic function

polis

A city-state in ancient Greece.

aristocracy

A government in which power is in the hands of the wealthy or the nobility (rule by the rich)

oligarchy

A government ruled by a small group of powerful people (rule by the few)

democracy

A government ruled by the people, either directly or indirectly

tyrants

in ancient Greece, rulers who seized power by force, but who ruled with the people's support (often popular)

helots

a class of serfs (conquered servants) who were required to work the land to grow grain in ancient Sparta

philosophy

Greek for "love of wisdom"; refers to a system of beliefs, values, and understandings

Socratic Method

philosophical method of questioning to gain deeper understanding of truth (used by Socrates in teaching his students)

Stoicism

Ancient Greek philosophy that became popular amongst many notable Romans. Emphasis on ethics and the belief that emotions are destructive to good judgment.

Greco-Roman culture

an ancient culture that developed from a blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures.

republic

A form of democratic government in which citizens choose their leaders by electing representatives.

Senate

In ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only of patricians.

patricians

the aristocratic landowners, or upper class, in ancient Rome

plebeians

All commoners and landless peasants in Ancient Rome

tribunes

Roman government officials whose function was to protect the rights of the plebeians (commoners)

consuls

Two officials from the patrician class appointed each year by the Roman Senate to supervise the government and command the military

latifundia

large estates of land (plantations) bought up by wealthy Roman citizens; served as commercial farms growing mass quantities of grain

pater familias

Roman term for "father of the family," a theoretical implication that gave the male head of the family almost unlimited authority.

Pax Romana

A period of peace and prosperity during the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 BCE (Rise of Augustus) to 180 CE (death of Marcus Aurelius).

"Bread & Circuses"

Public entertainment & spectacles (ex: gladiator games) that Roman elites used to keep the plebeians happy and distracted from problems in the empire.

Silk Routes

Caravan trade routes connecting Han China and the Mediterranean Sea, spanning across Central Asia and the Persian Empire.

syncretism

a blending of different forms of beliefs or religious practices (as a result of cultural diffusion)

epidemic

A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

meritocracy

government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their merits (ability and skills)