Peoples and World Empires of Eurasia 500 B.C.E.-500 C.E. - Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the 'Peoples and World Empires of Eurasia 500 B.C.E.-500 C.E.' lecture notes.

classical

The traditional authoritative form of a culture.

Axial Age

Historians' term for the centuries shortly before and after the year 1 C.E., when radical intellectual shifts occurred in Eurasian powers.

Clearchus

An Athenian who traveled to Ai Khanoum (modern Afghanistan) and inscribed Greek wisdom on a rock.

Alexander the Great

Created an enormous empire connecting Greece to the Indus River, spreading Greek ideas.

asceticism

A rejection of physical pleasures that can lead to deprivations and starvation.

Vardhamana Mahavira

Born around 540 B.C.E., known as the Jina, and inspired Jainism.

Jina

"The conqueror," a title given to Vardhamana Mahavira.

Jainism

A religion inspired by Mahavira, advocating complete nonviolence due to the belief that all things have a soul.

dharma (Jainism)

The moral virtue that inspires nonviolence in Jainism.

reincarnation

The cycle of rebirth in a different form, which Jainism and Buddhism sought to end.

Buddhism

A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha, seeking freedom from suffering through the 'middle way'.

Buddha

Prince Siddhartha Gautama, 'the Awakened One,' who founded Buddhism.

Four Noble Truths

The core Buddhist teachings: existence is suffering, caused by desire, which can be eliminated through the eightfold path.

Eightfold Path

A balanced way of life to end desire, including right belief, resolve, speech, behavior, occupation, effort, contemplation, and meditation.

sangha

In Buddhism, the community of monks and nuns.

monastery

A community for religious adherents, often living in seclusion.

nirvana

In Buddhism, a state of existence without desire, hatred, ignorance, suffering, and reincarnation.

stupa

A Buddhist monument built to hold a part of the Buddha's remains or an object connected to him.

Mahayana Buddhism

The 'Greater Vehicle,' a popular Buddhist tradition portraying the Buddha as divine and open to more people.

bodhisattva

In Buddhism, an enlightened being who postpones nirvana to teach others.

Hinduism

A religion blending Vedic tradition with aspects of its critics, emphasizing individual duty within caste and balanced devotion.

Bhagavad Gita

A Hindu poem explaining how to attain an ideal balance in an active life through duty and devotion.

Mauryan Empire

The largest empire in Indian history, established by Chandragupta, uniting much of the subcontinent.

Gupta Empires

Indian empires (c. 320-540 C.E.) that unified northern and central India, promoting arts and science.

Chandragupta

The Indian prince who established the Mauryan Empire.

Kautilya

Chandragupta's chief adviser, author of the Arthasastra, known for administrative efficiency.

Arthasastra

A handbook on government by Kautilya, advising the king on maintaining order through any means.

Ashoka

Mauryan emperor, Chandragupta's grandson, who adopted Buddhist ideals of nonviolence and good governance.

Chandra Gupta

Founder of the Gupta dynasty.

Silk Road

Ancient caravan routes connecting China to the Mediterranean, facilitating trade and cultural exchange (e.g., Buddhism and Christianity).

Mahabharata

A very long Indian epic poem, including the Bhagavad Gita, depicting a royal family contest.

dharma (Hinduism)

In Hindu thought, refers to the duty or righteous conduct specific to one's caste.

Ramayana

A shorter Indian epic about Prince Rama and his wife Sita, illustrating adherence to dharma.

Kalidasa

A famous Gupta period poet and dramatist known for works like 'Cloud Messenger'.

Indian number system

Introduced the concept of zero and numerical symbols 0-9, eventually adopted by Western Europeans as 'Arabic' numerals.

Warring States period

(480-221 B.C.E.) A period of intense conflict and political fragmentation in China.

Confucius

(551-479 B.C.E.) Chinese philosopher who stressed proper conduct, humaneness, and ethical governance.

Mencius

(c. 372-289 B.C.E.) Confucian follower who emphasized human compassion and innate empathy.

Laozi

Sage associated with Daoism, advocating withdrawal from society and peaceful introspection.

Daoism

A Chinese philosophy and religion emphasizing harmony with nature, personal introspection, and a balanced inner life.

Legalism

A Chinese school of thought focusing on strict laws, centralized authority, and practical governance to benefit the state.

Lord Shang Yang

Legalist who implemented strict laws and compulsory service in the state of Qin.

Qin dynasty

The first unified Chinese empire (221-206 B.C.E.) established by Shi Huangdi, known for its centralization and harsh rule.

Shi Huangdi

'First August Emperor,' unified China under the Qin dynasty, known for reforms, defensive walls, and suppressing dissent.

Terra Cotta Army

Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding Shi Huangdi's tomb near Xianyang.

Han dynasty

(206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) Chinese empire that succeeded the Qin, combining Legalist pragmatism with Confucian ideals.

Sima Qian

China's first historian (c. 145-90 B.C.E.), author of 'Records of the Historian,' which shaped understanding of early Chinese history.

Ban Zhao

(c. 45-120 C.E.) Female historian who finished the official 'History of the Former Han Dynasty' and wrote 'Lessons for Women'.

Hellenism

The cultural fusion resulting from the merger of Greek, Southwest Asian, and Egyptian ideas after Alexander's conquests.

Alexandria

Founded by Alexander in Egypt, a grand city and major center of Hellenistic learning with a famous Library and Museum.