WHAP Unit 0 - 1200s Vocab Quiz

Civilization

A society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes.

Social Hierarchy

The division of society by rank or class.

Hellenistic

The spread of Greek culture, history, and language following the death of Alexander the Great.

Zoroastrianism

One of the first monotheistic religions, central to the political and religious culture of ancient Persia.

Democracy

A political system where supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect representatives.

Society

A community, nation, or broad grouping of people with common traditions and institutions.

Diaspora

Group migration or dispersion, particularly of Jews after 70 CE or Africans during the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Judaism

A religion believing in one god, originating with Abraham and the Hebrew people, with Yahweh as the creator.

Confucianism

A philosophy based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing moral conduct and stable governance.

Islam

A religion based on the teachings of Mohammed, stressing belief in one god (Allah) and equality among people.

Neolithic Revolution

The development of agriculture and animal domestication leading to permanent settlements and civilization.

Monsoon Winds

Major winds in the Indian Ocean that facilitated trade by blowing into and away from India seasonally.

Egalitarian

Believing in social and economic equality of all people, existing in hunter-gatherer societies.

Filial Piety

A virtue in Confucian thought emphasizing love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Daoism

A Chinese religion accepting the world's constant change and emphasizing harmony with nature.

Bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials.

Monotheism

The belief in one god.

City-State

An independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another.

Pastoral Nomads

Nomadic societies known for herding animals and spreading culture and technology across trade routes.

Metallurgy

The science of working with metals.

Specialization

The concentration of productive efforts on a limited number of activities, increasing efficiency.

Agrarian

Involving the farming of land.

Mesopotamia

A region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers known for developing the first urban societies.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another.

Polytheism

The belief in more than one god.

Empire

A large territory under a centralized government, often diverse in population and culture.

Code of Hammurabi

The first written law code established by a Babylonian king.

Paleolithic

The Old Stone Age, characterized by nomadic societies relying on hunting and gathering.

Mandate of Heaven

A political theory in ancient China asserting that rulers have divine authority to govern.

Buddhism

A religion teaching that suffering is caused by desire, with enlightenment achieved through right conduct and meditation.

Patriarchy

A social organization where men hold dominant authority in family and society.

Caste System

A social hierarchy in traditional Hindu society based on hereditary rank and profession.

Centralized Government

A government where power is concentrated in a central authority.

Hinduism

A religion from ancient India characterized by beliefs in reincarnation, karma, and a supreme being with many forms.

Civil-Service Exam

A test based on Confucian teachings used in Han China to staff the bureaucracy.

Nomadic

Wandering and moving from place to place rather than settling in one area.

Christianity

An Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus, spreading through missionaries and merchants.