WTWA CH4-7 Terms and Definitions

Empire

A large political unit that rules many different peoples and territories under one government.

Mandate of Heaven

Chinese belief that rulers are chosen by heaven and can lose power if they rule badly.

Monotheism

Belief in one god.

Phoenicians

Mediterranean traders who spread the alphabet.

Satrapy

A province in the Persian Empire ruled by a satrap (governor).

Sea Peoples

Groups that attacked Mediterranean civilizations around 1200 BCE, helping cause collapse.

Upanishads

Hindu texts focused on philosophy, karma, and rebirth.

Varna

Social class system in ancient India.

Vedas

Oldest Hindu sacred texts with hymns and rituals.

Zoroastrianism

Persian religion with one god and a focus on good vs evil.

Axial Age

Time (800-200 BCE) when major philosophies and religions developed.

Buddha

Founder of Buddhism who taught how to end suffering.

Chavín

Early Andean civilization known for religion.

Confucius

Chinese thinker who taught order, respect, and proper behavior.

Daoism

Chinese belief in living in harmony with nature (the Dao).

Greek philosophers

Thinkers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle who studied logic and ethics.

Jainism

Indian religion emphasizing nonviolence and self-discipline.

Meroitic kingdom

African kingdom south of Egypt known for iron and trade.

Olmecs

Early Mesoamerican civilization; 'mother culture' of later societies.

Second-generation societies

Civilizations that build on earlier ones (like Rome from Greece).

Bactria

Central Asian region influenced by Greek culture after Alexander.

Bodhisattvas

Enlightened beings in Mahayana Buddhism who help others.

Caravan cities

Cities along trade routes where traders stopped.

Cosmopolitans

Places or people with many cultures mixed together.

Gandharan style

Art blending Greek and Indian styles (Buddha looks Greek-like).

Hellenism

Spread of Greek culture after Alexander the Great.

Koine Greek

Common Greek language used across Hellenistic world.

Mahayana Buddhism

Form of Buddhism focused on helping others reach enlightenment.

Mauryan Empire

First large Indian empire, centralized and founded by Chandragupta Maurya.

Nirvana

State of freedom from suffering and rebirth in Buddhism.

Periplus

Ancient guidebook for sea trade routes.

Silk Roads

Trade routes connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Augustus

First Roman emperor who brought stability.

Christianity

Monotheistic religion based on teachings of Jesus.

Commanderies

Administrative districts in Han China.

Emperor Wu

Han ruler who expanded China and supported Confucianism.

Globalizing empires

Empires that connected regions through trade and culture.

Imperial University

Han China school for training government officials.

Pax Romana

Long period of peace in the Roman Empire.

Pax Sinica

Period of peace and stability in China.

Punic Wars

Wars between Rome and Carthage.

Res publica

Roman idea that government belongs to the people.

Shi Huangdi

First emperor of China who unified and standardized the empire.

The Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal

Assyrian artwork showing king's power through lion hunting.

Presentism

Judging the past using today's values.

Reincarnation

Belief that after death you are reborn into a new life based on karma.