Key Concepts in Ancient Chinese and Greek History

Xia dynasty

(c2070 BC - c.1600 BC)

Shang dynasty

(c.1600 BC - c. 1046 BC)

Zhou dynasty

(c.1046 BC - c. 256 BC)

Yangshao culture

China's greatest neolithic culture before the Xia dynasty, based on an agrarian economy.

Longshan culture

(3,000 - 2000 BCE)

Mandate of heaven

The divine approval believed to be the basis of royal authority.

Dynastic cycle

The historical pattern of rise, peak, decline, and replacement of the dynasties.

Vassals

Subordinate leaders who carried out a superior's orders.

Bronze Age of China

The Shang dynasty is known for this period, where bronze was the source of art, weapons, and tools.

Confucianism

A system of social and ethical philosophy aimed at creating a stable, unified, and enduring social order.

Aphorism

A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

Confucius

Philosopher who offered practical advice to help people behave virtuously and conduct harmonious relationships.

Five Constant

• Rén (仁, benevolence, humaneness);

• Yì (義/义, righteousness or justice);

• Lǐ (禮/礼, proper rite);

• Zhì (智, knowledge);

Xìn (信, integrity).

Agrarian

Relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.

Last Shang king

Zhou, who was killed in 1100 BCE.

Feudal territories

The system used by the emperor of the Zhou dynasty to rule.

Social stability

The goal of restoring order during the decline of the Zhou dynasty due to power struggles among nobles.

Examples of Aphorism

A bad penny always turns up; A barking dog never bites; Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Rén

benevolence, humaneness

Yì

righteousness or justice

Lǐ

proper rite

Zhì

knowledge

Xìn

integrity

Zhōng

loyalty

Xiào

filial piety

Jié

contingency

FOUNDER OF TAOISM

LAOZI

Tao

When translated it means the path/the way

Yin and Yang

Yin is like the bad and Yang is the good; you need to have a balance, too much of either is bad.

Wu Wei

Not doing (Not doing anything against nature)

What does Wu mean

Emptiness

Han Feizi

founding political philosopher of Legalism

Ares

God of war

Hephaestus

God of fire; ugly; Zeus crippled him; patron god of artisans and craftsmen; fashioned new armor for Achilles in Trojan War.

Dionysus

God of wine, theater; bringer of both ecstasy and madness; worshippers danced and drank to his honor in the forest; gave warriors relief from battle's fury in Trojan War.

Demeter

Goddess of agriculture, fertility; taught mortals how to work the land and reap the harvest; controls the seasons; grew crops on site of war in Trojan War.

Poseidon

God of the sea; lives beneath the sea; unleashed a storm which stopped the Greeks from sailing home after the war = start of The Odyssey.

Zeus

King of the Gods; throws bolts of lightning and thunder when angry; disloyal husband; took no sides during war.

Hermes

God of travelers, thieves, commerce; messenger of Zeus; winged sandals; created food racing; aided Odysseus' return home to Greece.

Athena

Goddess of crafts, war, domestic arts; intellect, strength; warrior who values peace; daughter of Zeus; patron goddess of Athens; grieved over Achilles' death.

Artemis

Goddess of the hunt; protector of the young; twin sister of Apollo; patron goddess of strong and independent women; sided with the Trojans.

Apollo

God of prophecy, music, healing; wisdom, intellect; taught healing arts, music; aided Hector in battle; shot arrows at the Greeks.

Aphrodite

Goddess of love, beauty; seduced god and mortal; married Hephaestus; affair with Ares; pairs judged her most beautiful goddess; rewarded him with Helen.

Trojan War

3200 years ago, 1200 BC; Agamemnon wanted to expand his empire, but Menelaus was tired of fighting.

Agamemnon

King of Mycenae

Menelaus

King of Sparta

Helen

Queen of Sparta

Achilles

Greatest warrior alive

Priam

King of Troy

Hector

Prince of Troy

Paris

Prince of Troy

Sparta

A city-state in southern Greece with a strong military (they conquered the southern half of Peloponnesus)

Gerousia

The Senate/Council of the elderly, there were 28 selected leaders from the most important families

Apella

The Assembly that consisted of warriors. They were elected

Five Ephors

Made up of the priests/prophets until 8th century BC. They were elected

Aristocrat

Member of the ruling class, landlord. Controlled everything that happened in Athens (5%)

Serf

Poor farmer/peasant. Had no part nor share in anything (95%)

City-state

A tiny nation with independent culture, history, and government

Polis

Rampart, fort, or stronghold

Politics

The political state of a country or government

Hero

Doers of great deeds, determine to seize victory at all costs, a man of action, had strength/power/glory

Pisistratus

A man of dignified and noble bearing. He was an aristocrat and the first tyrant of Athens

Athena

Goddess of crafts, war, domestic arts, intellect, strength. Patron goddess of Athens

Tyrant

One man who seizes control of the government. A sole ruler, like a king, with no negative connotation (could be evil or benevolent)

Agrarianism

The distribution of land from the rich to the poor or landless

Cleisthenes

Assembled a conspiracy to overthrow Hippias - he trapped him in his stronghold and banished him from Athens forever

Meritocracy

Merit based on skill and ability (not class)

Demo meaning

People

Kratos

Power

The Olympics

Founded in 776 BC, originally reserved for wealthy citizens, but later on anyone could take part

Reward for winning the Olympics

A wreath of olives and fame

Voting method in Athens

A white pebble was used for yes and a black pebble was used for no

Persian Empire

An imperial dynasty centered in modern-day Iran, ended with Alexander the Great's conquest

Zoroastrianism

The state religion of the Persian empire, with Ahura Mazda as the prime deity and Zoroaster as the prime prophet

Size of the Persian empire

2,100,000 sq miles in size, had 35 million people and 70 different ethnic groups

Ahura Mazda

Lord of Wisdom. The prime deity of zoroastrianism.

Persian Empire Capitals

Babylon, Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Susa.

Bureaucracy

System of managing government through departments run by appointed officials.

Decline and Fall

Greek city states at the western edge of the Anatolian peninsula rebelled. They were defeated at Marathon in 490 BCE by the Greeks.

Hoplites

Citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greece, primarily armed with spears and shields.

What did the Oracle of Delphi do

Predicted that they would be destroyed but the wooden walls should not fall aka the triremes.

Themistocles

His strategy to beat the Persians was by abandoning Athens to avoid a land war.

Battle of Salamis

The Persians lost because Themistocles tricked them by sending a seemingly traitorous message, resulting in 6000 Persian vessels sunk.

Pericles

Said that Athens must devote itself to acquiring many new things that will be the source of everlasting fame.

The Parthenon

Required 5,000 talents, 20,000 tons of marble, and 15 years to build.

Tragic Hero

A man with a tragic flaw = greatest quality that makes him admirable and successful = seeds of his own destruction.

Statue of Athena

Was 40 feet tall with gold and ivory, studded with jewels.

Athenian War Strategy

Pericles wanted to war with Sparta by retreating behind the walls of the city and being supplied through the port at Piraeus.

Athens

Valued democratic values, education, art, architecture, and philosophy. Women were property of husbands and could not participate in sports or politics.

Sparta

Valued militaristic values, taught to survive with the bare minimum, and women were encouraged to have strong, healthy babies.

Socrates

Ancient Greek philosopher who is widely credited for laying the foundations for western philosophy.

Socrates' Philosophy

Replaced gods with reason, asserting that gods are not persons, but things.

Plague Effects

Killed ⅓ of the Athenian population, causing fever, inflammation in the eyes, diarrhea, and dehydration.

Sicilian Expedition

An Athenian expedition to Sicily from 415 BC to 413 BC.

Athenian Democracy After Pericles

Risked sliding into mob rule with many scrambling for power after Pericles died from plague.

Generals' Fate

Generals were thrown into jail and executed by drinking poisonous hemlock.

Sicilian Campaign

Failed because Sicily was very far away with no strategic or tactical reason for the war.

Persian Revenge

-404 BC = Surrender to Spartan commander, Lysander (tear down Athens defensive walls, burn the fleet).

Socrates' Description

Described as an 'ugly man' who questions everyone.