WHAP Unit A Terms

Quiz 8/24

Paleolithic Age

The Old Stone Age that ended in 12,000 BCE; typified by use of evolving stone tools and hunting and gathering for subsis

Neolithic Revolution

The succession of technological innovations and changes in human organization that led to the development of agriculture, 8500-3500 BCE

Neolithic Age

The New Stone Age between 8000 and 5000 BCE; a period in which adaption of sedentary agriculture occured; domestication of plants and animals accomplished

Bronze Age

From 4000 to 3000 BCE; increased use of plow, metalworking; development of wheeled vehicles, and writing

\

Civilization

Societies distinguished by reliance on sedentary agriculute, ability to produce food surpluses and existence of non farming elites, as well as merchant and manufacturing groups

Mesopotamia

Means “between the rivers”; the civilizations that arose in the alluvial plain of the Tigris Euphrates river valleys

Cuneiform

A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge-shaped stylus and clay tablets

Ziggurats

Massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple complexes

City-State

A form of political organizations typical of Mesopotamian temple complexes

Hammurabi’s Code

This code was one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, procliamed by Hammurabi, and was known from being strict towards soical relations and family structures within this ancient Indian civilization

Patriarchal

All parts of soicety, political, economic, and cultural, are ran by men

Mandate of Heaven

Created by the Zhou Dynasty, the mandate proposed that there could be only one legitimate ruler of China at a given time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods. To “lose” the Mandate of Heaven means that one has fallen out of grace of the gods and is therefore unfit to rule China

Monotheism

The exclusive worship of a single god; introduced by the Jews into Western civilization

Confucianism

Major Chinese philosophy centered around respecting and obeying patriarchal authorities to create harmony in society

Buddha

Creator of a major Indian and Asian religion; born in the 6th century BCE; taught that enlightenment could be acheived only by abadoning desires for eathly things

Hellenism

Hellenistic culture blending Indian, Persian, Egyptian, and Greek beliefs together as a result of Alexander the Great’s conquests in Afro Eurasia

Ashoka

Greatest Mauryan ruler; grandson of Chandragupta; extended conquests of dynasty; converted to Buddhism and sponsored its spread throught its empire

Scholar-gentry

Chinese class of noble landowners who were educated to hold positions in government

Roman Republic

The balanced constitution of Rome from c. 510 to 47 BCE; featured an aristocratic Senate, a panel of magistrates, and several popular assemblies

Julius Caesar

Dictator of the Roman republic who effectively ended the republic and, with his successor Augustes, transformed it into an empire

Constantine

Roman emperor from 312 to 337 BCE; established second capital

Polis

City-state form of government typical of Greek political organization from 800 to 40 BCE

Axum

A kingdom in the Ethiopian highlands; converted to Christianity after trading with the Roman Empire