Social Science

Myth

A story that serves a purpose such as explaining an event or an origin story; it does not necessarily have to be false.

Cognitive Revolution

A transition that occurred 70,000 to 40,000 years ago, during which humans developed their current cognitive abilities including abstraction, intellect, and reasoning.

Neolithic Revolution

The agricultural revolution that took place approximately 12,000 to 10,000 years ago, marking the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to farming.

Karl Marx

A German philosopher, political theorist, and socialist who lived from 1818-1883.

Emile Durkheim

A French sociologist (1858-1917) who established sociology as a distinct academic discipline.

Max Weber

A German sociologist (1864-1920) known for works like 'The Spirit of Capitalism' and 'The Protestant Ethic', examining the relationship between religion and capitalism.

Man the Hunter

A conference and book from the 1960s promoting the idea of men as the dominant hunters, which devalued women's work.

Frederick Engels

Co-author of the Communist Manifesto with Karl Marx, advocating for the abolishment of private property.

Animism

The belief that all elements of nature (animals, plants, rocks, water) have spirits that humans can communicate with.

Magic

The practice involving spells and transactions, often associated with totems representing ideas or beliefs.

Dunbar's Number

The theoretical limit to the number of meaningful relationships an individual can maintain, roughly 150 for humans.

Mesopotamia

An ancient region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as the 'Fertile Crescent', dating back around 10,000 years.

Ur

A prominent city-state in Mesopotamia known for its influence and reverence for the moon goddess, Nana.

Royal Game of Ur

One of the oldest known board games, originating in ancient Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi's Code

A strict set of laws in ancient Babylon, known for the principle of 'an eye for an eye'.

Hammurabi

King of Babylon (1810-1750 BC) known for implementing a strict law code.

Enheduanna

The daughter of Sargon, appointed as high priestess of Ur around 2300 BC, and recognized as the first author.

Inanna/Ishtar

Goddess of love, war, and fertility known for her romance with a shepherd whom she later kills.

Sumer

Considered the earliest recorded civilization in southern Mesopotamia, flourishing around 6000-5000 BC.

Marduk

The ancient god of creation in Mesopotamia and patron deity of Babylon.

Plows

Farming tools that required significant strength to use, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

Slaves

Individuals of the lowest social status, typically taken from defeated tribes or city-states.

Economic Determinism

A Marxist theory suggesting that economic factors govern societal structures and relations.

Primitive Communism

A social system where resources and possessions are shared, reflecting teamwork and communal living.

Economic Surplus

A condition allowing for leisure activities, education, and political participation.

Social Stratification

The division of a society into different social groups, such as nobles, merchants, peasants, and slaves.

Environmental Determinism

The theory that geography significantly influences human development and cultural practices.

Cuneiform

Wedge-shaped characters used in ancient Mesopotamia, representing an early form of writing.

Labor Surplus

The excess of labor available that allows for increased production and social organization.

Marxist Theory of History

The perspective that history is primarily shaped by class struggles through different economic systems.

Hatshepsut

One of the first female pharaohs of Egypt (1507-1458 BC), known for expanding trade and monumental architecture.

King Cyrus

Founder of the Persian Empire (600-530 BC), noted for military conquest and policies of tolerance.

Cyrus Cylinder

An important artifact from 539 BC documenting the fall of Babylon and King Cyrus' achievements.

Poleis

Independent city-states in ancient Greece, such as Athens and Sparta, each with distinct governments.

Persian 'Immortals'

An elite military unit of 10,000 soldiers in the Persian army, known for quick replacement of casualties.

Hoplites

Heavily armed foot soldiers in ancient Greece, typically citizen-soldiers.

Phalanx

A military formation consisting of tightly packed soldiers standing close together wielding shields.

Zoroastrianism

One of the oldest known monotheistic religions, founded by Zoroaster in ancient Persia.

Battle of Marathon

A significant battle in 490 BC during the Greco-Persian Wars where the Athenians defeated a larger Persian force.

Athens

An influential city-state in ancient Greece recognized for advancements in democracy, philosophy, and the arts.

Archon

A high-ranking official in ancient Athens, with evolving responsibilities and a limited term of service.

The Assembly (Ekklesia)

The democratic institution in Athens where citizens convened to vote on laws and policies.

Direct Democracy

A system of governance where citizens directly participate in decision-making processes.

Metic

Residents of Athens who were not citizens and thus could not participate in governmental activities.

Socrates

An influential philosopher (470-399 BC) who taught but wrote nothing, famously sentenced to death.

Plato

A philosopher (420-348 BC) and student of Socrates, known for his dialogues and founding of the Academy.

Aristotle

A philosopher (384-322 BC) and student of Plato, contributing greatly to numerous fields of knowledge.

Draco

The first lawgiver of Athens (c. 624-623 BC), credited with creating a written legal code.

Solon

An Athenian statesman (594-593 BC) known for his economic reforms and expanding citizenship.

Cleisthenes

An Athenian reformer (570-508 BC) credited with establishing the foundations of democracy.

Areopagus

A council of former archons in Athens that served judicial functions, meeting on a hill.

Greco-Persian Wars

A series of conflicts between Greece and Persia from 499-449 BC.

Sparta

A Greek city-state known for its military oligarchy and disciplined society.

Delian League

An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens, initially formed to oppose Persian aggression.

Pericles

An influential Athenian leader (495-429 BC) known for promoting democracy and commissioning the Parthenon.

Peloponnesian War

A protracted conflict between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BC) that resulted in Athens' downfall.

Perioikoi

Free non-citizens in Sparta who engaged in trade but had no political rights.

Sciritae

An elite class of Spartan warriors who were part of the Perioikoi class.

Helots

Enslaved individuals in Sparta who performed agricultural labor and were essential to the economy.

Humanism

The belief in the unique nature of humans, emphasizing human potential and value.

Liberal Humanism

An ideology that promotes individual freedom, reasoning, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Socialist Humanism

A philosophy that combines elements of socialism and humanism, advocating for equality and social justice.

Evolutionary Humanism

The idea that human progress adapts over time through various changes across different eras.