hum

alliteration

Repetition of the first consonant sound.

allusion

Reference to a familiar thing.

assonance

Repetition of internal vowel sounds.

hyperbole

An overexaggeration.

imagery

Uses figurative language to create sensory or emotional images in the reader’s mind.

irony

When people expect something but something else happens.

metaphor

Comparing two or more things without using the words like or as.

onomatopoeia

A sound.

parallelism

Combine verbs to make them each equally effective.

paradox

A sentence that contradicts itself.

personification

Giving human-like traits to a non-human object.

repetition

Repeating something.

simile

Comparing two or more things using 'like' or 'as'.

chorus

A group of people on stage who comment on affairs as a collective voice.

deity

A god who is worthy of worship.

epic hero

A protagonist with impressive superhuman capabilities who completes awe-inspiring deeds.

epic poetry

Any poem with an epic hero that contains dactylic hexameter.

Homeric Simile/Epic Simile

A detailed simile.

hubris

Pride.

muse

Inspiration to a writer/poet.

Shang dynasty

Founded by Cheng Tang; known for city-state monarchy and ancestral worship.

Zhou dynasty

Founded by King Wu; introduced Mandate of Heaven and feudalism.

Qin dynasty

Founded by Yin Zheng; first unified imperial government.

Han dynasty

Founded by Liu Bang; established bureaucracy and civil service exams.

Mandate of Heaven

Political ideology where heaven chooses a ruler.

Chinese Dynastic cycle

Cycle of a dynasty's rise and fall.

Confucianism

A system of ethical philosophy advocating for moral living.

Daoism

A philosophy/religion emphasizing harmony with nature.

hammurabi

6th King of the Babylonian empire; creator of the Code of Hammurabi.

cuneiform

A system of writing in the ancient Middle East.

Shi Huangdi

Founder of the Qin Dynasty; first emperor of China.

Black Death

A pandemic in the 14th century that wiped out 50% of Europe's population.

Siddhartha Gautama

A Hindu prince who became the Buddha after enlightenment.

Crusades

Military campaigns organized by popes to reclaim Jerusalem.

Romanization

Assimilation into Roman culture.

democracy

A system of government where people have the power.

Aristotle

Philosopher who studied in Athens, opposite of Socrates.

Zoroastrianism

Monotheistic religion emphasizing free will and the duality of good vs evil.

caste system

Social stratification in Hindu society.

legalism

Strict adherence to the law.

Hinduism

A polytheistic religion originating in India.

cultural borrowing

The act of borrowing elements from another culture.

Islam

Religion founded by Muhammad, predominant in the Middle East.

Christianity

One of the three Abrahamic religions; based on the teachings of Jesus.

Muhammad

Prophet of Islam who recorded revelations in the Qur'an.

Shi’ite

A follower of Shia Islam.

Sufi

A branch of Islam emphasizing personal connection to God.

Hindu Temples

Temples with carvings of gods, symmetrical and tall.

African Religions

Diverse belief systems with local deities.

Pillars of Ashoka

Symbols of Buddhist faith established by Emperor Ashoka.

Grand Mosque at Mecca

Home of the Kaaba, a central pilgrimage site.

Byzantine Mosaics

Art that expresses Christianity through iconography.

Islamic Calligraphy

Art form that incorporates Islamic writings.

Roman Architecture

Characterized by domes and arches.

Terracotta Soldiers

Figures buried with China's first emperor to guard his tomb.

Ziggurat

A temple in ancient Mesopotamia.

Illiad

An epic poem by Homer about the Trojan War.

Sundiata

An epic poem that tells the story of Sundiata Keita.

Catharsis

A feeling of tragedy experienced in literature.

Great Wall of China

Built during the Qin dynasty to protect against invasions.

Gregorian Chants

Chants sung by monks in monasteries.

Parthenon

A temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Hagia Sophia

Largest cathedral in Christendom, later became a mosque.

Islamic Architecture

Features arches, domes, and intricate designs.

Drama/Literature

The art form portraying stories through performance or written words.

Mali

A powerful empire in West Africa known for trade and culture.

Songhai

An empire that emerged in West Africa after Mali.

Zimbabwe

Region known for its unique stone constructions.

Olmec

One of the earliest civilizations in Mesoamerica.

Egyptian Pyramids

Tombs built for pharaohs connecting them with the afterlife.

Terracotta Army

Sculptures created to accompany the first emperor of China in the afterlife.

Buddhist Statues

Statues characterized by unique features symbolizing spiritual aspects.

Discus Thrower

A Greek statue representing idealized human form.

Islamic Call to Prayer

Administration of prayer times in Islam.

Minaret

Tall towers in mosques used to project prayer calls.

Roman Republic

A representative democracy that preceded the Roman Empire.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor known for legal reforms.

Alexander the Great

King whose empire spread across three continents.

Epic Hero

A central character in an epic who displays heroic traits.

Gilgamesh

An epic poem exploring the themes of friendship and mortality.

Tragedy Characteristics

Elements like tragic heroes and catharsis in dramatic works.

Rumi

Sufi poet known for his themes of divine love.

Aqueducts

Water transport systems used in ancient Rome.

Philosophy and Religion

The study of fundamental questions about existence and beliefs.