History of Civilization Midterm Study Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key dates, empires, rulers, religions, battles, and civil wars from the History of Civilization midterm review sheet.

Ur-Nammu

Sumerian ruler who established one of the oldest known written Mesopotamian law codes based on the principle of an 'eye for an eye.'

Sargon of Akkad

Ruler who conquered Sumer, founded the Akkadian Empire as the first large empire, and developed a centralized government.

Hammurabi

King of Babylon who created the famous Code of Hammurabi, an ancient law code centered on 'an eye for an eye.'

Immortals

Elite Persian soldiers who were constantly replaced in battle to maintain their numbers.

Epic of Gilgamesh

The oldest known work of literature, recounting the stories of Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

Enuma Elish

The Babylonian creation story.

Old Kingdom of Egypt

The period of ancient Egyptian history characterized by the construction of the pyramids.

Middle Kingdom of Egypt

The era of ancient Egyptian history in which the land was reunited and prosperous.

New Kingdom of Egypt

The era established in 1580 BC that marked the height of the Egyptian Empire and featured powerful pharaohs.

Ashurbanipal

Ruler of the Assyrian military empire who collected and maintained a famous library at Nineveh.

Battle of Kadesh

A battle fought between Egypt (led by Ramses II) and the Hittite Empire (led by King Muwatalli II) that ended with no clear winner and resulted in the earliest written peace treaty.

Three-Stage Evolution of Writing

The historical progression of writing and language through three sequential phases: pictographs, ideographs, and phonetic writing.

Hinduism

Religion whose ultimate goal is to become one with the world, emphasizing concepts such as reincarnation, karma, and moksha ('to free').

Buddhism

Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha, or 'Enlightened One') focused on attaining Nirvana (enlightenment).

Taoism

Philosophical and religious tradition centered on living in harmony with nature and the Tao.

Confucianism

A Chinese philosophical system founded by Confucius.

Brahmins

The priestly and scholarly class at the top of the traditional Indian caste system.

Kshatriya

The class of princes and warriors in the Indian caste system.

Vaisyas

The class consisting of landowners, merchants, and commoners in the Indian caste system.

Sudras

The class made up of farmers, laborers, and servants in the Indian caste system.

Pariahs

The outcasts who exist outside the traditional structure of the Indian caste system.

Shogun

The supreme military ruler in the medieval class system of Japan.

Daimyo

The landowning lords in the medieval social hierarchy of Japan.

Samurai

The hereditary warrior class within the medieval class system of Japan.

Shang Dynasty

The earliest recorded dynasty in Chinese history.

Qing Dynasty

The final imperial dynasty of China.

Ghana Empire

An ancient African kingdom known for its participation in regional trade for salt.

Mali Empire

An African empire famously ruled by Mansa Musa that included the major cultural and trade center of Timbuktu.

Songhai Empire

A major African empire whose capital was Gao, noted for its trade in gold.

Animism

The belief system holding that every object contains a spirit.

William Carey

Christian missionary known as the 'Father of Modern Missions' who founded Serampore College in 1818 and helped bring an end to Suttee.

Amy Carmichael

Missionary famous for her childhood 'blue-eyed prayer.'

Adoniram Judson

Missionary recognized as the 'Father of American Foreign Missions.'

Socrates

Classical Greek philosopher renowned for using questioning to foster critical thinking.

Plato

Student of Socrates who wrote 'The Republic.'

Aristotle

Student of Plato who served as a personal tutor to Alexander the Great.

Athens

Prominent Greek city-state celebrated for its development of democracy and culture.

Sparta

Greek city-state renowned for its strict discipline and militaristic society.

Battle of Marathon

An early Greco-Persian War battle in which the Athenians successfully defeated the invading Persian army.

Battle of Thermopylae

Greco-Persian War battle where Spartan King Leonidas and his forces resisted the Persian advance before being defeated.

Battle of Salamis

A major naval engagement during the Greco-Persian Wars where the Greek fleet defeated the Persian navy.

Battle of Plataea

A decisive land battle in which Greek forces defeated the Persian army, concluding the Persian invasion.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage over control of the western Mediterranean Sea, all of which Rome won.

Pantheon

A domed building in Rome dedicated to the Roman gods.

Parthenon

A classical Greek temple located in Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian leader who became king at age 20, was tutored by Aristotle, conquered vast lands driven by motives of conquest and destiny, fought at the Granicus River and the Siege of Tyre, and whose empire was divided following his death.

Julius Caesar

Roman general and politician who expanded Roman territory, weakened the Roman Republic, won the Second Roman Civil War against Pompey, and whose assassination set the stage for the rise of the Roman Empire.

Caesar Augustus

Title taken by Octavian in 30 BC upon becoming Rome's first emperor and initiating the Pax Romana.

Pax Romana

A prolonged period of relative peace and prosperity across Rome, beginning under Caesar Augustus in 30 BC.

Battle of Actium

The decisive conflict of the Third Roman Civil War where Octavian defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra, symbolically ending the Roman Republic and beginning the Roman Empire.

First Roman Civil War

Internal Roman conflict fought between Marius and Sulla, which Sulla won.

Second Roman Civil War

Internal Roman conflict fought between Pompey and Julius Caesar, which Julius Caesar won.

Third Roman Civil War

Internal Roman conflict fought between Octavian and the allied forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, which Octavian won.

586 BC

The historical date marking the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.

753 BC

The traditional date for the founding of the city of Rome.

509 BC

The date establishing the founding of the Roman Republic.

AD 395

The year in which the Roman Empire was permanently divided into Eastern and Western halves.

AD 476

The historical date of the collapse and fall of the Western Roman Empire.