Ancient Civ

Geography of Greece

Hilly, rocky land not good for farming.

How Greece adapted to poor agriculture

Became a seafaring and trading culture dominating the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.

Two famous Greek works

The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Author of the Iliad and Odyssey

Homer.

Greek religion

Polytheistic.

Important Greek gods

Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Aphrodite, Hades, Ares.

Early Greek civilizations

Minoans and Mycenaeans.

Greek political structure

City-states.

Famous Greek city-states

Athens and Sparta.

Athens (TMA)

Democracy; center of learning and philosophy; influenced Western politics, art, and architecture.

Famous Greek philosophers

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.

Sparta (TMA)

Militaristic, authoritarian society focused on discipline and strength; women had more rights than other city-states.

Who united Greece and Persia

Alexander the Great.

Punic Wars

Series of three wars between Rome and Carthage.

Punic War 1 result

Rome gained Sicily.

Punic War 2 result

Rome defeated Hannibal and expanded power (gained Spain, weakened Carthage).

Punic War 3 result

Rome destroyed Carthage and gained North Africa.

First Roman emperor after Caesar

Augustus.

Roman achievements

Aqueducts and the Colosseum.

What happened when Rome grew too large

Divided into Eastern (Constantinople) and Western (Rome) Empires.

Why the Western Roman Empire fell

Invasions (Visigoths, Vandals), weak leadership, economic instability, reliance on mercenaries.

What the fall of Rome marked

End of ancient civilization (start of Middle Ages).

Eastern Roman Empire name

Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine Empire contribution

Justinian Code.

Hebrew kings in order

Saul, David, Solomon.

What happened after Solomon’s death

Kingdom split into Israel and Judah.

Indus Valley key feature

Advanced urban grid and sanitation system.

Indus Valley civilization name

Harappan Civilization.

Indus Valley advancements

Precise measurements, bronze, and terracotta art.

What followed the Indus Valley

Vedic Period.

Vedic Period led to

Hinduism.

System from Hinduism

Caste system.

Four castes

Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants/farmers), Shudras (laborers).

Lowest caste

Dalits (untouchables).

India’s geography

Open to invasions, similar to Mesopotamia.

Who conquered China in the 1200s

Mongols.

Mongols empire fact

Largest contiguous empire in history.

Dynasty that removed Mongols

Ming Dynasty.

Country that influenced Japan

China.

When Japan developed identity

Heian Period.

Emperor’s power in feudal Japan

Limited (figurehead).

Who had real power in Japan

Shogun.

Shogun

Military ruler.

Who selected the shogun

Daimyo.

Daimyo

Powerful landowners who worked with samurai.

Tokugawa period

Isolationism.

What led to African city-states

Trade.

East African culture

Swahili culture.

Powerful African kingdom

Great Zimbabwe.

Why Zimbabwe was powerful

Gold trade.

Religion influencing Africa

Islam.

Nomadic North African group

Berbers.

Other names for Berbers

Libyans, Mauri, Moors.

Islamic rulers after Muhammad

Caliphs.

Ottoman ruler title

Sultan.

Where Islam spread

Byzantine and Persian Empires.

What the Quran teaches

Moral and ethical conduct.

Europe after Rome fell

Fragmented into small kingdoms.

Economic system after Rome

Manorialism.

Political/military system after Rome

Feudalism.

Feudalism

System where vassals serve lords in exchange for land (fiefs).

Fealty ceremony

Homage.

Inheritance system

Primogeniture.