World History Chapter 1 BJU 5th ed

Nebuchadnezzar

King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire who conquered Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king who built a vast empire stretching from Greece to India, spreading Hellenistic culture throughout the ancient world.

Julius Caesar

Roman general and dictator whose political rise and assassination triggered the fall of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire.

Qin Shi Huang Ti

First emperor of a unified China (Qin Dynasty) who initiated construction on the Great Wall and standardized laws, currency, and writing.

Jimmu Tenno

Legendary first Emperor of Japan, traditionally believed to be a direct descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

Mansa Musa

Wealthy 14th-century emperor of the Mali Empire in West Africa, famous for his lavish pilgrimage to Mecca that showcased African wealth to Europe and the Middle East.

History

The record of human activities, events, and societies over time based on surviving physical and written evidence.

Justice

Fair, moral, and equitable treatment of individuals under law and truth.

Power

The ability, legal authority, or strength to direct, influence, or control people, events, and resources.

Citizenship

The legal status, rights, and duties associated with being a recognized member of a country or state.

Environment

The natural physical surroundings, climate, and geography that shape human settlement, trade, and survival.

Religion

A structured set of beliefs, practices, and moral values concerning the divine, creation, and human purpose.

Pax Romana

A 200-year period of relative peace, stability, and imperial expansion throughout the Roman Empire initiated under Augustus Caesar.

Mandate of Heaven

The ancient Chinese belief that divine authority granted a ruler the right to govern, which could be revoked if the ruler became corrupt or tyrannical.

Primary Sources

Direct, firsthand records or objects created during the time period being studied (e.g., letters, official documents, eye-witness accounts, diaries).

Secondary Sources

Accounts written after an event occurred by someone who did not experience it firsthand, created using primary sources (e.g., textbooks, biographies).

Artifacts

Man-made physical objects from the past, such as tools, weapons, coins, and pottery, analyzed to understand historical cultures.

Myths

Traditional stories involving gods or supernatural beings created by ancient cultures to explain natural events, human origins, or cultural values.

Egypt

Ancient North African civilization along the Nile River known for pharaohs, pyramids, and hieroglyphic writing.

Babylon

Ancient Mesopotamian empire along the Euphrates River famous for Hammurabi's Code and architectural achievements.

Persia

Ancient Empire centered in modern-day Iran, known for its vast road networks, postal systems, and imperial administration.

Greece

Mediterranean region made up of independent city-states (such as Athens and Sparta) that laid foundations for Western philosophy, democracy, and literature.

Rome

Civilization centered on the Italian Peninsula that grew from a small city-state into a republic and world empire controlling the Mediterranean basin.

India

South Asian subcontinent home to early civilizations along the Indus and Ganges Rivers and the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism.

China

East Asian civilization that developed along the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, governed by imperial dynasties influenced by Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism.

Japan

East Asian island nation influenced by continental Asian trade while developing distinct traditions such as Shintoism and feudal warrior culture.

Mesoamerica

Cultural region stretching from central Mexico through Central America, home to early civilizations like the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs.

Africa

World's second-largest continent, home to diverse ecosystems and early empires such as Aksum, Mali, Egypt, and Songhai.

Tradition

Information passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, including legends, religious beliefs, and social customs.

Jubal

A descendant of Cain described in Genesis 4 as the father of all who play musical instruments, specifically the harp and flute.

Written Records

Documents preserved in written form—such as letters, laws, diaries, and public records; considered by historians to be the most vital and reliable type of primary source.

Noah

A righteous man who remained a faithful worshiper of God while the rest of the world became corrupt, whom God instructed to build the ark to survive the Flood.

Cainites

The descendants of Cain who established the first human cities and made advancements in technology and the arts, but lived in spiritual rebellion against God.

Creation Mandate

God's command given in Genesis 1:28 instructing humanity to exercise wise dominion over the earth by subduing, filling, and managing it.