Final Review: World History

Romulus and Remus

Mythical story where two boys born of a human mother and god for a father were abandoned and raised by a she-wolf. Romulus murders Remus and founds Rome.

Etruscans

Early settlers on Italian peninsula. Known for their metal working. Romans adopted their writing system and architecture. After the last king, Tarquin the Great (an oppressive king), the Roman Republic was begun.

Republic

Rome's government after the resolved to not have another abusive king, a mix of monarchy (consuls), aristocracy (senate), and democracy (tribunes).

Consul

Monarchy, two consuls elected for 1-year terms could not run again within 10 years. Limited power. They could veto one another.

Dictator

Ruled during a time of war or chaos. Could only be in power for 6 months.

Plebeians

The common people, the backbone of society, farmers, merchants, artisans. They were the backbone of the army

Twelve Tables

a law code made to protect the plebeians from the wealthy patricians.

Patricians

The wealthy elite. The landowners who were born into their positions.

Punic War

Rome and the Carthaginian empire battled for control of trade and control of the Mediterranean. The Carthaginians were led by Hannibal and won many battles but ultimately lost the war leaving Rome to dominate the Mediterranean.

Hannibal

General for Carthage. He was a brilliant tactician and surprised Rome by marching his troops through the alps with elephants. He won many battles but lost the war.

Carthaginians

People from the empire of Carthage in North Africa. Fought Rome in the Punic Wars, led by Hannibal.

Legion

The military unit used by Rome. Made up of 5,000 men. Centuries made up the legions. There were 80 men in each century.

First triumvirate

Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

After the Punic Wars, individual Generals struggled for power and destroyed the Republic. He was a part of the first triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey This man was able to invade Rome and gain control as the only emperor. He was assassinated in the Senate on the ides of March.

Second Triumvirate

Leipidus, Mark Antony, and Octavian (Augustus) set out to avenge the death of Julius Caesar

Octavian

Also known as Augustus, gains sole power of Rome and creates a time of peace in Rome (pax romana)

Constantine

Roman emperor who stopped persecution against Christians and moved the capital of Rome to Constantinople.

Pax Romana

Roman peace, increased trade. During the time of Augustus (Octavian)

Gladiatorial Games

In order to keep the poor content and quiet these were held to distract the people. Could be two men fighting eachother, a man fighting an animal etc.

Colsseum

An amphitheater for gladiatorial games, made in Rome in the beginning of the 1st century.

Frescoes

Art made from wet plaster on walls. Found in Pompeii where they were saved by volcanic ash.

Bas Relief

Carved from stone, images project from background

Mosaic

Art made from pieces of tile, glass, stone

Aqueducts

Brought water into roman cities.

Legacy of Rome

Rome contributes greatly to our

- Greco roman culture

- legal system

- architecture & engineering

- language (latin is the language of learning & the catholic church)

Arabian Peninsula

The birthplace of Islam, large desert area

Bedouins

Group of nomadic people who lived in Arabia. They were animistic in religion and pastoralists

Islam

Submission to the will of allah

Muslim

The followers, one who has submitted

Allah

The only God (same as Christian and Jewish God) Arabic word for God.

Mosque

The worship site of Muslims

Pillars of Faith

1) Faith

2) Prayer

3) Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca

4) Alms

5) Fasting (during Ramadaan)

Mecca

Muslims make the pilgrimage or hajj to Mecca to see the Ka'aba

Ka'aba

Located in Mecca this is the black stone this held the idols until Muhammad destroyed them.

Muhammad

The final prophet, begins the religion of Islam when he is visited by Gabriel

Hijrah

The turning point or most important moment of Islam when Muhammad moves from Mecca to Yathrib (medina) and becomes a political leader as well as a religious leader with 10,000 followers.

Qur'an

Central text of Islam, revelations of God to Muhammad

Shar'ia

The body of islamic law

Caliph

Successor to Muhammad

Sunni

Sect of islam that followed in the example of Muhammad, Accepted Ummayads

Shi'a

A sect of Islam that believes the Caliph needs to be from Muhammad's blood line. Party of Ali

Sufi

Sect that rejects the lavish life of the Umayyads, but focused on spiritual life

Muslim Art

Only God can create living things, so Muslim art should not include living things. Instead, focus on Arabesque or geometric designs.

Women in Islam

Socially men are dominant, but religious women are equal. Muslim women had more economic and political rights than most of their counterparts but over time these rights were taken away.

House of Wisdom

library, academy and translation center. Collected the works of Greece, India, and Persia and translated them thus saving them. Preserving classical thought

People of the book

People who were considered protected when the muslims conquered them. They were respected since they are the same god. Christians and Jews

Muslim Inventions

Made contributions in Math (algebra), medicine, astronomy (astrolabe, armillary sphere)

Spread of Islamic Empire

The Muslims had a very strong army that fought ferociously. They belived you would go straight to paradise if you died in battle. When they conquered they could NOT force conversion, many invaded people welcomed them because there was no forced conversion and tolerance.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire

Mongol Rule

Tolerant as long as you paid tribute and were obedient.

Bureaucracy/Civil Service Test

Having skilled and capable workers complete the day to day business of the government.

Buddhism

During the Tang and Song dynasty this was the religion that was most common. It later influenced Japan and Shintoism.

Genghis Khan

United the clans on the steppe. Created the largest empire. Upon his death the empire was divided into four khanates.

Pax Mogolica

A time period of prosperity and increased trade during mongol rule of Eurasia.

4 khanates

Golden Horde= Russia

Great Khan= China

Ilkhanate= Persia

Chagatai Khanate= Central Asia

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan. United China for the first time in 300 years. Lived a sedentary life in China in the capital of Beijing. Gave up a life on the steppes.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol dynasty. The first time the Chinese were ruled by a foreigner. Characterized by trade especially with Marco Polo who wrote the accounts of China during this time.

Marco Polo

Lived in China during the Yuan dynasty for 17 years. He returned home to Italy and told his stories, his stories were later written down and provide us with information about the Yuan Dynasty.

Liu Bang

Founder of the Han Dynasty. First he destroyed rival kings, he used Shi Huangdi's centralized government but he did NOT use his strict legalism. He lowered taxes and softened punishment.

Empress Lu

The wife of Liu Bang, she was the regent for her son. She kept naming infants the heir to throne in order to keep her power.

Wudi

The grandson of Liu Bang, he expanded the Han Dynasty through warfare.

Paper

Invented in china, helped education and the civil service exam spread.

Mahayana Buddhism

Also known as popular Buddhism, is allows people more ways to reach enlightenment and boddhisatvas can help you reach enlightenment.

Theravada Buddhism

Buddhist sect that focuses on the wisdom of the Buddha. Traditional teachings of Buddha. Buddha is NOT a god.

Bodhisattva

a person who has attained enlightenment but who has postponed nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment. Part of Mahayana buddhism.

Chandragupta Maurya

He founded India's first empire. He was an Indian prince who conquered a large area in the Ganges River valley soon after Alexander invaded western India. He used provinces and heavy taxes to rule his empire.

Kautilya

Political advisor to Chandragupta Maurya; one of the authors of Arthashastra; believed in scientific application of warfare.

Arthashastra

The famous ancient Indian book about how to not get assassinated. Written by Kautilya.

Asoka

Third ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the earliest surviving Indian writing. He converted after the slaughter at the battle of Kalinga.

Chandra Gupta II

Further expanded the empire and strengthened its economy. His reign was a period of prosperity. Gupta Empire reached its height under his rule.

Mayans

This is the most advanced civilization of the time in the Western Hemisphere. Famous for its awe-inspiring temples, pyramids and cities. A complex social and political order of city states. Also known for their calendar for religious events.

Inca

Largest and most powerful Andean empire. Controlled the Pacific coast of South America from Ecuador to Chile from its capital of Cuzco. Had a government similar to socialism.

Ayllu

In Incan society, a small community or family group whose members worked together for the common good of the peoples.

Mita

Labor extracted for lands assigned to the state and the religion; all communities were expected to contribute; an essential aspect of Inca imperial control.

Quipu

An arrangement of knotted strings on a cord, used by the Inca to record numerical information.

Pachacuti

Ruler of Inca society from 1438 to 1471; launched a series of military campaigns that gave Incas control of the region from Cuzco to the shores of Lake Titicaca

Montezuma II

Powerful Aztec monarch who fell to Spanish conquerors. Increased tribute/human sacrifice demanded from the conquered and his people rebelled. He then tried to lessen the tribute but it was too late, the spanish conquered them.

Aztecs

Also known as Mexica, they created a powerful empire in central Mexico (1325-1521 C.E.). They forced defeated peoples to provide goods and labor as a tax. They also demanded human sacrifice.

Chinampas

Raised fields constructed along lake shores by the Aztecs to increase agricultural yields.

Feudalism

A political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land