Period 0 Review

Shang Dynasty

Early Chinese dynasty preceding the Zhou dynasty

Warring States Period

Era in ancient China marked by warfare and political chaos

Qin Dynasty

Imperial dynasty of China known for legalism and unification

Han Dynasty

Imperial dynasty of China characterized by Confucianism and civil service exams

Phoenician City-States

Independent city-states in the ancient Mediterranean known for trade and the alphabet

Greek Empire

Period of Greek history marked by city-states and Alexander the Great's conquests

Roman Empire

Imperial period of ancient Rome known for republic-turned-empire and Pax Romana

Persian Empire

Ancient empire spanning Turkey, India, Mesopotamia, and Egypt

Mauryan Empire

Indian empire under Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka

Gupta Empire

Indian empire known for decentralization and administrative advancements

Acropolis

High city or citadel in ancient Greece, often with religious significance

Parthenon

Iconic temple in Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena

Pax Romana

Period of Roman peace and stability under imperial rule

Royal Road

Ancient Persian road for efficient communication and trade

Code of Hammurabi

Babylonian legal code emphasizing patriarchy and social stratification

Mandate of Heaven

Ancient Chinese belief in divine approval of rulers' authority

Ziggurats

Ancient Mesopotamian stepped temples with religious significance

Hieroglyphics

Ancient Egyptian writing system using pictorial symbols

Cuneiform

Earliest known writing system, developed by the Sumerians

Bedouin Nomads

Nomadic Arab tribes known for their desert lifestyle and mobility

Islamic Caliphates

Successive Islamic empires following the death of Muhammad

Animism

Belief that nature holds spiritual power, with shamans having access to control or direct that power.

Shintoism

Polytheistic and animistic religion that developed in Japan.

Codification

The process of arranging laws or rules into a systematic code.

Vedas

Ancient sacred texts of Hinduism, including the Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Ramayana.

Bhagavad Gita

A sacred Hindu scripture that is part of the Indian epic Mahabharata.

Dharma

The moral and ethical duties and obligations in Hinduism.

Caste System

A fundamental ordering of people in Indian society with an extremely complex hierarchical structure.

Diaspora

The forced dispersion of a people from their homeland.

Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana

Different branches of Buddhism that evolved over time.

Filial Piety

The virtue of respect for one's parents and ancestors in Confucianism.

Ancestor veneration

The practice of honoring deceased ancestors in various cultures.

Syncretism

The amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.

Five Pillars

The core beliefs and practices of Islam, including belief in one God, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca.

Sunni/Shi'a split

The division in Islam over the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad.

Patriarchy

A social system where males hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.

Prehistory

The period of human history before written records.

Human Migrations

The movement of humans from one region to another, often influenced by climate change and environmental factors.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

Early human communities that relied on hunting and gathering for sustenance, characterized by egalitarian social structures.

Neolithic Revolution

The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural societies, leading to significant social and technological changes.

River Valley Civilizations

Early complex societies that developed around major rivers, including Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India, and Ancient China.

Code of Hammurabi

An ancient legal code from Mesopotamia that established laws and social hierarchies, emphasizing the differences in treatment between nobles and peasants.

Pastoralism

A form of subsistence agriculture focused on the raising and herding of livestock, often involving nomadic lifestyles.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another, often facilitated by trade and migration.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese philosophical concept that justified the rule of the emperor as divinely ordained, contingent on their ability to govern well.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert, often as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture, impacting civilizations like Egypt.

Diaspora

The dispersion of a group of people from their homeland, as seen with the Hebrews throughout various empires.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society, often based on wealth, power, or social status, as seen in early civilizations.

Technological Innovations

Advances in tools and techniques that improve efficiency and productivity, significant during the Neolithic Revolution.