Rome, India, and Han Dynasty History Review

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the governance of Rome, the Punic Wars, the Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties of India, and key figures and trade in Han Dynasty China.

Democracy

A form of government by the people involving assemblies where people elect tribunes to represent them.

Monarchy (Roman context)

Government by a king, characterized in the Roman Republic by 2 consuls who could veto each other.

Consuls

Two officials with 1 year terms who veto each other and must wait 10 years before being eligible to serve as consul again.

Dictator

An official appointed for a 6 month term during a time of crisis.

Aristocracy

Government by nobles, specifically the Senate composed of 300 wealthy families.

Patrician

Wealthy landowners who inherited their positions.

Plebeian

Common farmers, merchants, and artisans who could vote but were not permitted to hold high office.

12 Tables

A publicly displayed written law code created to protect the Plebeians from the Patricians.

Punic Wars

A series of wars between Rome and Carthage fought for power over trade on the Mediterranean; ended with a Roman victory and the start of its empire.

Hannibal

The general of Carthage during the Punic Wars.

Scipio

The Roman general during the Punic Wars.

Julius Caesar

A leader who gained power via the 1st triumvirate, conquered Gaul, defeated Pompeii to become "dictator for life," and expanded the senate.

Pax Romana

A period of peace and order in Rome where education thrived.

Colosseum

A structure used to hold gladiator fights and circuses.

Chandragupta

The founder of the Mauryan Dynasty who unified North India using 4 provinces, a bureaucracy, and heavy taxes.

Kautilya

An advisor to Chandragupta who wrote the Arthashastra, advocating for harsh rule and the use of spies.

Arthashastra

A book written by Kautilya describing harsh rule, the use of spies, and assassination.

Asoka

A Mauryan ruler who converted to Buddhism out of remorse for killing civilians in war, promoting tolerance and trade.

Gupta Dynasty

A dynasty that arose in Northern India 500 years after the fall of the Mauryan Dynasty.

Theravada Buddhism

A strict, traditional form of Buddhism that believes Buddha is not a god.

Mahayana Buddhism

A modern, more popular, and less strict form of Buddhism that suggests anybody could be Buddha.

Bodhisattva

A person who becomes Buddha but gives up Nirvana to help others.

Silk Road

A trade network where the Indian Empire benefited by acting as middlemen and raising prices.

Silk

A closely guarded secret in China because it was valuable and allowed the state to maintain a monopoly.

Civil Service and Confucianism

Linked systems in China used to manage a huge population; they highly valued farmers who provided food.

Empress Lu

A ruler who retained power by naming her infant sons as emperors.

Empress Wudi

A martial emperor who expanded China through warfare, conquered Vietnam and Xiongnu, and encouraged assimilation through intermarriage.