Foundations: Classical Era ($$600bce-600ce$$)

This set of flashcards covers foundations of the Classical Era from $$600bce$$ to $$600ce$$, focusing on major empires, religions, trade networks, and political systems across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

__________ is a monotheistic religion that emerged during the Persian Empire and promoted the struggle of good versus evil.

Zoroastrianism

The Persian Empire was established by __________ and spanned three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Cyrus the Great

The Persian Empire consisted of the Achaemenids, __________, and Sassanids.

Parthians

King Darius the Great rebuilt the __________ __________ to facilitate rapid communication throughout the Persian Empire.

Royal Road

__________ advanced the Persian borders to India and combined Greek and Persian culture.

Alexander the Great

The governor of a province in the Persian Empire, responsible for forwarding tribute to the central government, was called a __________.

Satrap

__________ is a blend of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culture resulting from Alexander the Great’s empire.

Hellenism

The Greek philosopher __________ taught that knowledge was based upon observation of phenomena in the material world.

Aristotle

The city-state of __________ was a leader in arts, sciences, philosophy, democracy, and architecture.

Athens

__________ was a Greek city-state ruled by an oligarchy that focused on the military and used slaves for agriculture.

Sparta

The Athenian philosopher __________ developed the Socratic method and shifted focus to ethics and human behavior.

Socrates

The theory that all knowledge originates in experience and direct observation is known as __________.

Empiricism

__________ __________ occurs when foreign beliefs blend with indigenous beliefs to create a newly formed culture.

Cultural Syncretism

The civilization of __________ was established along the Mediterranean and invented the $1st$ alphabet.

Phoenicia

A __________ was a roadside Inn along trade routes like the Silk Road that allowed travelers to rest and commerce to flow.

Caravanserai

Citizens of the Roman Republic, which lasted from $507$ to $31bce$, voted __________ into power.

representatives

The Punic Wars were a series of $3$ wars between Rome and __________, a Phoenician colony in North Africa.

Carthage

Ordinary Roman citizens were called __________, while the wealthy landowner class was called __________.

Plebeians; Patricians

__________ __________ overthrew the Roman Republic after conquering Gaul and was assassinated in $44bce$.

Julius Caesar

The Roman Empire was established in $27bce$ by __________ __________.

Augustus Caesar

Meaning ‘Roman Peace,’ the __________ __________ was a period of stability in the $1-2$ centuries that facilitated the spread of ideas.

Pax Romana

__________ emerged in Southwest Asia in the $1st$ century ce as a monotheistic extension of Judaism.

Christianity

The __________ Empire unified South Asia and expanded under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.

Maurya

Advancements in education, healthcare, and trade during the __________ Empire led it to be called the ‘Golden Age of India.’

Gupta

The world’s oldest religion, __________, is characterized by belief in reincarnation and a supreme being taking many forms.

Hinduism

Priests belong to the __________, which is the highest of the Indian varnas or caste groups.

Brahmin

The __________ __________ is the first Vedas scripture that established principles for thought in India.

Rig Veda

The Hindu idea of the divine force informing the whole universe is explained in a major book called the __________.

Upanishads

In Hinduism, the god __________ is considered the creator of the world.

Brahma

India’s rigid social hierarchy, containing $4$ distinct groups or varnas, is called the __________ __________.

Caste System

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the endless cycle of birth, suffering, death, and rebirth is called __________.

Samasara

The moral law of cause and effect of a person’s actions is known as __________, which determines their rebirth.

Karma

In Hinduism, the duties and obligations specific to each caste are called __________.

Dharma

A sub caste or distinctive social group within the Hindu system is known as a __________.

Jati

An Indian ritual where a widow joins her deceased husband in death by throwing herself on his funeral pyre is called __________.

Sati

The __________ __________ __________ formalized long-held Hindu traditions and laws regarding the caste system.

Laws of Manu

Maurya ruler __________ supported Buddhism, built roads, and irrigation systems to increase trade.

Ashoka

__________ is the belief that an individual soul is reborn into a different form after death.

Reincarnation

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, __________ teaches that enlightenment is attained by suppressing worldly desire.

Buddhism

The foundation of Buddhism is the Four __________ Truths, which state that desire is the cause of suffering.

Nobel

In Buddhism, the rules of behavior leading to an end of suffering are called the __________ __________.

Eightfold Path

__________ __________ was an Indian prince who renounced his position after becoming enlightened to become the Buddha.

Siddhartha Gautama

In Buddhism, the release from pain and suffering achieved through enlightenment is known as __________.

Nirvana

Founded by Laozi, __________ emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao or ‘the way.’

Daoism

The __________ Dynasty ended the Warring States Period and used Legalist policies to reunify China.

Qin

__________ is an ethical system that stresses love for humanity, ancestor worship, and harmony in conduct.

Confucianism

The teachings of Confucius were recorded by his disciples in the __________.

Analects

The Chinese concept of __________ __________ requires the utmost respect for parents and political authorities.

Filial Piety

The first emperor of China, __________ __________, united China under the Qin dynasty and began the Great Wall.

Shi Huangdi

The Han Dynasty ruled China from $206bce$ to $221ce$ and established the __________ __________ exam.

Civil Service

The largest sea trading area in the world until the $1400’s$ was the __________ __________ __________ __________.

Indian Ocean Trade Network

Connecting China to the Mediterranean, the __________ __________ was an interconnected series of trade routes for luxury goods.

Silk Road

The __________ were a prominent civilization in modern-day Peru that depended on trade and agriculture around $600ce$.

Moche

The __________ civilization, influenced by the Olmec, developed independent city-states in Southern Mexico and a calendar.

Mayan

A form of government in which a small number of upper-class citizens make decisions for everyone is an __________.

Oligarchy

A __________ is a government controlled by religious leaders and thought to be guided by divine power.

Theocracy

A __________ is a political system where supreme power lies with citizens who elect people to represent them.

Democracy

A form of government where power is held by the nobility or traditional elite is called an __________.

Aristocracy