Ancient History Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, figures, events, and concepts from the Ancient History lecture, designed to aid exam preparation.

Mesopotamia

Literally means 'between the rivers'.

Stone Age

Period where flint was the most frequently utilized stone.

Hominid

Characterized by walking upright on two feet (bipedalism).

Rome's First Major Victory

Achieved against Carthage.

Battle of Marathon

Where the Athenians first defeated the Persians.

Ancient Warfare (Most Powerful Factor)

Chariots were the most powerful factor.

Cyrus

Leader who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Code of Hammurabi

One of the earliest known works of law.

Peloponnesian War

Fought between Athens and Sparta.

Early Leaders' Attributes (Three C's)

Coins, conflict, and charisma enabled early leaders to rise to power.

Early Roman Government

A Republic.

Zoroastrianism

Based around the practice of good deeds and words.

Alexander the Great's Succession

His kingdom was to be inherited by 'the strongest' of his generals.

Satrap

The basic political structure of the Persian Empire.

Myth

A story central to a community's belief and idea of self.

Tian

Interpretations include Heaven, Fate, and God.

Philip II

Associated with Macedonia.

Democracy (Greek City-State)

Practiced in Athens.

Helots

A social class from Sparta.

Delos

A Greek city-state known for its treasure.

Xerxes

Not a significant figure in the life of Alexander the Great.

Italy (Alexander's Conquests)

A region Alexander the Great did not conquer.

Five Confucian Virtues

Benevolence, Righteousness, Observance of Rites, Knowledge, and Integrity.

Di Xin

The last ruler of the Shang dynasty in China.

Shang Yang

Associated with the Legalism philosophy, emphasizing survival over morality.

Sun Tzu

Author of 'The Art of War,' a famous military strategy textbook.

Qin (Q.I.N.)

Established the Qin dynasty after emerging victorious from the Warring States period.

Ptolemaic Kingdom

Saw the rule of the famous Cleopatra.

Middle Kingdom (Egypt)

Experienced a massive increase in mummifications during the democratization of the afterlife.

Old Kingdom (Egypt)

Saw the construction of Egypt's most famous pyramids.

New Kingdom (Egypt)

Represented the high point of Egypt's power and influence.

Late Kingdom (Egypt)

Experienced the conquest of Egypt by Persia.

Hatshepsut

A female pharaoh who led during the New Kingdom, built the Valley of Kings funerary complex, and greatly increased trade (e.g., lumber with Greece).

Romulus and Remus

Roman founding myth about twin brothers, raised by a wolf, who founded Rome after Romulus killed Remus.

Aeneas

Roman founding myth about a Trojan hero who came to Italy, married a princess, and established Rome.

Julius Caesar

A patrician and priest of Jupiter who married Cleopatra and was the victor of Rome's first civil war.

Pompey

The loser of Rome's first civil war, killed by Egyptians, and known for conquering Jerusalem.

Mark Antony

Married Cleopatra, was the loser of Rome's second civil war, and committed suicide in Alexandria, Egypt.

Octavius (Augustus)

The first Augustus and the victor of Rome's second civil war.

Plebeian Reforms (Valerian Law)

Granted plebeians the right to counsel/jury, and the power to veto patrician decisions if they all voted together; also involved unusual punishments for treason.

Diocletian

Famous for initiating large-scale imperial persecution of Christianity, often using Christians as scapegoats.

Biblical Canonization Requirements

Apostolic authorship, universal acceptance, ecclesiastical use, and theological consistency.

Apologists

Individuals who spoke or wrote in defense of the Christian church against heresy.

Martyrs

Individuals who died for their faith, bearing witness to their beliefs.

Edict of Milan

An edict issued by Constantine that made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire.

Early Christians (False Accusations)

Falsely accused of being baby snatchers (infanticide), cannibals (due to communion), and engaging in orgies (misinterpretation of 'love feasts').

Battle of Milvian Bridge

The battle where Constantine conquered Rome.