Summer Assignment Flashcards

Hinduism

The oldest religion in the world. An Indian religion that believes in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).

Judaism

The religion and the way of life of the Jewish people. It was developed in Israel and it is the most influential example of monotheism. It uses the teaching of Abraham, Yahweh, and the Hebrew Scriptures. Jews believe that they have entered into a covenant, or mutual promise, with their God, whom they call Yahweh. In return for their devotion, Yahweh would consider them his chosen people.

Buddhism

Created in India. The basic beliefs of Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths, which teach that life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire and attachment, and that suffering can be ended by following the Eight-Fold Path. The goal is, over time, to achieve enlightenment and the peaceful bliss known as nirvana, which would end the cycle of reincarnation.

Confucius

The most influential Chinese philosopher and the first teacher in China. His teachings in the Analects were how people should behave everyday, to honor and respect higher authority (emperors) and their ancestors, education, and the patriarchy.

Daoism

A religion that focused on how people could live in harmony with all of nature. The practices of Daoism emphasized internal reflection more than external behavior. Daoism would be influential throughout Chinese history.

Christianity

The worlds largest religion. Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Islam

Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centered on the Quran and the belief that there is only one god, or Allah. The followers are known as Muslims.

Dar al-Islam

In less than a century, the religion of Islam had spread and united southern Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of India. This area became known as the House of Islam, or Dar al-lslam.

Shinto

Religion originated from Japan for Japanese people. A polytheistic and animistic religion, Shinto revolves around supernatural deities called the kami. The kami are believed to inhabit all things, including forces of nature and prominent landscape locations.

Roman Catholic Church

The branch of Christianity headed by the pope . The Roman Catholic Church is governed by a hierarchy with the pope at the top and, at the lower levels, bishops and priests .

Orthodox Church

A form of Christianity. The Orthodox Church believes the Holy Spirit proceeds only from God the Father.

Patriarchy

A social system in which positions of dominance and privilege are held by men.

Civil Service Exam

A traditional method of recruiting government officials in ancient China based on merit rather than family connections. Candidates were tested on their knowledge of Confucian texts and ability to write poetry and essays.

Diaspora

Often applied to mass emigrations from a country or region to another that may take place over a period of many years. Most diasporas, however, were the result of poverty, political conditions, or famine.

Entrepot

A port, city, or other center to which goods are brought for import and export, and for collection and distribution.

Shogun

A Japanese military ruler who served the emperor.

Daimyos

Landholding aristocrats with an army of warriors (known as samurai) with the ambition to conquer more territory. They once owned most of Japan.

Agricultural Revolution

Specific periods in human civilization when farming techniques drastically improved the mass cultivation of crops within a relatively short period of time. This leads to greater production of food and the transformation of societies and economies.

Monsoon winds

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean that sailing ships were dependent on for transporting trade.

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan was a large Mesoamerican city at the height of its power in 450-600 CE. It was a multicultural urban area that prospered through regional trade. It was once the most populated city in the world, but soon was abandoned.

Mayans

They were the most influential classical civilization in the Americas. The Mayans can be traced as far back as 1500 B.C.E. They invented a complex written language, understood “0”, and created a very accurate calendar using the movement of Earth through space.

Mississippian

The Mississippians were a Native American civilization that lived in big communities and developed a complex culture.

Toltecs

The Toltec civilization (tribe) originated in modern-day central Mexico and flourished there between the 10th and 12th century CE.

Silk Roads

The first network of ancient trade routes that linked China with the West. It carried goods for trade and ideas, like religion.

Indian Ocean trade routes

Trade routes created around third century BCE that connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. In East Africa, traders blended Bantu and Arabic to develop a new language, Swahili.

Trans-Saharan trade routes

A network of trade routes that crossed the Sahara Desert and connected North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa. Camels were used commonly and religion was spread. Salt, gold, ivory, and slaves were most commonly used in trade.

City-state

A city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.

Mauryan Empire

The empire formed around 321 B.C.E. and ended in 185 B.C.E., Being the first pan-Indian empire, it covered most of the Indian region and modern-day Iran to promote unity and cultural homogenization.

Gupta Empire

An ancient Indian empire on the Indian subcontinent which existed from the mid 3rd century CE to mid 6th century CE.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese political ideology that was used in Ancient China that expressed the idea that there could only be one valid ruler and was believed to have received the approval of an ancient divine force known as 'Heaven'.

Qin

The Qin dynasty was the first dynasty of Imperial China (221 B.C.E. - 207 B.C.E.). This dynasty established the first Chinese empire.

Han

Han dynasty, the second great imperial dynasty or a Golden Age of China (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.). During this time, China established centralized control and flourished agriculturally.

Persian Empire

Around 559 B.C.E,- 331 B.C.E., the Persia Empire or Achaemenid Empire was developed in modern-day Iran. Ruled by Cyrus the Great, the empire had a strong centralized government, efficient bureaucracy, trade networks, was ethnically diverse, and practiced religious toleration. Overall, it mainly promoted trade and stability.

Greece

At the time, Greece was divided into 1,000 city-states due to the mountain terrain and islands making it difficult to be under one reign. The two largest city states were known as Sparta (military and labor society) and Athens (agricultural development). Though separated, Greeks all believed in many deities where each possessed human frailties.

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire (753 B.C.E. to 476 C.E.) was the largest and longest ancient empire in history. It conquered a vast amount of land in Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. It ended due to Germanic tribe invasions.

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire (330-1453), also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine and centered in the city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Soon after, the Byzantine Empire became its own country that practiced Christianity and spoke Greek instead of Latin.

Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258) had the most influential rulers in Islam. Under their reign, Islamic culture experienced a golden age. They created a stable government, helped with trade, developed education, practiced religious toleration, and gave women more rights.

Sui Dynasty

Though short-lived, The Sui Dynasty (581-618) ended China’s troubles by reconstituting a centralized government, which allowed China to once again be prosperous. The dynasty's biggest accomplishment was constructing the Grand Canal which connected the agricultural south to the populated north in China.

Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty, 618-907 (right after the Sui Dynasty), expanded China’s boundaries north to Mongolia, west into Central Asia, and south into Vietnam. This increased the population in China and allowed for more agricultural developments. Their main inventions were gunpowder and paper money.

Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty (960-1279) continued China’s golden age, becoming the leading manufacturer in the world. Neo-Confucianism philosophies also became popular.

Ghana

Ghana (c. 700-c. 1240), first of the great medieval trading empires of western Africa. The trans-Saharan trade routes made Ghana very wealthy. Ghana would protect the trade routes allowing them to charge merchants for the import and export of goods in their trading centers.

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is a medieval city that dominated the southeast part of Africa between the 12th and 15th century. It is known for it’s stone remains.