World History Review: Ancient and Medieval Civilizations

Vocabulary practice cards reviewing key historical concepts, figures, and terms from Ancient Greece, Rome, China, and Japan.

Great Wall of China

A defensive structure built for protection.

Silk road

The most important trade route that connected China with the west.

Confucianism

A philosophical belief system characterized by proper social conduct.

Yin and Yang

A concept in Early Chinese Philosophy that represents the idea of dualism.

bodihism

A religion shared by both China and Japan.

Shinto

The native Japanese religion that stresses the importance of nature, including landforms like mountains and lakes.

Tale of genji

The first novel in history, written by Murasaki Shikibu during the Golden Age of Japan.

Civil service exams

The main way individuals became scholar-government officials in Medieval China.

Mongols

A group that started out as nomadic herders north of China and, under Genghis Khan, conquered and united many parts of Eurasia.

Mandate of heaven

The Chinese belief that rulers hold the right to rule and the support of the gods as long as things go well, allowing dynasties to be replaced when they fail to provide for the people.

Parthenon

The temple to Athena rebuilt by Pericles during the Golden Age of Athens.

Peloponnesian War

A conflict whose major consequence for the future of Greece was severe weakening for geek city-states.

Hellenistic Culture

A blend formed by the combination of Greek, egyptian, persian, and indian cultures (remembered by GEPI).

General pericles

The military leader responsible for the Golden Age of Greece.

Rome's Geographic Advantages

Natural features that offered protection by the sea and mountains for trade and commerce.

Punic Wars

A series of wars fought between Rome and carthage.

Roman Republic vs. Roman Empire

Two Roman eras primarily differentiated by how power was distributed.

Twelve Tables

The foundational Roman code whose primary purpose in the Roman Republic was for roman to have laws.

Agustus

The historical figure who became the first emperor of the Roman Empire after the fall of the Roman Republic.

Roman Conflict with Christianity

A religious clash caused by Christianity's exclusive monotheism.

Pax Romana

An era in Roman history characterized by peace.

Jus civil (civil law)

A Roman legal concept still used by many legal systems today that represents a lasting influence of Roman law on modern societies.

Latin

The primary written and spoken language of the (Western) Roman Empire.