HIS 101: Western History From Ancient to Early Modern Times Midterm Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards created for reviewing key terms and concepts relevant to the HIS 101 midterm exam.

Hammurabi's Code

Hammurabi's Code is significant because it established the principle of justice where the law applied equally to all citizens and emphasized the idea of accountability for one's actions. It also influenced the development of future legal systems and set a precedent for the written law.

Polis

A city-state in ancient Greece, serving as the central urban area for Greek communities and political life.

Hoplite

A heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece, known for fighting in phalanx formations.

The Peloponnesian War

A protracted conflict from 431 to 404 B.C. between Athens and its allies against Sparta and its allies, marking a crucial turn in Greek history.

Medea

A mythological figure from Greek literature, known for her role in the story of Jason and the Argonauts, symbolizing themes of passion and revenge.

Socrates

A classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, best known for his method of questioning and ethics.

Plato

A student of Socrates and a significant philosopher in ancient Greece, known for his works on forms, ethics, and political theory.

Aristotle

A Greek philosopher and student of Plato, who made lasting contributions to diverse fields such as logic, metaphysics, and biology.

Alexander of Macedonia

King of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history by the age of 30.

Stoicism

An ancient Greek philosophy advocating for the development of self-control and fortitude as a means to overcome destructive emotions.

Epicureanism

A system of philosophy based on the teachings of Epicurus, focusing on achieving happiness through the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

Struggle of the Orders

A political conflict in ancient Rome between the patricians and plebeians regarding social equality and rights.

The Punic Wars

A series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 to 146 B.C. that resulted in the eventual destruction of Carthage.

Tiberius Gracchus

A Roman politician known for his attempts to address social and economic issues and his role in the conflict between the classes.

Gaius Marius

A Roman general and statesman who significantly reformed the Roman army and altered military service standards.

Julius Caesar

A military general and statesman whose actions led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Augustus

The first emperor of Rome, who ruled from 27 B.C. until 14 A.D., marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.

Praetorian Guard

The elite unit of the Imperial Roman army tasked with protecting the emperor.

Virgil

A Roman poet known for his epic work 'The Aeneid', which is central to Latin literature.

Pax Romana

A long period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire that lasted approximately 200 years.

barracks emperors

A term referring to several emperors who came to power through military force and were often soldiers rather than politicians.

Tetrarchy

The division of the Roman Empire into four regions, each ruled by a co-emperor, instituted by Diocletian.

Constantine

Roman emperor known for being the first Christian emperor and for establishing Constantinople as a major city of the empire.

legion

A large military unit of the ancient Roman army, originally composed of infantry, supporting cavalry.

defense-in-depth

A military strategy designed to delay and disrupt an invading force rather than defeat it in a single, decisive battle.