pre ap world civilizations

Persian Empires Names

Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid. These formed a sequence of dynasties controlling vast territories.

Persian Empires Dates

Approximately 500 BCE to 300 BCE for Achaemenid core, with successors to 600 CE. Influenced post-1200 Islamic empires in administration.

Persian Empires Location

Present-day Iran, extending from western India to Greece outskirts. Strategic position facilitated post-1200 Silk Road trade.

Persian Empires Social

Upper class of officials and monarchs, lower class citizens; women had rights like land ownership. Nuclear families emphasized; tolerant of diverse groups.

Persian Empires Political

Centralized bureaucracy with monarch, satraps governing provinces, local officials. Spies monitored loyalty; expanded via conquest.

Persian Empires Environment

Arid land required irrigation and qanats; trade compensated for poor agriculture. Settlements not river-dependent; environment shaped trade focus.

Persian Empires Culture

Zoroastrianism dominant, coexisting with Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Advances in math, astronomy, agriculture; architecture like brick towers.

Persian Empires Economic

Barley, wheat, peas, lentils farmed; traded textiles for metals. Skilled workers and enslaved labor used.

Persian Empires Technology

Windmills, irrigation, early refrigeration. Standardized systems aided adaptation.

Greek Civilization Dates

Emerged 1200-900 BCE, lasted to 30 BCE. Influenced post-1200 Renaissance humanism and democracy.

Greek Civilization Location

Greece and Aegean Sea areas. Island geography promoted maritime trade.

Greek Social

Hierarchy of citizens (men), metics, women, slaves; women domestic except in Sparta. City-states like Athens, Sparta competed; men military-focused.

Greek Political

Varied governance

Greek Environment

Surrounded by seas, dry and mountainous; limited crops to grapes, olives. Terrain created natural borders, spurred adaptation.

Greek Culture

Polytheistic mythology with oral traditions; influential architecture like Corinthian columns. Pottery art depicted stories.

Greek Economic

Sea trade dominant; olives, grapes specialized. Irrigation and terrace farming adapted to environment.

Greek Technology

Irrigation, terrace farming, advanced ships for trade. Innovations expedited maritime commerce.

Roman Empire Dates

27 BCE to 476 CE. Legacy shaped post-1200 European law and governance.

Roman Empire Location

Western Europe, North Africa, Middle East. Mediterranean focus aided expansion.

Roman Social

Emperor, patricians, plebeians, slaves; patriarchal with men in politics, military. Nuclear families, eldest male head; women domestic.

Roman Political

Shift from republic to empire under Octavian; bureaucratic officials managed regions. Expanded into Central Europe; emperor supreme.

Roman Environment

Mediterranean climate fertile; settlements coastal or valley-based. Overuse depleted resources like timber.

Roman Culture

Polytheistic like Greeks, later Judaism, Christianity. Architecture unique with arches; conquest diffused culture.

Roman Economic

Wheat, olives, grapes farmed; livestock in mountains. Sea/land trade taxed; slaves labored.

Roman Technology

Aqueducts, sewage, crop rotation, irrigation. Roads facilitated trade; Latin writing system.

Qin Dynasty Dates

221-206 BCE. Unified China, influencing post-1200 centralized states.

Qin Dynasty Location

Present-day China core. Fertile soils supported growth.

Qin Social

Emperor, officials, landowners, peasants, merchants low; patriarchal families. Women restricted by class.

Qin Political

Autocratic emperor, centralized bureaucracy; strict against dissent. Expanded territory in China.

Qin Environment

Scattered settlements with urban centers; fertile but erosion from overuse. Forests cleared for agriculture.

Qin Culture

Legalism dominant, some animism, ancestor worship. Great Wall construction began.

Qin Economic

Barley, wheat, beans, millet farmed; roads/canals aided trade. Peasants labored.

Qin Technology

Great Wall, roads, canals; iron tools, irrigation. Small Seal Script standardized writing.

Han Dynasty Dates

206 BCE to 581 CE. Golden age influencing post-1200 Silk Road and bureaucracy.

Han Dynasty Location

Expanded China, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam influences. River valleys supported settlement.

Han Social

Emperor, officials, landowners, peasants, merchants; Confucian hierarchy. Patriarchal, joint families.

Han Political

Monarchy with centralized bureaucracy, local governors. Emperor led; expanded regionally.

Han Environment

Scattered with urban areas; fertile but droughts from overuse. Similar to Qin impacts.

Han Culture

Confucianism, Daoism dominant; Buddhism emerging. Calligraphy, paintings, tower architecture.

Han Economic

Millet, rice, wheat farmed; pigs pastoral. Silk Road trade; peasants, slaves labored.

Han Technology

Seismograph, paper, roads/canals. Clerical script; iron machinery.

Maurya Empire Dates

322-185 BCE. Unified India, influencing post-1200 subcontinental governance.

Maurya Empire Location

Across South Asia. River valleys shaped settlement.

Maurya Social

King, officials, warriors, farmers, merchants, laborers; caste with Brahmins low. Women domestic, restricted by class.

Maurya Political

Autocratic king, bureaucratic provinces. United India; centralized control.

Maurya Environment

Settlements along rivers, trade routes; fertile plains, monsoon-dependent. Agriculture reliant.

Maurya Culture

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism; Ashoka spread Buddhism. Stupas, pillars architecture.

Maurya Economic

Rice, wheat, barley, fruits farmed; spices, silk traded. Waged and slave labor.

Maurya Technology

Hospitals, infrastructure, roads, irrigation. Brahmi writing.

Gupta Empire Dates

320-550 CE. Golden age for post-1200 Indian math and science legacies.

Gupta Empire Location

South Asia expanse. Fertile and coastal settlements.

Gupta Social

Caste with Brahmins top; patriarchal, joint families. Women restricted, men dominant.

Gupta Political

Monarchy with federal bureaucracy, autonomous villages. Ruled much of India.

Gupta Environment

Along fertile areas, coasts; monsoon impacts agriculture. Similar to Maurya.

Gupta Culture

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism; math, literature advances. Temples, sculptures art.

Gupta Economic

Wheat, cotton, sugarcane farmed; Silk Road trade. Waged and slave labor.

Gupta Technology

Decimal system, medicine, university; Gupta Brahmi writing. Roads, canals.

Mayan Empire Dates

2000 BCE to 16th century CE. Influenced post-1200 Mesoamerican cultures.

Mayan Empire Location

Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador. Scattered city-states.

Mayan Social

King, nobles, priests, officials, artisans, merchants, citizens, slaves. Gender equality in power; nuclear/extended families.

Mayan Political

City-states ruled by kings; varying power levels. Stable territory.

Mayan Environment

Dispersed settlements near fertile areas; deforestation from overuse. Soil erosion caused shortages.

Mayan Culture

Polytheistic animism with sacrifices, rituals. Astronomy, calendar; stepped temples, stone carvings.

Mayan Economic

Maize, beans, squash farmed; turkeys pastoral. Specialty goods traded; slave/waged labor.

Mayan Technology

Terrace farming, chinampas; Maya glyphs writing. Roads, canals, rivers for trade.