Mouser Exam

Darius

Established a tax-collecting system and divided the Persian Empire into districts called satrapies.

Satrapies

Districts of Darius' empire.

Royal Road

Road system built by Darius to facilitate trade and communication.

Cyrus the Great

Tolerant ruler who allowed different cultures to maintain their institutions and is known as the 'Law-Giver' by Greeks.

Persepolis

A city built by Darius that served as the capital of the Persian Empire.

Zarathustra

Persian prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism.

Zoroastrianism

Religion founded by Zoroaster characterized by a dualistic battle of good vs. evil.

Ahura Mazda

The 'good God' in Zoroastrianism.

Confucius

Founder of Confucianism.

Ren

Goodness, benevolence, or humaneness in Confucian thought.

Li

Ritual in Confucian thought.

Xiao

Filial piety in Confucian thought.

Daoism

Religion that emphasizes living in harmony with the natural order, known as the 'Dao'.

Daodejing

Foundational text of Daoism by its founder Laozi.

Wuwei

The principle of Daoism meaning 'going with the flow'.

Legalism

System that emphasized strict punishments but rewards as well.

Qin Shihuangdi

Founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of China.

Terra Cotta Soldiers

8,000 unique soldiers crafted to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi.

Silk Road

Trade route created during the Han dynasty.

Han Wudi

Confucian emperor under whom the Silk Road developed.

Civil service examination

Exams used by the Han to ensure government workers were competent.

Xiongnu

Nomadic tribe that frequently raided during the Han dynasty.

Yellow Turban Uprising

Failed rebellion against the Han led by those who wore yellow turbans.

Chandragupta Maurya

Unified northern India and established provinces for governance.

Ashoka

Grandson of Chandragupta who spread Buddhism and established roads.

Gupta Empire

Ancient Indian empire known for profitable trade with the Mediterranean.

Caste System

Hierarchical social structure in Hinduism dividing people into castes.

Vishnu

God of preservation in Hinduism.

Shiva

God of destruction in Hinduism.

The Buddha

Siddhartha Guantama, founder of Buddhism.

Four Noble Truths

Principles of Buddhism stating that all existence is suffering and suffering is caused by desire.

Ahimsa

The Jainist pursuit of non-violence.

Mahayana Buddhism

Buddhism belief that anyone can reach nirvana, not just monks.

Bhagavad Gita

Hindu scripture spoken by Krishna that discusses karma.

Arthashastra

Written by Kautilya, a study guide for rulers on governance.

Homo erectus

Ancient species of human that was outcompeted by Homo sapiens.

Ziggurat

Place of worship in ancient Mesopotamia.

Old Kingdom

Period in ancient Egypt known for pyramid construction and worship of the Nile.

Hyksos

People who took control during Egypt's Middle Kingdom.

Vedas

Aryan texts that serve as the foundation of Hinduism.

Cuneiform

Sumerian writing system used in ancient Mesopotamia.

Prehistory

Time period before written records.

Neolithic

Period marked by the dawn of agriculture.

Aryans

Foreign peoples in India who developed the caste system to distinguish races.

Ancestor worship

Religious practice in early China that involved honoring ancestors.

Oracle bones

Used in early China for divination and communication with the spirit world.

Indus River

Major river system in India where early civilizations emerged.

Nile River

The river that was crucial to the agricultural and ceremonial life of ancient Egypt.

Tigris and Euphrates

River system in Mesopotamia where some of the earliest civilizations developed.

Yangtze and Yellow Rivers

Two major river systems in ancient China.

Phoenician trade and colonies

Establishment of colonies throughout the Mediterranean by Phoenician merchants.

Siddhartha Guantama

Also known as the Buddha; he attained enlightenment and founded Buddhism.

Elephants

Used by Ashoka in warfare and during the expansion of his rule.

Mediterranean trade

Trade network between the Gupta Empire and countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

Huns

Group that eventually invaded the Gupta Empire.

Buddhist principles

Principles based on the teachings of the Buddha focusing on eliminating suffering.

Moksha

Liberation and release from the cycle of birth and death in Hinduism.

Centralization and standardization

A system employed in ancient states to consolidate power and establish uniform practices.

Social inequality

A serious issue that contributed to instability in the Han Dynasty.

Long-distance trade

Crucial for the economic and cultural exchanges in ancient empires.

Jainism

A religion that emphasizes non-violence, compassion, and respect for all living things.

The Great Wall

Structure built during the Qin dynasty for protection against invasions.

Edicts of Ashoka

Inscribed laws that promoted Buddhist principles across the empire.

Royal power

Considered essential for stability in governance according to Kautilya.

Anarchy

The absence of government, viewed as a great evil in the Arthashastra.

Portable belief systems

Religions and philosophies that spread easily and adapt to different cultures.

Cultural diffusion

The spreading of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

Persian general Seleucus

Defeated by Chandragupta Maurya, marking a significant moment in Indian history.