Ancient Civilizations and Political Systems Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key historical terms, governance structures, and agricultural practices from ancient civilizations.

Hellenistic Culture

Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian and Indian ideas, as a result of Alexander the Great's Empire.

Twelve Tables

The laws of Rome, codified. Famously includes the concept of "innocent until proven guilty".

Republic

A system of government in which officials are chosen by the people.

Empire

A group of states or territories controlled by one ruler.

Golden Age

A period of great cultural achievement.

Civil Service Exam

Ancient exam system, based on Confucian classics, used to determine a young man's future position.

Terrace farming

Involves the use of steps that are built into the side of a mountain or hill and contain planted crops.

Satraps

Governors who rule provinces.

Paterfamilias

Roman term for the "father of the family," a theoretical implication that gave the male head of the family almost unlimited authority.

Legalism

In China, a political philosophy that emphasized the unruliness of human nature and justified state coercion and control.