Classical Civilizations and Empires

Satrapies

Provinces of the Persian Empire ruled by local governors called satraps.

Satraps

Local governors who ruled Persian satrapies, collected taxes, and helped maintain order.

Royal Road

A major Persian road that connected different parts of the empire and allowed faster communication, trade, and troop movement.

Why were satrapies useful?

They allowed Persia to divide its huge empire into smaller regions that were easier to govern.

Why was the Royal Road important?

It helped Persia communicate, trade, move troops, and control its large empire.

Cyrus the Great

A Persian ruler known for generally tolerating the religions and customs of conquered peoples.

Cyrus and the Jews

Cyrus allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem, showing religious tolerance toward conquered peoples.

Why did Persian religious tolerance help the empire?

It reduced resistance and helped conquered peoples accept Persian rule.

Qanats

Underground irrigation systems that transported water to farmland in Persia's dry environment.

Apadana

A large ceremonial palace at Persepolis that demonstrated Persian wealth and royal power.

Political propaganda

The use of buildings, art, or messages to demonstrate a ruler's power and authority.

Athens

A Greek city-state that developed a direct democracy where male citizens voted directly on decisions.

Direct democracy

A government in which citizens vote directly on laws and political decisions.

Roman Republic

A Roman government in which citizens elected officials and political power was shared among institutions such as the Senate.

Athens vs. Roman Republic

Athens used direct democracy, while the Roman Republic used elected officials to govern.

Who was excluded from political participation in Athens and Rome?

Women, enslaved people, foreigners, and children were generally excluded from citizenship and voting.

Peloponnesian War

A 27-year conflict between Athens and Sparta that ended with Sparta defeating Athens.

Cause of the Peloponnesian War

Sparta feared the growing power and influence of Athens.

Effect of the Peloponnesian War

The Greek city-states were weakened, making Greece more vulnerable to future conquest.

Why did the Peloponnesian War help Macedonia?

The war weakened the Greek city-states, making it easier for Macedonia to conquer Greece.

Roman aqueducts

Structures that transported freshwater to Roman cities and supported large populations.

Roman concrete

A durable building material that allowed Romans to construct large and strong structures.

Pax Romana

A period of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire.

How did Roman engineering support the Pax Romana?

Aqueducts, roads, and strong buildings supported cities, trade, communication, and stability throughout the empire.

Why did Rome transition from Republic to Empire?

Political conflict, inequality, powerful military generals, civil wars, and the rise of Augustus weakened the Republic.

Augustus Caesar

The first Roman emperor who gained power after defeating his political rivals.

Roman political evolution

Monarchy → Republic → Empire.

Legalism

A Chinese philosophy that emphasized strict laws, harsh punishments, obedience, and strong centralized government.

Confucianism

A Chinese philosophy that emphasized education, family, respect for elders, moral behavior, and social harmony.

Legalism vs. Confucianism

Legalism used strict laws and punishment to create order, while Confucianism used education, relationships, and moral behavior to create order.

Qin Dynasty

Chinese dynasty from 221-206 BCE that used Legalism and strong centralization.

Han Dynasty

Chinese dynasty from 206 BCE-220 CE that used Confucianism and a centralized bureaucracy.

Qin government

The Qin used Legalism, strict laws, standardized systems, and strong centralized control.

Han government

The Han used Confucian principles, educated officials, and a centralized bureaucracy.

Great Wall of China

A defensive structure built and expanded to protect China from northern groups and help unify the empire.

Human cost of the Great Wall

The project required massive amounts of labor and caused great hardship for workers.

Terra Cotta Warriors

A large collection of clay soldiers created to protect Qin Shi Huangdi in the afterlife.

Qin Shi Huangdi

The first emperor of a unified China who had enormous centralized power.

What do the Great Wall and Terra Cotta Warriors show?

They show the enormous power of Qin Shi Huangdi and his ability to command massive labor projects.

Han economic control

The Han government controlled important industries, taxed agriculture and trade, and used labor for public projects.

Effect of Han economic centralization

It increased government revenue and strengthened the state.

Silk Roads

Trade networks that connected regions of Asia and helped spread goods, ideas, and religions.

Maurya Empire

An ancient Indian empire from 322-185 BCE that became associated with Ashoka and the spread of Buddhism.

Ashoka

A Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism and promoted peace and moral behavior.

Ashoka's conversion

Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism led him to promote peace, tolerance, and moral behavior instead of military conquest.

Ashoka's Edicts

Messages carved on rocks and pillars that promoted moral behavior, tolerance, compassion, and peaceful conduct.

Effect of Ashoka's Edicts

They spread Buddhist and moral ideas throughout the Maurya Empire.

Hinduism

An Indian religious tradition based on beliefs such as karma, dharma, reincarnation, and moksha.

Karma

The belief that actions affect a person's future.

Dharma

Duties and responsibilities that a person should follow.

Reincarnation

The belief that a person is reborn after death.

Moksha

Release from the cycle of reincarnation.

Caste system

A social hierarchy that affected a person's status, occupation, and opportunities.

Hinduism and the caste system

Hindu beliefs about karma and dharma helped reinforce social hierarchy and the caste system.

Gupta Empire

An Indian empire from about 320-550 CE known as a Golden Age of cultural and intellectual achievements.

Gupta Golden Age

A period of major achievements in mathematics, science, art, literature, and culture.

Gupta mathematics

Gupta scholars contributed to the concept of zero and the decimal system.

Gupta art

Gupta artists created sculptures, cave paintings, and Buddhist murals.

Gupta literature

Gupta literature included works written in Sanskrit, including works by Kalidasa.

Maya Civilization

A Mesoamerican civilization known for agriculture, cities, mathematics, calendars, astronomy, and writing.

Slash-and-burn agriculture

A farming technique in which vegetation is cleared and burned to prepare land for crops.

Maize

Corn; a major Maya crop that supported large populations and was important in food and religious practices.

Why was maize important to the Maya?

It provided food and was also used in drinks, ceremonies, and religious practices.

Maya calendar

A sophisticated system used to track time, agriculture, and religious ceremonies.

Maya concept of zero

The Maya independently developed and used the mathematical concept of zero.

Why are Maya achievements important?

They show that Maya civilization had advanced mathematics, astronomy, calendars, agriculture, and record keeping.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold most political, social, and economic power.

Women in Athens

Athenian women had limited rights and were excluded from political life.

Women in Persia

Persian women generally had more economic rights than Athenian women, and some could own property or businesses.

Women in the Maya civilization

Maya society was patriarchal, but women had important religious and family roles and could help form political alliances through marriage.

Gender comparison

Athens, Persia, and the Maya were patriarchal societies, but women's rights and responsibilities varied between them.

Gupta trade goods

Textiles, gems, steel, and spices.

Mediterranean trade goods

Olives, wine, and metal.

How did trade spread Buddhism?

Merchants and missionaries traveled along trade routes such as the Silk Roads and helped spread Buddhism.

Trade and cultural diffusion

Trade routes spread goods as well as religions, ideas, technologies, and cultures.

Delian League

An alliance of Greek city-states originally created to defend against Persia.

Athenian Acropolis

A major collection of buildings in Athens, including the Parthenon, that demonstrated Athenian wealth and power.

How did Athens fund the Acropolis?

Athens used money from the Delian League and private donors to fund monuments.

Why was Athenian use of Delian League money controversial?

Allied city-states contributed money for defense, but Athens used some of the money to build monuments that demonstrated Athenian power.

Why were the Acropolis monuments politically important?

They displayed Athens' wealth, power, cultural achievements, and dominance over its allies.

Zoroastrianism

A major religion associated with ancient Persia.

Persian economy

The Persian economy depended heavily on agriculture, including wheat, barley, and dates.

Greek geography

Mountains separated Greek city-states, while coastlines and natural harbors encouraged trade and seafaring.

Greek achievements

Greeks made major contributions to philosophy, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, engineering, art, and theater.

Socrates

A Greek philosopher who discussed ethics, knowledge, and human behavior.

Plato

A Greek philosopher and student of Socrates who wrote about politics, reality, and philosophy.

Aristotle

A Greek philosopher who studied politics, science, ethics, and many other subjects.

Roman economy

The Roman economy depended on agriculture, trade, manufacturing, taxation, and slavery.

Roman social structure

Roman society was based on status, family lineage, gender, and wealth, with men dominating families.

Roman expansion

Rome expanded through military conquest around the Mediterranean.

Confucius

The founder of Confucianism.

Five Relationships

Confucian relationships that taught people to respect authority and fulfill their social duties.

Civil service exam

A system based on Confucian teachings that allowed qualified men to become government officials.

Why did Han rulers support Confucianism?

It provided moral foundations for government and promoted education, respect for authority, and social stability.

Qin achievements

The Qin standardized Chinese writing, weights, measures, currency, and built roads, canals, and the Great Wall.

Han achievements

The Han supported Confucianism and made advances in paper, technology, transportation, and trade.

Maurya achievements

The Maurya developed roads and irrigation systems and supported agriculture and trade.

Gupta economy

The Gupta economy was supported by farming, textiles, and trade.

Buddhism

The religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama that teaches that suffering is caused by desire and that following the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path leads toward Nirvana.

Siddhartha Gautama

The founder of Buddhism.