History LOCK IN MIDTERM BLEHHHHH

Fertile Crescent

Region where the first civilizations developed due to fertile river valleys.

Sumer

First major Mesopotamian civilization.

Cuneiform

Wedge-shaped writing system developed by the Sumerians.

Ziggurat

Massive temple tower and most important building in a Sumerian city.

Sargon of Akkad

Empire builder who conquered Sumer and created Akkad.

Hammurabi

Babylonian king famous for Hammurabi's Code.

Epic of Gilgamesh

Famous Sumerian epic about a king seeking immortality.

Nimrod

Mighty hunter associated with the Tower of Babel.

Mesopotamia

Land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Narmer (Menes)

Pharaoh who unified Upper and Lower Egypt.

Nile River

The source of Egypt's prosperity; "Gift of the Nile."

Ma'at

Egyptian concept of truth, balance, and order.

Hatshepsut

Famous female pharaoh.

Akhenaten

Pharaoh who promoted worship of one supreme god.

Ramesses II

Powerful Egyptian pharaoh and builder.

Rosetta Stone

Key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Book of the Dead

Egyptian guide to the afterlife.

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing system.

Abraham

Patriarch of Israel.

Moses

Leader of the Exodus from Egypt.

Passover

Event commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

David

Great king of Israel.

Solomon

Son of David; built the Temple.

Torah/Pentateuch

First five books of the Bible.

Covenant

Sacred agreement between God and His people.

Cyrus the Great

Founder of the Persian Empire.

Satrap

Persian provincial governor.

Zoroaster

Founder of Zoroastrianism.

Ahura Mazda

Supreme god in Zoroastrianism.

Brahman

Ultimate reality in Hinduism.

Karma

Actions that determine future rebirth.

Dharma

Moral duty and cosmic order in Hinduism.

Moksha

Freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Reincarnation

Belief in rebirth after death.

Brahmins

Priestly caste in Hinduism.

Kshatriyas

Warrior caste in Hinduism.

Vaishyas

Merchant and landowner caste in Hinduism.

Shudras

Laborer caste in Hinduism.

Siddhartha Gautama

The Buddha; founder of Buddhism.

Eightfold Path

Buddhist path toward ending suffering.

Confucius

Chinese philosopher who emphasized family and moral duty.

Laozi

Founder of Daoism.

Daoism

Chinese philosophy centered on living according to "The Way."

Filial Piety

Respect and devotion to family.

Qin Shi Huang

First emperor of a unified China.

Terra Cotta Army

Thousands of clay soldiers buried with Qin Shi Huang.

Silk Road

Major trade route connecting China to the West.

Athens

Greek city-state known for democracy and learning.

Sparta

Greek city-state known for military strength.

Polis

Greek city-state.

Draco

Athenian lawgiver known for harsh laws.

Solon

Athenian reformer who reduced the severity of laws.

Cleisthenes

Father of Athenian democracy.

Pericles

Leader during Athens' Golden Age.

Marathon (490 BC)

Greek victory over Persia.

Thermopylae (480 BC)

Persian victory; Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought here.

Salamis (480 BC)

Greek naval victory over Persia.

Leonidas

Spartan king who led the defense at Thermopylae.

Xerxes

Persian king during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Greco-Persian Wars

Conflict between the Greek city-states and Persia.

Peloponnesian War

War between Athens and Sparta.

Winner of Peloponnesian War

Sparta.

Delian League

Athenian-led alliance after the Persian Wars.

Herodotus

Father of History.

Thucydides

Historian of the Peloponnesian War.

Homer

Author of the Iliad and Odyssey.

Parthenon

Famous temple atop the Acropolis in Athens.

Acropolis

High hill in Athens that contained important buildings.

Socrates

Philosopher known for the Socratic Method.

Socratic Method

Teaching through questioning.

Plato

Student of Socrates; developed the Theory of Forms.

Theory of Forms

Plato's belief that true reality exists beyond the physical world.

Allegory of the Cave

Plato's story about ignorance and enlightenment.

Republic

Plato's work describing the ideal state.

Philosopher-Kings

Plato's ideal rulers.

Aristotle

Student of Plato; emphasized observation and science.

Philip II

Father of Alexander the Great.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian conqueror who defeated Persia.

Battle of Issus

Major victory of Alexander over Persia.

Hellenistic Age

Spread of Greek culture after Alexander's conquests.

Ptolemies

Rulers of Egypt after Alexander's death.

Seleucids

Rulers of Syria and Mesopotamia after Alexander's death.

Antigonids

Rulers of Macedonia and Greece after Alexander's death.

Roman Republic

Roman government established in 509 BC.

Consuls

Two chief executives elected annually in Rome.

Senate

Elite governing body of Rome.

Twelve Tables

First written Roman law code.

Plebeians

Common people of Rome.

Patricians

Elite upper-class Romans.

Tribune

Official who protected plebeian rights.

Punic Wars

Series of wars between Rome and Carthage.

Hannibal

Carthaginian general who invaded Italy.

Battle of Cannae

Rome's worst defeat against Hannibal.

Scipio

Roman general who defeated Hannibal.

Battle of Zama

Battle where Scipio defeated Hannibal.

Julius Caesar

Roman general and statesman who became dictator for life.

First Triumvirate

Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

Pompey

Roman general and member of the First Triumvirate.

Crassus

Wealthy Roman and member of the First Triumvirate.

Crossing the Rubicon

Caesar's point of no return.