World Civ. Astericks Part 2 (sep 10, 25)`

Neo-Assyrian Empire (911-612 BCE)

Mesopotamian empire, considered the first true empire, focused on the enrichment of the imperial center at the expense of subjugated the ruler the periphery, superior military organization and technology, used terror tactics for resistance/rebellion- King Ashur center of universe, all land belonged to him, supreme ruler the and .the

Medes

Rivals of Neo-Assyrians and Persians, inhabited the Zagros Mountains to modern Tehran, expert horsemen and archers/ had large and powerful cavalry, first Iranians to achieve complex level political org. defeated by Persians

Cyrus (559-522 BCE)

Founder of the Persian Empire, 6th century ruler, conquered the Medes unified the Iranian Kingdoms, son of a princess and a general, ruled the empire and combined the Medes/Persians, lots of conquest

Satrap

Appointed governor of a province in the Persian Empire. Was a relative or associate of the king; duty was to collect tributes and send them to king (Metals/ food)

Xerxes

known as Xerxes the great, the 4th king Persian emp., crushed rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, completed projects at Persepolis, Won the Battle of Thermopylae against the Spartans and successfully sacked Athens

Zoroastrianism

Dualistic Persian relig. Based on the teachings of Zoroaster, forces of light and truth battle with forces of darkness/falsehood, world created by Ahura Mazda (good), the world ruined by evil deity Angra Mainyu

First Temple

Known as King Solomon’s Temple, a grand ancient temple, related to Christianity, took 7 years to build, used fine materials, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar

Diaspora

a large group of people who leave their ancestral homeland and spread to other regions across the world, relates to when the Assyrians destroyed northin kingdom israel and deported the population. Scattered across mediterranean- influence christianity/ islam

Phoenician (Purple People)

Ethnic group in Levant, known for ships, trading, and alphabet, refered to in Hebrew scripture as Canaanites, known as purple ppl bc of major trade for rare expensive purple dye

Carthage

City in modern day Tunisia, emblematic of trading aspirations and activities of merchants in the Mediterranean, pottery and archaeological remains show extensive trade, a modern-day.strong navy, Northern Africa, Inner Circle

Veda (Knowledge)

Rhymes, hymns, and explanatory texts composed and orally transmitted in Sanskrit by Brahman priests- shaped society and religious rituals of Vedic ppl, central text for Hinduism

Indo-European Lang. Family

Languages that are related in vocab and grammar, Indo- European speakers called themselves “Arya” (noble), originating from animal herding warriors speaking the Indo-European Sanskrit language; they migrated and lang. spread

Varna (Color, Social class)

sanskrit for color, refer to ranked social groups in Vedic society- brahmin- priests/scholars, Kshatriya (warriors/ officials), Vaishya (Merchants) Shudra (Peasants) Dalit, Untouchable

Jainism

Belief system established by Mahavira, emphasis on the holiness of life force animating all living creatures, Jains practiced ahimsa: strict nonviolence, challenged Brahmanism

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) or Buddha

Protected from suffering as a kid, leaves and goes on journey of enlightenment, realizes that to be human means pain and suffering, “mortify flesh” how to eliminate suffering through wisdom and ethical behavior, discipline

4 Noble Truths

life is suffering, suffering arises from desire,, solution to suffering lies in curbing desire, desire can be curbed by the eightfold pawth, right of views, aspirations, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and meditation

Mahayana (Greater Vehicle)

the "Great Vehicle," characterized by the belief that the Buddha is a divine figure and that enlightened beings called bodhisattvas help others reach salvation

Vishnu (The preserver)

2nd of the three vedic (Hindu) deities, signify existence, the supreme protector and the preserver of the universe

Shi (servitor) class

men distinguished by skills of literacy, many thinkers will emerge from this class

Confucius

Radical thinker whose ideas about ethical living were centered on ren (benevolence), Li (Proper ritual(, and xiao (filial piety toward ancestors living and dead) shaped politically engaged superior gentlemen, transformed society and gov. in East Asia. 1st known scholar, behavior should adhere to moral code

Dao (way)

translates literally to "way," "path," or "method" in Chinese philosophy (Daoism), representing both the natural order of the universe and the right way to live in harmony with it, way of following the universe

Mengzi aka “Mencius” (385?-312?BCE)

disciple of Confucius, believed that we are motivated to do good bc of our nature, everyone is born w/ seeds of goodness, nature is perfectible, state is the moral instrument

Mandate of Heaven

Religious ideology estab. by Zhou, the right to rule is established by a mandate of heaven, ruler is known as the “son of heaven”

Xunzi (310-210 BCE)

high-level government official, believed that humans are naturally evil/wayward and to reach human perfection/refinement is through state rituals, highly normative strict imposed standards, the state creates rules, rules create morality

Han Fei (D. 233 BCE)

Chinese state minister, follower Xunzi, focuses on the ruler and social hierarchies, uninterested in ethics, focus on ruler who maintains order strict laws- legalism

First Emperor of Qin (r. 221-210 BCE)

Zheng of Qin (name he was born with) or Qin Shi Huang, first emperor, the ruler is above law and state, enforces will with strict laws, harsh punishment, use fear to achieve orderly state

Mycenean Civilization (2000-1450 bce)

Hilltop fortresses, palace states, mainland competitors of Minoans who took over Crete 1400 bce, migrating to greece from central Europe, bought indo-european lang., chariots, metalworking skill, Greek long-distance main BCE Greece chariots

Polis

Greek urban center and the rural territory it controlled were led by appointed aristocrats

Hoplites

new type of warface/solider, was a heavily armed foot soldier in ancient Greece whose main job was to fight in a tight, close phalanx formation

Coinage

invented 6th century bce, spread throughout greek world and beyond, piece of metal whose weight and purity had value- allowed for rapid exchange of goods, storage of wealth and recordkeeping

Democritus (c 460-475 bce)

thinker in ancient Greece deduced the existence of the atom and postulated that there was such a thing as an indivisible particle

Herodotus (c 485-425)

Father of History, wroteThe Histories,first major narrative history of the Western world. H

Helots

State-owned serfs or enslaved people, made up the majority of the population in Sparta,

Assembly

the sovereign governing body and central legislative institution of democratic city-states like Athens

Persian Wars

persians v greeks, Ionian revolt led to the war, Darius 1 (Persian king) wanted to punish greece for not letting him invade, battle of salamis key point, Athenians won battle on the Aegean Sea, Greek victory

Plato (ca 428-347)

student of Socrates, founded academy, assumed that all knowledge is innate and it is revealed by asking, allegory of the cave, proposed rigid social/pol. hierarchies

Peloponnesian War

Athens v Sparta, lead to the surrender of ahtens, spartans taking over leads to more opposition, 27 years, ended golden age of greece and fractured stability

Philip II of Macedonia (One Eye) (359-336 bce)

North of Greece, an improved army with hoplites defeated city-states like athens and thebes, killed by bodyguard, son alexander the great

Alexandria

Port city in Egypt, named after alexander the great, model for the Hellenistic world, multi-ethnic population, lots of trade, rich, library of Alexandria, IMPRESSIVE

Hellenism

Process of individual culture of greek city states gave way to a uniform culture, common identity, culture emphasized common lang, style, politics; major emphasis on language

Chandragupta Maurya (c.324-301)

founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India, ruling from approximately 324 to 297 BCE, souths asias first empire, elepahant calvary,

Ashoka (273-232 bce)

Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson, conquered Kalinga, disgusted by violence, converted to Buddhism, urged nonviolence, characterized by generosity and religious tolerance

Kushan Empire

Turkish speaking nomads, high deity, critical role in formation of silk road,

Silk Road

center for the spread of new ideas and goods, lots and lots of trade, more than 5000 miles, linking China, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean

Stirrup

Riding tool that allows for better balance, emerged from the Silk Road, changed warfare and allowed for better battle techniques, made out of metal where the ball of your foot rests

Theravada (Teaching of Elders)

Theravada Buddhism is the oldest surviving school of Buddhism and is primarily practiced across Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. It relies strictly on the Pali Canon, the earliest recorded teachings of the historical Buddha. The tradition emphasizes individual effort and monastic discipline to achieve personal enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Mahayana (greater vehicle)

a major tradition prevalent across East Asia that emphasizes the Bodhisattva ideal of delaying personal liberation to help save all living beings. It introduces a vast pantheon of cosmic Buddhas and adapts its practices through a diverse range of schools, including Zen and Pure Land. The tradition expands upon early teachings by incorporating newer texts known as the Mahayana Sutras and emphasizing the ultimate emptiness of all things.

bodhisattva

someone who delays their own entry into nirvana to choose to save other humans from suffering

Shang Yang of Qin

Divided the entire population. of the state into 10 household units, transformed the state into a powerful military entity, equality, strict punishment/ reward

Xiongnu

a powerful confederation of nomadic pastoral people who dominated much of Central Asia from the 3rd century BCE to the 5th century CE

Emperor Wu of Han “ Martial Emperor”

seventh and longest-reigning emperor of China's Han dynasty, ruling from 141 to 87 BCE, and is best known as the "Martial Emperor" (Wudi) for his vast military expansion, expensive military, salt and iron sold by state for funding, Confucianism

imperial autocracy

a system of government where a single supreme ruler—such as a tsar or emperor—holds absolute, centralized power over an empire without effective legal checks, balances, or popular representation

Sima Qian

Chinese historian, astronomer, and writer of the Han dynasty, castrated to finish history, covers 2000 years of history and 3 dynasties