World Civ Midterm

Myceneans

first advanced/distinctively Greek civilization, mainland Greece, 1600-1100 BCE, warfare+fortresses, linear B

Minoans

centered on Greek island of Crete, huge trading hub, linear A

Nile River

very consistent flooding patterns helped agriculture develop easier, brought biodiversity and fertility to desert helping this civilization thrive

Great Pyramid of Giza

ca. 2560 BCE, the largest and oldest Egyptian pyramid, built around 2560 BCE as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu and the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World.

Hieroglyphs

Egypt’s writing style, commonly on Papyrus

Rosetta Stone

decree on a stone in 3 different languages, helped us decipher hieroglyphs

The Steppes

“sea of grass” mainly pastures in mongolia/central asia, perfect for domestication of horses, never really urbanized

Indus/Harrapean Society

northwestern India, had advanced sewage systems including irrigation and toilets, had writing but still undeciphered

Monhenjo Daro

Indus society/city, relevant trade center

Harrapa

Indus city, relevant trade center

Erlitou

settlement→archelogical site (earliest discovered) ~2000 BCE (china)

Xia Dynasty

dont know if it was real, traditionally considered China's first dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BCE), though archaeological evidence is limited

Shang Dynasty

China's first historically verified dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE), known for bronze working, writing, and oracle bones.

Zhou Dynasty

China's longest-lasting dynasty (c. 1046–256 BCE), known for the Mandate of Heaven and the development of Confucianism and Daoism

Oracle Bones

1600 BCE (Shang Dynasty), used to predict/raise questions about future for ruler’s decisions, first examples of chinese writing, shows religious beliefs and day to day worries of ruler

Mandate of Heaven

Shang dynasty conquered, Zhou dynasty begins, claimed divine right to rule/endorsement of Heaven

Indo-European

a language family (Greek, Latin, romance, etc.)

Aryan

means noble, likely came from the steppes, displaced Harrapan people

The Vedas

sacred text, collection of songs, hymns, prayers —shows religious beliefs (polytheism, cosmic order)

Varna

indian class/caste system

Brahmins

highest Varna (priests), only they had access to writing

Kshatriyas

second highest Varna (warriors+aristocrats)

Vaishyas

3rd Varna (landowners+merchants)

Shudras

4th Varna (artisans, peasants, laborers)

Untouchables

lowest Varna (added later, those unclean or polluted by work)

Jati

subcastes of Varnas, guild-like organization, each had specific duties, thousands of these existed (sometimes could climb in status w/in their varna)

Karma

universal law of cause and effect, you are governed by your actions(dharma)

Dharma

moral duty, cosmic order of right action

Atman

vedic term for human soul

Brahman

vedic term for world soul

Moksha

release of Atman (human soul) from material world one day unites with Brahman (world) soul