Review Terms for Exam 2

A collection of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes, covering key concepts related to ancient civilizations, philosophies, and significant historical events.

Harappan Civilization

An ancient civilization that flourished in the Indus Valley around 2500 BCE, known for its advanced urban planning and architecture.

Aryans vs. Dravidians

Two distinct groups in ancient Indian society. Dravidians were conquered by Aryans, Aryans were Indo-European tribe who gave Sanskrit, Hinduism, vedas, and the caste system to ancient India.

Sanskrit

Earliest Indo-European written language in India, often found in religious writing like vedas.

Vedas

Written composition of religious nature, hymns, and chants, but also info about Aryan society. Rigveda is the most famous of the Vedas.

Castes/Varnas

The four social classes in Hindu society: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), and Shudras (laborers). Each caste has more subdivisions (jatis).

samsara

Hinduism's basic belief: reincarnation, being reborn over and over until reaching moksha (liberation).

atman

Hinduism’s basic belief: eternal self or soul in some aspects.

karma

Sanskrit word meaning action. Every action has an equal reaction, good or bad in the future. Functions in harmony with dharma.

dharma

Duty, virtue, morality. What you should do in life. Everyone’s dharma is different depending on gender, occupation, social standing, etc.

Hinduism

Aryan introduced, polytheistic, some European roots, different branches based of preference for gods.

Vishnu

Hindu solar deity, patron god who protects humans, occasionally takes human form.

Shiva

Hindu god of destruction and rebirth, always representing as dancing, also occasionally takes human form.

Kali

Hindu mother goddess but also goddess of death. Represents the embodiment of ancient Indian attitudes toward women.

Jainism/Mahavira

Created by Mahavira who was born to the elite, but abandoned all comforts of life that got in the way with his soul achieving unity with the universal divine force. Died of starvation. Jainism is a derivative of Hinduism that centers on achieving a self-consciousness that frees the soul from perpetual reincarnation. To do this, avoid all comforts of life. Ahisma is the core belief in the idea of non-violence. Want to attain nirvana.

Buddhism/Buddha

Created by Siddhartha the Buddha who was sheltered by his father. Determined to avoid pain he trains in asceticism (the denial of world pleasures for self). Buddhism means the awakened one. Emphasizes that both hedonism and asceticism are wrong. Ride the moderate path.

Dharma

Teachings of the Buddha collected into a body of religious law. Central themes include the cause of all suffering is desire and the importance of achieving nirvana.

nirvana

State of blissfulness achieved by following the Dharma, contemplation, and meditation, achievable on earth by following 4 noble truths and a state of mind.

eight-fold path

Eight aspects of life all of which are to be integrated into everyday life.

Chandragupta Maurya

The founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India, credited with unifying India.

Ashoka (Asoka)

The third Mauryan emperor, known for his promotion of Buddhism and his efforts to govern peacefully.

Kushans

An ancient dynasty that ruled over a large area of northern India and parts of Central Asia, known for its cultural syncretism and trade along the Silk Road. Relatives were the Yuezhi and coins were contribution.

Kanishka

Kushan king who adopted Indian culture, spreads Mahayana Buddhism.

Guptas

An ancient Indian dynasty that ruled during the Golden Age of India, known for advancements in science, mathematics, art, and literature. Rulers were all Indian and favor Hinduism. White huns break them up and in result more local royal courts sponsor arts.

Mahabharata

BHAGAVAD GITA

War between cousins for control of empire. The hero is Arjuna and the main character is Vasudeva who is the supreme god Vishnu.

Ramayana

Account of fictional ruler Rama. Includes both religious and moral lessons.

Upanishads

Written by priests to organize religious ideas. Less about the gods themselves and more focused on meditation, philosophy, and the nature of ultimate reality.

Shang Dynasty

The first historically documented dynasty of China. cities have walls, palaces, and tombs. Worship is monotheistic to god Shang Di. Orcale bone script, human sacrifice Fu Hao, Yin yang, 4 social classes.

Zhou

longest ruling Chinese dynasty. Practice feudalism warring sates follows. It initiated the Mandate of Heaven, leading to periodic dynastic changes.

Tian

The idea or concept of heaven. Chinese rulers rule under the Mandate of tian (heaven) to justify their rule.

Feudalism

A political system where local lords govern land in exchange for military support, typical in dynasties such as the Zhou.

Period of warring states

A time of political fragmentation in ancient China during the late Zhou dynasty, characterized by rival states vying for dominance before the unification under the Qin.

Qin Shi Huangdi

The first emperor of a unified China, known for centralizing the state, standardizing currencies and measurements, and beginning the construction of the Great Wall. Wang=king, huangdi=emperor created calligraphy the skill for writing in this new standardized form becomes an art

Silk Road

An ancient trade route that connected China to the Mediterranean, facilitating trade and cultural exchange. Under Han dynasty, China takes control.

Han Dynasty

A major Chinese dynasty that followed the Qin, marked by significant developments in arts, technology, and trade, and known for consolidating the foundation of imperial China. Gives lasting contributions like the invention of paper, the beginning of the Chinese civil service examination, and that most people today call themselves Han Chinese.

Liu Bang

The founder of the Han Dynasty, originally a peasant, who rose to power after overthrowing the Qin dynasty. He is known for establishing a stable government and promoting Confucianism. He rewards family members and friends with land in other kingdoms.

Han Wudi

Han will reach the highest under him. Known for expansion of china. forced landowners to divide their lands upon their death to all of their sons, as a results the wealth was difficult to preserve. Didn't;t like commercial trade, but wanted government monopolies. Sells positions in the government and military to raise money.

Wang mang

End of Western han: Wang mang self proclaims himself as ruler, followed both legalism and Confucianism which are contradictory satisfying neither the rich or the poor. The Red Eyebrow rebellion led to wang mang’s downfall.

Yellow turban rebellion

A peasant uprising in China against the Han Dynasty, initiated by followers of the Daoist teachings led by Zhang Jue. It aimed at addressing agrarian distress and promoted the idea of a utopian society.

Confucianism/Confucius

Founded by Confucius, a government official who produced texts on the proper way of governing which became the basis for Confucianism. Will introduce ethical principles into government. He believed society is a reflection of the intended order of heaven itself. Confucianism encourages responsible behaviors, service to the ruler, and filial piety. Appeals to the ruling class. his teaching written into Analects.

Daoism/Lao Zi

Dao/Tao means the way. The dao is the way of nature. Things that are not natural are not worthwhile. Human king, armies, etc are not worth honoring. To become one with dao is through wuwei which means inaction. Appeals to lower class. Lao Zi is most important Daosim philopsopher who wrote the infulential text the Dao Da Jing or Laozi. (The book of reason and Virtue)

Mencius

Follows Confucianism but adds more elements. Greater empahsis on the natural goodness of human beings. Mencius expects rulers to behave in positive ways for subjects or else will be removed by the heavens.

legalism

Philosophy from Li Si who argued that humans are not inheritable good but weak and corruptible. Humans must be forced by strict laws and punishments.

Sui dynasty

The short lived Sui dynasty emerged in 581 AD and is known for unifying China after centuries of division, as well as initiating significant building projects like the Grand Canal and the reconstruction of the Great Wall.

Sui Yangdi

Tyrant. Built a grand canal improving communication and ability to move military. Tried to conquer Korea.

Shotoku Taishi

Prepared Japan’s first real constitution in seventeen articles based on Confucian principles. First Japanese aristocrat to understand basic Buddhist doctrines. Adopts a lot of Chinese culture during medieval Era such as writing, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

Tang dynasty

2nd medieval Chinese dynasty. Ongoing struggle with northern barbarians.

Tang Taizong

2nd emperor of Tang dynasty and considered one for the greatest rulers in Chinese history for his reforms in government and laws, his religious tolerance, and prosperity China enjoyed under him. He welcomed all faiths, and embraced different ethnicities, he was open to advice and listened carefully.

Wu Zetian

Concubine of Tang Taizong. After husbands death married his son and became the actual power behind the emperor. One of the most effective and controversial monarchs in China’s history. As a leader she favors Buddhism.

Tang Xuanzong

Granson of Wu Zetian. Under him Tang dynasty will be at golden age. He abloished the death penalty, imporved the economy through security on silk road, increased maritime trading, decreed financial reforms, constructed temples, built roads, and improved industry. Built a professional army but got distracted by a girl and successors are bad.

Song dynasty

Dominated by Confucian bureaucracy. Period of invention and transformation. First known moveable type system of printing created here and new methods of rice cultivation. Loses control of Silk Road, gunpowder invention, and foot binding for women.

Wang Anshi

Reformers who cuts government expenditures in half, loans money to peasant farmers, fixes prices, and builds schools. Sparked academic controversies. Reforms were unpopular and forced to resign.

Minoans

An ancient civilization that arose on the island of Crete, known for its advanced architecture, art, and trade networks. They were natural sea people who engaged in long distance trade. Focused on Mediterranean sea. Some natural resources but trade makes others available. Form Linear A that is undecipherable.

thera

A small island in the Aegean sea. A volcano changed its geography permanently many former sites submerged in volcanic dust. Provides us with information about Minoans.

Knossos

Minos, the most famous Minoan king, built and lived in this palace. The complicated floor plan gives us the term labyrinth. Did not have outer protective walls nor did the city showing their isolation.

Fresoces

A type of ancient Minoan pottery known for its vibrant colors and intricate designs, depicting scenes of nature, daily life, and religious rituals.

Mycenae

Known for replacing the Minoans primarily known for the age of heroes where Trojan war stories emerge. Trade routes were sailors and traders. Introduced linear b that is decipherable, but used it for lists and keeping order. Responsible for Trojan war controlled southern Greece. Died out because of earthquake storms, sea peoples, etc, but unknown.

Citadel of Mycenae

They city the Mycenaean are named after, has protective walls showing emphasis on military matters.

Tholos tomb

Tombs where royal family members were buried, built into hillsides and shaped like beehives.

Tomb of Atreus

The Treasury of Atreus or Agamemnon is the largest and best preserved on the nine tholos tombs found in Mycenae. Gave us great insight.

Mask of Agamemnon

Agamemnon was a famous Mycenaean king. Supposedly from a Mycenaean tomb. Shows that kings were buried with wealth and gold.

basileus

Kings who ruled the states, some had more than one at a time like Sparta.

During Mycenaean times these were village chieftains and by the time in ancient Greeks apex of power, they were considered royal. Eventually they were subordinated by Greek aristocracy.

Wanax

Lawagetas

Governors

Gwasilies

Mycenaean hierarchy:

Refers to a king, the head of society

“Leader of the people”, served under the king

Supervise territories under the control of the wanax and lawagetas

Similar to a town or village mayor. In later Greek eras it will refer to the top of the hierarchy.

Bronze age

The period characterized by the use of bronze tools and weapons, significant advancements in trade, art, and architecture, and the rise of early civilizations in the Mediterranean and Near East.

Ionians

Dorians

Hellene’s sons become ancestors of the four main divisions of Greeks, the Aeolians, Dorians, Ionians, and Achaeans. Three traditional regions with distinct language dialect in archaic greece, the aiolians, dorains, and Ionians.

aristocracy

A form of government in which power is held by a small group of nobility or elite individuals, often tied to land ownership and hereditary status. rule of the best

Delphi

Greeks and others consulted oracles for prophecies. The most famous of these is the Oracle at Delphi.

arete

Excellence, a virtue important to Greek society. Excellence can occur in civic spirit, athletics, war, art, etc.

Greek alphabet

Greek alphabet replaces linear B. Differs from the Phoenician alphabet in that the Greeks include vowels. The Latin alphabet we used to day is based off the Greek alphabet.

Homer; Iliad&Odyssey

Greek poetmost fmaous wroks were the Iliad (about the Trojan war) and the Odyssey (about the return of Odysseus after ten years of fighting in war)

Hesiod: Theogony

Greek poet most famous work was the Theogony, which was emblematic of common Greek identity at the time. Hesiod also wrote of the origin of the Greek gods.

Polis

A city-state in ancient Greece, characterized by its own governments, culture, and identity.

Oligarchy

rule of the few

Democracy

A system of government in which power rests with the people, who elect representatives. rule by the mob

tyranny

rule seized by an individual usually through overthrow

polity

rule by many could also be known as republic form of government

acropolis

inner fortress, usually contained the Treasury and located on a fortified hill

agora

the center of public and economic activity

hoplite

heavily armored fighters, typically middle class farmers who had a vested interest in protecting the state, became the backbone for later Greek military

colony

a settlement in a new territory established by a group of people from a parental state, often for trade or resource extraction.

synoikism

the political unification of various communities into a single city-state in ancient Greece, often involving the merging of households and resources.

phalanx

a large body of closely packed hoplites

Lykourgos

was a legendary lawgiver in ancient Sparta, credited with establishing the Spartan constitution and military-oriented society. developed a warrior class to manage the helots

rhetra

a set of legal codes or reforms traditionally attributed to Lykourgos, guiding Spartan society and governance. cultivated a warrior society

ephors

a group of five senior Spartan magistrates who held significant power, responsible for overseeing the education of youth and the conduct of citizens.

helots

The state-owned serfs of ancient Sparta, primarily descended from the conquered population of Messenia, who worked the land and served Spartan citizens.

arkhons

a group of leaders in ancient Greece who were responsible for the administration of various aspects of governance.

Areopagos

Boule

Gerousia

Evolve into a role similar to the supreme court

Wielded the most power for a council in athens

An adivsory council of 28 elders

Assembly

all of the citizen eligible to vote

Solon

An Athenian statesman and lawmaker who implemented democratic reforms and is known for his legal and economic changes in the 6th century BCE.

Peisistratidai

Took control of Athens after solon leftafter his death his sons took control of Athens and weretyrannical

Kleisthenes

Created new consitiution (1.10 new tribes, 2. all adult males become assembly members, 3. ostracism, 4.equality of laws/freedom of speech

expands boule and wants to reduce factionalism

Darius l of persia

A Persian king known for his administrative genius, expansion of the empire, and the construction of the Royal Road. He also established effective taxation and legal systems.

Xerxes l of Perisa

Son of Darius I, he invaded Greece during the Second Persian invasion, known for battles at Thermopylae and Salamis.

Marathon battle

A pivotal battle in 490 BC where the Athenian forces defeated the Persian army, marking a significant moment in the Greco-Persian Wars.

Thermopylai battle

A famous battle fought in 480 BC during the second Persian invasion of Greece, where a small Greek force held off a much larger Persian army.

Themistokles

A prominent Athenian politician and general who played a key role in the naval victory at Salamis during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Salamis battle

A naval battle fought in 480 BC where the Greek fleet, primarily led by Athenian forces under Themistocles, decisively defeated the Persian navy, changing the course of the Greco-Persian Wars.

delian league

An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens, formed in 478 BC to continue the fight against Persia and ensure mutual defense.

perikles

A prominent Athenian statesman during the Golden Age of Athens, known for promoting arts, democracy, and the construction of the Parthenon.

alkibiades

A prominent Athenian statesman and general during the Peloponnesian War, known for his shifting allegiances and influence on Athenian politics.