Wold History Exam 2

Homer

Greek poet, author of The Iliad and The Odyssey (~750-700 BCE).

Carthage

Powerful North African city-state, rival to Rome; founded around 814 BCE, destroyed in 146 BCE.

Sophists

Greek teachers of philosophy and rhetoric (5th century BCE).

Minoan Civilization

Early civilization on Crete, precursor to Mycenaean Greece (~2000-1450 BCE).

Etruscans

Influential civilization in Italy (~900-400 BCE), key to early Roman culture.

Punic Wars

Series of wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 BCE).

Hagia Sophia

Byzantine architectural marvel, originally a church; completed in 537 CE under Justinian.

Peloponnesian War

Conflict between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BCE).

Rashidun

The four 'Rightly Guided' caliphs after Muhammad's death (632-661 CE).

Qur’an

The holy book of Islam, compiled after Muhammad's death (7th century CE).

Plato

Foundational Greek philosopher who lived from 428-348 BCE.

Aristotle

Foundational Greek philosopher who lived from 384-322 BCE.

Kaaba

The sacred shrine in Mecca central to Islamic worship; re-sanctified in 630 CE.

Hannibal

Carthaginian general, famous for crossing the Alps to attack Rome during the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE).

Visigoths

Germanic tribe that sacked Rome in 410 CE.

Augustus

First Roman emperor (reigned 27 BCE – 14 CE), established the Empire.

Five Good Emperors

Series of effective Roman emperors (96-180 CE).

Diocletian

Roman emperor (reigned 284-305 CE) who split the empire into Eastern and Western halves.

Constantine

Roman emperor (reigned 306-337 CE) who legalized Christianity in 313 CE with the Edict of Milan.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor (reigned 527-565 CE); known for the Corpus Juris Civilis.

Theodora

Byzantine empress (reigned 527-565 CE); known for her partnership with Justinian.

Leo the Isaurian

Byzantine emperor (reigned 717-741 CE), key figure in the Iconoclastic Controversy.

Five Pillars of Faith

Fundamental practices in Islam, established during Muhammad's lifetime (7th century CE).

Cordoba

Center of learning and culture in Islamic Spain, during the Umayyad rule (756-1031 CE).

Crisis of the 3rd Century

Period of instability in the Roman Empire (235-284 CE).

Umayyads

One of the two major Islamic dynasties; ruled from 661-750 CE.

Abbasids

One of the two major Islamic dynasties; ruled from 750-1258 CE.

Iconoclastic Controversy

Debate over the use of religious images in the Byzantine Empire (726-843 CE).

Mycenaean Culture

Early Greek civilization known for its palatial structures and warrior aristocracy (~1600-1100 BCE).

Dark Ages of Greece

Period marked by colonization and the rise of the polis (~1100-500 BCE).

Political Structure of Athens

Characterized by democracy, philosophy, and arts (~500-400 BCE).

Political Structure of Sparta

Militaristic society focused on discipline and warfare.

Persian Wars

Unification of Greek city-states against the Persian Empire (499-449 BCE).

Peloponnesian War

Conflict between Athens and Sparta leading to the decline of Athens (431-404 BCE).

Alexander the Great

Conqueror who spread Greek culture across the known world (336-323 BCE).

Hellenistic Age

Period following Alexander’s death, characterized by the spread of Greek culture.

Fall of the Roman Republic

Shift from a republic to an imperial system marked by figures like Julius Caesar and Augustus.

Christianity in the Roman Empire

Became the dominant religion after Constantine legalized it in 313 CE.

The Five Good Emperors

Era known for stability and prosperity within the Roman Empire (96-180 CE).

Fall of the Roman Empire

Caused by Germanic invasions and internal instability.

Byzantine Empire

Established after the fall of Rome, preserving Roman traditions and culture.

Life of Muhammad

Major religious figure in Islam, whose revelations laid the foundation for the faith (570-632 CE).

Rightly Guided Caliphs

The first four caliphs who led the Muslim community after Muhammad’s death.

Umayyad Islamic Expansion

The Umayyads expanded the Islamic empire into Spain (661-750 CE).

Abbasid Golden Age

Period of cultural and intellectual flourishing in the Islamic world (750-1258 CE).

Islamic Cultural Contributions

Advancements in various fields during the Abbasid period impacting Western civilization.