World History Semester 1 study guide

Unit 1

Beginnings of Civilization

Culture

Beliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.

Artifacts

objects created by and used by humans

hunter-gatherers

Nomadic groups whose food supply depends on hunting animals and collecting plant foods

Paleolithic Era

called the old stone age (from 10,000 to 2.5 million years ago); they were concerned with food supply; they used stone as well as bone tools; they were nomadic hunters and gatherers.

Nomads

people who wander from place to place

Neolithic Era

the New Stone Age; when people learned to make fire and tools such as saws and drills

Domestication

the process of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans

Surplus

When they had more food than they needed, leading to specialization

civilization

A society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes

Specialization of Labor

The division of labor that aids the development of skills in a particular type of work

cultural diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another

Unit 1

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia

A region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that developed the first urban societies. In the Bronze Age this area included Sumer and the Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian empires, In the Iron Age, it was ruled by the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian empires.

Dynasty

a powerful family or group of rulers that maintains its position or power for some time

Cuneiform

The first form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge shaped stylus and clay tablets.

Polytheism

the belief in or worship of more than one god.

Hammurabi's Code

first written code/set of laws that all were expected to obey.

Phoenician's Alphabet

enterprising maritime trading culture that spread right across the Mediterranean during the first millennium BC. First form of language.

Persians

tolerant; bureaucracy; Cyrus the Great and Darius were the most famous rulers; Royal Road was their trade route and united empire

Cyrus The Great

A remarkable leader who managed to reunite he Persian Empire in a powerful kingdom. Under Cyrus, Persia began building an empire larger than any yet seen in the world

Judaism (Overall)

A religion with a belief in one god. It originated with Abraham and the Hebrew people. Yahweh was responsible for the world and everything within it. They preserved their early history in the Old Testament.

Judaism Foundation

Abraham and Moses

Jewish Beliefs

the belief in one God, and the importance of following the Ten Commandments

Jewish practices (not required)

1. Synagogues and Sabbath

2. Kosher dietary laws ("Keeping Kosher")

3. Awaiting the Messiah or "Messianic Age"

Jewish Sacred Text

Torah and Talmud

Monotheism

belief in only one God; Jews, Christians, Muslims

Hebrews

Early group of people who lived in lands between Mesopotamia and Egypt. They developed the religion Judaism.

Achievements of Mesopotamia

Cuneiform, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Hammurabi's Code, The wheel, the sail, the plow, irrigation systems and Bronze tools.

Unit 1

Ancient Egypt

Pharaoh

A king of ancient Egypt, considered a god as well as a political and military leader.

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

Hieroglyphics

ancient Egyptian writing system using picture symbols for ideas or sounds

Rosetta Stones

sites with texts presented in more than one language

Unit 1

Ancient India and China

Indus River Valley

A valley and early civilization along the Indus River, one of the longest rivers in the world.

Hinduism (Overall)

A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms

Hinduism founder

No founder

Hinduism beliefs and practices

Vegetarianism, reincarnation, karma, Moksha, Pilgrimage, and Dharma

Hinduism sacred text

Vedas

Hinduism Splits/Branches

Jainism, Buddhism (Siddhartha Gautama)

Varnas

Another word for the social classes in the Caste system that ranked people from high to low

What are the four levels of varnas in order from highest to lowest?

Brahmins, Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishya(herders, merchants, nobles), and Shudras (servants)

What are those outside of the varnas called? Why are they outside of the caste system?

Outcastes, due to grievous sins

Jainism

A religion that branched off from Hinduism and was founded by Mahavira; its belief is that everything has a soul, and its purpose was to cleanse the soul. Some were extreme aesthetics.

Buddhism (overview)

the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth

Buddhist founder

Siddhartha Gautama

Buddhist practice

4 noble truths and 8 fold path

Buddhist beliefs

1. no physical God

2. nothing is permanent

3. endless cycle of reincarnation (unless you achieve Enlightenment)

4. Obtaining Nirvana (cessation of suffering)

5. Eight-fold path

6. Six realms of re-birth

7. The Four Noble Truths

Buddhist texts (not required?)

Tripitaka

Buddhism Splits/Branches (not required)

Theravada and Mayhanna

Oracle Bones

animal bones carved with written characters which were used for telling the future

Mandate of Heaven

a political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source

Great Wall of China

world's longest man made structure built to keep invaders from the north out of China, started by the Qin Dynasty, expanded by the Han Dynasty,

Daoism/Taoism

Chinese religion that believes the world is always changing and is devoid of absolute morality or meaning. They accept the world as they find it, avoid futile struggles, and deviate as little as possible from 'the way' or 'path' of nature.

daoism/taoism

yin/yang

Confusianism

system of beliefs; taught that people need to have a sense of duty to faimly and community in order to bring peace to society.

Confusianism: History and Foundation

-used in the Han Dynasty

-The founder Confucius, traveled to different states looking for a ruler who would put his words or ideas into practice but he died without ever finding a ruler to advise because he was rejected

-his ideas were rejected because the analects were seen as impractical

Civil Service Exam

In China, it was an exam based on Confucian teachings that was used to select people for various government service jobs in the bureaucracy.

Unit 2

Greece and Persia

Athens

A democratic Greek polis who accomplished many cultural achievements, and who were constantly at war with Sparta.

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Sparta

Greek city-state that was ruled by an oligarchy, focused on military, used slaves for agriculture, discouraged the arts

Oligarchy

a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

Effects of Persian War

Golden Age, Peria declines, Tension between Athens + Sparta

Golden Age of Athens

a period of growth in ancient Athens in intellectual & and artistic learning, including drama, sculpture, poetry, philosophy, architecture, & science

Greek Philosiphers

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Socrates

Greek philosopher; socratic method--questioning; sentenced to death for corrupting Athens youth

Plato

Socrates' most well known pupil. Founded an academy in Athens.

Aristotle

A Greek Philosopher, taught Alexander the Great, started a famous school, studied with Plato

Pelopennesian War (know less)

A war lasting from 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases. Lead to a Spartan Victory, but ultimately to the Greek downfall as Philip 2 of Macedon was able to conquer it.

Alexander the Great

King of Macedonia who conquered Greece, Egypt, and Persia

Alexander the Great's achievements

Conquered Greece , Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Persia.

Alexander the Great death

Died of malaria

Hellenism/Hellenization

The influence of greek culture, jewish people were hellenized when they adopted greek customs

Brought on religious syncretism

Cyrus the Great

A remarkable leader who managed to reunite he Persian Empire in a powerful kingdom. Under Cyrus, Persia began building an empire larger than any yet seen in the world

Royal Road

A road for the government use built by the ancient Persian ruler Darius which helped unite the empire

Charter of Human Rights (long)

sets out the basic rights, freedoms and responsibilities of the Victorian people. It requires bodies such as the Victorian Parliament, state and local government departments, organisations and people delivering government services to act in a manner that complies with and upholds the basic human rights in the Charter.

Unit 2

Rome

Republic

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting

Patricians and Plebeians

From the start the roman society was split into two classes. The patricians who were considered to be the upper class could serve as priests, senators and magistrate. The plebeians were the commoners- farmers, laborers and artisans. The wealth did not define the class, some plebeians were rich and more patricians could be poor.

12 Tables

12 laws; the earliest Roman code of laws

balanced government

Senate, Consuls, Dictator

Senate

A group of 300 men elected to govern Rome in the Roman Republic.

Consuls

Two officials from the patrician class were appointed each year of the Roman Republic to supervise the government and command the armies

dictators in Rome

Assumed absolute power during times of emergency; led to corruption

Effect of the Punic Wars

Rome has dominance over the Mediterranean region.

Julius Caesar

Part of the first triumvirate who eventually became "emperor for life". Was assassinated by fellow senators in 44 B.C.E.

Pax Romana

A period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.