APWH Unit 0

A.D

Anno Domini (in the year of our lord)

Analects

The book that Kong Fuzi wrote and that stresses the values and ideas of Confucianism.

Sumer

The world's first civilization, founded in Mesopotamia, which existed for over 3,000 years.

patriarchal/patriarchy

a form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe and descent is reckoned in the male line, with the children belonging to the father's clan or tribe.

Mesopotamia

(land between the rivers) The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; birthplace of the Sumerian and Babylonian Civilizations. Participated in state expansion and empire building

Zoroastrianism

One of the first monotheistic religions, particularly one with a wide following. It was central to the political and religious culture of ancient Persia.

Judaism

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.

diaspora

any group migration or flight from a country or region; dispersion. Particularly used in relation to Jews scattered by Romans in 70 CE or to Africans spread to new places during the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Hinduism

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

Buddhism

A religion with origins in IndiaMau in which Buddha's teachings that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire and suffering ceases when desire ceases. Enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth (reincarnation).

Confucianism

A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.

filial piety

In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Mandate of Heaven

A political theory developed during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China in which those in power were believed to have the the right to rule from divine authority.

Christianity

An Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in the New Testament. Drew on Judaism and initially rejected Roman and Hellenistic influences. Spread through the efforts of missionaries and merchants. Eventually gained support by the time of Emperor Constantine.

Mauryan Empire

The first state to unify most of the Indian subcontinent. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 B.C.E. and survived until 184 B.C.E. From its capital at Pataliputra in the Ganges Valley it grew wealthy from taxes.

Hellenism

(The spread of Greek culture) of or relating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31 BC. During this period Greek culture flourished, spreading through the Mediterranean and into the Near East and Asia and centering on Alexandria in Egypt and Pergamum in Turkey

centralized government

A government in which power is concentrated in a central authority to which local governments are subject (ex: China, Rome, Byzantines, etc)

caste

(n.) any of the social or subclasses of traditional Hindu society, such as the Brahman or Sudra castes; a social class distinct from others and characterized by hereditary rank, profession or wealth; (n.) a social position conferred on someone based on a system of castes

Silk Roads

An ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 km (4,000 mi) and linking China with the Roman Empire. Other info: facilitated by pastoral groups, trade of luxury goods, use of camel caravans

"Sand Roads" (Trans-Saharan trade routes)

route across the sahara desert. Major trade route that traded for gold and salt, created caravan routes, economic benefit for controlling dessert, camels played a huge role in the trading

"Sea Roads" (Indian Ocean trade routes)

Connected to Europe, Africa, and China. Worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion. Spices, slaves, silk, ivory, gold, and many other items crossed through the Indian Ocean, and the spread of Islam owed much to the trade network.

Legalism (China)

Chinese philosophy developed by Hanfeizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws; embraced by the Qin Dynasty

Daoism

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 Tao/Dao" also known as "the way" or "path" of nature; emphasized living in harmony with nature; ying and yang

Agrcultural Revolution

Movement started in the Middle East where humans began to plant food and raise animals, creating the first surplus of food in human history

chiefdom

Political leadership, largely in non-industrialized countries, exercised by senior members of a socially and politically powerful family.

city-state

Independent state made up of a city and its surrounding territory

Constantinople (Istanbul)

A heavily walled city in present-day Turkey that would fall to the Ottomans following Crusader attacks and the death of about half the population from the bulbonic plague

Crusades

A series of European military campaigns in the Middle East between 1095 and he 1200s

Daimyo

The land owning aristocrats in Japan from the 12th to 15th century

Dar-al-Islam

"Where Islam Is"

democracy

A system of government in which a large part of the population runs the government

Eightfold Path

A Buddhist practice in which a person seeks to eliminate desire and suffering through meditation, reflection, and refraining from excessive earthly pleasures

Gathering and hunting people

People who live by collecting food rather than producing it. Used to be called hunter gatherers, but recent evidence shows they relied more on gathering than hunting.

Ice age

Any period of time during which glaciers covered a large part of the earth's surface; Any of a number of cold periods in the earth's history; the last one was at its peak 20,000 years ago

Indus River valley

Geographical region that gave rise to civilization based in Mohenjo Daro.

Mesoamerica

Located around modern-day Central America, this historical area contained groups such as the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec.

Nile River Valley Civilization (Egypt)

Geographical region that gave rise to the ancient Egyptian Empire

Orthodox Church

Branch of Christianity in Eastern Europe

Paleolithic

The period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans. It predates the Neolithic period.

Quran

The sacred scriptures of Islam

Roman Catholic church

Branch of Christianity in Western Europe that called for a holy crusade to free Jerusalem and the lands around it under Islamic control

Shi'as

These Muslims believe that the caliph should be a blood relative of Muhammed and are strongest in Iran and Iraq.

Shinto

Japan's official religion that included a set of beliefs centered on the veneration of ancestors and nature spirits.

Shogun

Military general who was at the top of the political and social hierarchy of Japan

Sunnis

These Muslims believe that the caliph should be selected from leaders in the islamic community and currently make up the majority of Muslims in the world today

Yellow river valley

Geographical region that gave rise to the Chinese civilizations

Andes Mountains

the largest mountain range in the world; home of the Chavin and Inca civilizations.

Aryans

nomads from Europe and Asia who migrated to India and finally settled; vedas from this time suggest beginning of caste system

B.C

Before Christ

B.C.E

Before Common Era

C.E

Common Era

caliphate

Islamic empire ruled by those believed to be the successors to the Prophet Muhammad.

Chichen Itza

an ancient Mayan city located on the Yucatan Peninsula

Circa (c.)

Placed after a date to indicate approximately or "around."

Civil Service Exam

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

Civilization

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

Decentralized

governmental power is spread among more than one person or group

Empire/Emperor

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.

Five Pillars of Islam

Muslims were expected to follow (principle of Salvation): belief in Allah, pray 5 times a day, giving of alms, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime

Four Noble Truths

as taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism
1) All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. 2) The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hated and desire. 3) The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirture. 4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

Golden Age of China

Tang Dynasty; 618-907 CE: Flourished due to invention of printing, trade routes (silk road), acceptance of all beliefs & cultures, & written records of everything

Golden Age of India

The period between the 3rd century and 6th century CE is known as the Golden Age of India because of the large achievements Indians made in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, science, religion and philosophy during the Gupta Empire.

Grand Canal

The 1,100-mile (1,700-kilometer) waterway linking the Yellow and the Yangzi Rivers. It was begun in the Han period and completed during the Sui Empire.

Hagia Sophia

the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople, built by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian

Huang He River Civilization (China)

Oldest continuous civilization in the world

Islam

A religion based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed which stresses belief in one god (Allah), Paradise and Hell, and a body of law written in the Quran. Followers are called Muslims.

Justinian Code

A collection of laws that reflected Christian values
The body of Roman law collected by order of the Byzantine emperor, Justinian around A.D. 534.

matriarchal

relating to a social system in which the mother is head of the family

monestary/monastic

a building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows (esp. by being quiet, secluded, contemplative, strict, and/or lacking luxuries)

Monotheism

Belief in one God

monsoon winds

seasonal wind in India, the winter monsoon brings hot, dry weather and the summer monsoon brings rain

Neo-Confucianism

term that describes the resurgence of Confucianism and the influence of Confucian scholars during the T'ang Dynasty; a unification of Daoist or Buddhist metaphysics with Confucian pragmatism

pastoral

A work of literature dealing with rural life

Polytheism

Belief in many gods

Tigris and Euphrates Civilizations

Settlements in between the two rivers of Tigris & Euphrates (Mesopotamia)

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

Samuraii

Mounted troops of Japanese warrior leaders; loyal to local lords, not the emperor.

Sharia

Body of Islamic law that includes interpretation of the Quran and applies Islamic principles to everyday life

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

Abraham

Founder of Judaism who, according to the Bible, led his family from Ur to Canaan in obedience to God's command.

Alexander the Great

King of Macedonia who conquered Greece, Egypt, and Persia

Allah

God of Islam

Ashoka

Leader of the Mauryan dynasty of India who conquered most of India but eventually gave up violence and converted to Buddhism.

Confucius

(551-479 BCE) A Chinese philosopher known also as Kong Fuzi and created one of the most influential philosophies in Chinese history (confucianism).

Constantine

Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)

Jesus

Founder of Christianity

Justinian

Byzantine emperor in the 6th century A.D. who reconquered much of the territory previously ruler by Rome, initiated an ambitious building program , including Hagia Sofia, as well as a new legal code

Muhammad

Arab prophet; founder of religion of Islam.

Siddartha Gautama/Buddha

Founder of Buddhism

Persian Empire

Mesopotamian empire that conquered the existing Median, Lydian, and Babylonian empires, as well as Egypt and many others. Also known as the Achaemenid Empire.

Ancient Greek Civilization

-laid foundation of western civilization
-included city-states of ancient Greece; acted like independent countries, weren't unified with each other
-Athens is the birthplace of democracy (first was direct)

Roman Empire

Existed from 27 BCE to about 400 CE. Conquiered entire Mediterranean coast and most of Europe. Ruled by an emperor. Eventually oversaw the rise and spread of Christianity.
divided in 395 AD into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern or Byzantine Empire

Roman Empire Ruled in Western and Eastern Provinces (Courts)

- divided in 395 AD into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern or Byzantine Empire
- (330-1453) The eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived after the fall of the Western Empire at the end of the 5th century C.E. The Byzantine Empire's capital was Constantinople, named after the Emperor Constantine.

Gupta Empire

(320-550 CE) The decentralized empire that emerged after the Mauryan Empire, and whose founder is Chandra Gupta.

Zhou Dynasty

the longest lasting Chinese dynasty
A decentralized Chinese dynasty in China because of the massive size, and whose emperor was the first to claim to be a link between heaven and earth. Iron metallurgy increased in this dynasty.

Qin Dynasty

(221-207 BCE) The first centralized dynasty of China that used Legalism as its base of belief.

Han Dynasty

imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy

City of Teotihuacan

Population of 50,000, written records perished, sort of theocracy, priests essential to society
- place of the gods

olmecs

(1400 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E.) earliest known Mexican civilization,lived in rainforests along the Gulf of Mexico, developed calendar and constructed public buildings and temples, carried on trade with other groups.priests/aristocrats were at the top of society, built a ceremonial center, wroshiped the jaguar and werejaguar, best remains are the stone carved heads at la venta, use of calendar, spread through trade, known for art, most important legacy was priestly leadership and devotion

Western Roman Empire

Branch of the empire with Rome as capital (destroyed in 476 A.D)