LAVC MCQ LAST ONE OF THE YEAR

Roman Mythology

The body of traditional stories about the gods and heroes of ancient Rome, often borrowed from Greek mythology.

Italian Peninsula

A boot-shaped landmass in Southern Europe where Rome was located.

Alps

A mountain range in Northern Italy; natural barrier against invasions.

Tiber River

River that runs through Rome; key to trade and agriculture.

Rome

Capital city of the Roman Empire and Republic.

Plebeians

Commoners in Rome; farmers, merchants, and workers.

Patricians

Wealthy aristocrats; held most political power in the Republic.

Senate

Legislative body composed of patricians; most powerful in the Republic.

Tribunes

Elected officials who protected plebeian rights.

Consuls

Two officials who led the government and military; elected annually.

Twelve Tables

First written code of Roman law; basis for future legal systems.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage; led to Roman dominance over the Mediterranean.

Julius Caesar

Military general who became dictator; assassinated in 44 BCE.

Marc Antony

Ally of Caesar; fought Octavian for control after Caesar's death.

Octavian/Augustus

First Roman emperor; ushered in Pax Romana.

Roman Empire

The post-republican period; saw expansion and eventual decline.

Barbarians

Non-Roman invaders (e.g., Visigoths, Vandals) who helped bring down the Western Roman Empire.

Pax Romana

200-year period of peace and prosperity under Roman rule.

Colosseum

Large Roman amphitheater for public events and gladiator games.

Aqueducts

Engineering structures that carried water to cities.

Pantheon

Roman temple dedicated to all gods; architectural marvel.

Rise of Christianity

Emerged in Judea; spread through Roman roads and apostles.

Jesus

Founder of Christianity; believed to be the Messiah by followers.

Paul

Apostle who spread Christianity across the Roman Empire.

Roman Catholic Church

Western branch of Christianity led by the Pope.

Persecution

Early Christians were often punished or executed for their beliefs.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire; strategic trade location.

Justinian

Emperor who reconquered Roman lands and codified laws.

Justinian's Code

Simplified Roman legal code; influenced European law.

Great Schism (1054)

Split between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

Icons

Religious images; their use was a source of conflict in the Byzantine Church.

Hagia Sophia

Large church built in Constantinople; architectural landmark.

Kievan Rus

Early Russian state influenced by Byzantine religion and culture.

Trade

Byzantine Empire connected Europe and Asia through trade.

Mecca & Medina

Holy cities in Islam; birthplace and refuge of Muhammad.

Arabian Peninsula

Birthplace of Islam; desert and trade-based society.

Baghdad & Damascus

Capitals of Islamic dynasties; centers of learning.

Muhammad

Founder and prophet of Islam.

Ali

Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law; important in Shi'a Islam.

al-Khwarizmi

Mathematician who developed algebra.

Ibn Sina

Physician and scholar; wrote Canon of Medicine.

Ibn Battuta

Muslim traveler who documented Islamic world.

Caliph

Political and religious leader in Islam.

Five Pillars

Core practices of Islam (faith, prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage).

Quran

Holy book of Islam.

Ka'aba

Sacred shrine in Mecca.

Mosque

Muslim house of worship.

Sunni/Shi'a

Split over leadership; Sunni = elected caliph, Shi'a = descendant of Muhammad.

Umayyads & Abbasids

Major Islamic dynasties; expanded the empire and culture.

Sultan

Muslim ruler, especially under the Seljuk and Ottoman empires.

House of Wisdom

Center for learning in Baghdad.

Dome of the Rock

Important Islamic shrine in Jerusalem.

Franks/France

Early Germanic kingdom in Western Europe.

Holy Roman Empire

Confederation of central European territories under Christian rule.

Feudalism

Political system: lords offer land for service and loyalty.

Manorialism

Economic system: lords' estates (manors) self-sustained by peasants.

Hugh Capet

First king of the Capetian dynasty in France.

Charlemagne

King of the Franks and Emperor who revived learning and empire.

William the Conqueror

Led the Norman Conquest of England (1066).

Monasteries

Religious communities preserving learning and charity; 'isles of light.'

Clergy

Church officials including priests, bishops, and monks.

Chivalry

Knightly code of conduct valuing honor and protection of the weak.

Castles

Fortified homes of nobility during feudal times.

Hundred Years War

Long conflict between England and France over succession.

Norman Conquest

1066 invasion of England by Normans.

Crusades

Religious wars to reclaim the Holy Land; began with Pope Urban II's call.

Holy Lands

Region around Jerusalem important to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

Bubonic Plague

Deadly disease that killed millions; spread via trade.

Genghis Khan

Founder of Mongol Empire; united nomadic tribes.

Mongol Exchange

Trade and cultural diffusion enabled by Mongol rule.

Pax Mongolica

Period of peace and safe trade under Mongol rule.

Michelangelo

Sculptor and painter (David, Sistine Chapel).

Leonardo da Vinci

Artist, inventor, scientist (Mona Lisa, The Last Supper).

Raphael

Painter known for The School of Athens.

Machiavelli

Wrote The Prince, realistic political theory.

Sir Thomas More

Wrote Utopia, ideal society concept.

Humanism

Intellectual movement focusing on human potential and classical learning.

Printing Press

Invented by Gutenberg; revolutionized communication.

Vernacular

Writing in local languages instead of Latin; increased literacy.

Timbuktu

Center of trade, culture, and Islamic learning in Mali.

Ghana, Mali, Songhai

Wealthy West African empires; traded gold and salt.

Mansa Musa

Ruler of Mali; famous for pilgrimage and spreading Islam.

Islam

Spread through trade and conquest in Africa.

Trans-Saharan Trade Route

Linked West Africa with North Africa and beyond.

Swahili States

East African trade cities linked to Indian Ocean trade.

Maya

Civilization in Yucatán; known for pyramids and astronomy.

Chichen Itza

Major Mayan city and religious center.

Aztec

Central Mexican empire; capital was Tenochtitlan.

Tenochtitlan

Aztec capital; built on a lake with chinampas (floating gardens).

Inca

Andean empire; known for road systems and terracing.

Cusco

Incan capital.

Machu Picchu

Incan mountain city; religious and ceremonial site.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods; common in all three American empires.

Sacrifice

Religious offerings, especially human, practiced by Aztecs.

Achievements

Advanced math, astronomy, medicine, and architecture.

Silk Roads

Trade routes connecting China to the Mediterranean.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol-ruled China; established trade and tolerance.

Japan (Feudal)

Government with shoguns, samurai, and a warrior code.

Shintoism

Indigenous religion of Japan focused on nature spirits.

Syncretism

Blending of beliefs (e.g., Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan).