Neolithic Revolution and Classical Era Lecture Notes

Vocabulary and key concepts from the Neolithic Revolution through the Classical Era empires, including major religions, governance systems, and reasons for imperial decline.

Neolithic Revolution

The shift from hunting and gathering to sedentary farming.

Nomads

People who survived before the Neolithic Revolution by hunting and gathering while moving from place to place.

Southwesta dsid (Mesopotamia)

The specific location where the Neolithic Revolution began.

Cuneiform

A writing system that emerged as an innovation of early cities.

Juddism

One of the major religions that got its start during the Neolithic Revolution; later spread through forced exile and voluntary merchant activity.

Pastoralists

Nomadic groups that traveled between civilizations and were helpful because they fostered culture exchange.

Hinduism

A religion that served as the social glue for India, especially through its teaching on the caste system.

Buddhism

A religion originating from Hinduism that rejected the caste system and taught that the only way to kill suffering from desire was the eightfold Bath.

Christianity

A religion that broke out of Judaism and taught that salvation is by believing in the death and resurrection of its savior for the forgiveness of sins.

Confucianism

A system focused on social order and hierarchy that became the foundation of Chinese society.

Daoism

A belief system focused on looking towards nature rather than human institutions.

Animism & Shamanism

Beliefs that the natural world holds spiritual power.

Persian Empire (Achaemenids)

An empire ($c. 550-330$ BCE) that governed its large territory using Satraps and a highway system.

Achaemenid Fall

The collapse of the Persian Empire due to overextension.

Mandate of Heaven

The belief that the heavens would provide a leader with justice.

Qin Dynasty

A Chinese empire ($220-206$ BCE) that ruled by leodism and strict bureaucracy.

Han Dynasty

A Chinese empire ($206$ BCE - $220$ CE) that built the Great Wall for unity and defense and had a relationship with the Roman Empire.

Phoenician Empire

A trade-based network of city-states across the Mediterranean ($c. 2500$ BCE - $539$ BCE) that created the oldest known alphabet.

Greek City-States

Societies ($c. 600$ BCE - $330$ BCE) known for the concepts of citizenship and democracy.

Roman Empire

An empire ($c. 753$ BCE - $476$ CE / $1453$ CE) influenced by Greek culture and known for innovations like aqueducts and roads.

Mayans

A civilization ($c. 2000$ BCE - $900$ CE) known for building massive temples, advanced agriculture, and developed astronomical systems.

Teotihuacan

One of the largest cities in the world ($400$ BCE - $c. 600$ CE) which featured a complex governmental bureaucracy.

Moche

An Andean civilization ($c. 100-800$ CE) controlled by a class of warrior priests.

Classical Hierarchy

A social structure with political/religious elites at the top, followed by merchants, warriors, laborers, and slaves.

Imperial Collapse

The three major reasons empires fell: overextension, internal disruptions, and outside invaders.