World History I Final

Ziggurat

A rectangular stepped tower, often associated with ancient Mesopotamian temple complexes.

Polytheistic

The belief in or worship of multiple gods.

Cuneiform

An ancient writing system used in Mesopotamia, characterized by wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.

City-State

A self-governing city that also controls surrounding territory.

Agricultural Revolution

The transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and farming.

Sumerians

An ancient civilization in Mesopotamia known for developing one of the first writing systems and city-states.

Code of Hammurabi

One of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length, it is a Babylonian legal code established by King Hammurabi.

Mesopotamia

An ancient region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referred to as the cradle of civilization.

Egypt

An ancient civilization located along the Nile River, known for its pyramids, pharaohs, and hieroglyphics.

Tigris

One of the two major rivers in Mesopotamia, flowing from the Taurus Mountains to the Persian Gulf.

Euphrates

The other major river in Mesopotamia, which also flows from the Taurus Mountains to the Persian Gulf.

Fertile Crescent

A crescent-shaped region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and early agricultural development.

Historical Bias

The tendency to interpret historical events in a way that reflects the biases of the historian.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy in which people vote on policy initiatives directly.

Iliad

An ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, detailing the events of the Trojan War.

Peloponnesian War

A protracted conflict between Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies, in ancient Greece.

Alexander the Great

A king of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history by the age of 30.

Aristotle

An ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, a student of Plato, who made significant contributions to many fields of knowledge.

Plato

An ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Socrates, known for his works on ethics, politics, and metaphysics.

Socrates

An ancient Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy.

Polis

A city-state in ancient Greece, which was the basic political unit.

Agora

A public open space used for assemblies and markets in ancient Greece.

Sparta

An ancient Greek city-state known for its military-oriented society.

Athens

An ancient Greek city-state known for its cultural and intellectual achievements and the birthplace of democracy.

Battle of Thermopylae

A famous battle in 480 BC where a small Greek force, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, fought against a much larger Persian army.

Phalanx

A military formation of infantry in ancient Greece, typically arranged in rows with overlapping shields.

Mandate of Heaven

An ancient Chinese philosophical concept that justified the rule of the emperor based on their virtue and the approval of heaven.

Oracle Bones

Pieces of shell or bone used in ancient China for divination, inscribed with early Chinese characters.

Confucianism

A system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius, emphasizing morality, family loyalty, and respect for elders.

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods and culture.

Great Wall of China

A series of fortifications built across northern China to protect against invasions.

Qin Shi Huang

The first emperor of a unified China, known for his centralization of power and the construction of the Great Wall.

Qin Dynasty

The first dynasty of imperial China, lasting from 221 to 206 BC, known for its centralized government and legalism.

Three Kingdoms Period

A time of fragmentation in China following the fall of the Han Dynasty, characterized by the division into three rival kingdoms.

Civil Service System

A system of government employment based on merit and examination, established in ancient China.

Zhou Dynasty

The longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history, known for the development of Confucianism and Daoism.

Legalism

A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes strict adherence to laws and harsh punishments as a means of maintaining order.

Dynastic Cycle

The historical pattern of the rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties in Chinese history.

Pax Romana

A period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire lasting approximately 200 years.

Edict of Milan

A proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire.

Ides of March

The date (March 15) on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC.

Dictatorship

A form of government in which a single individual holds absolute power.

Julius Caesar

A Roman general and statesman whose assassination led to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Constantine

The first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and known for founding Constantinople.

Emperor Augustus

The first emperor of Rome, known for establishing the Pax Romana and initiating the Roman Empire.

Colosseum

An ancient amphitheater in Rome, known for hosting gladiatorial contests and public spectacles.

First Triumvirate

An informal political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in the late Roman Republic.

Second Triumvirate

A political alliance formed by Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus after the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Plebeians

The common people of ancient Rome, as opposed to the aristocratic patricians.

Patricians

The aristocratic class in ancient Rome, holding most of the political power.

Sheikh

A leader or chief in a Muslim community or tribe.

Quran

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim is required to make at least once in their lifetime if they are able.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five basic acts of worship that are considered the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice.

Shari'ah

Islamic law derived from the Quran and Hadith, governing all aspects of a Muslim's life.

Muslim

A follower of Islam, a religion based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad.

Sunni

The largest denomination of Islam, which believes that the community should select its leaders.

Shia

A branch of Islam that holds that only the descendants of Muhammad should lead the Muslim community.

Muhammad

The founder of Islam, regarded by Muslims as the last prophet sent by God.

Charlemagne

King of the Franks who united much of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages and was crowned Emperor of the Romans.

Mansa Musa

The emperor of the Mali Empire, known for his wealth and pilgrimage to Mecca.

East and West Roman Empire

The division of the Roman Empire into two separate entities, which occurred in the late 3rd century AD.

Holy Roman Empire

A multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the early Middle Ages.

Crusades

A series of religious wars sanctioned by the Latin Church in the medieval period, primarily aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land.

Serfs

Peasants who were legally bound to the land and under the control of a lord in the feudal system.

Manorialism

An economic system in medieval Europe where the lord's estate (manor) served as the basic unit of economic power.

Feudalism

A social system in medieval Europe where land was held in exchange for service and loyalty.

Vassals

Nobles who were granted land by a lord in exchange for military service.

Monarchies

Forms of government where a single person, the monarch, rules over a kingdom or empire.

Magna Carta

A charter agreed to in 1215 that limited the powers of the English king and laid the foundation for modern democracy.

Bubonic Plague

A deadly disease that swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing millions and leading to significant social and economic changes.

Renaissance

A cultural movement in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century, characterized by a revival of interest in classical art, literature, and learning.

Mercenaries

Soldiers hired to serve in a foreign army for pay.

Republic

A form of government in which the country is considered a 'public matter' and is not the private concern of the rulers.

The Prince

A political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli, discussing the acquisition and maintenance of political power.

The Book of the Courtier

A Renaissance text by Baldassare Castiglione that describes the ideal courtier and court life.

The Divine Comedy

An epic poem by Dante Alighieri, depicting the journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.

Florence

A city in Italy that was a center of Renaissance art and culture.

Medicis

A powerful family in Florence known for their patronage of the arts during the Renaissance.

Michelangelo

An Italian sculptor, painter, and architect, known for works like the Statue of David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Raphael

An Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance, known for his Madonnas and the School of Athens.

Donatello

An Italian sculptor of the Renaissance known for his work in bas-relief and his statue of David.

DaVinci

An Italian polymath of the Renaissance known for his contributions to art, science, and engineering, including the Mona Lisa.

Humanism

A Renaissance cultural movement that emphasized human potential and achievements, focusing on classical texts.

Vernacular

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

The Printing Press

A mechanical device for mass-producing printed materials, invented by Johannes Gutenberg.

Renaissance Man

A person with knowledge and skills in a wide range of fields, epitomizing the ideals of the Renaissance.

School of Athens

A famous fresco by Raphael that depicts various philosophers and scholars of ancient Greece.

The Sistine Chapel

A chapel in Vatican City, famous for its Renaissance art, especially the ceiling painted by Michelangelo.

How did the location, geography, and climate of Rome affect the development of civilization there?

Rome's location on the Italian Peninsula provided access to trade routes and fertile land, while its climate supported agriculture, contributing to its growth as a powerful civilization.

What were some of the most important contributions of the Romans?

The Romans contributed to architecture (e.g., aqueducts, roads), law (e.g., legal principles), governance (e.g., republicanism), and engineering (e.g., concrete).

What factors can help a dynasty stay in power?

Factors include strong leadership, effective governance, military strength, economic stability, and the support of the populace.

How did the Church influence political and cultural changes in Medieval Europe?

The Church played a central role in governance, education, and cultural life, influencing laws, moral values, and the arts.

Why did rivers play such an important role in the development of ancient civilizations?

Rivers provided water for drinking and irrigation, facilitated trade and transportation, and supported agriculture, which was essential for sustaining large populations.

In what ways did humanism help define the Italian Renaissance?

Humanism emphasized the study of classical texts, the value of individual achievement, and the importance of education, shaping art, literature, and philosophy during the Renaissance.