World History & Early Civilizations Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes covering key historical terms, periods, social structures, technological advancements, and legal codes of early civilizations.

Characteristics of Civilizations

The five key features defining early civilizations: complex institutions, record keeping, advanced technology, specialized workers, and advanced cities.

Mesopotamia

One of the earliest civilizations, located in modern-day Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Ancient Egypt

A civilization located along the Nile River in NE Africa that benefited from its fertile land.

Indus Valley Civilization

A civilization in modern-day Pakistan & India known for its Indus River basin location, advanced urban planning, and sanitation systems.

Ancient China

A civilization established along the Yellow River/Huang He in East Asia, where the Shang & Zhou dynasties created strong foundational structures.

Olmec

The mother culture of Mesoamerica (1500-400 BCE), known for large stone heads and significant influence on subsequent civilizations.

Archaic Period

A era (800-480 BCE) in ancient Greece characterized by the rise of city-states and early developments in art and philosophy.

Classical Period (Greece)

The Golden Age of Athens (480-323 BCE), marked by democracy, philosophy, and the Peloponnesian War.

Hellenistic Period

The historical era (323-30 BCE) following Alexander the Great's conquests, during which Greek culture spread across the Mediterranean.

Neolithic Revolution

The transition around 10,000 BCE from nomadic hunter/gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities.

Cuneiform

The ancient Mesopotamian system of writing developed between 3,500 and 3,000 BCE.

Hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian writing system developed between 3,500 and 3,000 BCE.

Bronze Age

A period (3300-1200 BCE) defined by the widespread use of bronze tools and weapons, development of complex societies, and long-distance trade.

Iron Age

A period (1200-500 BCE) marked by increased adoption of iron tools and weapons, which caused major shifts in warfare and social structures.

Axial Age

A period (800-200 BCE) of major intellectual and spiritual growth that saw the emergence of Buddhism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, and Greek philosophy.

Varnas

The four social divisions (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras) in Ancient India's caste system based on occupation and social status.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese political concept (Shang/Zhou dynasties) asserting divine selection of the ruler, placing the emperor at the top of a state managed by a complex bureaucracy.

Metics

Foreign residents in ancient Greek city-states who occupied a distinct social class below male property-owning citizens.

Patricians

The aristocrats who stood at the absolute top of the Roman social hierarchy.

Plebeians

The common citizens within the Roman social structure.

Manumission

The official freeing of enslaved individuals, which allowed for social mobility in Roman society.

Shaduf

An ancient Egyptian counterweight device utilized to lift water directly from the Nile River for irrigation.

Base-60 Number System

A mathematical counting framework developed by the Babylonians used in performing precise astronomical calculations.

Zoroastrianism

A monotheistic religion originating in Persia during the Axial Age that influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Silk Roads

A major long-distance trade network linking China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Code of Hammurabi

An ancient Mesopotamian legal code established to enforce justice.

Twelve Tables

An ancient Roman legal code that served as the foundational basis for many modern legal systems.

Amarna Letters

A collection of diplomatic correspondence detailing interactions between Egypt and Near Eastern powers.

Delian League

An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens.