Chapter 1-3

Humanities

The cultural branches of learning, distinct from the scientific branches.

Culture

The beliefs, customs, arts, and institutions of a society at a given time.

Paleolithic

The Old Stone Age.

Cave Art

Evidence of the earliest human communication and artistic endeavor.

Neolithic

The New Stone Age.

Megalith

A large stone.

Stonehenge

The most famous megalithic structure.

Mesopotamia

The "Cradle of Human Civilization," modern-day Iraq.

Myths

Stories that explain the nature of the universe and human's role in it.

Archetype

Universal mental images that appear in dreams, literature, and art.

Polytheism

The belief in many gods or deities.

Egypt

A great ancient civilization that lasted approximately 3000 years.

Egyptian Pyramids

Elaborate limestone tombs built for leaders to live on after death.

Mycenaean Civilization

Pre-Greek civilization that inspired Greek Epic Poetry.

Dark Age

A time period when cultural skills and knowledge were lost.

Epic Poetry

Long narrative poetic works centered on a hero.

Lyric Poetry

Brief poems expressing the speaker's inner thoughts and feelings.

The Iliad & Odyssey

Epic poems by Homer about the battles for Troy.

Rationalism

The belief that human reason is the primary source of truth and order.

The Classical Period

A period of Greek history marked by unparalleled achievement.

Tragedy

Drama involving mythic characters whose pride leads to suffering and death.

Chorus

A group of actors who chant the songs of the play rhythmically.

Aeschylus

First playwright to add a second actor, enabling true dialogue.

Sophocles

Prolific Greek tragedian who added a third actor to the scenes.

Oedipus the King

Sophocles' most famous play.

Euripides

Greek tragedian who added realism and social commentary to his plays.

Comedy

A dramatic form that humorously portrays everyday themes and characters.

Aristophanes

Greatest comedian of the Golden Age in Athens.

Philosophy

The love of wisdom.

Classical Humanism

A belief in the nobility of human intelligence and action.

Socrates

Creator of the Socratic Method of philosophical thinking.

Plato

Philosopher who used dialogue to convey philosophical ideas.

Aristotle

Philosopher who analyzed and described the world as it actually was.

Naturalism

The artistic style the Greeks sought to capture throughout their civilization.

Geometric Technique

The use of abstract geometric shapes for decoration.

Kouros

An Archaic statue of a nude human male youth.

Acropolis

A hill in the center of an ancient city, home to Greek temples.

Parthenon

A temple dedicated to Athens' patron deity, Athena.

Alexander the Great

Leader who conquered lands from Mediterranean to India.

The Roman Empire

A vast empire stretching from England to Iraq.

Etruscans

Resourceful people who dominated central Italy in the 6th century BCE.

Republic

A government of representatives chosen to act for the people.

Julius Caesar

General and politician who appointed himself dictator for life.

Caesar Augustus

Julius Caesar's adopted nephew and Rome's new leader.

Forum

The social and political center of a Roman city.

Basilica

A rectangular public hall with a flat ceiling.

Column of Trajan

A sculpted column depicting the Emperor's victories.

Arch

A structural element stronger than the Post & Lintel system.

Vault

Multiple arches joined together to form a tunnel-like support structure.

Dome

A circular arch creating a spacious interior space.

The Pantheon

A Roman temple with a magnificent dome.

Mosaic

Pictures made from tiny bits of colored marble or ceramic.

Virgil

Author of the epic poem the Aeneid.

Diocletian

Roman Emperor who divided Rome into two separate kingdoms.

Qin Dynasty

A militant dynasty that created an empire by defeating rival states.

Han Dynasty

Represented the high point of Chinese early civilization.