World History Modern AP Edition — Prologue through Postclassical Era Flashcards

A set of practice questions covering major topics from the Prologue through the Postclassical era, including human migration, the Agricultural Revolution, early civilizations, major world religions, classical empires, post-classical expansion, trade networks, and key cultural developments.

When and where did modern humans first appear?

In East Africa between 200,000 B.C.E. and 100,000 B.C.E.

What belief system did hunter-gatherer societies commonly practice?

Animism—the reverence for deities associated with nature.

What major development allowed for food surplus and the rise of specialization?

The Agricultural Revolution around 10,000 years ago (circa 8000 B.C.E.) in the Middle East.

Give two major consequences of the Agricultural Revolution.

Population growth with larger settlements/cities and the development of writing and governments; emergence of social classes.

Which civilization invented cuneiform?

Sumer in Mesopotamia.

What were ziggurats?

Monumental temple towers built in Mesopotamian city-states.

What was the political structure of ancient Egypt?

A centralized state under a pharaoh.

What writing system did ancient Egypt develop?

Hieroglyphics.

What was notable about Egyptian women’s rights?

They could own property and were recognized as legally equal to men in court.

Name two major Indus cities and a notable feature of their civilization.

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro; advanced urban planning and indoor plumbing.

What distinctive feature did early China (Huang He) have regarding religion?

A strong emphasis on ancestor worship.

Name two non-river valley civilizations in the Americas mentioned in the notes.

Olmec and Chavin.

What is Zoroastrianism?

An early form of monotheism from Persia focusing on good vs. evil and human free will.

Who is considered the founder of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).

What is Nirvana in Buddhism?

Enlightenment and release from the cycle of rebirth.

Which empire promoted Buddhism in India, especially under Ashoka?

The Mauryan Empire.

What is the Gupta Empire renowned for in India?

The Golden Age of India; advances in medicine and mathematics, including the numeral system 0–9 and place value.

What is the Mandate of Heaven?

The Chinese idea that Heaven grants rulers the right to rule; disasters signal loss of legitimacy.

What are Confucianism and Daoism?

Confucianism emphasizes education, virtue, and filial piety; Daoism emphasizes harmony with nature and inner reflection.

What were the key accomplishments of the Qin and Han Dynasties?

Qin unified China, standardized script, and built infrastructure; Han expanded bureaucracy with the civil service exam and achieved a golden age with innovations like the magnetic compass and paper.

What is Hagia Sophia?

A monumental church in Constantinople built under Justinian; later a mosque and now a museum.

What is the Justinian Code?

A consolidation of Roman law that influenced European legal traditions.

What were the Twelve Tables?

Rome’s early codified laws establishing a legal framework and protecting citizens’ rights.

What is the Silk Roads?

A network of land and maritime trade routes connecting Afro-Eurasia, facilitating exchange of goods and ideas.

What is an entrepôt?

A trading hub or port where goods are stored and re-exported.

How did Islam spread and what are the Five Pillars?

Spread rapidly across Afro-Eurasia; the Five Pillars are faith in Allah, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca.

What is the difference between Sunnis and Shi’as?

Two major branches of Islam; Sunnis are the majority, Shi’a communities are strongest in Iran and Iraq.

What is the Grand Canal and which dynasty built it?

A canal linking southern and northern China, built by the Sui Dynasty.

What were Tang and Song Dynasty contributions to Chinese civilization?

Tang expanded territory, population, and the civil service; inventions included gunpowder and paper money; Song emphasized meritocracy and large urban centers, with continued Silk Road prosperity.

What is the tributary system of China?

A system in which surrounding kingdoms pay tribute in exchange for trade privileges.

Describe Japan’s feudal hierarchy during 800–1200 CE.

Emperor (ceremonial), shogun (military leader), daimyo (landlords), samurai (warriors), peasants.

What is Shinto?

The indigenous religion of Japan focusing on ancestors and nature spirits.

How did Islam influence West Africa?

Islam spread through Muslim merchants and trade, contributing to wealth and the spread of Islamic culture; regions like Ghana and Mali became part of Dar al-Islam.

What were Teotihuacan and the Maya known for in Mesoamerica?

Teotihuacan: a major multicultural urban center; Maya: a sophisticated writing system and calendar.

What is Cahokia?

A Mississippian city near present-day St. Louis that served as a major trade hub.

What key event in 1492 changed world history?

Columbus’s voyage to the Americas, initiating sustained contact between the Old and New Worlds.

What unifying force helped medieval Europe stay cohesive despite fragmentation?

Christianity served as a unifying cultural and religious force (with events like Charlemagne’s imperial title and the Crusades).