Historical Civilizations and Events

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to important historical civilizations and events as noted in the lecture.

Paleolithic

The era of prehistory characterized by the development of the first stone tools.

Neolithic

Period marked by the development of agriculture and small settlements.

Bronze Age

A period characterized by the use of bronze, and the emergence of urban civilization.

Hammurabi's Code

One of the earliest written legal codes, established by the Babylonian king Hammurabi.

Mastaba

An ancient Egyptian tomb structure, usually rectangular and flat-roofed, used before the construction of pyramids.

Rosetta Stone

An ancient granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree that helped decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Phoenicians

An ancient civilization known for their alphabet, trade, and establishment of colonies, notably Carthage.

Greco-Persian Wars

Conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire, including battles like Marathon and Thermopylae.

Octavian (Augustus)

The first Roman emperor, noted for initiating the Pax Romana and appointing Tiberius as his successor.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who introduced the tetrarchy, dividing the empire into four regions for better governance.

Constantine the Great

Roman emperor known for establishing Constantinople and making Christianity legal in the Roman Empire.

Iconoclastic Controversy

A theological dispute in Byzantium regarding the use of religious images that lasted about 150 years.

Charlemagne

King who united much of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages and became Emperor of the Romans in 800.

Feudalism

A social system in medieval Europe based on the relationships between lords and vassals.

Crusades

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

Magna Carta

A charter agreed to by King John of England, limiting the power of the crown and establishing certain legal protections.

Scholasticism

A medieval school of thought that sought to reconcile faith with reason, especially associated with Thomas Aquinas.

Black Death

A devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe in the 14th century, drastically reducing the population.

Hundred Years' War

A series of conflicts waged between England and France from 1337 to 1453, marking the end of feudalism.

Avignon Papacy

Period when the popes resided in Avignon, France, rather than Rome, leading to significant church controversies.

Renaissance

A cultural movement marking the revival of art, literature, and learning inspired by classical antiquity.

Protestantism

A branch of Christianity founded on the principles set forth by Martin Luther, leading to reformations in the church.