Unit 3 Vocab

Aqueduct

a channel, conduit, or bridge built to transport fresh water from a distant source to cities and farms, relying on gravity to maintain continous flow

Autocratic

refers to rulers who have absolute power

Bureaucracy

The non-elective governmental bodies that administer the operations of the government

Caste system

a strict social stratification system that characterized Hindu society in South Asia

Cultural diffusion

the process of spreading cultural traits from one region to another

Democracy

a governmental system in which power is given to the populous and political decisions are made based on the will of the people

Filial piety

respect for one’s elders , parents and ancestors; a feature of confucianism

Latifundia

large agricultural estates owned by wealthy roman citizens

Mandate of heaven

idea that the right to rule was granted to the Chinese emperor form the gods

Oligarchy

rule by a small group, generally of wealthy men

Patricians

upper class of Roman society

Plebeians

commoner social class of Roman society

Republic

form of government in which people elect representatives to legislate

Zoroastrianism

one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced monotheistic religions, founded by the prophet zoroaster in ancient persia likely around 1500-1000 BCE

Alexander the great

Macedonian who conqueror who expanded his empire across Greece, Persia, Egypt, and into India, driving widespread Hellenistic cultural diffusion

Asoka

mauryan emperor of India who converted to Buddhism, sponsored its spread, and established policies centered on peace and social welfare

Chandragupta

fouder of the Mauryan empire who consolidated rule across large portions of the Indian subcontinent

Shi huangdi

fist emperor of unified China under the qin dynasty, known for legalistic policies, bureaucratic centralization, and early construction of the great wall

Julius caesar

roman general and statesmen whose political power and eventual assassination marked the critical transition from Roman republic to Roman empire

Pythagoras

greek philosopher and mathematician who believed in a mathematical order to the universe