AP World Exam Review

Where did Alexander the Great conquer?

He conquered Persia, Egypt, and lands stretching into India.

What was one major result of Alexander the Great’s conquests?

Greek culture spread and mixed with local cultures, creating Hellenistic culture.

What religion spread along the Silk Roads?

Buddhism.

What is the difference between history and prehistory?

History has written records; prehistory is the time before writing.

Why was Alexandria important?

It became a major center of trade, learning, and Hellenistic culture in Egypt.

What was the social status of women in most ancient civilizations?

Women usually had fewer legal, political, and social rights than men.

What is patriarchy?

A society in which men hold most political, economic, and social power.

How did ancient law codes usually reflect patriarchy?

Men generally had more rights and power than women.

How did the Persians usually treat conquered peoples?

They were generally tolerant and allowed local peoples to keep their religions and customs.

How were Persian rulers different from many other conquerors?

They often allowed conquered peoples to keep their traditions instead of forcing Persian culture on them.

What does theocratic mean?

A government in which religion and political rule are closely connected.

Why was ancient Egypt considered theocratic?

The pharaoh was both a political ruler and was considered divine.

How were Mesopotamian rulers different from Egyptian pharaohs?

Mesopotamian rulers were usually seen as representatives or servants of the gods, not gods themselves.

What important technologies were generally absent in Mesoamerica?

Large domesticated draft animals and wheeled transportation.

How did Greek geography affect Greek history?

Mountains and islands separated communities, helping independent city-states develop.

Why did Greece develop city-states instead of one unified kingdom?

The mountainous terrain separated Greek communities.

What similarities did Han China and Rome share?

Both had large empires, strong governments, roads, armies, trade networks, and problems caused by overexpansion.

What helped both Han China and Rome control their large empires?

Road systems, bureaucracy, armies, and strong central governments.

What contributed to the fall of both Han China and Rome?

Internal weakness, political problems, invasions, and difficulty controlling huge territories.

What helped cause the end of the Gupta Empire?

Invasions by the Huns and weakening central authority.

Who was Ashoka?

A Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War.

Why did Ashoka convert to Buddhism?

He was disturbed by the violence and deaths caused by the Kalinga War.

How did Ashoka help spread Buddhism?

He sent missionaries, built monuments, and issued Buddhist-inspired edicts.

What is overextension?

When an empire becomes so large that it becomes difficult and expensive to govern and defend.

How did overextension hurt Rome?

Rome became too large and expensive to defend and govern effectively.

What was Sparta like?

A highly militaristic Greek city-state focused on discipline and warfare.

What was the main focus of Spartan society?

Military strength and training.

What is ancestor veneration?

Honoring and respecting deceased family ancestors.

Where was ancestor veneration especially important?

Ancient China.

What is filial piety?

Respect and obedience toward parents and elders.

Which philosophy strongly emphasized filial piety?

Confucianism.

What was the purpose of the Chinese civil service exam?

To select government officials based on knowledge and ability.

What philosophy influenced the Chinese civil service system?

Confucianism.

What is bureaucracy?

A system of government officials who manage and carry out government policies.

Why was bureaucracy important in large empires?

It helped rulers govern large territories efficiently.

What are public works?

Government-built projects such as roads, canals, walls, bridges, and irrigation systems.

What purposes did public works serve?

They improved transportation, trade, farming, defense, and government control.

Who was Qin Shihuangdi?

The first emperor to unify China under the Qin Dynasty.

Why was Qin Shihuangdi important?

He unified China and standardized writing, weights, measures, and currency.

What philosophy did the Qin Dynasty use to control China?

Legalism.

What is Legalism?

The belief that strong laws and harsh punishments are needed to maintain order.

What major defensive project is associated with Qin Shihuangdi?

Early sections of the Great Wall of China.

Who were the Harappans?

The people of the Indus Valley Civilization.

What were the two major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

What were Harappan cities known for?

Careful city planning, drainage systems, standardized bricks, and trade.

What is one mystery about the Harappan civilization?

Its writing system has not been fully deciphered.

What were major continuities in Indian civilization?

Caste, Hindu traditions, village life, and strong family structures.

What is the caste system?

A hereditary social hierarchy in India.

Can people easily move between castes in a traditional caste system?

No, caste was generally determined by birth.

What is a major effect of the caste system?

It created strict social divisions.

What was the Achaemenid Empire?

The major ancient Persian Empire ruled by leaders such as Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes.

Who was Cyrus the Great?

Founder of the Persian Empire who was known for tolerance toward conquered peoples.

Who was Darius I?

A Persian ruler who organized the empire, divided it into provinces, and improved roads and administration.

Who was Xerxes?

A Persian king who continued wars against the Greek city-states.

What were satrapies?

Provinces of the Persian Empire.

What was a satrap?

A governor who ruled a Persian province.

What was the Royal Road?

A Persian road system used for travel, communication, trade, and government control.

Why was the Persian courier system important?

It allowed messages to travel quickly across the empire.

What were qanats?

Underground canals used by Persians to transport water for farming and settlements.

What religion developed in ancient Persia?

Zoroastrianism.

What is Zoroastrianism?

A Persian religion centered on the struggle between good and evil.

What were major Persian achievements?

Qanats, roads, couriers, tolerance, strong administration, and Zoroastrianism.

How did Persian expansion differ from Greek expansion?

Persians built a large land empire through conquest and administration, while Greeks expanded through colonies, trade, and Alexander’s conquests.

What is syncretism?

The blending of different cultures, religions, or traditions.

What is minting?

Making coins by stamping metal.

Who first used standardized coin currency?

The Lydians.

Why was coin currency important?

It made trade easier and more standardized.

What is the Mandate of Heaven?

The Chinese belief that a ruler had heaven’s approval to rule.

How could a Chinese ruler lose the Mandate of Heaven?

By ruling badly, becoming corrupt, or failing to protect the people.

What could natural disasters or rebellions suggest in ancient China?

That a ruler had lost the Mandate of Heaven.

Which dynasty introduced the Mandate of Heaven?

The Zhou Dynasty.

What is monotheism?

Belief in one god.

Which ancient group is especially associated with monotheism?

The Hebrews.

What was a major contribution of the Hebrews?

Monotheism and the development of Judaism.

What is Judaism?

The monotheistic religion of the Hebrews.

What is egalitarianism?

The belief that people should have equal status or rights.

Were most ancient societies egalitarian?

No, most had strong social hierarchies.

How were most ancient societies socially divided?

Into rulers/elites, priests, merchants/artisans, peasants, and enslaved people.

Where was the city-state system important?

Greece and Mesopotamia.

What is a city-state?

An independent city and the surrounding land it controls.

How did India’s geography affect its history?

Mountain passes allowed invasions and cultural exchange while mountains and oceans also provided some protection.

How did China’s geography affect its history?

Mountains, deserts, and seas helped isolate China and encouraged cultural continuity.

What is provincialism?

Strong loyalty to a local region or province rather than the larger state.

Who divided the Roman Empire into eastern and western sections?

Diocletian.

Why did Diocletian divide the Roman Empire?

To make the huge empire easier to govern.

What was the Byzantine Empire?

The Eastern Roman Empire that continued after the Western Roman Empire fell.

What was the capital of the Byzantine Empire?

Constantinople.

What are pastoral nomads?

People who move from place to place with herds of animals.

Why were pastoral nomads important in world history?

They traded, migrated, spread ideas, and sometimes invaded settled empires.

What is mobilization?

Organizing people and resources for war or another major effort.

What is direct democracy?

A system in which citizens vote directly on laws and decisions.

Where was direct democracy famously practiced?

Athens.

What is representative democracy?

A system in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

What was Pax Romana?

A long period of Roman peace, stability, and prosperity.

When was the Pax Romana?

Approximately 27 BCE to 180 CE.

What helped trade grow during the Pax Romana?

Peace, roads, common laws, and Roman control of the Mediterranean.

What was one of the biggest threats to ancient empires?

Invasion by outside groups, especially when the empire was already weakened internally.

What other problems threatened large ancient empires besides invasion?

Overexpansion, political instability, economic problems, and internal conflict.

Who were the Phoenicians?

Seafaring merchants and traders from the eastern Mediterranean.

What was the Phoenicians’ major contribution?

They developed and spread an alphabet that influenced Greek and later Roman writing.