Untitled Flashcards Set

• Paleolithic – The Old Stone Age (before 10,000 BCE); people were hunter-gatherers, used stone tools, and lived nomadic lifestyles.

• Neolithic – The New Stone Age (10,000–3,000 BCE); people developed farming, domesticated animals, and built permanent settlements.

• The Nile River – The lifeline of Ancient Egypt; provided fertile land, transportation, and was central to Egyptian civilization.

• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers – Rivers in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq); supported early civilizations like the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.

Ancient & Classical Europe

• Roman Republic (509–27 BCE) – A government in Rome where elected officials (Senate, consuls) ruled; influenced modern democracy.

• Roman Empire (27 BCE–476 CE) – Expanded Rome’s power under emperors like Augustus; fell due to invasions and internal decay.

• Emperor Constantine – First Roman emperor to convert to Christianity; legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan (313 CE).

• Byzantine Empire (330–1453 CE) – Eastern Roman Empire; preserved Roman laws and Greek culture, capital was Constantinople.

Southwest Asia (Middle East) & Religion

• Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE) – First Persian Empire, ruled by Cyrus the Great; known for tolerance and infrastructure (Royal Road).

• Zoroastrianism – Persian monotheistic religion; emphasized good vs. evil, influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Mohammed (570–632 CE) – Founder of Islam; received revelations from Allah, recorded in the Quran.

• Quran – Holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Mohammed.

Medieval Europe & Asia

• Feudalism/Manorialism – A political and economic system where lords controlled land, knights provided protection, and peasants (serfs) farmed.

• Crusades (1096–1291 CE) – Religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land; increased trade and cultural exchange.

• Silk Road – A trade network connecting China, the Middle East, and Europe; spread goods, culture, and diseases like the Plague.

Science, Math, & Innovation

• Algebra – A branch of mathematics developed by Persian scholar Al-Khwarizmi during the Islamic Golden Age.

• Arabic Numerals – Number system (0–9) developed in India, spread by Arab mathematicians, replaced Roman numerals in Europe.

Ancient & Medieval China

• Yellow and Yangtze Rivers – Two major rivers in China; supported early Chinese civilizations and agriculture.

• Emperor Shi Huangdi (259–210 BCE) – First emperor of China; unified China under the Qin Dynasty, built the Great Wall.

• Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE) – Short-lived but influential; established centralized rule, Legalism, and infrastructure projects.

• Confucianism – Philosophy based on Confucius’ teachings; emphasized respect, social harmony, and education.

• Daoism – Chinese philosophy focusing on living in harmony with nature and the Dao (the Way).

• Legalism – Strict government philosophy in China; emphasized harsh laws and central authority (used by the Qin).

• Grand Canal – A massive waterway in China that connected the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, improving trade and transport.

• Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 CE) – Mongol-led dynasty in China founded by Kublai Khan; promoted trade along the Silk Road.

Major Events & Concepts

• Plague (Black Death, 1347–1351 CE) – A deadly disease that killed millions in Europe and Asia, weakening feudalism.

• Mandate of Heaven – Chinese belief that a ruler’s power was given by the gods; justified the rise and fall of dynasties.

Major World Religions

• Buddhism – Founded by Siddhartha Gautama; teaches the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to enlightenment.

• Christianity – Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ; spread through the Roman Empire and became dominant in Europe.

• Islam – Founded by Mohammed; followers (Muslims) follow the Five Pillars and the Quran.

Course Themes

1. East Asian Political, Religious, Cultural, and Philosophical Development – Covers China, Korea, Japan; includes Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and imperial rule.

2. European Political, Religious, Cultural, and Philosophical Development – Examines Greece, Rome, medieval Europe, Christianity, and feudalism.

3. Southwest Asian (Middle Eastern) Political, Religious, Cultural, and Philosophical Development – Includes Mesopotamia, Persia, Islam, and trade networks.

4. Paleolithic to Neolithic to Complex Societies – Focuses on human evolution from hunter-gatherers to agricultural civilizations.

5. Slavery in Ancient, Classical, and Medieval Eras – Explores forced labor in China, Rome, and the Middle East.

6. Assigned Articles – Readings that provide deeper insight into historical themes and events.