CIV FINAL



  • 1st Wave Civilizations - 3000 BCE, most successful developed along rivers, regular food source=population growth, urban development, travel & trade lead to greater cultural diffusion (ex. Mesopotamia, egypt)

  • 2nd Wave Civilizations - 500 BCE- 500CE, eurasia & north africa, “classical civilizations”, 80% of worlds population lived in these empires, ALL EMPIRES, expansionist policies, diverse, bueracratic, trade&travel, technology (ex. Persia, Greece, india, china, roman empire)

  • Ancient India - Hinduism, Caste System (1. Brahmin 2. Kshatriya 3.Vaishya 4. Sudra), Buddhism (Four Noble Truths: suffering is part of life, suffering is cuased by ignorance and desire, suffering can only be eliminated by  eliminating desire, desire can be overcome by following 8-fold path  / Eightfold Path; Buddhas path to nirvana, moderate life style, self-control, compassion for others, appealed to lower classes)

  • Persian Empire - 1st second wave civ, 550 BCE, administration of gov. And trade is basis of modern societies, standardized weights and measurements 

  • Ancient Greece - Tyrant, slaves (helots), golden age, art and arcitecture, Epic poems, cults, polytheism, greek hisotians studied past with more detail than ever before

  • Ancient Rome -  founded 735 BC by romulus and remus, latins built original settlement of rome, 12 tables: 451 BC group of 10 officials wrote romes laws on 12 tablets and hung it in forum

  • Ancient China - Centralization (single authority), feudalism, mandate of heaven, infrastructure: roads, great wall, warehouses, Filial piety (respect @ family level

  • The Royal Road- Persians trade route

  • Abrahamic Religions: Judaism(God of abraham, old testament, no jesus, torah) , Christianity(developed out of judeaism, jesus, bible, constantine) Islam(muhammad, mecca, quran, hajj, spread quickly, caliph) (focus on sims/diffs)

  • Sub Saharan Africa - Bantu, less patriarcial, agricultural, most didnt have written element, griots

  • Indian Ocean Trade- Vasco de gama, Zeng He, expanded trade

  • The Silk Roads- Trade routes

  • Middle Ages - Europe(dark ages) China,Asia,India (good)

  • The Roman Catholic Church - very powerful

  • Bubonic Plague - 1300’s, first breakout in northeaster china, reacjed middle east and wester europe, reached east africa, weakened golden horde so russia broke free, lanor shortage ends serfdom, broke down mongol hordes

  • Maya: 250-9000 CE followed olmec, agriculture society, human sacrifice.

  •  Aztec: 1428-1521, last great mesoamericanculture before europeans arrived. 

  • Incas: 1230-1500’s, created cebtralized empire in western south america, less sacrifice, more stable

  • Paleolithic era: earliest period of human history, represents 96% of all our time on earth, fire, developed tools



Key Terms Concepts:



  • Democracy- power in the people

  • Republic- elected representatives

  • Pax Romana- Period of roman peace (Golden age)

  • Feudalism- structure of society in middle ages, medieval europe

  • Dar al-Islam- islamic power, following muhummad 

  • Columbian Exchange- trade between continents of plants, animals, populations, and diseases, caused great dying

  • Triangular Trade- trands atlantic tarde system (britan-west africa, west africa-west indies, west indies-britian

  • Indulgences- could pay the pope to get rid of you sin and spend less time in purgatory



Key People:



  • Cyrus the Great- 1st emperor of persia, conquered a lot (mesopotamia), treated conquered people leaniently, tolerant of religion, died in battle

  • Alexander the Great- Philip II’s son, defeated egypt, persia, and western india, spread greek and macedonian traditions, considered one of teh greatest military leaders in history

  • Shihuangdi- First emperor of China, forced unity, bueracracy, standardized things, taxed heavily, brutal tratment, drank mercury and died

  • Julius Caesar- military/political leader, gave land to soldiers, fed and entertained poor, named himself dictator for life, hated by eliete 

  • Augustus- Romes abelist leader, stabilized and glorified rome, died 14 AD

  • Jesus Christ- born 6-4 BC, monotheism, 10 commandments, emphasis on Gods perosnal relationship with people

  • The Prophet Muhammad- merchant from mecca, founded religion of islam, spiritual expirenece in cave, recognized as final prophet of one true god Allah

  • Mansa Musa- Powerful, rich king of Mali, devout muslim, took hajj to mecca, used his power and influence to spread islam

  • Buddha- Siddartha Gautama, founder of buddhism, buddah is not seen as god, seen as wise tecaher and role model

  • Hernan Cortes- spanish conquistador, led to fall of Aztecs

  • Martin Luther- created Lutheran church, questioned catholic church, 95 theses



Renaissance Figures:



Leonardo Da Vinci- famous painter, painted mona lisa

Michaelangelo- Italian sculptor, Sistine chapel

Niccolo Machiavelli- Wrote 'The Prince', a guidebook for rulers focused on political effectiveness rather than morality.

Donatello- Italian sculpture



Explorers:



Christopher Columbus- italian, wanted to cross atlantic to create trade route from europe to asia, reached americas instead

Vasco de Gama- sailed from europe, around africa, to india

Ferdinand Magellan- He and his crew becaem first to circumvate the globe, 1519-1522