Term
| Who were the homo-sapiens? |
|
Definition
Human species
'Wise human' includes all modern people |
|
|
Term
| Who were the first hominids to develop the ability to control and use fire? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the most significant characteristics of homo-erectus? |
|
Definition
Use of language and complex tools
Stood erect
Taller, larger, had a brain, more like human beings |
|
|
Term
| Who were the first hominids to spread throughout Eurasia? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the major features of the Neolithic Revolution? |
|
Definition
| Sedentary, food-producing |
|
|
Term
| What was the major consequence of the Neolithic Revolution? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the major features of Paleolithic life? |
|
Definition
| Nomadic, decorative arts, magic, religion, extended families and tribes |
|
|
Term
| What were the most significant features of Paleolithic arts? |
|
Definition
| Decorative, animals, religious beliefs, daily concerns |
|
|
Term
| What are the major characteristics of the Neolithic culture? |
|
Definition
| Land cultivation, domestication of animals, agriculture, representative art |
|
|
Term
| What are the major characteristics of civilization? |
|
Definition
| Cities and larger states, centralized and bureaucratic governments, social classes and castes |
|
|
Term
| Where did the earliest civilizations emerge? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why did a civilization emerge in Mesopotamia? |
|
Definition
| Agricultural economies, economy created new demands |
|
|
Term
| What form of writing did Sumerians develop? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Greek stylists made impressions in clay
Pictographic form of writing developed by the Sumerians |
|
|
Term
| What leader united Mesopotamian cities and established the first Mesopotamian Empire? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Mesopotamian ruler from 2334-2193 BCE
Created one of history's first empires |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Mesopotamian ruler
One of the most remarkable rulers |
|
|
Term
| What was the historical significance of Hammurabi? |
|
Definition
"Hammurabi's Code of Laws" - an eye for an eye
Best preserved code |
|
|
Term
| What was the Epic of Gilgamesh? |
|
Definition
The first great heroic poem
Contains some portions that are similar to Biblical stories from the Old Testament
Origins of Judaism and Christianity |
|
|
Term
| What were the major characteristics of Mesopotamian religion? |
|
Definition
Polytheistic
Gods were given human qualities
Gods were associated with natural phenomenon
Sacrificed domestic animals |
|
|
Term
| What leader united Lower and Upper Egypt? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Who established the first ruling dynasty in Egypt? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the major features of religion in Egypt? |
|
Definition
Polytheistic
Integral part of their society
Attempt to introduce monotheism |
|
|
Term
| What features distinguished Egyptian and Mesopotamian religions? |
|
Definition
Egyptians began to distinguish gods
Mesopotamians had no concept of an afterlife and didn't care about their everyday conduct |
|
|
Term
| What was the Book of the Dead? |
|
Definition
| Procedures and spells on how to prepare the bodies to depart to the next world |
|
|
Term
| What was the major purpose of the Book of the Dead? |
|
Definition
| Assist the deceased with the afterlife |
|
|
Term
| What is the name of the ancient Egyptian script? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What was the major purpose of pyramids? |
|
Definition
| Held mummified bodies of Egyptian rulers |
|
|
Term
| What was the significance of Hyksos? |
|
Definition
Middle Kingdom: seized control over Egypt and adopted themselves to Egyptian practices
Militaristic people/warriors |
|
|
Term
| What Semitic people conquered Egypt about 1720 BCE? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What features distinguished the Old and New Kingdoms of Egypt? |
|
Definition
Old: began pyramid building, declined because of crop failure
New: militaristic, imperial expansion, attempt to introduce monotheism |
|
|
Term
| What ruler tried to introduce monotheism in Egypt? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What features distinguish monotheism and polytheism? |
|
Definition
Monotheism: worship one god
Polytheism: worship many gods |
|
|
Term
| What was the historical significance of Amenhotep IV? |
|
Definition
| He was the first to attempt to introduce monotheism in the world |
|
|
Term
| What factors led the New Kingdom to decline? |
|
Definition
Internal tensions: Amon-re priests vs. pharaoh
Amenhotep IV
Warfare: Hittites, Persians (525 BCE)
Alexander the Great |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Agricultural people from around present-day Iran |
|
|
Term
| What was the most significant feature of the Hittites? |
|
Definition
| Agricultural people, advanced knowledge in making iron tools |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Semitic-speaking people who conquered Mesopotamia and established a new kingdom
Militaristic |
|
|
Term
| What was the major characteristic of Assyrian art? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Phoenicians
Semitic-speaking Mediterranean traders, shipbuilders, and navigators |
|
|
Term
| What was the historical significance of Phoenicians? |
|
Definition
They introduced trade
Phoenician alphabetic symbols - origin of msot alphabets
Original principle of recording words |
|
|
Term
| What basic feature distinguished Phoenician alphabet from pictographic alphabets? |
|
Definition
26 letters
Symbols stood for a specific sound instead of words |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Hebrews left Egypt led by Moses to escape enslavement |
|
|
Term
| Who was Nebuchadnezzar II? |
|
Definition
Babylonian ruler who destroyed Judah and Israel
Destroyed the Hebrew kingdom |
|
|
Term
| What was the "Babylonian Captivity"? |
|
Definition
| Nebuchadnezzar II took thousands of Hebrews captive and brought them to the city of Babylon |
|
|
Term
| What is the historical significance of Hebrew religion? |
|
Definition
First successful attempt to introduce monotheism
Birthplace of Christianity |
|
|
Term
| What leader created the Persian Empire? |
|
Definition
| Cyrus the Great (Cyrus the Persian) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Ruler who conquered and subdued Media, Lydia, Greek cities, and Babylonia
Created the Persian Empire |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rulers of political institutions (provinces) appointed by the king |
|
|
Term
| What were the major elements of Zoroastrianism? |
|
Definition
Monotheism
Ahura-Mazda was the one god - associated with good powers
Dualism - viewed the world in dualistic terms - struggle between forces of good and forces of evil |
|
|
Term
| In what ways did Zoroaster influence Western and Eastern religious and philosophical traditions? |
|
Definition
Christianity: Good = God, Evil = Satan: Dualism
gods were often male - patriarchal lands |
|
|
Term
| What (who) was Ahura-Mazda? |
|
Definition
"Wise Lord"
The one god
Associated with good powers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Associated with evil powers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Attempted to introduce monotheism
Realized the worship of numerous idols was bad and called for the abandonment of this practice |
|
|
Term
| What was the last powerful state in Mesopotamia before the Greek conquest? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What civilization emerged along the Indus River? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What features characterized the Indus valley civilization? |
|
Definition
Began experimenting with agriculture and domesticating animals
Sedentary
City-states
Earliest civilization on the Indian subcontinent |
|
|
Term
| What major activities characterized the Harappan economy? |
|
Definition
| Architecture, agriculture, textiles, tools, weapons, pottery, trade |
|
|
Term
| What factors contributed to the collapse of the Harappan civilization? |
|
Definition
| Earthquakes, floods, Aryan invasions |
|
|
Term
| What Indo-European people invaded India around 1500 BCE? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Pastoralists
Spoke Sanskrit
Migrated from the middle-east into Europe, Mesopotamia, and India |
|
|
Term
| What were major contributions of the Aryans to Indian civilization? |
|
Definition
| Iron weapons, Varnas (Castes), Brahma, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism |
|
|
Term
| What features characterized Aryan economic life? |
|
Definition
Agricultural
Effective warriors |
|
|
Term
| What features characterized Aryan social life and political institutions? |
|
Definition
Tribes - clans (families)
Practiced religion according to Veda |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
"Books of Knowledge"
4 books of sacred knowledge |
|
|
Term
| What were the major elements of Veda religious tradition? |
|
Definition
Varnas
People were born to a certain varna/cast
Brahmans: performed rituals of animal sacrifice to gain Brahma |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Metaphysical concept of god
All comes from it and all goes back to it |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Warriors
One of the two upper classes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Priests
One of the two upper classes |
|
|
Term
| Who were on top of Indian society? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Who was Mahavira and what were his major beliefs? |
|
Definition
Leader of Jainism
Seeking freedom from Samsara
Accentuated a life where regardless of social position, everyone has one Dharma |
|
|
Term
| What does Dharma refer to? |
|
Definition
| A religious view of non-violence |
|
|
Term
| What is karma in Hinduism? |
|
Definition
| Sum of good and bad deeds that determined reincarnation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Individual's reality/energy that came from Brahma |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Freedom from samsara
Principle goal
Atman joins with Brahma |
|
|
Term
| What are the major theological features of Hinduism? |
|
Definition
Each caste has a dharma
Karma determined reincarnation
Moksha: principle goal
Brahma: universal sacred power
Atman |
|
|
Term
| How can one achieve Moksha according to Jainism? |
|
Definition
By following Dharma - by being non-violent
Self-deprivation |
|
|
Term
| What are the major aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism? |
|
Definition
Life is filled with pain and sorrow - caused by desire
Release from existence will end suffering
Release can be attained by following the Eightfold Path: right outlook, right aims, right speech, right effort, right livelihood, right mindfulness, right action, and right concentration |
|
|
Term
| Who was Siddhartha Gautama? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are major differences between Buddhism and Hinduism? |
|
Definition
| Buddhism: Nirvana is used to achieve Moksha instead of karma and everyone must follow the same Four Noble Truths instead of each caste having a different Dharma |
|
|
Term
| According to Mahavira, how does one end samsara? |
|
Definition
| Non-violence and self-denial |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The greatest Mauryan Emperor
Buddhist
Stopped the wars and expansion
Made the empire peaceful
Preached religious tolerance |
|
|
Term
| What political system developed in India under Chandragupta Maurya (r. 321-297 BCE)? |
|
Definition
| Highly organized and bureaucratic |
|
|
Term
| What were the chief features of the political organization of the Gupta Empire? |
|
Definition
More centralized government than the Mauryan Empire
State maintained monopoly over certain activities such as trade |
|
|
Term
| What were the principle areas of the Gupta economy? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What religion did the Gupta rulers favor? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How did the Gupta rulers treat other religions in India? |
|
Definition
| Other religions were patronized |
|
|
Term
| What were the principal tendencies in the Hindu religion during the Gupta period? |
|
Definition
| Devotion to Hindu deities was the primary means of release from the world of suffering |
|
|
Term
| Why did Hinduism begin to emphasize devotion and the personal gods? |
|
Definition
| It was viewed as a way for people of all castes to gain salvation |
|
|
Term
| What were the chief trends in Buddhism during the Gupta? |
|
Definition
| Buddhism began to decline but gradually was reabsorbed into Hinduism |
|
|
Term
| What are the principal ideas of the Mahayana tradition? |
|
Definition
Monastic life was no longer a prerequisite for salvation
The Buddha was now imagined as a divinity
A new group of semi-divine figures, called Bodhisattvas, became prominent |
|
|
Term
| What role did the marriage play in Indian society? |
|
Definition
| Marriage alliances were used to form connections with other important states |
|
|
Term
| What was the primary type of family in India? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What was the primary function of family? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How would you characterize the place of women in Indian society? |
|
Definition
| Women were not equal to men but were allowed more freedom than women in China |
|
|
Term
| What were the major cultural achievements in Gupta India? |
|
Definition
Promoted education and sciences
One of the first lands on the Earth that established schools
Tolerated other religions while having specific roles for the accepted religion
Broadened trade |
|
|
Term
| What were the major scientific achievements in India during the Gupta? |
|
Definition
Defined the concept of zero
Invented "Arabic" numerals
Plotted the paths of stars |
|
|
Term
| What role did education play for Indian society? |
|
Definition
One of the first lands on the Earth that established schools/universities
Mathematicians defined the concept of zero
Gupta scholars invented "Arabic" numerals |
|
|
Term
| When and why did the Gupta Empire decline? |
|
Definition
600-1400 CE
Successors were less capable of maintaining the empire
Foreign invasions from the Huns, Mongols, and Muslims |
|
|
Term
| What major groups of people invaded India during the second half of the first millennium and the early second millennium of the Common Era? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What major features characterized the earliest Chinese civilization? |
|
Definition
River-valley civilization: Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
Agricultural
Walled settlements |
|
|
Term
| What does the concept "Mandate of Heaven" mean? |
|
Definition
| Claimed that the god of heaven (T'en) gave the Chou a mandate to rule China so that they could retain their powers |
|
|
Term
| What are major characteristics of the concept of the "Deity Above"? |
|
Definition
Symbols were made on oracle bones to ask questions to the "Deity Above"
They were placed over fire and the resulting cracks were interpreted as the answer |
|
|
Term
| What was the major purpose of Oracle Bones? |
|
Definition
| To gain answers to practical and materialistic questions |
|
|
Term
| What period of Chinese history was associated with the Chou dynasty? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What philosophies emerged in China during the first millennium BCE? |
|
Definition
| Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the basic features of Confucianism? |
|
Definition
Never do to others what you yourself would not like ("Golden Rule")
People were born good
Seeking social harmony
People needed education
5 hierarchical but mutually respectful relationships: ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife, friend-friend, older brother-younger brother
Social harmony would prevail if people acted according to the Golden Rule and 5 Relationships |
|
|
Term
| What was the role of Confucianism in Chinese society? |
|
Definition
| Provided for the hierarchical society of China |
|
|
Term
| What does the concept of Tao in Taoism define? |
|
Definition
Way of Nature
Force that acts on a cosmic scale
Not god, but something metaphysical
Source of the world
Everything derives from it and goes back to it |
|
|
Term
| What does the idea of wuwei mean in Taoism? |
|
Definition
Non-action
Just be quiet and live |
|
|
Term
| How did Shih-Huang-ti refer to himself? |
|
Definition
| Shang: "First August Supreme Ruler" |
|
|
Term
| What ruler created the first Chinese Empire? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What political system in China developed under the Ch'in Dynasty? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What administrative and political reforms occurred under the Han Dynasty? |
|
Definition
Introduced professional bureaucracy
In order to become a bureaucrat, one had to pass the civil service examination, be literate, and be able to write
Territorial expansion westward |
|
|
Term
| Who reunited China in the late sixth century? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What institutions of government were established under the Sui? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why did the Sui dynasty collapse? |
|
Definition
| Natural disasters and the Tang Conquest |
|
|
Term
| How was the Chinese government organized under the Tang? |
|
Definition
Full scale bureaucracy with four major institutions of the central government: the Department of State affairs consolidated public administration, the Imperial Chancellery issued imperial decrees, the Grand Secretariat produced official texts, and the Council of State consisted of the emperor and important civil officials
The Censorate served as the eyes and ears of the emperor and at its worst could act as a kind of secret police |
|
|
Term
| How (on what basis) were Chinese bureaucracy (civil servants) were recruited and appointed to their offices? |
|
Definition
| Merit and the civil service examination system |
|
|
Term
| How did Confucianism influence the Chinese imperial government and domestic policies during the Tang? |
|
Definition
| Large class of Confucian intellectuals selected through either civil service examinations or recommendations |
|
|
Term
| Why did the Tang dynasty decline? |
|
Definition
| A Shi Rebellion and jiedushi (regional military governors) |
|
|
Term
| What were the major economic developments in China under the Tang? |
|
Definition
Papermaking
Block printing |
|
|
Term
| What industries flourished in China under the Tang? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What religion spread in China during the Tang rulers? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What tradition of Buddhism became popular in China? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Who founded the Sung dynasty? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What changes in Chinese agriculture took place under the Sung? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the major developments in the Chinese economy under the Sung? |
|
Definition
Neo-Confucianism - revival of Confucianism
Reconciliation of Buddhism and Confucianism |
|
|
Term
| How did the economic growth influence the population of Chinese cities under the Tang and Sung rulers? |
|
Definition
| Nearly doubled population |
|
|
Term
| What major inventions took place in China under the Sung? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the major ideas of Neo-Confucian scholars? |
|
Definition
| Rejected the idea of reincarnation and the idea of karma |
|
|
Term
| What was the major goal of Neo-Confucianism? |
|
Definition
| Human nature is originally good, but not pure unless action is taken to purify it |
|
|
Term
| What dynasty was established in China as a result of the Mongol invasion? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How did the Mongol conquerors change Chinese government? |
|
Definition
| Debt, slavery, and hierarchy classes |
|
|
Term
| How did the Mongols control the Chinese population? |
|
Definition
| Divided them into separate classes |
|
|
Term
| What was the response of the Chinese to the Mongol occupation? |
|
Definition
| Rise up against the weakening army |
|
|
Term
| What religion was introduced to Japan in 552? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the principle goals of the Taika reforms? |
|
Definition
| To replace the aristocratic uji with administrators who were selected by, and owed their allegiance to, the central government |
|
|
Term
| What did the Taika reforms establish in Japan? |
|
Definition
State centralization
Hereditary bureaucracy
Legal code
Standing army
Land tax |
|
|
Term
| How was Japanese bureaucracy recruited? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What role did Japanese emperors play? |
|
Definition
| Tenno "Heavenly Emperor" - sent from God |
|
|
Term
| What groups had real political power in Japan? |
|
Definition
| Yamato Clan - powerful aristocratic ujis |
|
|
Term
| What political system developed in Japan during the "peace and tranquility" period? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Who became political leaders in Japan in the late twelfth century? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What was the result of the Mongol attempts to invade Japan? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How did the geography of the Greek peninsula influence Greek political structure? |
|
Definition
| Mountains and small rivers separate and isolate parts of the peninsula, creating independent city-states with different types of governments in each |
|
|
Term
| What were the major characteristics of Minoan civilization? |
|
Definition
Agricultural
Traders
Shipbuilders
Linear A (script)
Architecture |
|
|
Term
| What was the major political institution in Greece? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What form of government is meant by "oligarchy"? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What form of government existed in most Greek city-states between 700 and 500 BCE? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why did the Greeks colonize the Mediterranean? |
|
Definition
| The climate was similar to that of the mainland so it was easy to adapt and they could do the same agricultural activities |
|
|
Term
| Why did Sparta colonize its neighbor Messina? |
|
Definition
| To fix their own problem of overpopulation and land hunger |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Enslaved Messenians - state serfs |
|
|
Term
| What was the result of the Solon's reforms? |
|
Definition
Forbid enslavement
Carried out institutional reforms
Aristocrats weren't supportive and Athens became tyrannical |
|
|
Term
| How would you describe the form of government that developed in Athens? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What was the result of the Peloponnesian War? |
|
Definition
| Sparta defeated Athens, but both leagues were weakened |
|
|
Term
| What theory did Democtitus propose? |
|
Definition
| The universe consists of invisible indestructable elements called atoms |
|
|
Term
| What Greek scientist first put forth a heliocentric (sun-centered) view of the universe? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were the major political developments during the reign of Philip of Macedon? |
|
Definition
Polis retained authority of internal matters, ruled by public assemblies
States assumed power over international policies and declaration of war |
|
|
Term
| What were the major achievements of Alexander the Great? |
|
Definition
Went beyond the Greek peninsula and siezed control over Persia, Egypt, and Northern India
Created the largest empire in that part of the world |
|
|
Term
| How would you describe the Hellenistic kingdoms? |
|
Definition
Power is given to close allies and relatives of Alexander the Great
Autocratic
Rulers claim to be representatives of god |
|
|
Term
| What was the predominant part of the Hellenistic economy? |
|
Definition
| Warfare and territorial expansion |
|
|
Term
| What were the major philosophical ideas proposed by Epicurus? |
|
Definition
Misfortune could be avoided by being undisturbed
People should not be disturbed by worldly instances
Happiness could be achieved by a life based on reason
No afterlife
Wanted to liberate people from fear of death and fear of gods |
|
|
Term
| What were the major ideas of Zeno and Stoics? |
|
Definition
Good and nature were the same and people should live in accordance with nature
The guiding instrument of reason was Logos (fire)
Everything derives from divinity and after death returns to it
Viewed the world as one single Polis
Viewed all people as brothers and sisters |
|
|
Term
| Why did the mystery religions become popular during the Hellenistic Age? |
|
Definition
| Mixture of all of the philosophy created many different beliefs |
|
|
Term
| What were the scientific achievements of the Hellenistic Age? |
|
Definition
Aristotle: geocentric theory of the universe (earth-centered)
Aristarchus: heliocentric theory of the universe (sun-centered)
Dissected human bodies in attempt to find means to cure disease |
|
|
Term
| Who wrote The Elements of Geometry? |
|
Definition
|
|
