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cultural diffusion

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The exposure of cultures during interaction with other cultures

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Neolithic Revolution

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The agricultural revolution where humans began to settle down from their previously nomadic lifestyle

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city-states

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A group of loosely collected cities each with their own governmental system

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polytheistic

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A religion wherein more than one god is worshipped

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ziggurat

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A pyramid-like temple; built by Sumerians

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Sumerians

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A civilization that originated in southern Mesopotamia. They developed cuneiform writing and the 12 month calendar

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Mesopotamia

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The land between the rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates; home of many of the earliest civilizations like Sumer, Babylon, and Persia

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Akkad

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A city north of Sumer that rose to prominence as Sumer declined. Notable for developing the first known code of law.

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Bronze Age

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The latter half of the neolithic era is often called this due to the development of this metal. Considered an extremely important development in history.

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Babylon

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Another civilization in Mesopotamia; replaced Akkad, famous for King Hammurabi and the code named after him.

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Code of Hammurabi

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A system of law developed by King Hammurabi of Babylon; famous for distinguishing between major and minor offenses

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Hittites

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Famously displaced Babylon; used iron in their weapons giving them a potent militaristic advantage over other cultures who relied mainly on bronze

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Assyrians

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Defeated the Hittites, after learning to use iron against the Hittites themselves. Establish a capital at Ninevah. Established a well organized but resented empire.

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Ninevah

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The capital of Assyria

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Nebuchadnezzar

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A Chaldean King who rebuilt Babylon after defeating the Assyrians. Famous for a story of a forgotten dream.

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Persian Empire

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One of the largest ancient empires, that is distantly related to the modern state of Turkey. Built the Great Royal Road.

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Great Royal Road

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A long trade road established by the Persians

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Lydians

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A smaller society near the Persian Empire; famous for developing coined money

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Phoenicians

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Another civilization by the Persian Empire, famous for a powerful set of naval city-states on the Mediterranean, and for developing the alphabet that we use today

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Hebrews

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Another civilization that existed near the Persian Empire, significant for their religious belief of Judaism, one of the first monotheistic religions that continues today. At 1000 BCE they established Israel on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean

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Egyptian

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This civilization developed along the Nile, and is famous for their iconic pyramids, religious system, and pharaohs. Had 3 kingdoms(ages); Old, Middle, and new. Reached its pinnacle during the New Kingdom, declined past there

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King Menes

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Egyptian pharaoh before the Old Kingdom, established his capital at the city of Memphis

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pharaoh

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Egyptian rulers

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hieroglyphics

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A writing system that was based off of pictures representing letters and words. Used extensively by Egyptians.

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Queen Hatshepsut

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The first female ruler in known history; she ruled for 22 years in what is considered a successful reign; expanding trade expeditions and so on.

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Indus Valley Civilization

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Another civilization lasting from 2500-1500 BCE that was built along the banks of the Indus River system. Rather limited in contact with other cultures due to the huge mountain systems by it

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Khyber Pass

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A pass through the Hindu Kush Mountains that allowed the Indus Valley Civilization to engage in some contact with the rest of the world. Exploited later by invaders.

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Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro

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The two major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization

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Aryans

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A series of nomadic tribes that originated from north of the Caucaus Mountains that invaded the Indian subcontinent. Their beliefs were eventually modified to form the basis of Hinduism. Their name was exploited by the Nazi's and Hitler millennia later when he wished to describe his \"pure\" race.

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caste system

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A system of classes that were used in Indian Civilization; famously opposed by Gandhi. Unique in that movement between castes was strictly forbidden; as was intermarriage.

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Brahmans

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The priests of Hinduism, they were considered the topmost on the caste laddder

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Shang China

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An early Chinese civilization that began in the Hwang Ho(Yellow) River Valley, creating a trade based society. Had very limited contact with external civilizations; famously ethnocentric. Developed the spoked wheel, and produced pottery and silk

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patriarchal

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A system of family organization that was led by the eldest male. Used extensively in most to all major early civilizations

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Zhou Dynasty

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Ousters of the Shang dynastly; led by Wu Wang

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Mandate of Heaven

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The Zhou Dynasties justification of rule by claiming that heaven would grant the Zhou power as long as they were just. Important for being the first invokement of divine right to rule,

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bureaucracies

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A form of organizing governments into branches or bureaus, in order to specialize and stabilize

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Bantu

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A family of languages in West Africa

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Bantu Migration

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A series of migrations where Bantu speaking people from west africa moved east and south starting at about 1500 BCE

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Jenne-Jeno

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A city in subsaharan Africa, believed to be the first such city. Established in 250 BCE.

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Olmec

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An early civilization in what is now Mexico that lasted from 1400 to 1200 BCE, urban, supported by agricultural surpluses of corn, squash, and beans. Polytheistic, mastered irrigation, developed a system of writing and a calendar. Did *not* develop in a river valley.

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Chavin

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Another early civilization that lasted from 900 to 300 BCE. Lived in the Andes, agricultural, learned metalworking, used llama's as beasts of burden. Did *not* develop in a river valley.

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Maya

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An ancient civilization contemporary with Rome, Han, and Gupta(despite being grouped with the later Aztec and Inca civilizations). Developed a highly accurate calendar, built pyramids, and wrote via hieroglyphics

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Tikal

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The most important mayan city, may have been populated by over 100,000 people

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Chichen Itza

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A tiered Mayan temple which is similar in design to the Egyptian pyramids and the Mesopotamian ziggurats

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Mauryan Empire

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An Indian Empire founded by Chandragupta Maurya, who unified the smaller Aryan kingdoms into a civilization.

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Ashoka Maurya

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The grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, he took the Mauryan Empire to its height. Famously converted to Buddhism after the deadly Kalinga Wars

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Rock and Pillar Edicts

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A series of edicts on...rocks and pillars that reminded Mauryans to live righteous lives according to Buddhist principles, A series of edicts on...rocks and pillars that reminded Mauryans to live righteous lives according to Buddhist principles

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Chandra Gupta

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Distinct from the Mauryan founder, he revived the Mauryan Empire into the Gupta Empire

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Gupta Empire

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An empire similar to the Mauryan empire, but more decentralized and considered a golden age due to the relative prosperity and peace. It was during this time that Gupta mathematicians developed the concepts of pi, zero, and the number system we use today. Collapsed under pressure from the White Huns in 550 CE

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Qin Dynasty

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A very short-lived Chinese dynasty famous for its tight organization, its completion of the Great Wall of China, its heavy-handedness in dealing with dissent, and its unceremonious end one year after the death of its first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. Dominant belief system was Legalism

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Qin Shihuangdi

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Founder of the Qin Dynasty of China.

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Han Dynasty

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A highly successful Chinese dynasty that dislodged the Qin Dynasty. Repelled invasions by the Huns and established the Chinese civil service examinations. Trade flourished during this time period.

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Wu Ti

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Often called the Warrior Empire, he successfully enlarged the Han Empire to central Asia and repelled the Hun invaders

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polis

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A Greek city-state

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Athens

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The political, commercial, and cultural center of the Greek Civilization, a powerful city-state in its own right.

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Sparta

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A highly militaristic and agricultural polis in Greece, a powerful city-state in its own right

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Draco & Solon

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Two aristocrats who worked to create the democracy in Athens and ensure fair, equal, and open participation(by the standards of that time)

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The Persian Wars

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A series of wars where the Greek city-states united against Persia, and managed to maintain control of the Aegean Sea and push the Persian Empire back

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Golden Age of Pericles

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The period after the Persian Wars where Greece entered a period of peace and relative prosperity.

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Pericles

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The leader of Athens after the Persian War. He rebuilt Athens, and established the Delian League. He died during the Peloponnesian war due to the plague

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The Delian League

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An alliance between several Greek city-states for mutual defense against aggression from their common enemies

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Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

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Famous Greek philosophers, who believed that truth could be determined through rational thought and observation. Considered the fathers of rational thinking

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Homer

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The writer of the epics \"The Illiad\" and \"The Odyssey\", considered the first two Western masterpieces of literature.

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Peloponessian War

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A war between Athens and Sparta. Although Sparta won, both states were so weakened that the Macedonians were able to take control of the entire region under the rule of Philip of Macedon

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Alexander the Great

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Philip of Macedon's son, taught by Aristotle. He widened Macedonian dominance by conquering the Persian Empire, Egypt, and moved to the shores of the Indus River, creating the largest empire of the time.

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Antigonid, Ptolemaic, Seleucid

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The three divisions that Alexander made to his empire, the first represented Greece and Macedon, the second Egypt, and the last Bactria and Anatolia

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Hellenism

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The cultures, ideals, and pattern of life of Classical Greece

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patricians

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Land owning noblemen in Rome; aristocrats

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plebians

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Freemen in Rome

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The Twelve Tables of Rome

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The laws of Rome, codified. Famously includes the concept of \"innocent until proven guilty\"

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Punic Wars

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A series of wars between Rome and Carthage, a city-state in North Africa. Although it ended in Roman victory, it was a close fought war indeed, and Hannibal had the ability to sack Rome at one point.

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Hannibal

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A Carthaginian General, considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all time

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First triumvirate

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The first Roman triumvirate was Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar. Caesar took control after ousting the other two.

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Caesar

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The member of the first triumvirate who took control of Rome, declaring himself \"emperor for life\". Famously assassinated by a group of Roman Senators, especially Brutus and Cassius

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Second triumvirate

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After Caesar's death, another triumvirate composed of Octavius, Marc Antony, and Lepidus. About as successful as the first, Octavius seized control

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Octavius

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Member of the second triumvirate, who rose to power and renamed himself Marcus Aurelius, or Augustus Caesar

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Constantine

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A famous emperor of Rome, who issued the Edict of Milan

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The Edict of Milan

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This edict ended the persecution of Christianity in Rome. He built the city of Constantinople on the Greek city of Byzantium in his own honor

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Diocletian

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A Roman emperor during the decline of Rome, who divided the Empire into two regions run by co-emperors

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Constantinople

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A city built by Constantine, now called Istanbul

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Visigoths

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A group of Germanic people who began to press the Roman Empire due to the strain of the Huns. Sacked Rome in 410 CE

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Silk Road

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One of the major trading routes via land from Rome to China.

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Confucianism

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A major religion developed for the Chinese by Confucius, it stresses Ren, kindness and humanity; Li, propriety and respect; and Xiao, filial piety(respect for family obligation)

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Daoism(Taoism)

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Practiced by some Chinese, it considered itself the way of nature, and that ambition brought only chaos to the world. It advocated passivity and simple lifestyles. It also produced several astronomers, chemists, and botanists due to its emphasis on harmony with nature.

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Legalism

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Another Chinese religion, specifically during the shortlived Qin dynasty. Legalism believed that human nature was inherently evil and that tough laws and harsh punishment, strong central government, and unquestioned authority. The Qin's adoption of this led the the resentment that would topple their empire in a decade.

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Hinduism

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A religion widely practiced in the Indian subcontinent; originated with the Aryan beliefs. Famous for the caste system on the social end.

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Buddhism

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Founded by a young Hindu prince called (Sid)dhartha Gautama, who rejected his wealth and became Buddha, the enlightened one. Buddhists follow the Four Noble Truths: All life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, Freedom from desire is possible, and that through the Eightfold Path. After Buddha's death, it split into Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Rejected the caste system and other social differences

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Judaism

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One of the first monotheistic religions, it believes that god chose a select group of people to reveal himself to. Uses the Torah(Jewish Holy Book) and the Laws of Moses as a guideline.

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Christianity

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A splinter religion from Judaism, Christianity came when Jesus, a charismatic Jewish teacher, claimed to be the Son of God. While many believed him, the Roman and Jewish leaders were less interested, and crucified him. His followers believe he rose from the dead, and Christianity exists today. Rome finally recognized the religion and stopped persecuting Christians with the Edict of Milan

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Islam

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A new monotheistic religion which is famous for the Five Pillars of Islam, followers are known as Muslims

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Qu'ran

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The holy book for Muslims

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jihad

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\"To struggle\", both the struggle to be a better Muslim and the struggle against nonbeliever

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Medina

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One of the most important Islamic cities, where Mohammad fled after being persecuted.

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hjira

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The date of Mohammad's flight to Medina.

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Tenochtitlan

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What is now Mexico City, an Aztec city.

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Temple of the Sun

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An ancient ruin in Cuzco, built by the Inca

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Machu Piccu

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A ancient ruin in Peru, built by the Inca

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Bubonic Plague

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The plague was started in Asia in the 14th century, and was carried by trade routes to Europe, where it devastated the population

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First Crusade

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A military campaign initiated by Pope Urban in response to the success of the Seljuk Turks, hoping to capture Jerusalem.

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Medici Family

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A ruling family in Florence that sponsored a great deal of art from famous painters and sculptists

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Michelangelo/Brunelleschi

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A famous Renaissance artist

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Leonardo da Vinci

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A famous Renaissance sculptor and painter. A realist, he often studied dead bodies and anatomy.

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Johannes Gutenberg

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The inventor of the printing press, which allowed for the mass-printing of books.

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Martin Luther

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A german monk who famously began the Protestant split in the church by nailing a list of 95 grievances to a church door. He advocated a more personal relationship with God, without the church as a middleman.

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Catholic Reformation

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A reform in the church to regain membership

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Divine Right

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A similar concept to the Mandate of Heaven, European rulers used this, claiming they were ordained by God to lead, and that not following them was ungodly. Notably different from the Mandate of Heaven in that it had no clause for poor rulers.

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