Unit 1 Study

Homo sapiens

thinking man" developed about 200,000 years ago in present-day AfricaCharacteristics include:walked upright, had larger brains, and used tools

Paleolithic Era

The "Old Stone Age" lasted from prehistory to about 10,000 BCHumans lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle

Neolithic Revolution

The "New Stone Age" began about 10,000 BC when humans learned agricultureBeing able to grow their own food helped humans settle into permanent communitiesThe birth rate also soared and division of labor developed

Bronze Age

lasted from about 7,000 to 1,500 BC and was named after the material humans used to make tools

Sumerians

Earliest recorded human society developed in Mesopotamia 5,000-3,000 BC

Cuneiform

Sumerian system of writing, carving symbols into wet clay and letting it harden

Barter System

a system in which one commodity is exchanged with another commodity

City-state

A city that functions like an independent state, has it's own military, judicial system and leadership

Hammurabi's Code

The first written law code in human history governed all aspects of life in Sumerian history

Nobility

A high-ranking social class

Polytheism

the worship of many gods and goddesses (dieties)

In what ways was Qin Shih Huang Di's rule a radical departure from previous Chinese dynastic rule? Give at least 3 major changes that occurred under his rule and explain why he made those changes.

Shi Huang, which translates as "first emperor," declared himself emperor. Qin Shi Huang put in a lot of work to set up his empire. He wanted everything to run smoothly for a very long time. Economy - Emperor Qin also united China by establishing a common currency (money) and standard units of measure. The Qin created an authoritarian regime to rule their vast territory, standardising the writing system, weight and length measurements, and highway width, abolishing all feudal privileges along the way. They also oversaw the construction of the first Great Wall, which was a massive defensive structure.

Nile River

The longest river in the world, the Nile supported the growth of Egyptian civilization

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian Writing System

Pharaoh

the ultimate religious and political authority in Ancient Egypt

Ammit

Goddess of Truth and Balance

Book of the Dead c. 1500BC

An Egyptian religious text containing instructions on how to navigate the afterlife. It contained spells on how to protect yourself from attack by animals and angry gods, as well as a series of "negative confessions

Hatshepsut

Egyptian Queen who declared herself pharaoh in 1473 BCRuled 21 years, established trade with other countries

Hittites

First people to use iron tools and weapons who took over the Sumerians

Hebrew civilization

earliest inhabitants of Israel many enslaved over time by Egyptians

Monotheism

worship of one deity (God)

Solomon

most famous king of the Hebrews and built the famous Temple in Jerusalem- the holiest site in Judaism

Assyrians

warlike civilization that ruled Mesopotamia c. 900-612BC

Shang Dynasty

First recorded dynasty in Chinese history. A bronze age agricultural society polytheistic ruled by a semi-divine king

Daoism

Chinese philosophy developed during second century BC revolving around imitating nature

Mandate of Heaven

the gods allowed a king to rule (given a mandate) as long as they rule fairly.

Confucius

Chinese philosopher who lived during chaos Era of the Warring States. 551-479 BC Taught respect your superiors and the importance of education for advancement

Shih Huang Di

First emperor of the Qin Dynasty enacted: abolishing slavery, standard law code, standard system of weights and measurements, the monetary system, and constructed roads. Only wanted strength in power.221-210 BC

Legalism

asserts that humans are fundamentally evil and must be watched closely by authorities.Believed in strict punishments for crimes and censorshipled Chinese to develop highly centralized government with multiple levels of bureaucracy

Wu Ti

Greatest of the Han rulers known for making Confucianism the state philosophy also enlarged the empire through military conquest

The Silk Road

4,000 mile long major trade route with silk being their most valuable export item

Han Dynasty

206-220 ADA period of regeneration and scientific achievement

Aryans

warlike, iron-age civilization, migrated into Indus Valley region c. 1500 BC conquering local peoples. Laid foundation for the faith of Hinduism and introduced Caste System.

Hinduism

Polytheistic faith that developed over the centuriesEmphasizes living a virtuous life and treating all living things with respectBy means of reincarnation, the soul can be purified and reunited with the Spirit of Brahma

Caste System

the rigid class system set up in ancient India under the AryansNo movement between castes and members of each caste had to follow specific rules

Ashoka

Chandragupta's grandson a fierce Mauryan military ruler who converted to Buddhism and spread that philosophy through India and southeast Asia

Buddhism

Philosophy founded by Siddhartha GautamaFour Noble Truths form the basis of this philosophy emphasizing that it is our desires that cause sufferingRejected the caste systemFour Noble Truths: Life is suffering, The cause of suffering is craving, the end of suffering comes with an end to craving, and there is a path which leads one away from craving and suffering

Mahmud of Ghazni

Ruthless Turkish Muslim ruler who conquered much of north central India destroying and looting Hindu templesAlso establish a royal court in Ghazni and supported the work of Muslim scientists and artists

Gupta Empire 320-600s AD

Golden age of Indian historymany advancements in math, science and contact with other civilizations

Zoroastrianism

Persian religion developed c. 650 BCBelief that world is controlled by two warring gods: one of light and the other darkness"Heaven and Hell

Cyrus the Great

Persian king who used Zoroastrianism to unite his people and conquer much of the known western world and established Achaemenid Empire

Darius I

Persian king know for:dividing empire into territories ruled by individual, local governorsbuilding public works such as postal system and constructing roadsinstituting a common currencyreligious toleration

Polis (city-state)

Forms of Government:Monarchy (rule by one)Oligarchy (rule by a few)Tyranny (rule by a tyrant)Democracy (rule by the people)

Solon

Greek leader who introduced democracy to AthensOpened up public office to non-noblesabolished slavery as a punishment for debt

Humanism

Greek artists and writers put the human experience at the center of events and celebrated the human physical form

Homer

Greek poet who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey both about the Trojan warHis works studied by generations of Greeks giving them a shared sense of history and pride

Herodotus

First historian of the western world and wrote the History of the Persian Wars

Patriarchal society

a social system where men are in authority over women in all aspects of society

Socrates

The father of western philosophy and learned about the world by questioning everything and challenging common assumptions

Plato

Student of Socrates and remembered for founding the Academy of Athens the first university in EuropeAlso known for questioning what is real and illusionHe wrote the Republic laying out the notion of an ideal society led by philosopher-kings

mythology

shared religious beliefs united many of the city-states

Persian War

Persians attempted several times to take over Greek city-states but worked together instead to fight off invaders

Delian League

Defensive alliance formed by many of the Greek city-states after the Persian WarAthens came to dominate them and tensions between Athens and Sparta grew over time

Pericles

Leader of Athens who rebuilt Athens, used public treasury to pay for state service, expanded political participation of lower classes, controlled the Delian league, and argued for war against Sparta

Peloponnesian War

War fought between the Greek city-states of Sparta and Athens

Philip II

Macedonian King who conquered the Greeks but also finally helped unite the city-states

Alexander the Great

King began an invasion of the Persian Empire and conqueredStudied Persia's glorious past and wished to blend Greek and Macedonian culture with that of the Persians