agrarian
relating to land; relating to the management or farming of land
Agricultural Revolution
Humans began tp plant crops and raise animals. I started in the middle east and as a result there was a surplus of food.
ancestor veneration
Worship and respect for ancestors (occurred in African, Mediterranean, East Asia, and Andean societies during the classical time period)
Ancient Egypt
An ancient civilization centered around the Nile River; unified by Menes around 3000 B.C.; divided into the old, middle, and new kingdoms; main gods included Osiris, Isis, Re, and Horus; believed in Divine Kingship; participated in state expansion and empire building
animism
Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.
Buddhism
A religion with origins in IndiaMau in which Buddha's teachings that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire and suffering ceases when desire ceases. Enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth (reincarnation).
caravanserai
Fortified inns that were built along trade routes in Central and Western Asia in the twelfth century to provide food, lodging, and protection for merchants traveling with camels, donkeys, and horses.
caste
any of the social or subclasses of traditional Hindu society,mainly in India, such as the Brahman or Sudra castes; a social class distinct from others and characterized by hereditary rank, profession or wealth; a social position conferred on someone based on a system of castes.
centralized government
A government in which power is concentrated in a central authority to which local governments are subject (ex: China, Rome, Byzantines, etc)
champa rice
Quick-maturing rice that can allow two harvests in one growing season. Originally introduced into Champa from India, it was later sent to China as a tribute gift by the Champa state (as part of the tributary system.)
Chavin
A civilization in the northern Andean highlands of Peru from 900-250 BCE, known for their construction of temples and their advancements in engineering and metallurgy. Gold, not metal tools.
Christianity
An Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in the New Testament. Drew on Judaism and initially rejected Roman and Hellenistic influences. Spread through the efforts of missionaries and merchants. Eventually gained support by the time of Emperor Constantine.
Civil Service Exam
It was create during the Han dynasty. Students were required to analyze Confucian teachings. Those who did well were rewarded with prestigious jobs in the government bureaucracy.
Code of Hammurabi
credited as the first written law code; written by a Babylonian king and established the basis for law codes
collapse of classical empires
spread of disease, over-expansion, corrupt governments, invasions by nomadic/pastoral groups, over-taxation of peasants, food shortages
conduit
a means by which something is transmitted
Confucianism
A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct. This is a highly partriarchal structure.
Daimyos
Powerful landlords in Japan between 800-1200. similar to the Lords in feudal Europe.
Daoism
Chinese religion that believes the world is always changing and is devoid of absolute morality or meaning. They accept the world as they find it, avoid futile struggles, and deviate as little as possible from "the Tao/Dao" also known as "the way" or "path" of nature; emphasized living in harmony with nature; ying and yang
Dar al-Islam
is the area that Islam united: southern Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of India. It was also known as the House of Islam.
dhow ship
emerged in middle east; sturdy enough to carry a lateen sail to cross open water; vessel of commerce and used in the Indian Ocean
diaspora
any group migration or flight from a country or region; dispersion. Particularly used in relation to Jews scattered by Romans in 70 CE or to Africans spread to new places during the Atlantic Slave Trade.
disseminate
To scatter or spread widely
egalitarian
believing in the social and economic equality of all people - existing before setting societies in hunter-gatherer groups
elite
People of wealth and power; upper class -- did not emerge until settled societies developed
Emperor Ashoka
Maurya empire of India (320-185 BC); greatest emperor of India; conversion to Buddhism and spread Buddhism throughout India by building shrines and pillars for Buddhists
filial piety
In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.
five relationships
Confucian philosophy about social order where everyone has a place and respect is paid to elders, parents, and the government. The relationships are, ruler to ruled, father to son, older brother to younger brother, husband to wife, friend to friend.
Greco-Roman philosophy
emphasized logic, empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchy
Greek city-states
Polis, farmer-warriors; culturally unified (Homer, language) but politically diverse (kingship and democracy), unified by a language, polytheistic religion, and culture - otherwise very distinct
Gupta
Powerful Indian state based in the Ganges Valley. It controlled most of the Indian subcontinent through a combination of military force and its prestige as a center of sophisticated culture. Often associated with a Golden Age of classical India.
Han Dynasty
(202 BCE-220 CE) This dynasty continued the centralization of the Qin Dynasty, but focused on Confucianism and education instead of Legalism
Hellenistic Empire
(The spread of Greek culture) of or relating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31 BC. During this period Greek culture flourished, spreading through the Mediterranean and into the Near East and Asia and centering on Alexandria in Egypt and Pergamum in Turkey
Hinduism
A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation, karma, the caste system, and a supreme being who takes many forms
Indian Ocean trade
Connected to Europe, Africa, and China. Worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion. Spices, slaves, silk, ivory, gold, and many other items crossed through the Indian Ocean, and the spread of Islam owed much to the trade network.
Jizya
Non-Mulsims could keep their faith by paying an additional tax.
Job specialization
The concentration of the productive efforts of individuals and firms on a limited number of activities; increases efficiency
Judaism
A religion with a belief in one god. It originated with Abraham and the Hebrew people. Yahweh was responsible for the world and everything within it. They preserved their early history in the Old Testament.
Key Term
Key Terms Prologue Arrival of Man to the 1200 CE
lateen sail
triangular sail that made it possible to sail against the wind; used in the Indian Ocean trade
Legalism
Chinese philosophy developed by Hanfeizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws; embraced by the Qin Dynasty. After the Qin dynasty the school of though was never used again.
Mandate of Heaven
A political theory developed during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China in which those in power were believed to have the the right to rule by divine authority.
Mauryan Empire
The first state to unify most of the Indian subcontinent. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 B.C.E. and survived until 184 B.C.E. From its capital at Pataliputra in the Ganges Valley it grew wealthy from taxes.
Mayans
1500 B.C. to 900 A.D. This is the most advanced civilization of the time in the Western Hemisphere. Famous for its awe-inspiring temples, pyramids and cities. A complex social and political order.
Mesopotamia
(land between the rivers) The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; birthplace of the Sumerian and Babylonian Civilizations. Participated in state expansion and empire building
metallurgy
the science of working with metals.
Mississippian Civilization
was a Native American civilization that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE, varying regionally. It was known for building large, earthen platform mounds, and often other shaped mounds as well. It was composed of a series of urban settlements and satellite villages linked together by loose trading networks. The largest city was Cahokia, believed to be a major religious center located in what is present-day southern Illinois.
monasticism
Living in a religious community apart from secular society and adhering to a rule stipulating chastity, obedience, and poverty. (Primary Centers of Learning in Medieval Europe) - occurred in Christian and Buddhist communities
monumental architecture
Large structures, such as pyramid, temples, public spaces, and large statues, that tend to appear wherever powerful leaders emerge; a feature of all agrarian civilizations.
Monsoon Winds
is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a region. These cause wet and dry seasons throughout much of the tropics. They are most often associated with the Indian Ocean. They always blow from cold to warm regions.
Neo-Confucianism
a melding of Confucian, Buddhist and Daoist philosophies that began under the rule of the Yand dynasty.
Neolithic Revolution
(10,000 - 8,000 BCE) The development of agriculture and the domestication of animals as a food source. This led to the development of permanent settlements and the start of civilization.
Olmec Civilization
was one of the most influential ancient civilizations of the early Americas, and though its dominance of the region faded in the last centuries before the Common Era, this civilization is commonly thought to be the "mother culture" of many other cultures that appeared in the region in later years. These cultures, such as the Maya, Zapotec, Totonac, and Teotihuacán civilizations have unique art, architecture, and cultures that separate them from each other.
pastoral
societies were characterized by the domestication of animals but they usually did not settle down and farm or build towns - nomadic, facilitated trade and spread technology, religions, and ideas
patriarchy
a form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe and descent is reckoned in the male line, with the children belonging to the father's clan or tribe.
Phoenicians
located on eastern Mediterranean coast; invented the alphabet which used sounds rather than symbols like cuneiform
qanat system
a traditional system of gravity-fed irrigation that uses gently sloping tunnels to capture groundwater and direct it to low-lying fields
Sassanid Empire
The name of the last pre-Islamic Iranian (Persian) empire. It was one of the two main powers in Western Asia for a period of more than 400 years. Was founded by Ardashir I after defeating the last Parthian (Arsacid) king, in Persia,also involving a revival of a revival of the Persian religion Zoroastrianism). Fought the Byzantines, which weakened them both.
shamanism
tribal religion; involves community acceptance of a shaman, religious leader, healer, and worker of magic who can intercede with the spirit world
Shi'a
one of the two main branches of Islam, followed especially in Iran, that rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad's first true successor. They believe the caliph must be a blood relative of Muhammad.
Shinto
a set of beliefs centered on the veneration of ansesters and native spirits. (Japan)
Shogun
A military leader at the top of the Japanese government
Silk Road
An ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 km (4,000 mi) and linking China with the Roman Empire. Other info: facilitated by pastoral groups, trade of luxury goods, use of camel caravans
social hierarchy
The division of society by rank or class
stirrup
device for securing a horseman's feet, enabling him to wield weapons more effectively. First evidence of the use of stirrups was among the Kushan people of northern Afghanistan in approximately the first century C.E.
Sunni
the larger of the two main branches of Islam, which differs f in its understanding of the Sunna, its conception of religious leadership, and its acceptance of the first three caliphs. They believe that any upstand and devout Muslim is able to become caliph.
Toltecs Civilization
was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico during the Epiclassic and the early Post-Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, reaching prominence from 950 to 1150 CE. They adopted many Mayan practices including a religion that was polytheistic and animistic. They aslo influencd the Aztecs.
Trans-Saharan trade
route across the sahara desert. Major trade route that traded for gold and salt, created caravan routes, economic benefit for controlling dessert, camels played a huge role in the trading
urban planning
The area of land use planning which explores several aspects of built and social environments of municipals and communities.
Vedic religion
The ancient religion of the Aryan peoples who entered northwestern India from Persia c. 2000-1200 B.C.E. It was the precursor of Hinduism, and its beliefs and practices are contained in the Vedas
Zoroastrianism
One of the first monotheistic religions, particularly one with a wide following. It was central to the political and religious culture of ancient Persia.