Society
Societies are social organizations in which humans live and work together to survive. During the earliest stages of society, "baseline" societies obtained the resources needed for the bare minimum for life. As societies developed, some were able to advanc
Complex society
Complex societies are large-scale social organizations that are more sophisticated than "regular" societies. As a result of the domestication of plants and animals and an increase in food supply, societies are able to grow and become complex societies. Co
Polytheism
Polytheism is the doctrine that there are many gods; polytheistic religions are those that believe in and worship multiple gods. Gods in polytheisms typically each have dominion over something (i.e., the sun, the moon, the stars, fertility) and each have
Sanskrit
Sanskrit was the Indo-European sacred language of ancient India. The Indo-European family of languages also included Old Persian, Greek, and Latin. The term "Indo-European languages" is a result of the locations in which the languages were spoken. It is l
Mesopotamia
Land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers upon which many complex societies were built and developed. Literally means "between the rivers". Some of the key complex Mesopotamian societies were Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, the Hittites, the Assyrians, New Baby
Dynastic Cycle
The Dynastic Cycle was the cycle Chinese dynasties would go through and replace each other through. A dynasty with the "Mandate of Heaven" (the blessing/selection of the gods) would take reign from the previous dynasty and work hard for the dynasty's succ
Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent was a crescent-shaped portion of land along the Nile River valley, the Tigris River, and the Euphrates River; it was essentially Mesopotamia and the Nile River valley. The Fertile Crescent was viewed as enticing by many societies over
Patriarchy
In a patriarchy/patriarchal society, men made a majority of important decisions both on personal/familial and public levels. Men essentially dominated society, making practically all decisions regarding policies and public affairs. The control and oppress
Ziggurat
Ziggurats were distinct stepped pyramids housing temples and altars devoted to their local principle deity. Ziggurats primarily existed in Sumerian cities, and were one of their key architectural features. Ziggurats demonstrated the emphasis on religion i
Harappan
Harappan society (the first urban society in southern Asia) was built by Indian peoples in the Indus River valley. Extensive trade was emphasized in Harappan society. Also had basic social distinctions and an extensive pantheon. Harappan society thrived f
city-state
City-states are individual, singular cities that have their own states/governments. City-states, then, are their own complex societies with their own individual governments, economies, religions, etc. (although aspects of these may be shared with other co
Upanishads
The Upanishads were an Indo-Aryan collection of religious speculations written by mystics regarding nature, life, fertility, and reincarnation and the transmigration of souls. They were put together during the late Vedic age, from 800-400 BCE. Karma, sams
Monotheism
Monotheism is the doctrine that there is one god; monotheistic religions are those that believe in and worship one god. Judaism (Yahweh) and Islam (Allah) are two examples of monotheistic religions. Within a monotheism, it _is_ possible for a polytheism (
hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics was an ancient Egyptian written language. It originally consisted of pictographs representing things, but later grew to contain symbols for syllables and ideas. Hieroglyphics were often used in formal scenarios, but due to being difficult to
Vedas
The Vedas were a collection of Aryan religious hymns, songs, prayers, and rituals honoring the Aryan gods. The Vedas reflected on the changes in developing Aryan India. There are four Vedas, the most important of which was the Rig Veda. The Vedas were pas
Yahweh
Yahweh is the name used to refer to the monotheistic god of Judaism. As in Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam", Yahweh is the incarnation of God typically depicted as an old man (male) with a beard in the sky, as opposed to his other incarnations, Jesus Chr
Cuneiform
From Latin, "wedge-shaped." A "flexible" system of writing developed by the Sumerians in about 2900 BCE. Used graphic symbols to represent sounds, syllables, and ideas as well as physical objects. Combines pictographs and other symbols. Using a stylus (fr
Bantu
The Bantu (persons, people) society was among the most influential societies in ancient sub-Saharan Africa. Bantu peoples were those that spoke Bantu languages (in Niger-Congo family). Bantu villages were primarily clan-based; Bantu economics were based o
Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven (in dynastic China) was the supposed permission and order of the gods to an individual to lead a new, strong dynasty; put an end to the old, weak, chaotic dynasty; and become the emperor of China. The Mandate of Heaven was a part of
Semitic peoples
Semitic peoples were peoples who spoke languages in the Semitic family (i.e., Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician). Semitic peoples were pastoral nomads who migrated to Mesopotamia from the Arabian and Syrian deserts. They migrated to Sumer (in Mesopota
Code of Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi was the set of laws put into place in Babylon society by the ruler Hammurabi. These laws were very strict, and often resulted in death (based on your social class). The reason that these laws were obeyed so well is because Hammurabi
shudras
One of the four primary varna (castes) in the Indo-Aryan caste system. Shudras were the lowest of the four varna (but were higher than untouchables, the fifth varna), and were essentially peasants. In the Purusha creation story, shudras came from the feet
Aten, Akhenaten
Aten, the god of the sun (egypt) was one of the first identifications of monotheism to appear. Pharaoh Akhenaten strongly worshipped Aten by building a city in his own name for Aten and the sun. After Akhenaten died, everything of Aten was erased, includi
Caste system
The Indo-Aryan caste system was the system by which order was created and maintained in developing Aryan India. The system contained five general social classes/castes (varna) and thousands of subcastes within each of the varna (jati). The caste system al
varnas, jati
Varna and jati (part of the Indo-Aryan caste system) were classes in developing Aryan India to create and maintain order. Varna were overall social classes in the caste system based on heritage and significance in society. The four (later five) varna were
Brahman
Brahman, the Universal Soul, was discussed in the Indo-Aryan Upanishads, a collection of religious speculations. Each person is a part of a larger cosmic order and a universal soul, Brahman. Brahman is an eternal and unchanging foundation for the universe
Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead was an Egyptian collection of writings (hieroglyphics) written over a long period of time regarding the Gods, "magical spells", powers beyond nature, and the afterlife/what to do with the body of a dead person. As an Egyptian scriptur
karma, moksha
The doctrine of karma and moksha were discussed in the Indo-Aryan Upanishads, a collection of religious speculations. The doctrine of karma states that individuals who do good things in their lives are reborn into good lives, and individuals who do poor t
Indo-Europeans
Indo-Europeans were European migrants who ultimately branched off into several societies, one of which being the Aryans (Indo-Aryans). Indo-European society is a prime example of complex societies, as it had highly advanced and unique systems of law, soci
Sargon
Sargon of Akkad was an Akkadian revolutionary responsible for the coup against the King of Kish (in Sumer) in 2334 BCE. This coup resulted in Akkad becoming a highly wealthy and powerful city. In 2150 BCE, Sargon's Akkadian empire collapsed.
Oracle bones
Oracle bones were fortune telling devices used in ancient dynastic China. A question was written on a broad bone of an animal, which was then heated. Splits, cracks, and other lines that appeared on the bone after being heated were interpreted to answer t
Cult of Osiris
Osiris, the god of the underworld, represents immortality in Egyptian culture. Immortality is a very important idea to the Egyptians, and they realized through Osiris that to achieve it, one must be good throughout their lives. Osiris is the one to decide
Dravidian
The Dravidian were the people who lived in Harrapan society, and were named as such for their language, Dravidian. asdf
Aryans
Aryan" was the self-dubbed title of Indo-European migrants who established societies in India. "Aryan" translates to "noble people". Aryans synthesized with indigenous Dravidians to form an Indo-Aryan society. Indo-Aryan societies occupied India after th
samsara
The doctrine of samsara was discussed in the Indo-Aryan Upanishads, a collection of religious speculations. The doctrine of samsara states that upon death, the souls of individuals go up to the World of the Fathers before returning the earth in a new inca
Cult of Amon-Re
Amon and Re waere the principal gods worshipped in Egypt (before Aten), and were both seen as sun gods. The two gods were merged in view and worship, becoming the singular Amon-Re. The worship of the cult of Amon-Re was temporarily interrupted by the cult
Analects
The Analects were a Confucian collection of the ideas, teachings, and thoughts of Confucius (and some of his disciples). The Confucian ideas of junzi, ren, li, and xiao were highlighted in and encompassed the Analects. The Analects were essentially the "s
Laozi (Lao-tzu)
Laozi (lived during 6th century BCE) was the Chinese sage founder of Daoism. In addition to the true, historical Laozi, some of Laozi's (Daoism's) students wrote publications under his name post-death. The Daodejing, the fundamental work of Daoism, was wr
kshatriyas
One of the four primary varna (castes) in the Indo-Aryan caste system. Kshatriyas were the second-highest of the varnas, and were warriors and aristocrats. In the Purusha creation story, kshatriyas came from the arms and hands, the things with which actio
Xunzi vs. Mencius
Xunzi and Mencius were two disciples of Confucius. Mencius strongly believed in/emphasized the virtue of ren, that human nature makes all people basically good. Xunzi, although a Confucianist, was less optimistic about human nature, and emphasized the vir
Han Feizi
Han Feizi (280-233 BCE) was a Chinese philosopher who was partly responsible for the creation of Legalism. Han Feizi wrote and produced a collection of ideas on laws and statecraft. Due to the oppressiveness with which he wanted Legalism to be run, he was
vaishyas
One of the four primary varna (castes) in the Indo-Aryan caste system. Vaishyas were the third-highest of the varnas, and were merchants, artisans, and common people. In the Purusha creation story, vaishyas came from the legs, which bring about the most b
brahmins
One of the four primary varna (castes) in the Indo-Aryan caste system. Brahmins were the highest varna, and were priests. In the Purusha creation story, the brahmins were the mouth, the thing by which ideas were expressed. Through this expression, ideas w
ren and li
Ren, kindness/benevolence, and li, a sense of propriety and social respect, were qualities emphasized in Confucianism. Ren, the kindness/benevolence/sense of humanity an individual possesses results in good, courteous, respectful, loyal people. Li, a sens
Dao
Dao--the way (of nature and the cosmos)--was the central, elusive concept of Daoism. In the Daodejing, the dao is taught to be a passive force, doing nothing but accomplishing everything. Daoists were taught to live in harmony with the dao (+ nature/cosmo
Confucianism
One of the 100 Schools of Thought in ancient dynastic China, Confucianism (created by Confucius) emphasized order, humanity's potential to do good, obligations to society, and relations between people for the betterment of society. Confucianism teaches th
Indo-Aryan Synthesis
Indo-Aryan Synthesis was the intermixing/fusing of cultures of Aryan societies that settled in ancient India and India's native peoples at the times of those migrations (Dravidians). As the two societies mixed, aspects were shared and compromised on. Reli
filial piety (xiao)
Xiao, filial piety, was a quality emphasized in Confucianism. Xiao obliged piousness/devotion/respect to one's family. Children were to respect and honor their parents/elders and to have complete devotion to family. Under xiao, a sense of self/"I" did not
Daodejing
The Daodejing (Classic of the Way and of Virtue) was a book that was the fundamental work of Daoism and encompassed all of its ideas and teachings. The Daodejing was written by Laozi and significant students of Daoism. As the fundamental work of Daoism, t
Daoism
One of the 100 Schools of Thought in ancient dynastic China, Daoism emphasized reflection and introspection, allowing harmony with nature/the dao, and thus bringing harmony to society. Daoism was the pursuit of dao, the way of nature and the cosmos. The c
junzi
Junzi was the Confucian concept of the ideal human--a conscientious "superior individual" who lives by Confucian virtue and has no sense of "I". Being a junzi could be obtained by possessing the qualities of ren, li, and xiao. The idea of junzi and the ex
Wuwei
Wuwei was the Daoist concept of a disengagement/separation from the world and its affairs. To live by wuwei is to live a simple life in harmony with nature, leaving worldly ideas of government, etc. behind. Isolated, individual lives within small communit
Legalism
One of the 100 Schools of Thought in ancient dynastic China, Legalism (created by Shang Yang and Han Feizi, among others) teaches that man is fundamentally bad, evil, greedy, stupid, selfish, and irresponsible and needs rules, government, state, and to be
veneration of ancestors
In dynastic Chinese society, veneration of ancestors the ritual/idea of respecting deceased ancestors. This practice was based on the belief that dead ancestors were able to support their descendents, but only if they were properly respected by them. This