Neolithic Revolution
in a span of several thousand years from approximately 8000 BCE to 3000 BCE, groups of people moved from nomadic lifestyles to agricultural lifestyles and town and city life. This transition period is often called the Neolithic ("New Stone") Revolution or
Nomadic
people who don't have a permanent home and are dependent on climate, availability of plants and animals (ie. Paleolithic Period consisted of many nomadic tribes that relied on nature for survival, so they never settled in just one place)
Sedentary
people who had a permanent home and are independent on nature (ie. During the Neolithic Revolution, many sedentary communities emerged that had food surpluses from the food they cultivated, so they were able to stay in the same place)
Pastoral
a society that is characterized by the domestication of animals. These societies were often found in mountainous regions and in areas with insufficient rainfall to support other forms of settlement. Many of these societies used small-scale agriculture to
Domestication
the taming and changing, of nature for the benefit of humankind. During the Agricultural Revolution, humans discovered the ability to domesticate animals. They also breaded plants making humans have control over them.
Fertile Crescent
the first area to experience a full Agricultural Revolution consisted of an area sometimes known as Southwest Asia [westward from Mesopotamia toward the Mediterranean (consisting of present-day Iraq, Syria, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, and southern Turkey).
Sumer
one of the first civilizations in Mesopotamia, or specifically the cradle of civilization. This civilization likely gave rise to the earliest written language (used initially by officials to record the goods received by various temples) and successful agr
City-state
Mesopotamian civilization, located in the southern Tigris-Euphrates region known as Sumer, was organized into a dozen or more separate and independent city-states. Each city-state was ruled by a king, who claimed to represent the city's patron deity and w
Ziggurat
stepped pyramid topped with a temple. These served as centers of ritual performance and as places for the redistribution of stored food.
Epic of Gilgamesh
In at least some of its literature, the Mesopotamian outlook on life, which developed within a precarious, unpredictable, and often violent environment, viewed humankind as caught in an inherently disorderly world, subject to the whims of capricious and q
Irrigation
Sumerian irrigation involved a complex and artificial network of canals and dikes that led to the salinization of the soil.
Tigris River
along with the Euphrates River, both with gave life to Mesopotamia, rose annually and unpredictably [upper river]
Euphrates River
along with the Tigris River, both with gave life to Mesopotamia, rose annually and unpredictably [lower river]
Cuneiform
wedge shaped symbols on clay tablets representing objects, abstract ideas, sounds and syllables. Its initial use was as records of economic transactions, such as temple payments and taxes. (regarded as the world's first written language)
Empire
larger and more aggressive states, those that conquer, rule and extract resources from other states and people. Thus empires have generally encompassed a considerable variety of peoples and cultures within a single political system, and they have often be
Akkadian Empire
Sargon, their famous ruler, conquered Sumer and built an Akkadian empire stretching over most of the Sumerian city-states and extending as far away as Lebanon. Sargon based his empire in the city of Akkad, which became the basis of the name of his people.
Amorite/Old Babylonian Empire
Around 1900 BC, a group of Semites called the Amorites had managed to gain control of most of the Mesopotamian region. Like the Akkadians, the Amorites centralized the government over the individual city-states and based their capital in the city of Babyl
Hammurabi
King Hammurabi of Babylon expanded on this idea of code of laws (from Akkadian Empire) by developing an extensive code that dealt with every part of daily life. The Code of Hammurabi, as it has come to be called, is often credited as a significant step to
Assyrian Empire
Within a 100 years following the fall of Babylon to the Hitties to used how to use iron in their weapons, the Assyrians had learned to use iron, the very technology the Hitties had used to defeat them. This enabled them to establish a capital at Nineveh a
Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian Empire:
The Chaldean king, Nebuchadnezzar, rebuilt Babylon as a showplace of architecture and culture. He extended his empire throughout the Fertile Crescent, as the Assyrians had done before him. But like all the civilizations before it, the new Babylon was doom
Nebuchadnezzar
king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and transformed Babylon into a spectator city (hanging gardens and blue gate).
What was the sequence of human migration across the plant?
Human migration out of Africa led first to the Middle East and from there westward into Europe about 45,000 years ago and eastward into Asia. Colder Ice Age climates around 20,000 years ago apparently pushed more northerly European peoples southward into
How did Austronesian migrations differ from other early patterns of human movement?
These Pacific voyages were undertaken by agricultural people who carried both domesticated plants and animals in their canoes. Both men and women made these journeys, suggesting a deliberate intention to colonize new lands. Virtually everywhere they went,
Cultural diffusion
change in a society based on interaction with another culture
Book of the Dead:
a description of the ancient Egyptian conception of the afterlife and a collection of hymns, spells, and instructions to allow the deceased to pass through obstacles in the afterlife
Hittites
By 1500 BCE, the Hittites dominated the region (around Babylon), especially because they learned how to use iron in their weapons. Because iron is a lot stronger than bronze, the Hittites quickly became a military superpower.
Hebrews
The Hebrews are significant because of their religious beliefs called Judaism. The Hebrews were the first Jews. In contrast to previous civilizations in the Fertile Crescent and beyond, the Hebrews were monotheistic, meaning they believed in one god. By a
Moses
The Hebrews became the Egyptian's slaves, but around 1300 to 1200 BCE, under the prophet Moses, escaped from Egypt. Moses took the Hebrews back to Canaan. During the journey, Moses is said to have handed down from YHWH the principles of Jewish law, includ
Ten Commandments
list of religious and moral imperatives, which, according to the Bible, was spoken by the god YHWH to Moses on Mount Sinai and engraved on two stone tablets.
Temple of Jerusalem
Soloman dedicated to YHWH the great Temple. The heart of Jewish religious life for centuries. When the Assyrians invaded, they destroyed this temple and scattered the population.
Babylonian Captivity":
The Hebrews returned to the "Promised Land" on the eastern shores of the Meditteranean, and the kingdom of Israel was established, led by a monarchy. The height of Israelite power came during the regins of King David an dhis son Soloman around 1000 BCE. L
Phoenicians
they established powerful naval city-states all along the Mediterranean. They developed a simple alphabet that only used 22 letters as opposed to a much more complex cuneiform.
Carthage
As Rome began to expand across the Italian peninsula, it encountered a fierce competitor in the city of Carthage in North Africa, which had gained wealth through the thriving trade in the Mediterranean region. This economic competition led to the Punic Wa
Lebanon:
The earliest known settlements in Lebanon date back to earlier than 5000 BC. In Byblos, which is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, archaeologists have discovered remnants of prehistoric huts with crushed limestone floor
Torah
its author is Moses. The Jewish bible that is made up of the first five books of the Old Testament.
Diaspora
the forced moving of peoples. During the years of Roman rule, the Judiac tradition gave birth to the new faith, based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Shortly thereafter, attempts to rebel against the Romans led to the dissolution of the Hebrew stat
Upper Egypt
For most of pharaonic Egypt's history, Thebes was the administrative center of Upper Egypt. After its devastation by the Assyrians, its importance declined. Under the Ptolemies, Ptolemais Hermiou took over the role of Upper Egypt's capital city.[6] Upper
Lower Egypt
Lower Egypt was known as Ta-Mehu which means "land of papyrus." It was divided into twenty districts called nomes, the first of which was at el-Lisht. Because Lower Egypt was mostly undeveloped scrubland, undeveloped for human life and filled with all typ
Nile River
ancient Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River. Around 5000 BCE, experimentation with agriculture began in this area since the soil was rich and the agricultural opportunities were plentiful. The Nile cuts through an otherwise arid landscape
Pyramids
Rulers, known as pharaohs, directed the construction of obelisks and the pyramids, enormous tombs for their afterlife.
Hieroglyphics
a writing system used by Egyptians to communicate, consisted of a series of pictures that represented letters and words.
Pharaoh
an Egyptian ruler who was at the top of the social pyramid
Theocracy
a government thought to be guided by a divine power and controlled by religious leaders. Egypt was a theocracy. A powerful king (pharaoh) would promote the belief that he had the support of the gods, so no one would try to remove him and risk the displeas
Bantu
The migration of the Bantu people began around 2000 BCE and by 1000 CE, the Bantu occupied most of sub-Saharan Africa. Resources were stretched to their limits as the population increases. As a result, the groups of people began to leave the areas to set
Semitic languages
refers to a family of languages spoken in parts of western Asia and northern Africa
Indo-European languages
A family of several hundred related languages all have common similarities. Possible that everyone spoke the same but because of migration, evolved separately.
Kush
An African state that developed along the upper reaches of the Nile c. 1000 B.C.E. and conquered Egypt and ruled it for several centuries
Polytheism
religious belief in more than one god. The ancient Greeks, for example, practiced polytheism.
Monotheism
the religious belief in one god. The Hebrews, for example, believed in one god, YHWH
Metallurgy
the use of metals. From the development of copper to bronze and then to iron, the use of metallurgy allowed humans to develop stronger and more efficient weapons and tools.
Indus River
Like Mesopotamia and Egypt, the Indus Valley civilization was built along the banks of a river system. But because of the huge mountains north and west of the Indus River, contact with outside civilizations was more limited there than in Mesopotamia which
Harappa
Indus Valley civilizations' two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, were each home to perhaps more than 100,000 people-enormous cities by ancient standards. There is evidence that the cities were master planned, uniformly constructed, and had sophisti
Mohenjo Daro
Indus Valley civilizations' two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, were each home to perhaps more than 100,000 people-enormous cities by ancient standards. There is evidence that the cities were master planned, uniformly constructed, and had sophisti
Dravidian
Dravidians are those who are part of a group who live in southern India and Sri Lanka. They speak a group of several languages. Some believe that they inhavited the subcontinent before the Aryans arrived.
Aryans
nomadic tribes from the north of the Caucasus Mountains (near the Black and Caspian Seas). Using horses and advanced weaponry, they easily defended the populations in the indus Valley. Each of the Aryan tribes migrated to India independently; over a perio
Mauryan Empire
The Mauryan Empire was an impressive political structure, equivalent to the Persian, Chinese, and Roman empires, though not nearly as long-lasting. They had a large army consisting of war elephants. A civilian bureaucracy featured various ministries and a
Chandragupta Maurya
used terror psychology. He put in place personal assistance spies to check on the people who were in charge with the providences with a secret police. Elites are their biggest threat. (similar to the Old kingdom)
Ashoka Maurya
known for ruthless conquering of India, later converted to Buddhism and helped spread Buddhism along the roads of India. After his death, kingdom divided again and invaders from the North ruled India until the Gupta's rose to power.
Gupta Empire
After Ashoka's death in 232 BCE, the Mauryan Empire began to decline rapidly, primarily due to economic problems and pressure from attacks in the northeast. But between 375 and 415 CE, it experienced a revival under Chandra Gupta II, known as Chandra Gupt
Stupa
buddhist shrines(a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person)
Relics
In stupas (mounds/shrines that Ashoka built), they put human parts called Relics.
Buddhism
founded by a young Hindu prince named Siddhartha Guatama, who was born and lived in Nepal from 563 through 483 BCE. He rejected his wealth to search for the meaning of human suffering. After mediating under a sacred Bodhi tree, he became the Buddha, or En
Jainism
An influential religion that arose in India when people started to stray from Brahmin rituals. It emphasizes ahimsa to extreme extents and believes even non-living things have souls. A religion that requires your entire life to obtain salvation. It involv
Hinduism
a religion as well as a social system�the caste system. In the caste system, you are born into your caste, and if you dissatisfied with it, its an indication you are not following the dharma; therefore, you will have an even worse lot in the next life. Th
Upanishads
A book teaching of reincarnation, and explaining the Vedas. It gave reason for the caste system in India (Hinduism)
Vedas
collections of poems, hymns, prayers, and rituals. Complied by priests called Brahmins. Complied by priests called Brahmins, the Vedas were for centuries transmitted orally and were reduced to writing in Sanskirt around 600 BCE. Those sacred writings tell
Bhagavad Gita
The most important work of Indian sacred literature, a dialogue between the great warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna on duty and the fate of the spirit.
Caste System
1) Varna. Economic specialization and culture apparently more important than notions of race. Three segments of pure Aryans (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, vaisyas) and then Sudras. 2)Jati. Social distinctions based on specific occupations, organized as guilds. Th
Karma
Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation
Dharma
the caste position and career determined by a person's birth
Nirvana
Buddhist state of enlightenment; state of tranquility
Reincarnation
the Hindu or Buddhist doctrine that person may be reborn successively into one of five classes of living beings (god or human or animal or hungry ghost or denizen of hell) depending on the person's own actions
Brahmins
the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category
Kshatriyas
the second highest of the four varnas: warriors
Vaishyas:
Hindu middle class; merchants, artisans
Shudras
Hindu peasants, agricultural laborers
Untouchables
LOWEST LEVEL OF INDIAN SOCIETY; not considered a real part of the caste system; often given degrading jobs; their life was extremely difficult
Shang
Shang China rose in the Hwang Ho River Valley (also known as the Yellow River Valley), and like other river-basin communities, used its stable agricultural surplus to build a trade-centered civilization. At its height, Shang controlled large parts of nort
Zhou
maintained many of the traditions and customs developed under the Shang Dynasty. The Zhou developed a feudal system in China. The king was the ruler of the entire empire, but because it was too big for one person to manage, nobles were given nover over sm
Qin
the empire that connected separate fortification walls that eventually became the Great Wall of China proving that this empire was organized, centralized, and territorial. This dynasty was patriarchal and the dominant belief system was Legalism. The dynas
Han
a large nomadic group from northern Asia who may have been Huns, invaded territories extending from China to Eastern Europe. But due to the success of Wu Ti, they were not successful. Trade thrived along the Silk Road to the Mediterranean; more significan
Shi Huangdi
the Qin's first emperor. He recentralized various feudal kingdoms that had split apart at the end of the Zhou Dynasty; standardized all the laws, currencies, weights, measures, and systems of writing; and refused to tolerate any dissent whatsoever. If dis
Han Wudi
"the martial emperor" : His reign resulted in vast territorial expansion, development of a strong and centralized state resulting from his governmental re-organization, including his promotion of Confucian doctrines. In the field of historical social an
Ancestor Veneration
: ancestor worship. Shang religion held that gods controlled all aspects of peoples' lives; people also believed they could call on the spirits of their dead ancestors to act as their advocates with the gods.
Oracle Bones
In Chinese civilization, animal bones that were heated and the cracks then interpreted as prophecies. The prophecies were written on the bone and provide our earliest written sources for ancient China.
Confucius
the son of an aristocratic family from northern China, Confucius spent most of his life trying to gain a high position in government. But he was very strong willed, and often his thinking was at odds with state policy. As a result, he never achieved his g
Confucianism
: a political and social philosophy NOT a religion. It focuses on five fundamental relationships: ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, and friend and friend. When each person in these relationships live
Daoism
advocated the formation of small, Self-sufficient communities and served as a counter balance to Confucian activism. And as an advocate of harmony with nature, Daoism promoted scientific discoveries. Daoists became great astronomers, chemists, and botanis
Laozi:
the "Old Master" who encouraged people to give up worldly desires in favor of nature; he founded Taoism (Daoism)
Legalism
It maintained that peace and order were achievable only through a centralized, tightly government state. Simply put, Legalism didn't trust human nature and, therefore, advocated the need for tough laws. They believed that people would be made to obey thro
Analect
a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples. He attracted many followers, some of whom helped share his teachings, and others who collected his thoughts and sayings in the Analects, which would
Mandate of Heaven
Chinese religious and political ideology developed by the Zhou, according to which it was the prerogative of Heaven, the chief deity, to grant power to the ruler of China and to take away that power if the ruler failed to conduct himself justly and in the
Scholar-bureaucrat (also called shi)
Scholar-officials that were civil servants appointed by the emperor of China to perform day-to-day governance. Required to pass civil service exams. Highly educated in Confucianism. (Han Dynasty)
Minoans
Prosperous civilization on the Aegean island of Crete in the second millennium BCE. The Minoans engaged in far-flung commerce around the Mediterranean and exerted powerful cultural influences on the early Greeks. It was the beginnings of Greece. Its fall
Agamemnon
Achaecean/Mycenaen commander who attacked Troy during the Trojan War
Trojan War
(around 1200 B.C.), in which an army lead by Mycenaean kings attacked the city of Troy in Anatolia
Athens
political, commercial, and cultural center of Greek civilization. Civic decisions were made openly, after engaging in debates. All citizens were expected to participate. This practice led to Athens being regarded as the first democracy. But it's important
Sparta
an agricultural and highly militaristic region of Greek civilizations. Most citizens in Sparta lived in very austere, highly disciplined existence. All of the boys, and even some of the girls, received military training, which stressed equality but not in
Colonization
a place where foreigners settle and take political control over. In ancient times, maritime nations such as the city-states of Greece and Phoenicia often established colonies so as to farm what they saw as uninhabited land. Population pressures forced the
Polis
Greek city state. Each polis shared a common culture and identity. Each polis was part of a broader civilization and shared a common language and many similar traditions; each was independent from, and often in conflict with, the others. Examples of two i
Persian Empire
the Persians established a big empire�a really big empire�that by 500 BCE, stretched from beyond the Nile River Valley in Egypt around the eastern Mediterranean through present day Turkey and parts of Greece, and then eastward through present day Turkey a
Cyrus the Great
He was best known for his religious and cultural tolerance, which was continued in later reigns. Cyrus won the gratitude of the Jews when in 539 BCE he allowed those in Babylon to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem He allowed a
Darius
The great king of Persia. He was able to become a king after a year of a civil war following the death of someone. Darius also practiced religious and cultural tolerance, and expended on what Cyrus started. Cyrus compiled the Persian empire, but died befo
Persepolis
capital of the Persian empire. It reflected the immense wealth and power of the Persian Empire. Palaces, audience halls, quarters for the harem, monuments, and carvings made these cities into powerful symbols of imperial authority. Materials and workers a
Zoroastrianism
attributed to the prophet Zoroaster. Zoroastrianism is a dualistic faith, which means that they believe in two gods representing good and evil. The main god of good and truth tries to lead his followers into overcoming the forces of evil and chaos, and hu
Aristocracy
form of government where a small group of elites rule. In Ancient Greece, a polis, or Greek city-state, could be governed by a monarch, an aristocracy, or by a democracy, a form of government where citizens create laws for themselves.
Patricians
aristocratic landowners who held most of the power and inherited their power and social status.
Plebeians
common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population and had the right to vote
Democracy (direct vs. indirect
) In Indirect, or Representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf. In a direct democracy, which is also called pure democracy the decisions are not taken by representatives. All decisions are voted on by the people.[1
Consul
two roman officials with limited power, had only a one year term, couldn't be consul again until ten years later, and could veto each other's decisions. A PART OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
Senate:
patrician assembly (aristocratic landowners). Executive authority was exercised by two consuls, who were advised by a patrician assembly, the Senate.
Tribune
A written code of law offered plebeians some protection from abuse; a system of public assemblies provided an opportunity for lower classes to shape public policy and a new office of tribune, who represented plebeians, allowed them to block unfavorable le
Pax Romana
Following Augustus, emperors were less reluctant to flaunt their imperial prerogatives. During the first two centuries of CE, this empire in disguise provided security, grandeur, and relative prosperity for the Mediterranean world. This was the Pax Romana
Alexander the Great
: the Macedonians didn't stop with Greece. Philip's son, Alexander the Great, who was taught by Aristotle, widely expanded Macedonain dominance. Under Alexander, they conquered the mighty Persian Empire and moved eastward to the shores of the Indus River
Pan-Hellenism
the spread of Greco-Roman culture and ideas throughout the entire empire. Alexander the great started this Hellenistic movement. A result of Alexander the great's vast empire and Hellenistic empires included Alexandria in Egypt.
Classical Era in Greece
Classical Greece was a 200 year period in Greek culture lasting from the 5th through 4th centuries BC.[1] This classical period saw the annexation of much of modern day Greece by the Persian Empire, its subsequent independence, and it also had a powerful
Hellenistic Era
that culture associated with the spread of Greek influence as a result of Macedonian conquests; often seen as the combination of Greek culture with eastern political forms
Socrates
: philosopher who believed in an absolute right or wrong; asked students pointed questions to make them use their reason, later became Socratic method. He was the influence to Plato, and as a result, also Aristotle.
Plato
Socrates' student who created the republic as his solution to the breakdown of law and order of the Hellenic World. He is important for his influence to Aristotle.
Aristotle
prominent Greek philosopher, noted for his philosophically based thoughts of "science". He discovered the Natural Law of the Cycle of Constitutions, which described each cycle a polis, would go through and believed in the Philosophical Method, which was t
Epicureanism
the philosophical system or doctrine of Epicurus, holding that the external world is a series of fortuitous combinations of atoms and that the highest good is pleasure, interpreted as freedom from disturbance or pain.
Skepticism
The Skeptics were a group of philosophers whose main idea was that we can't really know anything for certain about the world around us, or about ourselves. Therefore, we can't really ever know what is right or wrong, either. Some of these ideas came from
Stoicism
An ancient Greek philosophy that became popular amongst many notable Romans. Emphasis on ethics. They considered destructive emotions to be the result of errors in judgment, and that a wise person would repress emotions, especially negative ones and that
Herodotus
ethnographer who believed that Athens won the Persian Wars because of Persia's hubris. His works are the earliest known examples of narrative history.
Thucydides
Wrote the first work of scientific History. (Describing the human world.)
Archimedes
Hellenistic scientist who accurately estimated the value of pi, explained the law of the lever, invented a special type of screw and a catapult
Ptolemy (the scientist)
Greek astronomer and philosopher, 100-170 AD. placed stellar universe on a crystal sphere. Earth stood still. Sun orbited Earth. Used looping small circles on the orbits to account for retrograde (moving backwards) of the planets. His Almagest was one of
Ptolemy (the general) / Ptolemaic Empire:
When Alexander the Great died (at age 32), his empire was split into three parts. This part (Ptolemaic) was given to general Ptolemy, and it was located in Egypt along the Nile. This empire became the wealthiest. Alexandria, its capital, was built at the
Antigonus / Antigonid Empire
The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Great's general Antigonus (One Eye). It was located in the Asia Minor and northern Syria.
Seleucus/Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid also known as Seleucia (was a Hellenistic state ruled by the Seleucid dynasty founded by Seleucus following the division of the empire created by Alexander the Great. Seleucus received Babylonia and, from there, expanded his dominions to incl
Roman Republic vs. Roman Empire
In the Republic, political power was in the hands of the Senate, mostly composed of the Roman aristocracy. There were a number of theoretical checks and balances on political power, but many of these were more apparent than real, the senior Roman aristocr
Octavian (Caesar Augustus)
the first emperor of the Roman Empire (31 BCE-476 CE) because he rose to power from the second triumvirate. He reigned from (30 BCE to 14 CE). Under Augustus, Rome became the capital of the Western World. Augustus established the rule of law, a common coi
Julius Caesar
Rome was shaken by a series of civil wars from 91 to 30 BCE. During this period, the republican form of government faltered, and political power began to fall into the hands of the first triumvirate. Caesar was given power over the southern Gaul (France)
Punic Wars
As Rome expanded, Carthage, a city-state in North Africa with powerful ambitions of its own, became its first enemy. It didn't take long for this conflict to escalate into a full-fledged wars, which came to be called the Punic Wars. These lasted one and o
Hannibal
The Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) began with an attack by Hannibal, a Carthaginian general considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all time. In an amazing feat, Hannibal led his army all the way to northern Italy, crossed the Alps (on elephan
Trajan
the Roman empire reaches greatest territorial extent under his rule. Roman emperor and adoptive son of Nerva, Adopted by Nerva (previous emperor); One of the "Good Emperors"; Professional soldier from Spain; 1st non-Italian emperor; Brought Rome to it's h
Hadrian (Hadrian's Wall in England):
Roman emperor who follows Trajan. He changes the policy of territorial expansion to consolidation rather than expansion. The Roman Empire in AD 117-138. He ordered the construction of this wall. He traveled though his empire to strengthen it's frontiers a
Silk Roads
The Caravan route that crossed Central Asia, enabling Chinese goods like silk, tea, and porcelain to be distributed west toward the Mediterranean regions and to South Asia and East Africa. Goods like spices and rare animal products were brought to China a
Rome vs. Constantinople as capitals of Roman Empire
constantinople=in turkey, Rome=in italy
Constantine:
After rising to power in 306 BCE, as a co-emperor, Constantine defeated his rivals and assumed sole control over the empire in 322 CE. He ordered the building of Constantinople at the site of the Greek city of Byzantium, and in 340 CE, this city became th
Olmecs
an urban society supported by surpluses of corn, beans, and squash in Mexico. Like most early societies, they mastered irrigation techniques and constructed large-scale buildings; they were polytheistic, and developed a system on writing and a calendar. D
Mayans
a collection of city-states in modern day Mexico. All city states were ruled by the same king. Interestingly, like the Egyptains, the Maya were pyramid builders, and also wrote using hieroglyphics. The golden age of the Mayan civilization was from about 5
Mesoamerica
the area extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua in which diverse pre-Columbian civilizations flourished. For example, Mayas, Chavin, and Olmecs.
Chav�n Cult (in the Andes Mountains):
another urban civilization, and their people were also polytheistic. But while mostly agricultural, they had access to the coast, and therefore supplemented their diet with seafood. The Chavin developed ways to use metals in tools and weapons. Interesting
Christianity
In the early days, Christianity was spread by the disciples of Jesus and by Paul of Tarsus. Paul originally was an extreme anti-Christian who was converted by a vision of Christ and became a principal figure in propagating the new religion. With its empha
Jesus
A charismatic Jewish teacher whom Christians recognized as their savior. He wanted peace between the Romans and the Jews, and taught that "the kingdom of G-d is at hand". Romans took this as a threat, despite its spiritual meaning, and executed him as a r
Crucifixion
the son of God, Jesus, died on the cross in which all sins were forgiven / Good Friday
Bishop
A high or chief priest; the pope; the bishop of Rome
Parish
a small administrative district typically having its own church and a priest or pastor.
Diocese
a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church
Patriarch
any of those biblical figures regarded as fathers of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their forefathers, or the sons of Jacob.
Old Testament
The Old Testament provides the basis of the present day Judeo-Christian faith. It talks about the history of how the world was created, exodus of Israelites, and the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God, and also includes real life stories. The function
New Testament
focuses more on the life and teachings of Jesus and the Christian church. The stories are narrated through gospels and emphasize the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus. The function of the New Testament is to lead people to follow the example of Jesus m
St. Augustine
: Augustine was an important figure in the history of Christianity. He wrote about topics like predestination and original sin. Some of his doctrines separate Western and Eastern Christianity, and he defined some doctrines of Western Christianity.