Paleolithic Age
The old stone age, ending in 12,000 BCE. Used crude stone tools. Hunting and gathering.
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
Humanoid species that emerged as most successful at the end of the Paleolithic period.
Neolithic Age
New stone age, between 8000 and 5000 BCE. Adaptation of sedentary agriculture. Domestication of plants and animals.
Hunting and Gathering
Original human economy, eclipsed by agriculture. Groups hunt for meat and forage for grains, nuts, and berries.
Catal Huyuk
Early urban culture based on sedentary agriculture. Located in modern southern Turkey. Larger in population than Jericho, and greater degree of social stratification.
Bronze Age
From about 4000 BCE when bronze tools were first introduced in Middle East to 1500 BCE when iron began replacing it.
Nomads
Cattle and sheep herding societies normally found on the fringes of civilized societies. "Barbarians".
Civilization
Societies distinguished by reliance on sedentary agriculture, ability to produce food surpluses, and existence of non-farming elites and merchants and manufacturing groups.
Mesopotamia
Between the rivers" The civilization that arose in the alluvial plain of the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys.
Sumerians
People who migrated into Mesopotamia c.400 BCE. Created first civilization within region, organized area into city-states.
Cuneiform
A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge shaped stylus and clay tablets.
Ziggurats
Massive towers usually associated with Mesopotamian temple complexes.
City-State
A Political organization typical of Mesopotamian civilizations. Agricultural hinterlands ruled by urban based king.
Babylonians
Unified all of Mesopotamia c.1800 BCE. Empire collapsed due to foreign invasion c.1600 BCE
Hammurabi
Most important ruler of Babylonian empire, responsible for codification of law.
Pharaoh
Title kings-of-ancient-egypt.
Pyramids
Monumental architecture typical of old kingdom Egypt. Burial site of Pharaohs.
Kush
African state along upper Nile c.1000 BCE. Conquered Egypt and ruled for several centuries.
Indus River
River souces in Himalayas to mouth of Arabian Sea. Location of the Harappan civilization.
Harappa
Major urban complex of Harappan civilization, laid out on a planned grid pattern.
Aryans
Indo-European nomatic pastoralists who replaced Harappan civilization militarized society.
Vedas
Aryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from 6th century BCE.
Mahabharata
Indian epic of war, princely honor, love, and social duty, written duty. Written down in the last centuries BCE, before that it was handed down orally.
Ramayana
One of the great epic tales from classical India. Traces adventures of King Rama and his wife Sita.
Upanishads
Later books of Vedas. Contained sophisticated philosophical ideas used by Brahmans to restore religious authority.
Yellow River
(Huanghe River) Site of development of agriculture in China.
Ideographs
Pictograph character grouped together to create new concepts-Chinese writing.
Shang
First Chinese dynasty that has archaeological evidence. Capital located in Ordos. 1600-1046 BCE
Olmecs
People of cultural tradition that arose at San Lorenzo and Laventa Mexico. 1200 BCE-irrigated agriculture, urbanize elaborate religion, beginnings of calendar and writing systems.
Chavin de Huantar
Culture appeared in the highlands of Andes between 1800 BCE and 1200 BCE. Ceremonial centers with large stone buildings.
Phoenicians
Shores of eastern Mediterranean, established colonies throughout Mediterranean.
Monotheism
Worship of a single god. Introduces by Jews into western civilization.
Shi Huangdi
Founder of Qin dynasty 221 BCE.
Qin
Dynasty formed 221 BCE at the end of Warring States period, followed decline of Zhou dynasty.
Han
Chinese dynasty that succeeded Qin in 202 BCE, ruled for 400 years.
Zhou
Overthrew the Shang and established second historical Chinese dynasty 1122-256 BCE
Great Wall
Defensive wall intended to keep out nomadic invaders from the north. Initiated during Qin dynasty and reign of Shitluangdi.
Confucius
(Kong Fuzi) Major Chinese philosopher. 6th century author of Analects-need to restore order by advice of superior men in Shi.
Alexander the Great
Successor of Philip II. Conquered Persian empire 323 BCE, attempted to combine Greek and Persian cultures.
Himalayas
Mountain region marking northern border of Indian subcontinent, site of Aryan settlements.
Monsoons
Seasonal winds crossing Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. Brings rain in the summer.
Sanskrit
Sacred and classical Indian language.
Varnas
Clusters of caste groups in Aryan society. Four castes, Brahmans, warriors, merchants, peasants.
Indra
Chief deity of Aryans. Colossal, hard-drinking warrior.
Chandragupta Maurya
Founder of Maurya dynasty, first empire in Indian subcontinent. First centralized government since Harappan.
Mauryan
Dynasty in Indian subcontinent during 4th century BCE, following invasion by Alexander the Great.
Ashoka
Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. Converted to Buddhism and sponsored the spread of new religion.
Dharma
Caste position and career determined by birth. Hindu culture to accept social position and do the best they can in order to have a better situation in the next life.
Kushans
People of Kush.
Gupta
Dynasty that succeeded Kushans in 3rd century BCE. Empire extended to all but southern regions of Indian subcontinent.
Kautilya
Political advisor to Chandragupta Maurya. One of the authors of Arthashastra. Believed in scientific application of warfare.
Gurus
Brahmans who served as teachers for princes of imperial court of Guptas.
Vishnu
Brahman, later Hindu, god of sacrifice.
Shiva
Hindu god of destruction and reproduction. Worshiped as personification of cosmic force of change.
Reincarnation
Attachment of the soul to some animate form according to merits in previous lives.
Nirvana
State of tranquility. Buddhist state of enlightenment.
Kasasutra
Instructions on all aspects of life for higher caste mates.
Stupas
Stone shrines built to house pieces of bone, hair, and personal possessions said to be relics of Buddha.
Scholar Gentry
Chinese class created by marital linkage of local land-holding aristocracy.
Cyrus The Great
Established massive Persian empire by 550 BCE. Successor to Mesopotamian empire.
Zoroastrianism
Animalist religion that saw material existence as a battle between good and evil.
Olympic Games
Pan-Hellenic rituals, athletic competitions.
Pericles
Athenian political leader during 5th century BCE. Guided development of Athenian empire. Died during the Peloponnesian War.
Peloponnesian Wars
Wars from 431-404 BCE between Athens and Sparta for dominance in Southern Greece. Spartan victory but no unification of Greece.
Philip of Macedonia
Ruled Macedonia from 359-336 BCE. Founder of centralized kingdom. Later conquered the rest of Greece.
Hellenistic
Culture associated with spread of Greek influence. Seen as combination of Greek culture with eastern political forms.
Roman Republic
The balanced constitution of Rome c.510-47 BCE. Aristocratic Senate.
Punic Wars
Between Rome and Carthage to establish dominance in western Mediterranean. Won by Rome.
Hannibal
Great Carthaginian general in second Punic War. Invaded Italy, defeated at battle of Zama.
Carthage
Originally a colony in northern Africa. Became major port in western Mediterranean.
Julius Caesar
Roman general responsible for Conquest of Gaul. Brought army back to Rome and overthrew republic. Assassinated in 44BCE.
Augustus Caesar
Name given to Octavian following defeat of Mark Anthony/Cleopatra.
Diocletian
Roman emperor from 284-305 CE.
Constantine
Roman emperor from 312-337 CE. Established capital at Constantinople. Attempted religious force of Christianity.
Polis
City-State form of government. Typical Greek political organization from 800-400 BCE.
Direct Democracy
People participate directly in assemblies that make laws and select leaders, rather than electing representatives.
Senate
Assembly of Roman aristocrats.
Consuls
Two chief executives of Roman republic, elected annually.
Cicero
Conservative Roman senator killed in reaction to assassination of Julius Caesar.
Aristotle
Greek philosopher. Teacher of Alexander the Great.
Storcs
Hellenistic group of philosophers, strict discipline of body and personal bravery.
Doric
Distinct style of Hellenistic architecture. (less ornate)
Ionic
Hellenistic architecture. (more ornate than Doric)
Corinthian
Hellenistic architecture. (Most ornate of the three)
Sophocles
Greek writer of tragedies. Author of Oedipus Rex.
Socrates
Athenian philosopher of later 5th century. Tutor of Plato.
Iliad
Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. Defined gods and human nature.
Odyssey
Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. Defined gods and human nature that shaped Greek myths.
Animism
The attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomenon
Polytheism
Belief in many gods
Bureaucrats
An official in a government department, in particular as being concerned with procedural correctness at the expense of people's needs
Aristocracy
The highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles
Brahmans
Highest member of the Hindu Caste system
Kshatriyas
The warrior or ruler class of the caste system
Vaiyshas
Another class in the caste system made up of commoners
Sudras
Lowest ranking class
Untouchables
Lowest class in the caste system (Wasn't even considered a class)
Herodotus
Greek historian
Bantus
People of the Niger-Congo. Spoke Bantu
Jatakas
Literature talking about Buddhas previous births.
The analects
A record of the words and teaching of Confucius
The Torah
Judaic religious text
Lombard league
A medieval alliance that tried to counter attempts by the holy roman order
The Silk Road
An ancient silk trade route