Ancient China
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Ancient India
Potpurri
100
What was the Mandate of Heaven?
The Mandate of Heaven (
Tiānmìngcap T i ā n m ì n g
) is an ancient Chinese philosophical and political doctrine originating in the Zhou Dynasty 1046-256 B.C.E. that determined the legitimacy of a ruler. It posits that a just ruler (the "Son of Heaven") is granted divine authority to rule, but must govern virtuously, or risk losing the mandate through corruption or incompetence, often signified by natural disaster or social unrest
100
What is a Democracy?
citizens assemble and vote directly on public issues” (Mueller, 1996, p. 94, emphasis added) rather than representative democracy where citizens vote for political representatives who then decide policy.
100
What is a Republic form of Government?
What three elements did it balance?
(509–27 BC) was governed by a sophisticated mixed constitution that balanced three elements: monarchy (magistrates), aristocracy (the Senate), and democracy (popular assemblies). This system was designed with extensive checks and balances to prevent any single individual or group from seizing absolute power
100
What was the Indus River Valley?
What advancements did they make in sanitation?
What were three things that grew well there?
one of the world's first three great urban cultures. Spanning modern-day Pakistan and northwest India, it was the most geographically extensive civilization of its time
- Sanitation: Houses featured private wells and indoor toilets connected to a sophisticated covered drainage system that was more advanced than any other contemporary urban site.
- they were pioneers in cotton cultivation and maintained massive granaries to store surpluses of wheat and barley.
100
Who did the Olympic games Honor, and where were they held?
a series of athletic competitions held every four years at the sanctuary of Olympia in honor of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods.
200
What are Oracle bones? What were they used for?
Oracle bones are animal bones (mainly ox scapulae) and turtle shells used in ancient China's Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE) for divination, where priests interpreted cracks from heat to communicate with ancestors and deities for guidance on harvests, war, health, and weather, with the inscriptions forming the earliest known Chinese writing, evolving into modern characters.
200
What was the Golden age of Greece?
advancements in democracy, laying foundations for Western governance, alongside breakthroughs in philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides), history (Herodotus, Thucydides), science (Pythagoras, Euclid, Hippocrates), and monumental art/architecture like the Parthenon
200
What were the 12 tables?
What was there core purpose?
The Twelve Tables (c. 451–449 BC) were the first written legal code of the Roman Republic
- Public Accountability: The laws were inscribed on bronze tablets and displayed in the Roman Forum so all citizens could know their rights.
200
What is Mohenjo Daro?
What does it translate to?
Why did it decline?
Mohenjo-Daro
(lit. "Mound of the Dead Men") was a major urban hub of the Indus Valley Civilization, thriving around 2500–1900 BC in modern-day Sindh, Pakistan. It is celebrated as one of the world's first great cities and a masterpiece of Bronze Age urban planning.
The city was gradually abandoned starting around 1900 BC. Scholars believe its decline was caused by environmental shifts rather than warfare, such as:
Changing River Courses: A shift in the path of the Indus River may have caused fatal flooding or left the city without water.
Climate Change: A drying up of the regional climate could have led to agricultural failure and the collapse of trade.
200
What is confusionism?
Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher whose teachings, known as Confucianism, focus on personal/governmental morality, social harmony, and familial loyalty. Core principles include Ren (benevolence), Li (proper ritual/rites), and Xiao (filial piety), advocating for self-cultivation, respect for elders, and a structured, ethical society.
300
What are the beliefs of Daoism?
The various branches of Daoism generally share a core of beliefs, including compassion, moderation, humility, wu wei (effortless action), naturalness, health and longevity, and aligning oneself bodily and spiritually with the Dao
300
What were city states?
Ancient Greece was comprised of over 1,000 independent city-states, or poleis, which functioned as autonomous countries with unique governments, laws, and cultures, rather than a single unified nation.
300
What was the Roman road system and how far did it stretch?
The Roman road system was one of the most advanced engineering feats of the ancient world, comprising a network of over 250,000 miles (400,000 km) of routes that connected the far reaches of the empire. At its peak, roughly 50,000 miles of these were high-standard, stone-paved highways designed to last for centuries
300
What 3 major scientific breakthroughs were made during the golden age of India?
- Mathematics: Indian mathematicians formalized the concept of zero as both a number and a placeholder. They developed the decimal system of notation and made fundamental advances in trigonometry, including the creation of sine tables.
- Astronomy: The scholar Aryabhata proposed that the Earth is a sphere that rotates on its own axis. He accurately calculated the solar year at approximately 365.358 days and scientifically explained that solar and lunar eclipses are caused by shadows, not mythological entities.
- Medicine: This period refined Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian medicine. Physicians like Sushruta documented sophisticated surgical techniques, including plastic surgery (rhinoplasty), bone setting, and cataract removal.
300
Why is Christine the Best step-mom ever?
She loves you.
She cares about your future and your happiness.
She's kind of a badass.
oh, and fajitas!
Vroom vroom.
400
What was the Golden age of achievments?
What were the 4 main inventions?
The Tang Dynasty (618–906 AD) and Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) are widely considered the golden age of Chinese civilization, characterized by unparalleled advancements in art, culture, technology, and economic growth. This era produced the "Four Great Inventions"—paper, printing, gunpowder, and the compass
400
What war did the Athens and Spartans fight and what were the strengths of each city state?
Athens and Sparta were opposing Greek city-states (431–404 BC) that fought the Peloponnesian War for control of Greece. Sparta, with a superior land army, won the conflict, defeating the Athenian navy
400
What was Land occupancy at the height of the Roman empire?
What countries did it stretch to?
- Total Land Area: The empire covered approximately 5 million square kilometers (roughly 1.93 million square miles).
- Geographic Span: It stretched across three continents—Europe, Africa, and Asia—completely surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
- Global Share: This territory accounted for about 3.71% of the world's total land area
400
Why were monsoons important in ancient India?
Monsoons provided over 80% of India's annual rainfall, falling mainly between June and September.
- Surplus Production: Predictable rains allowed ancient farmers to grow crops like rice, cotton, and lentils. This surplus food was the foundation for the rise of massive cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
- Soil Fertility: Annual monsoon flooding deposited nutrient-rich silt along riverbanks, naturally fertilizing the land for the next planting season.
400
What is gun powder made of?
Ancient gunpowder, also known as black powder, was traditionally made from a simple mixture of three primary ingredients: saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur
500
Civil service exam
a rigorous, merit-based system in ancient China (approx. 605–1905 CE) used to select government officials, primarily focusing on Confucian classics to promote standardized bureaucratic knowledge
500
What is Hellenistic Culture?
The fusion of ancient Greek civilization with the cultures of the Near East, Middle East, and Southwest Asia. This era began following the conquests of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and lasted until the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC
500
What was the role of Roman women?
In ancient Rome, a woman's role was primarily defined by her relationship to men—fathers, husbands, and sons—within a deeply patriarchal society. Despite being denied formal political power, Roman women often enjoyed more legal and social freedom than their counterparts in ancient Greece.
500
Why were the Himalayan Mountains so important to ancient India for military purposes?
- Natural Barrier: The range acted as a massive "compound wall," protecting the subcontinent from most large-scale invasions from the north and northeast.
- Limited Access: While the mountains themselves were almost impassable, historical incursions (such as those by Alexander the Great or the Mughals) generally occurred through the Khyber Pass in the northwest, rather than across the high Himalayan peaks.
- Political Insulation: This isolation allowed distinct Indian cultures, such as the Vedic culture, to develop with less external interference compared to more accessible regions of Eurasia.
500
Describe the porcelain in ancient China.
Traditionally it was what two colors?
Porcelain—often called "white gold"—was one of ancient China’s most significant technological and artistic contributions to the world. It is a high-fired ceramic that is prized for its strength, translucency, and resonance when struck.
Blue and White