Ancient Egypt
The major river on which Egypt is located. Longest river in world. Gift of the Nile was yearly flooding that allowed better farming of crops.
Nile River
“The Awakened One.” What Siddhartha became after a lifelong journey to find enlightenment. Founder of Buddhism.
Buddha
A fine, strong, soft fiber created by silkworms. Used to create very luxurious fabrics.
Silk
Ancient Greek philosopher who taught by asking his students thought-provoking questions. Ultimately killed. (469-399 BCE).
Socrates
In the Roman Republic, one of the common people. Made up 95% of Rome; mostly peasants, laborers, shopkeepers, craftspeople. Could not be priests or government officials, but forced to serve in army. Rebelled against patricians in 494 BCE.
Plebeian
By Babylonian King Hammurabi, Mesopotamia 1750 BCE. Included 282 rules that set punishments to serve justice. Carved on huge massive pillar. Treated people differently by social class & gender.
Hammurabi's Law Code
Empire covering much of North India, ruled by Guptas from 320 to 550 CE. Golden Age.
Gupta Empire
A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes strict obedience by law. Used by Qin Shi Huangdi during Qin Dynasty.
Legalism
Athens
City-state in Greece, first to have democracy. Birthplace of Western Civilization. Capital of present-day Greece. On Peloponnesus
509 BCE-14 CE. Period after patricians overthrew Etruscans. Started by patricians, after Conflict of Orders, plebeians given power too
Roman Republic
Historical region in West Asia between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers. Part of Fertile Crescent (3100-539 BCE). In modern-day Iraq in Middle East. Birthplace of Hammurabi’s Law Code.
Mesopotamia
Different social classes (varnas) in Hindu society: Brahmins (priests, scholars, teachers), Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors), Vaishyas (merchants, artisans, farmers), Shudras (servants, laborers). Controversial rigid system.
Caste System
Confucianism
A Chinese philosophy/religion that emphasizes proper behavior based on virtue, or good, moral behavior. Popular during Han Dynasty.
Government in which power is held by the people, who exercise power directly or through elected representatives. After 500 BCE. Different than democracies today—this was direct democracy in which all people could vote on every issue. USA has representative democracy where people vote for representatives to make decisions on behalf of the people. Not all Greeks liked idea of democracy.
Democracy
Patrician
In the Roman Republic, a member of the upper, ruling class; priests & gov’t leaders. Helped overthrow the Etruscans in 509 BCE.
A set of legends or stories belonging to a culture
Mythology
Key idea in Buddhism whereby followers should live their lives according to these 8 teachings.
Eightfold Path
475-221 BCE. Time of division in China after Zhou Dynasty and before Qin Dynasty. Violence and chaos.
Warring States Period
Government in which absolute ruling power is held by a person who is not a lawful king. Sometimes called dictatorship. 650-500 BCE.
Tyranny
Twelve Tables
451 BCE. Roman laws written down so patricians couldn’t change them. These tablets included laws.
Torah
Judaism’s most sacred text, including the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible. Includes Exodus story.
GOTCHA!
Ruler of Macedonia (and Greece). Extended his empire from Macedonia/Greece to India in 300s BCE. Spread of Hellenism.
Alexander the Great
The first emperor to rule a united China. Leader from 221 to 210 BCE. Used strict legalism marked by harsh punishments
Qin Shi Huangdi
Government in which the ruling power is in the hands of a few people. Greek gov’t from 800-650 BCE.
Oligarchy
494-287 BCE. Rebellion of plebeians for power in Roman Republic. Led to major change in Roman gov’t; plebeians got to elect tribunes
Conflict of Orders