Early Societies
What is a nomad?
A person who does not have a permanent home. Travels from place to place.
What is a plebeian vs. a patrician?
A plebeian is a commoner. Not necessarily poor but not super rich. A patrician is a rich person, especially one with a lot of political power.
What is the Quran?
The holy text of Islam. The Word of Allah.
What was a peasant vs. a serf?
Both were commoners / poor folk. Key difference is that serfs were bound to a lord and his land, whereas a peasant was free.
What was classicism during the Renassiance?
It involved studying Greek and Romans texts and applying them to life at the time. Helped spur many of the changes during the Renassiance.
What is a theocracy?
Form of government that has a divine or godly authority
Compare Sparta and Athens
Sparta was much more militaristic and was ruled by an oligarchy (a small handful of people ruled). It was also very isolated geographically from Greece. Athens was one of the earliest democracies and was very open to trade around and outside Greece. Was a cultural center.
Why was Muhammad important?
He was the prophet of Islam. He converted people to the religion from the start. He is the main authority of Islam only behind Allah.
What was the Inquisition?
A court that found and tried people for being heretics to Christianity. Known for its brutality, including public floggings, torture, and killings.
What was the MAIN grievance Martin Luther had with the Church?
The selling of indulgences
What is legalism?
From ancient China. The philosophy that humans are evil by nature, so laws must be created to keep them in check.
Why were the Punic Wars significant?
They were fought between the growing Roman and Carthaginian Empires. It was a battle for dominance in the Mediterranean Sea. Carthage was destroyed, and Rome grew to become one of the most dominant empires ever.
What are the 5 Pillars of Islam (in English)?
Why was the Magna Carta important?
It guaranteed right to individuals, such as right to a fair trial. It also legally limited the powers of the king. This set a precedent for future governments.
What is humanism?
The movement of focusing less on abstract ideas, such as religion, and focusing more on bettering your own life as a human. Like developing knowledge and going out of your way to find new experiences.
What was the importance of the Silk Road?
Helped spread ideas, connected Europe and Asia, helped spread disease, etc.
Why did the Senate fear Julius Caesar? What were the consequences of his assassination?
The feared he was too powerful as dictator, despite the good changes he made. His death triggered rebellions, and eventually the downfall of the Roman Republic into a true empire.
What is the key reason for the split between Shia and Sunni Muslims?
Shia: descendants of Muhammad should be the only people considered to become caliph (leader) of Islam
Sunni: the best possible candidate should be chosen as the caliph of Islam
Why did the revival of trade in Europe lead to the growth of cities?
Cities are the crossroads for trade. People came to cities to buy and sell, so many people naturally moved their permanently.
Summarize Niccolo Machiavelli's advice to rulers
It's better to be feared than loved, but do not be hated. Appear to be good and upstanding to the public, but be ready to be cruel and violent when necessary.
What were the consequences of establishing systematic agriculture?
People had a reliable source food, hunting-gathering decreased, and people began to live in permanent locations.
Describe key differences between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires:
East: strong army, paid off invaders, competent and long-lasting rulers, good tax system, capital easy to defend
West: weak army, treated "barbarians" poorly, rulers died very often, broke tax system did not generate funds, society in general had low morale and were not unified
What is Islamic radical fundamentalism?
Radical = willing to take extreme actions. Fundamentalism = strict interpretations of a text. Together with Islam = extremist Muslims who make extremely strict interpretations of the Quran. Most people who do not agree with their ideas are seen as threats.
Describe how feudalism worked:
Describe 3 of the main Protestant faiths: Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anabaptism
Lutheranism: salvation through faith ALONE. The Bible is the main religious authority.
Calvinism: belief in predestination, or that God decides who will be saved or not at birth
Anabaptism: belief in non-violence, separation of church and government, and adult baptism. Considered radical by other Christians