Hist 245 Midterm Review

"Greats"

100

This "great" leader conquered the Persian Empire in 331 BC, then Egypt, then parts of India, before dying at the age of 33. Hopefully his empire remains intact!

Alexander the Great

200

This "great" emperor, depicted at the Behistun site in Iran, restructured the Persian Empire's satrapies to make them more peaceful and productive

Darius I the Great

300

This pharaoh, who reigned over New Kingdom Egypt's greatest expansion and wealth, famously defeated the Hittites and is now on display at the British Museum.

Ramesses II the Great

400

Brought "stability" to Mesopotamia by becoming history's first emperor.

Sargon the Great / Sargon of Akkad

500

This famous Mauryan emperor conquered most of India before converting to Buddhism, and built hospitals, schools, and poor-houses. You may know him by his "pillars."

Ashoka the Great

Places Starting with M

100

This region was characterized by independent, often warring city states in the "Fertile Crescent." One of the original riverine civilizations.

Mesopotamia

200

This once-populous Indus River city fell into decline around 1800 BC, probably due to drought, earthquakes, or conquest by the northern Aryans.

Mohenjo-Daro

300

This region gave birth to the Olmecs---the mother culture of all of Central America's societies.

Mesoamerica

400

Two kings from this non-Greek speaking region would go on to dominate the Hellenic world, and give rise to the Hellenistic one.

Macedon

500

This "great" Greek-speaking region in Sicily and Southern Italy provided cultural influence to the Etruscans, and later, the Romans.

Magna Graecia

Dynasties

100

This Chinese dynasty overthrew the one before it, introduced three new philosophies, and introduced the "Mandate of Heaven."

Zhou Dynasty

200

This dynasty planted the seeds of decline for the Roman Empire, and is named after the military dictator who increased his soldiers' pay.

Severan Dynasty

300

The Meroitic Dynasty ruled this kingdom in Africa, and began construction Egyptian-style pyramids, but with steeper faces and entrance halls.

Kush

400

The earliest confirmed Chinese dynasty. Known for bone divination, ancestor worship, logographic script, and conquering its neighboring societies for sacrificial victims.

Shang Dynasty

500

This dynasty ushered in the "Golden Age of India," a period of advancement in the arts, science, mathematics, and Hindu literature.

Gupta Dynasty

-isms

100

This form of religious worship characterized almost every riverine civilization. Greek for "many gods."

Polytheism

200

This religion, with historically challenging origins, likely emerged from the Canaanites with monotheistic emphasis.

Judaism

300

This Persian religion believed in a dualistic cosmic battle between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainu. Named after its priestly founder.

Zoroastrianism

400

This Chinese philosophy emphasized law and order, and not necessarily with a moral code.

Legalism

500

This theory in history asserts that climate, environment, and resources strictly shapes and limits the development of human societies. Now criticized for being overly-simplistic.

Geographical / environmental determinism

"It's All Greek to Me"

100

This city-state pioneered democracy, and became militaristic in its own right by leading the Delian League.

Athens

200

Led by Sparta, this league came into conflict with Athens and its allies, and eventually defeated them in its same-named war.

Peloponnesian League

300

These two city states came into conflict with one another over territorial control. Both got their stronger allies involved, sparking the Peloponnesian War.

Corinth and Corcyra

400

This final battle of the Peloponnesian War saw the Thebans and Athenians victorious over Sparta, and then the exhaustion of the Hellenic world.

Battle of Leuctra

500

After the Late Bronze Age Collapse, the Aegean was depopulated by up to 90% from famine and "Sea Peoples" invasions, in this "un-bright" period.

Greek Dark Ages