The Achaemenid Empire (Persia)
Unlike earlier rulers who relied on terror and destruction, Cyrus the Great gained the loyalty of conquered peoples by implementing this administrative approach.
What is a policy of religious and cultural tolerance?
To ensure equal opportunity among free adult male citizens, Athens selected most of its political leaders using this method rather than competitive elections.
What is selection by lottery (sortition)?
In 509 BCE, Romans overthrew Etruscan rule after a violent revolt and swore never to be ruled by a king again. They established this new type of government, which ruled until Rome became an Empire.
What is a republic?
Zoroastrianism, the religion of the Achaemenid Empire, introduced the concept of a single supreme god, Ahura Mazda. What were the two major opposing 'forces' Zoroastrians say are battling for dominance in the world?
What is Good/Light and Evil/Dark.
Emperor Darius I divided his massive territory into 20 administrative provinces governed by satraps, who held two specific responsibilities. Name one of the two duties of the satraps.
What are collecting taxes OR providing soldiers?
Although Athenian direct democracy gave political power to its citizens, three groups of people were strictly excluded from citizenship. Name two of the three.
Who are women, enslaved people, and foreigners?
During the First Secession, striking Plebeian soldiers walked out of Rome and successfully won the right to elect these officials to protect their political rights.
Who are Tribunes?
Initiated by Augustus in 27 BC, this 200-year era was characterized by relative peace, stability, and thriving economic trade across Rome.
What is the Pax Romana? (Roman Peace)
Infrastructure projects like standardized coinage (the Daric) and this famous highway improved communication, trade, and economic stability across the empire.
What is the Royal Road?
Fought between Sparta and Athens from 431 to 404 BCE, this devastating conflict severely weakened the Greek city-states and left them vulnerable to outside invasion.
What is the Peloponnesian War?
The three Punic Wars fought between Rome and Carthage were primarily caused by competition over control of trade in this body of water.
What is the Mediterranean Sea?
In 285 AD, Emperor Diocletian addressed the issue of Rome being too overextended by making this radical change to the structure of the Roman state.
What is dividing the Roman Empire into a Western half and an Eastern half?
To keep satraps from rebelling against central authority, Darius I established a secret network of inspectors known by this title.
What are the "Eyes and Ears of the King"?
Named after the Greek people's word for their culture, this cultural era was the outcome of Alexander the Great's widespread conquests, where Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian traditions.
What is the Hellenistic era?
Rome expanded its military manpower during the Republic by offering this legal status to conquered peoples across the Italian peninsula.
What is Roman citizenship?
Issued by Emperor Constantine in 313 CE, the Edict of Milan impacted the Roman Empire by taking this major religious step.
What is legalizing Christianity and granting religious tolerance to monotheists?
Unlike earlier smaller, less diverse civilizations, large empires like Persia faced this major obstacle due to their large territory and population.
What is ruling over millions of people who spoke different languages and practiced different religions?
While both ancient Mediterranean powers defined citizenship, Athenian citizenship was far more exclusive than Roman citizenship in this fundamental way.
What is Athenian citizenship requires birth in Athens, to citizen parents?
(Rome extended citizenship to conquered peoples to expand its military and wealth)
Rapid territorial expansion led to civil wars and the end of the Republic because Roman soldiers began shifting their loyalty to these individuals rather than the government.
Who are Roman military generals? ("Emperors"/"Caesars" accepted)
Early Roman authorities persecuted early Christians and saw them as a threat to the state primarily because of the Christian refusal to perform this ritual of Roman polytheism.
What is Christians refusing to offer sacrifices to Roman gods/emperors due to their monotheistic beliefs?