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AP World History: Ancient World Flashcards

First set of words in the AP World History book by the Princeton Review.

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3361693381AgricultureThe deliberate effort to modify a portion of Earth's surface through the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock for sustenance or economic gain.0
3361693382Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
3361693383Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
3361693384Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
3361693385Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
3361693386Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
3361693387City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
3361693388Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
3361693389Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
3361693390Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
3361693391Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
3361693392Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
3361693393Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
3361693394Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
3361693395Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
3361693396Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
3361693397HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
3361693398Hunter-GathererA hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild, foraging and hunting without significant recourse to the domestication of either plants nor animals17
3361693399Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
3361693400Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
3361693401Monotheismbelief in a single God20
3361693402NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
3361693403Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
3361693404Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
3361693405PaleolithicThe Old Stone Age from circa 750,00 to 500,000 years BCE to 8,500 years BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans and the development of minor tools24
3361693406Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
3361693407Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
3361693408River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
3361693409Sedentaryremaining in one place28
3361693410Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
3361693411Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
3361693412Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
3361693413Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
3361693414Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
3361693415Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
3361693416Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
3361693417Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
3361693418Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
3361693419Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
3361693420Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
3361693421Byzantiumthe civilization that developed from the eastern Roman Empire following the death of the emperor Justinian (C.E. 565) until the fall of Constantinople (C.E.1453)40
3361693422Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year41
3361693423Code of Hammurabithe set of laws drawn up by Babylonian king Hammurabi dating to the 18th century BC, the earliest legal code known in its entirety42
3361693424CuneiformOne of the first written languages known: A system of writing in which wedge-shaped symbols represented words or syllables. It originated in Mesopotamia and was used initially for Sumerian and Akkadian but later was adapted to represent other languages of western Asia.43
3361693425Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them44
3361693426Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.45
3361693427Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism46
3361693428Gothic MigrationsThe Migration period, also called the Barbarian Invasions or German: Völkerwanderung (wandering of the peoples), was a period of human migration that occurred roughly between the years 300 to 700 CE in Europe, marking the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages. These movements were catalyzed by profound changes within both the Roman Empire and the so-called 'barbarian frontier'. Migrating peoples during this period included the Goths, Vandals, Bulgars, Alans, Suebi, Frisians, and Franks, among other Germanic and Slavic tribes.47
3361693429Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC48
3361693430Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy49
3361693431HellenismThe ideals and principles that spread from Greece through much of the ancient world. Much of its influence such as philosophy, athletics, and architecture penetrated the Middle East.50
3361693432The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms51
3361693433Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.52
3361693434Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons53
3361693435Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people54
3361693436LegalismIn Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period- A philosophy of focusing on the text of written law to the exclusion of the intent of law, elevating strict adherence to law over justice, mercy and common sense55
3361693437Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.56
3361693438PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top57
3361693439Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.58
3361693440Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders59
3361693441Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE60
3361693442Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)61
3361693443Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha62
3361693444Silk Road TradeThe most famous of the trading routes established by pastoral nomads connecting the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Mediterranean civilizations; transmitted goods and ideas among civilization.63
3361693445The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism64
3361693446The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.65
3361693447Zigguratsa temple or tomb of the ancient Assyrians, Sumerians, or Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories66

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