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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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4439980197AgricultureThe 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
4439980198Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
4439980199Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
4439980200Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
4439980201Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
4439980202Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
4439980203City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
4439980204Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
4439980205Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
4439980206Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
4439980207Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
4439980208Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
4439980209Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
4439980210Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
4439980211Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
4439980212Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
4439980213HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
4439980214Hunter-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
4439980215Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
4439980216Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
4439980217Monotheismbelief in a single God20
4439980218NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
4439980219Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
4439980220Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
4439980221PaleolithicThe 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
4439980222Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
4439980223Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
4439980224River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
4439980225Sedentaryremaining in one place28
4439980226Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
4439980227Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
4439980228Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
4439980229Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
4439980230Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
4439980231Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
4439980232Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
4439980233Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
4439980234Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
4439980235Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
4439980236Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
4439980237Byzantiumthe 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
4439980238Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year41
4439980239Code 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
4439980240CuneiformOne 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
4439980241Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them44
4439980242Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.45
4439980243Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism46
4439980244Gothic 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
4439980245Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC48
4439980246Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy49
4439980247HellenismThe 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
4439980248The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms51
4439980249Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.52
4439980250Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons53
4439980251Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people54
4439980252LegalismIn 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
4439980253Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.56
4439980254PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top57
4439980255Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.58
4439980256Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders59
4439980257Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE60
4439980258Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)61
4439980259Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha62
4439980260Silk 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
4439980261The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism64
4439980262The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.65
4439980263Zigguratsa 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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