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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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6309646789AgricultureThe 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
6309646790Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
6309646791Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
6309646792Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
6309646793Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
6309646794Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
6309646795City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
6309646796Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
6309646797Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
6309646798Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
6309646799Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
6309646800Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
6309646801Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
6309646802Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
6309646803Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
6309646804Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
6309646805HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
6309646806Hunter-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
6309646807Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
6309646808Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
6309646809Monotheismbelief in a single God20
6309646810NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
6309646811Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
6309646812Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
6309646813PaleolithicThe 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
6309646814Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
6309646815Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
6309646816River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
6309646817Sedentaryremaining in one place28
6309646818Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
6309646819Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
6309646820Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
6309646821Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
6309646822Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
6309646823Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
6309646824Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
6309646825Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
6309646826Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
6309646827Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
6309646828Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
6309646829Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year40
6309646830Code of Hammurabithe set of laws drawn up by Babylonian king Hammurabi dating to the 18th century BC, the earliest legal code known in its entirety41
6309646831CuneiformOne 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.42
6309646832Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them43
6309646833Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.44
6309646834Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism45
6309646835Gothic 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.46
6309646836Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC47
6309646837Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy48
6309646838HellenismThe 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.49
6309646839The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms50
6309646840Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.51
6309646841Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons52
6309646842Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people53
6309646843LegalismIn 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 sense54
6309646844Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.55
6309646845PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top56
6309646846Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.57
6309646847Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders58
6309646848Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE59
6309646849Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)60
6309646850Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha61
6309646851Silk 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.62
6309646852The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism63
6309646853The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.64
6309646854Zigguratsa temple or tomb of the ancient Assyrians, Sumerians, or Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories65
6309646855ChristianityMonotheistic religion born out of Judaism, preached by Jesus of Nazareth and later codified by his disciples. Persecuted by Romans early on; however, gained support under Constantine in the Rome.66
6309646856Buddhismoriginally preached by Siddhartha and codified by his disciples into the sutras. Rejected Vedic rituals and the caste system. Spread throughout SE Asia and China and split into Mahayana(Buddha as a God, local gods tacked on as Bodhisativas) and Theravada(original, strict non-theistic version).67
6309646857AsokaThird ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the earliest surviving Indian writing.68
6309646858HinduismTerm for a wide variety of beliefs and ritual practices that have developed in the Indian subcontinent since antiquity. It has roots in ancient Vedic, Buddhist, and south Indian religious concepts and practices.69
6309646859Trans Saharanroute across the sahara desert. Major trade route that traded for gold and salt, created caravan routes, economic benefit for controlling dessert, camels played a huge role in the trading70
6309646860MonsoonsMajor winds in the Indian Ocean that blew into India for half the year, and blew away from India for the other half. Helped facilitate trade in the Indian Ocean.71
6309646861Sumerianspeople who dominated Southern Mesopotamia through the end of the 3rd Millennium BCE. Responsible for the creation of irrigation technology, cuneiform, and religious conceptions.72
6309646862Indo-EuropeansGroups of people who came from the area north of the Caucasus mountains, which are between the Black and Caspian seas. Herded multiple animals. Rode into battle on chariots. The Indo-European language of Sanskrit, by the Aryans, are the basis of many languages today. Often accepted and adapted aspects of technology, religions, and social order of those with whom they came in contact.73
6309646863Before agriculture, men and women are believed to have a greater degree of equality. But after the rise of agriculture, most human societies became ________ as a result of greater male strength.Patriarchal74
6309646864caste systema set of rigid social categories that determined not only a person's occupation and economic potential, but also his or her position in society, there was virtually no social mobility75
6309646865Paleolithic(Old Stone Age) a long period of human development before the development of agriculture76
6309646866CarthageThis city has existed for nearly 3,000 years, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC into the capital of the Carthaginian Empire. Controlled commerce in the Mediterranean prior to the rise of Roman Power. The expanding Roman Republic took control of many of its outposts after the two Punic Wars.77
6309646867HellenizationThe spread of Greek language and culture (Hellenism) throughout the Mediterranean, starting with t he conquests of Alexander the Great. Upon Alexander's death at the age of thirty-three (323 B.C.E.), his realm was divided among his leading generals. During their reigns and those of their successors, Hellenism (i.e., Greek culture) continued to flourish in major urban centers around the eastern Mediterranean (less so in rural areas). People traveling to different areas could communicate with people of other kingdoms through Greek. More than at any time in previous history, the eastern Mediterranean that emerged in Alexander's wake experienced a form of cultural unity and cosmopolitanism (a "cosmopolite" is a "citizen of the world," as opposed to a person who belongs to only one locality). The Roman Empire arose in the context of the Hellenistic world and took full advantage of its unity, promoting the use of Greek language, accepting aspects of Greek culture, and even taking over features of the Greek religion, to the point that the Greek and Roman gods came to be thought of as the same, only with different names. This complex unity achieved culturally through Hellenization and politically through the conquests of Rome is summed up by the term Greco-Roman world.78
6309646868DaoismChinese religion that believes the world is always changing and is devoid of absolute morality or meaning. They accept the world as they find it, avoid futile struggles, and deviate as little as possible from 'the way' or 'path' of nature.79

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