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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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8452731807AgricultureThe 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
8452731808Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
8452731809Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
8452731810Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
8452731811Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
8452731812Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
8452731813City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
8452731814Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
8452731815Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
8452731816Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
8452731817Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
8452731818Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
8452731819Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
8452731820Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
8452731821Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
8452731822Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
8452731823HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
8452731824Hunter-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
8452731825Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
8452731826Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
8452731827Monotheismbelief in a single God20
8452731828NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
8452731829Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
8452731830Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
8452731831PaleolithicThe 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
8452731832Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
8452731833Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
8452731834River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
8452731835Sedentaryremaining in one place28
8452731836Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
8452731837Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
8452731838Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
8452731839Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
8452731840Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
8452731841Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
8452731842Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
8452731843Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
8452731844Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
8452731845Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
8452731846Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
8452731847Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year40
8452731848Code 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
8452731849CuneiformOne 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
8452731850Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them43
8452731851Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.44
8452731852Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism45
8452731853Gothic 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
8452731854Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC47
8452731855Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy48
8452731856HellenismThe 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
8452731857The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms50
8452731858Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.51
8452731859Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons52
8452731860Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people53
8452731861LegalismIn 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
8452731862Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.55
8452731863PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top56
8452731864Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.57
8452731865Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders58
8452731866Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE59
8452731867Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)60
8452731868Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha61
8452731869Silk 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
8452731870The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism63
8452731871The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.64
8452731872Zigguratsa temple or tomb of the ancient Assyrians, Sumerians, or Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories65
8452731873ChristianityMonotheistic 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
8452731874Buddhismoriginally 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
8452731875AsokaThird 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
8452731876HinduismTerm 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
8452731877Trans 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
8452731878MonsoonsMajor 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
8452731879Sumerianspeople who dominated Southern Mesopotamia through the end of the 3rd Millennium BCE. Responsible for the creation of irrigation technology, cuneiform, and religious conceptions.72
8452731880Indo-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
8452731881Before 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
8452731882caste 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
8452731883Paleolithic(Old Stone Age) a long period of human development before the development of agriculture76
8452731884CarthageThis 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
8452731885HellenizationThe 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
8452731886DaoismChinese 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
8452731887Bureaucratgovernment official80

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