AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP World History: Ancient World Flashcards

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

Terms : Hide Images
10228314855AgricultureThe 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
10228314856Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
10228314857Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
10228314858Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
10228314859Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
10228314860Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
10228314861City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
10228314862Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
10228314863Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
10228314864Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
10228314865Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
10228314866Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
10228314867Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
10228314868Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
10228314869Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
10228314870Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
10228314871HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
10228314872Hunter-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
10228314873Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
10228314874Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
10228314875Monotheismbelief in a single God20
10228314876NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
10228314877Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
10228314878Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
10228314879PaleolithicThe 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
10228314880Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
10228314881Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
10228314882River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
10228314883Sedentaryremaining in one place28
10228314884Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
10228314885Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
10228314886Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
10228314887Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
10228314888Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
10228314889Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
10228314890Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
10228314891Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
10228314892Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
10228314893Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
10228314894Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
10228314895Byzantiumthe 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
10228314896Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year41
10228314897Code 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
10228314898CuneiformOne 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
10228314899Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them44
10228314900Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.45
10228314901Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism46
10228314902Gothic 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
10228314903Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC48
10228314904Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy49
10228314905HellenismThe 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
10228314906The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms51
10228314907Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.52
10228314908Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons53
10228314909Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people54
10228314910LegalismIn 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
10228314911Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.56
10228314912PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top57
10228314913Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.58
10228314914Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders59
10228314915Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE60
10228314916Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)61
10228314917Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha62
10228314918Silk 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
10228314919The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism64
10228314920The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.65
10228314921Zigguratsa temple or tomb of the ancient Assyrians, Sumerians, or Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories66

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!