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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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10524156584AgricultureThe 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
10524156585Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
10524156586Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
10524156587Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
10524156588Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
10524156589Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
10524156590City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
10524156591Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
10524156592Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
10524156593Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
10524156594Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
10524156595Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
10524156596Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
10524156597Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
10524156598Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
10524156599Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
10524156600HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
10524156601Hunter-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
10524156602Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
10524156603Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
10524156604Monotheismbelief in a single God20
10524156605NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
10524156606Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
10524156607Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
10524156608PaleolithicThe 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
10524156609Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
10524156610Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
10524156611River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
10524156612Sedentaryremaining in one place28
10524156613Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
10524156614Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
10524156615Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
10524156616Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
10524156617Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
10524156618Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
10524156619Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
10524156620Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
10524156621Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
10524156622Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
10524156623Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
10524156624Byzantiumthe 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
10524156625Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year41
10524156626Code 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
10524156627CuneiformOne 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
10524156628Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them44
10524156629Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.45
10524156630Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism46
10524156631Gothic 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
10524156632Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC48
10524156633Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy49
10524156634HellenismThe 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
10524156635The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms51
10524156636Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.52
10524156637Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons53
10524156638Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people54
10524156639LegalismIn 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
10524156640Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.56
10524156641PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top57
10524156642Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.58
10524156643Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders59
10524156644Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE60
10524156645Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)61
10524156646Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha62
10524156647Silk 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
10524156648The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism64
10524156649The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.65
10524156650Zigguratsa 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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