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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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2195976889AgricultureThe 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
2195976890Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
2195976891Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
2195976892Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
2195976893Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
2195976894Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
2195976895City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
2195976896Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
2195976897Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
2195976898Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
2195976899Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
2195976900Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
2195976901Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
2195976902Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
2195976903Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
2195976904Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
2195976905HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
2195976906Hunter-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
2195976907Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
2195976908Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
2195976909Monotheismbelief in a single God20
2195976910NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
2195976911Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
2195976912Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
2195976913PaleolithicThe 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
2195976914Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
2195976915Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
2195976916River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
2195976917Sedentaryremaining in one place28
2195976918Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
2195976919Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
2195976920Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
2195976921Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
2195976922Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
2195976923Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
2195976924Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
2195976925Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
2195976926Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
2195976927Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
2195976928Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
2195976929Byzantiumthe 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
2195976930Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year41
2195976931Code 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
2195976932CuneiformOne 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
2195976933Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them44
2195976934Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.45
2195976935Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism46
2195976936Gothic 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
2195976937Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC48
2195976938Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy49
2195976939HellenismThe 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
2195976940The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms51
2195976941Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.52
2195976942Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons53
2195976943Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people54
2195976944LegalismIn 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
2195976945Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.56
2195976946PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top57
2195976947Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.58
2195976948Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders59
2195976949Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE60
2195976950Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)61
2195976951Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha62
2195976952Silk 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
2195976953The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism64
2195976954The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.65
2195976955Zigguratsa 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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