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AP World History: Chapter 4 Reading Questions Flashcards

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7779556780How did the new cultural traditions that arose around 500 BCE differ from earlier polytheism?They tried to define a single source of order and meaning in the universe.0
7779567794What societal developments led people to question old outlooks and develop new beliefs?Social changes during the time including growing cities, increased trade, prominence of merchant classes, the emergence of new states/empires, and the development of new contacts among civilizations.1
7779592584Describe the social atmosphere in China (500-200 BCE) that led to the rise of new Chinese thinkers.It was a period of chaos, growing violence, and disharmony (the age of warring states).2
7779600754Who is credited as being the original founder of legalism?Han Fei (?)3
7779611433What did Legalists believe was the solution to China's problems?The solution was laws that were clearly spelt out and strictly enforced through a system of rewards and punishments.4
7779630680How did Legalists view human nature?They had a pessimistic view of human nature. It promoted farmers and soldiers (they were the only people who performed essential jobs) and disregarded merchants, aristocrats, and scholars because they were seen as useless.5
7779643851What are the Analects?a short book of Confucian teachings6
7779649252What was the Confucian solution to China's problems?The moral example of superiors was the Confucian key to a restored social harmony. The unequal relationships included: father superior to son; husband to wife; older brother to younger brother; and ruler to subject.7
7779661088What is ren and how is it achieved?Human heartedness, benevolence, goodness, and nobility of heart. It is achieved by obeying those superior to you.8
7779673239Describe the exams that Chinese men had to take to get a government positition.Candidates had to apply the principles of Confucianism to specific situations they might encounter in office.9
7779686047What is filial piety?the honoring of ones ancestors and parents10
7779693709Who is credited as being the original founder of Daoism?Laozi (?)11
7779696089What is the Dao?an elusive notion that refers to the way of nature; the underlying and unchanging principle that governs all natural phenomena12
7779701317Describe the beliefs in Daoism.One is to align with the way of nature; simplicity of living, small self-sufficient communities, limited govt, and abandonment of education is encouraged13
7779724546What does the yin and yang symbol mean?a belief in the unity of opposites (ex: night and day)14
7779731005How does Hinduism differ from Confucianism?Hinduism had no historical founder, it grew up over many centuries with the Indian civilization. It was also not a missionary religion seeking converts; it was associated with a specific people and territory.15
7779745101What are the Vedas?collections of poems, hymns, prayers, and rituals16
7779748052What are the Upanishads?mystical and highly philosophical works that sought to probe the inner meaning of the sacrifices prescribed in Vedas.17
7779762266What is the Brahman?The World Soul; the final and ultimate reality; a unitary energy18
7779767584What is the Atman?the individual human soul19
7779777510What is samsara (rebirth/reincarnation)?human souls moved from body to body over many lifetimes depending on one's actions20
7779786974What is karma?the migration of human souls based on one's actions -- pure actions, appropriate to one's station in life, resulted in rebirth in a higher caste21
7779810275What is moksha and how is it achieved?it is union with the Brahman; an end to the illusory perception of a separate existence. It is achieved by the cycle of rebirth (samsara)22
7779832814Who is the founder of Buddhism?Siddhartha Guatama: a prince from a small North Indian state sho left his family and fortune behind to go on a 6 year spiritual quest to achieve enlightenment. The rest of his life he taught about the enlightenment.23
7779851124What does "Buddha" mean?"The Enlightened One"; a human being who had awakened24
7779860780According to Buddha, what causes human suffering and how can you cure yourself of it?It is caused by the desire/craving for individual fulfillment; attachment to that which inevitably changes It is cured by living in a modest and moral life combined with meditation practices25
7779875629What is nirvana?an indescribable state in which individual identity would be extinguished along with all greed, hatred, and delusion26
7779884692What Hindu elements were incorporated into Buddhism?- ordinary life is an illusion; hope for final release from rebirth cycle - the idea of karma and rebirth - goal of overcoming constant demands of the ego - practice of meditation27
7779903092How did Buddhism challenge Hinduism?- rejecting religious authority of the Brahmins (Buddha ridiculed their rituals and sacrifices as irrelevant to dealing with suffering) - disagreed with the abstract speculation about the creation of the world or existence of god - challenged inequalities of Hindu based caste system (neither caste nor gender was a barrier to enlightenment)28
7779939579What is Theravada expression of Buddhism?means: Teaching of the Elders. It portrayed the Buddha as a teacher and model but not divine; more psychological than religious, practices rather than beliefs; individuals were on their own29
7779953320What is Mahayana expression of Buddhism?means: Great Vehicle. It developed people who delayed their entry into nirvana to help others (Bodhisattvas); Buddha was very god-like and he was available to help30
7779973219What are the 3 major causes of the decline of Buddhism?1) mounting wealth of monasteries and economic interests of their leading figures separated them from ordinary people 2) competition from Islam after 1000 CE 3) the growth during 1st millennium CE of a new kind of popular Hinduism which the masses found more accessible31
7780004079What changes were made to Hinduism in response to Buddhism? (as expressed in the epic poems of Mahabharata and Ramayana, as well as the Bhagavad Gita)It indicated more clearly that action in the world and the detached performance of caste duties might also provide a path to liberation32
7780012644What was the bhatki (worship) movement?It involved intense adoration of and identification with a particular deity through songs, prayers, and rituals33
7780022837What is Zoroastrianism?- started in Persian Empire with prophet Zarathustra - worshipped 1 god (Ahura Mazda) who ruled the world and was the source of truth, light, and goodness - force of evil was represented by Angra Mainyu - final survivor would restore the world to its previous purity and peace -day of judgement: those who were with Mazda were granted with a resurrected body and eternal life in paradise; if you sided with evil, you were condemned to everlasting punishment34
7780066037What aspects of Zoroastrianism subsequently were found in Judaism and Christianity?- conflict of god and satan - motion of last judgement and resurrected bodies - belief in final defeat of evil, arrival of savior, and remarking of the world at the end of time35
7780079901What 2 major events led to the decline and vanishing of Zoroastrianism?1) Alexander the Great's invasion of the Persian Empire 2) the arrival of Islam and an Arab Empire36
7780090217What is the Jewish God "Yahweh"?a powerful and jealous deity who demanded exclusive loyalty37
7780103046Describe the covenant/contract that the Jews had with Yahweh.In return for their sole devotion and obedience to God's laws, Yahweh would consider the Jews for his chosen people, favoring them in battle, causing them to grow in number, and bringing them prosperity and blessing.38
7780119595Describe the Jewish concept of the divine that later influenced Christianity and Islam.it is a singular, transcendent, personal ruling over natural order; engaged in history and demanding social justice; moral righteousness above sacrifices and rituals39
7780137228What are the defining characteristics of the Greek cultural tradition?- the willingness of greek intellectuals to abandon mythological framework - to affirm that the world was a physical reality governed by natural laws - to assert that human rationality could both understand these laws and work out a system of moral and ethical life40
7780216780How did Greek thinkers differ from earlier Greeks in how they explained the world?they had a commitment to a rational and nonreligious explanation for the material world41
7780222446How did Saint Paul aid in spreading Christianity?His missionary journeys led to the founding of small Christian communities including non-Jews; he told people that all were welcome under Jesus/God42
7780231833What aspects of Christianity attracted people to this new religion?The inclusive message (everyone could be Christian) and by the way members of Christainity cared for each other.43
7780238959Why were Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire and what brought an end to this?They were persecuted because they became scapegoats and were often innocents blamed for the action of others. Constantine endorsed it and brought an end to the persecution.44
7780262384How did Roman Emperors, like Theodosius, help to protect and spread Christianity?- ban on all polytheistic ritual sacrifices and temples that practiced them were closed - Christians recieved patronage on their buildings, offical approval of doctrines, suppression of rivals, prestige from imperial recognition, and proclamation of Christianity as the official state religion45
7780277029What caused disunity in matters of Christian doctrine and philosophy?The immense geographic reach and the differences in language, culture, and poligical regime.46
7780283956What are some controversial questions that tore at the unity of Christianity?- nature of Jesus: was he human, divine, both? - his relationship to God: equal or inferior? - Trinity: father, son, and holy spirit47
7780296129Describe the 3 tensions that exist between religion and historians.1) question of change: religious aspects of life changes as much as others 2) how could experiences of divine reality be verified? 3) which group most accurately represents the "real"/authentic version of the faith?48

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