Terms : Hide Images
| 3154431276 | Achaemenid Empire | Cyrus, an Achaemenid (reigned 558-530 B.C.E.), founded Persian imperial empire - at height, it spread from India to the borders of Egypt. Darius (reigned 521-486 B.C.E.), younger kinsmen of Cyrus, extended the empire from the Indus River in the east to the Aegean Sea in the west, from Armenia in the north to the fist waterfall of the Nile River in the south. Darius was more important as an administrator than a conqueror because of the size of the empire he managed. He also established a new capital, Persepolis, which became the center of the Persian Empire. | 0 | |
| 3154450023 | Achaemenid Administration | Government relied on a balance between central administration and locally appointed governors. Darius divided the empire into twenty-three satrapies - administrative and taxation districts governed by satraps - in which he regularized tax levies and standardized laws (he did not push direct rule on the subjects). Darius built extensive roads: Persian Royal Road (1,600 miles) -from Ephesus on the Aegean to Sardis in Anatolia to Susa in Iran- facilitated trade. Organized a courier service and built postal stations approximately every 25-30 miles the Royal Road. | 1 | |
| 3154493509 | Persian Wars | Fought between Greeks and Achaemenids (500-479 B.C.E.) Greeks win the Persian Wars Delian League (led by Athens) formed to discourage future Persian aggression. | 2 | |
| 3154509036 | Society in Classical Persia | In the cities free classes included priests, priestesses, artisans,craftsmen, merchants, and low-ranking civil servants. Women worked in textile production and received rations of wine, beer, and sometimes meant for their labor. Slaves were acquired through one of two sources: prisoners of war or civilians who tried to rebel against the imperial government. Either way, slave status deprived individual of personal freedom. | 3 | |
| 3154545437 | Economics of Classical Persia | Agriculture was the foundation of the Persian economy-surpluses were necessary to support military forces, government administrators, and residents in the cities Empire controlled fertile land in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, and northern India Persian Royal Road and sea routes through the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea assisted in trade throughout the empire | 4 | |
| 3154556892 | Zoroastrianism | A religion based on the teachings of Zarathustra, who left his family at the age of twenty in search of wisdom; after ten years he proclaimed that visions revealed to him the supreme god, who he called Ahura Mazda ("wise lord"); this supreme being had chosen him to be his prophet and spread his message Influence of Zoroastrian religion can be found in Judaism and Christianity; for example, the concept of good and evil and the concept of Heaven and Hell as reward or punishment | 5 | |
| 3154590285 | Confucius | Lived in China during the Warring States period and sought to restore order to China An educator and a political adviser Students recorded his teachings in the Analects, which has had a large impact on Chinese government and culture Believed in five constant relationships-between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, and friend and friend. Each person in the relationship had a responsibility to the other; one was superior and the other inferior | 6 | |
| 3154602604 | Confucianism | One of the major philosophies that emerged from the Hundred Schools of Thought, it attempts to create social order through loyalty and respect; The best way to promote good government is to hire people who are well-educated: (Junzi "superior individuals") According to Confucius, Junzi possessed personal qualities such as ren, li, and xiao Ren- courteousness, respectfulness, diligence, loyalty; li-a sense of propriety, traditionally appropriate behavior; and xiao-filial piety, respect by children for parents and other elders | 7 | |
| 3154618206 | Daoism | Daoism came up with an alternative solution to end the Warring States period-contrary to Confucian beliefs, Daoists reflected on natural principles that govern the world to achieve harmony with nature Central concept; dao ("the way" or "the way of nature" or "the way of the cosmos")-like water, it is soft yet can also erode the strongest rocks Humans should stop trying to achieve personal goals and live very simply in order to achieve harmony with nature Ideal societal structure would consist of tiny, self-sufficient communities | 8 | |
| 3154640525 | Legalism | One of the major philosophies that emerged from the Hundred Schools of Thought during the Warring States period Based on the goal of expanding and strengthening the state at all costs-it is described as ruthless and efficient Strict laws with harsh punishments lessen the number and severity of crimes Government strength lies in its agriculture and military-therefore, these two areas demand the highest number of recruits; government should discourage other career paths (merchants, educators, poets, philosophers) Used by the Qin dynasty to end Warring States period | 9 | |
| 3154654391 | Qin Dynasty | Used Legalist philosophy to restore order and stability to China and end the Warring States period Gave peasants land rights to farm remote territories, a practice that weakened traditional social hierarchy Centralized bureaucracy ruled the state Qin empire expands, attacking one province at a time and unifying China Great achievements: standardized weights and measures, scriptwriting- Short-lived because of strict laws and harsh punishments | 10 | |
| 3154670022 | Shi Haungdi | Self-proclaimed "first emperor" of China-reigned fourteen years;established centralized rule through large-scale political organization To centralize power, disarmed local military forces; built roads to enhance and expedite communication and movement of armies; standardized laws, currencies, weights and measures, and Chinese script; and built defensive walls, including linking sections of the Great Wall Executed anyone who criticized his regime-burned 460 Confucian scholars alive for their critical comments Forced millions of laborers to work on public works projects, including palaces, roads, bridges, irrigation systems, defensive walls, and a tomb for himself | 11 | |
| 3154689628 | Early Han Dynasty | Claiming the "mandate of heaven," Liu Bang centralized rule using persistence and methodical planning; started the longest lasting Chinese dynasty-the Han (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) Han Wudi, the "martial emperor," ruled the Han from 141 to 87 B.E.C. with two goals: to centralize governmental power and to expand the empire. He used Legalist principles as the guidelines for his government Wudi appointed imperial officers in provinces to enforce laws and levy taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft industries Demand for Chinese silk in India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Roman Empire led to development of trade routes (the silk roads) Wudi exercised tremendous government control over the building of roads and canals to increase trade and communication. Government also controlled production of essential goods: iron, salt, and liquor | 12 | |
| 3154719405 | Emperor Wudi | Han emperor who had a problem recruiting qualified people for government posts because there was no uniform system of public education Established an imperial university to educate government officials in 124 B.C.E Although the government was based on Legalists principles, the university focused its instruction on Confucianism out of necessity-it was the only Chinese belief system developed enough to establish a curriculum Enrollment began at 3,000 students and rode to more than 30,000 students during the later Han Dynasty Policy of imperial expansion led to invasions of northern Vietnam and Korea (which then had to pay tribute to Han China) and battles with the Xiongnu, nomads from Asia | 13 | |
| 3154745264 | Later Han Dynasty | Separated from the former Han, as a result of a temporary loss of power from 9 to 23 C.E., the later Han lasted from 25 to 220 C.E.Moved capital from Chang'an east to Luoyang. Ignoring the problem of inequitable land distribution led to increased banditry and rebellions led by disgruntled peasants.In the Yellow Turban uprising (rebels wore yellow headgear), government used the military to suppress rebellions but the collective efforts of peasants weakened the Han dynasty- factions developed in courts that affected the central government. This internal weakness led to the downfall of the empire, which was divided into several large kingdoms. | 14 | |
| 3154755941 | Fall of Han Dynasty | Divisions within the ruling elite limited the effectiveness of the government, leading to its collapse. Ignoring the problem of inequitable land distribution led to increased banditry and rebellions led by disgruntled peasants. Issues: land distribution, private armies, unrest, and economic decline. Rise in epidemics in late 2nd and early 3rd centuries (came from trade on The Silk Roads) led to the Yellow Turban Rebellion Dynasty formally ended in 220 C.E. | 15 | |
| 3154774060 | Mauryan Dynasty | Flourished during the late 320s B.C.E, when Chandragupta Maurya took over and laid the foundations for a centralized, unified government that included all of India from the Indus to the Ganges rivers. Ashoka (ruled 268-232 B.C.E) conquered the kingdom of Kalinga through bloody battles, uniting the entire subcontinent; better known as a governor than a conqueror. Ashoka built irrigation systems for agriculture, constructed roads for trade and travel, supported Buddhism, and encouraged religious tolerance. Ashoka's death led to decline of empire. | 16 | |
| 3154791080 | Gupta Dynasty | Chandra Gupta laid foundations for empire by making alliances with powerful families in the Ganges; he conquered many, while others chose to form tributary alliances with the Guptas. Government, both policy and administration, was left to the locals; Gupta did not impose uniform laws; brought stability and prosperity. Decline caused by invasions by the White Huns (nomadic people from central Asia) | 17 | |
| 3154802777 | Jainism | Practiced ahmisa- nonviolence to living things or their souls(belief later impacted Hinduism and Buddhism). Extremists swept ground as they walked to avoid harming insects (souls). Not practical, but attractive- because if all living things possessed a soul, there should not be rigid social classes (belief especially popular among lower classes | 18 | |
| 3154817994 | Mycenaean's | Language combined Greek and Minoan. Their conflict with Troy was presented by Homer in the Iliad. | 19 | |
| 3154823923 | Polis | A Greek word meaning a city, city-states Attracted large populations because it offered safety; became center of trade. Ancient Greece | 20 | |
| 3154826896 | Sparta | A city-state in classical Greece- conquered neighbors and forced them into servitude. Helots-bound to land; (slaves) role-to provide food; outnumbered Spartans ten to one. Known for military talent; from age seven all boys lived in barracks and trained; served in military at age 20. Women exercised regularly- physical fitness was associated with bearing strong children. | 21 | |
| 3154834579 | Athens | World's first democracy (women and slaves, however, could not vote- had a great impact on the development of later governments. A city-state in classical Greece whose government was based on democratic principles. However, only free male adults could participate in government. Debt forced many poor farmers into slavery; gap between rich and poor widened. Pericles encouraged democracy, public works, and the development of science, philosophy, poetry, and the arts. | 22 | |
| 3154844383 | Macedonian Empire | Alexander led an army of approximately 37,000 to invade the Persian Empire. By 331 B.C.E, Alexander controlled Ionia, Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. When Alexander died, the empire was divided among his top three generals. | 23 | |
| 3154850622 | Hellenistic Empire | The period during the reign of Alexander the Great and the subsequent division into three large states is known as the Hellenistic age (after Greece). Greek culture spread to areas from Greece to India and affected them politically, socially, and economically. Capital of empire, Alexandria, with a pivotal location on the Mediterranean, could harbor 1,200 ships; home of world's largest library. The Hellenistic Empire was built on the former Persian Empire | 24 | |
| 3154858099 | Socrates | Socrates developed a method of questioning aimed at exposing ethic and morality through a series of increasingly difficulty questions; his student Plato recorded his thoughts in a series of writings called dialogues. Socrates suggested that honor was more important than wealth and fame and stressed the importance of personal integrity: "The unexamined life is not worth living." Charged with encouraging immorality, Socrates was tried by Athenian citizens in 399 B.C.E. He was sentenced to death and chose to drink hemlock, a poison. | 25 | |
| 3154875005 | Roman Republic | In 509 B.C.E, an aristocratic republic replaced the Roman monarchy; built Roman forum, a political and civic center housing temples and public buildings for government business A republican constitution gave executive (civil and military) duties and power to two consuls elected for one-year terms by an assembly dominated by the aristocracy (patricians); a senate dominated the decision-making process Tension developed as interests of the lower class (plebeians) were not represented. This led to the development of tribunes (consisting of officials elected by plebeians), which had the right to intervene in all political affairs and veto unjust laws. During time of civil or military crisis, a dictator was appointed with absolute power for a six-month term to restore peace and stability- elongating the viability of the republic | 26 | |
| 3154888412 | Latifunda | Land conquered by the Roman Empire, controlled by wealthy elites, and organized into plantations- increased tensions between rich and poor | 27 | |
| 3154896090 | Julius Ceasar | Named himself dictator of the Roman Empire Sought to build a sense of community in Rome after civil war; spent large sums of money on gladiators, huge armies, and large-scale building projects employed Roman citizens; extended Roman citizenship to outreaches of empire (Gaul); and consolidated government Aristocratic conspirators, upset by loss of power and wealth, plotted to execute Caesar in 44 BCE in an attempt to restore the republic. Thirteen years of civil conflict followed | 28 | |
| 3154907859 | Expansion of Roman Empire | During the republic, the empire included Italy, Greece, Syria, Gaul, most of the Iberian Peninsula, and outposts in North Africa and Anatolia; Augustus added most of southwestern Europe and most of North Africa and increased control in Anatolia and southwestern Asia; at its height, the empire included Britain and all of the land surrounding the northern and southern coast of the Mediterranean from Iberia to Mesopotamia As Roman soldiers, diplomats, governors, and merchants settled throughout the empire, Roman culture spread, encouraging the development of local politics and economies; cities such as Paris, Lyons, Cologne, Mainz, London, Toledo, and Segovia sprang up Augustus' rule brought up a period known as the pax romana (Roman Peace), which lasted for two and a half centuries and allowed the empire to experience a golden age. | 29 | |
| 3154919171 | Roman Roads | Roman engineers developed an intricate process for building roads-they prepared a deep bed, edged roads with curbs, provided for drainage, and topped roads with large flat paving stones Main roads were 20 to 26 feet wide-allowing for two-way traffic; narrow roads through mountains were on average 6 to 10 feet wide to enable trade, travel and military passage Linked in all parts of the empire: one highway stretched over 1554 miles connected the Black Sea to the North Sea: another stretched over 2983 miles and ran parallel to the coast of North Africa, with many run-offs to transport supplies, goods, and soldiers father into Africa Linked with the Silk Roads to create an intricate trade network, Roman roads connected western Europe to the Far East | 30 |
