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AP World History Flashcards Flashcards

AP World History Flashcards.

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10891842112cultural diffusionThe exposure of cultures during interaction with other cultures0
10891842113Neolithic RevolutionThe agricultural revolution where humans began to settle down from their previously nomadic lifestyle1
10891842114city-statesA group of loosely collected cities each with their own governmental system2
10891842115polytheisticA religion wherein more than one god is worshipped3
10891842116zigguratA pyramid-like temple; built by Sumerians4
10891842117SumeriansA civilization that originated in southern Mesopotamia. They developed cuneiform writing and the 12 month calendar5
10891842118MesopotamiaThe land between the rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates; home of many of the earliest civilizations like Sumer, Babylon, and Persia6
10891842119AkkadA city north of Sumer that rose to prominence as Sumer declined. Notable for developing the first known code of law.7
10891842120Bronze AgeThe latter half of the neolithic era is often called this due to the development of this metal. Considered an extremely important development in history.8
10891842121BabylonAnother civilization in Mesopotamia; replaced Akkad, famous for King Hammurabi and the code named after him.9
10891842122Code of HammurabiA system of law developed by King Hammurabi of Babylon; famous for distinguishing between major and minor offenses10
10891842123HittitesFamously displaced Babylon; used iron in their weapons giving them a potent militaristic advantage over other cultures who relied mainly on bronze11
10891842124AssyriansDefeated the Hittites, after learning to use iron against the Hittites themselves. Establish a capital at Ninevah. Established a well organized but resented empire.12
10891842125NinevahThe capital of Assyria13
10891842126NebuchadnezzarA Chaldean King who rebuilt Babylon after defeating the Assyrians. Famous for a story of a forgotten dream.14
10891842127Persian EmpireOne of the largest ancient empires, that is distantly related to the modern state of Turkey. Built the Great Royal Road.15
10891842128Great Royal RoadA long trade road established by the Persians16
10891842129LydiansA smaller society near the Persian Empire; famous for developing coined money17
10891842130PhoeniciansAnother civilization by the Persian Empire, famous for a powerful set of naval city-states on the Mediterranean, and for developing the alphabet that we use today18
10891842131HebrewsAnother civilization that existed near the Persian Empire, significant for their religious belief of Judaism, one of the first monotheistic religions that continues today. At 1000 BCE they established Israel on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean19
10891842132EgyptianThis civilization developed along the Nile, and is famous for their iconic pyramids, religious system, and pharaohs. Had 3 kingdoms(ages); Old, Middle, and new. Reached its pinnacle during the New Kingdom, declined past there20
10891842133King MenesEgyptian pharaoh before the Old Kingdom, established his capital at the city of Memphis21
10891842134pharaohEgyptian rulers22
10891842135hieroglyphicsA writing system that was based off of pictures representing letters and words. Used extensively by Egyptians.23
10891842136Queen HatshepsutThe first female ruler in known history; she ruled for 22 years in what is considered a successful reign; expanding trade expeditions and so on.24
10891842137Indus Valley CivilizationAnother civilization lasting from 2500-1500 BCE that was built along the banks of the Indus River system. Rather limited in contact with other cultures due to the huge mountain systems by it25
10891842138Khyber PassA pass through the Hindu Kush Mountains that allowed the Indus Valley Civilization to engage in some contact with the rest of the world. Exploited later by invaders.26
10891842139Harappa & Mohenjo-DaroThe two major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization27
10891842140AryansA series of nomadic tribes that originated from north of the Caucaus Mountains that invaded the Indian subcontinent. Their beliefs were eventually modified to form the basis of Hinduism. Their name was exploited by the Nazi's and Hitler millennia later when he wished to describe his "pure" race.28
10891842141caste systemA system of classes that were used in Indian Civilization; famously opposed by Gandhi. Unique in that movement between castes was strictly forbidden; as was intermarriage.29
10891842142BrahmansThe priests of Hinduism, they were considered the topmost on the caste laddder30
10891842143Shang ChinaAn early Chinese civilization that began in the Hwang Ho(Yellow) River Valley, creating a trade based society. Had very limited contact with external civilizations; famously ethnocentric. Developed the spoked wheel, and produced pottery and silk31
10891842144patriarchalA system of family organization that was led by the eldest male. Used extensively in most to all major early civilizations32
10891842145Zhou DynastyOusters of the Shang dynastly; led by Wu Wang33
10891842146Mandate of HeavenThe Zhou Dynasties justification of rule by claiming that heaven would grant the Zhou power as long as they were just. Important for being the first invokement of divine right to rule,34
10891842147bureaucraciesA form of organizing governments into branches or bureaus, in order to specialize and stabilize35
10891842148BantuA family of languages in West Africa36
10891842149Bantu MigrationA series of migrations where Bantu speaking people from west africa moved east and south starting at about 1500 BCE37
10891842150Jenne-JenoA city in subsaharan Africa, believed to be the first such city. Established in 250 BCE.38
10891842151OlmecAn early civilization in what is now Mexico that lasted from 1400 to 1200 BCE, urban, supported by agricultural surpluses of corn, squash, and beans. Polytheistic, mastered irrigation, developed a system of writing and a calendar. Did *not* develop in a river valley.39
10891842152ChavinAnother early civilization that lasted from 900 to 300 BCE. Lived in the Andes, agricultural, learned metalworking, used llama's as beasts of burden. Did *not* develop in a river valley.40
10891842153MayaAn ancient civilization contemporary with Rome, Han, and Gupta(despite being grouped with the later Aztec and Inca civilizations). Developed a highly accurate calendar, built pyramids, and wrote via hieroglyphics41
10891842154TikalThe most important mayan city, may have been populated by over 100,000 people42
10891842155Chichen ItzaA tiered Mayan temple which is similar in design to the Egyptian pyramids and the Mesopotamian ziggurats43
10891842156Mauryan EmpireAn Indian Empire founded by Chandragupta Maurya, who unified the smaller Aryan kingdoms into a civilization.44
10891842157Ashoka MauryaThe grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, he took the Mauryan Empire to its height. Famously converted to Buddhism after the deadly Kalinga Wars45
10891842158Rock and Pillar EdictsA series of edicts on...rocks and pillars that reminded Mauryans to live righteous lives according to Buddhist principles, A series of edicts on...rocks and pillars that reminded Mauryans to live righteous lives according to Buddhist principles46
10891842159Chandra GuptaDistinct from the Mauryan founder, he revived the Mauryan Empire into the Gupta Empire47
10891842160Gupta EmpireAn empire similar to the Mauryan empire, but more decentralized and considered a golden age due to the relative prosperity and peace. It was during this time that Gupta mathematicians developed the concepts of pi, zero, and the number system we use today. Collapsed under pressure from the White Huns in 550 CE48
10891842161Qin DynastyA very short-lived Chinese dynasty famous for its tight organization, its completion of the Great Wall of China, its heavy-handedness in dealing with dissent, and its unceremonious end one year after the death of its first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. Dominant belief system was Legalism49
10891842162Qin ShihuangdiFounder of the Qin Dynasty of China.50
10891842163Han DynastyA highly successful Chinese dynasty that dislodged the Qin Dynasty. Repelled invasions by the Huns and established the Chinese civil service examinations. Trade flourished during this time period.51
10891842164Wu TiOften called the Warrior Empire, he successfully enlarged the Han Empire to central Asia and repelled the Hun invaders52
10891842165polisA Greek city-state53
10891842166AthensThe political, commercial, and cultural center of the Greek Civilization, a powerful city-state in its own right.54
10891842167SpartaA highly militaristic and agricultural polis in Greece, a powerful city-state in its own right55
10891842168Draco & SolonTwo aristocrats who worked to create the democracy in Athens and ensure fair, equal, and open participation(by the standards of that time)56
10891842169The Persian WarsA series of wars where the Greek city-states united against Persia, and managed to maintain control of the Aegean Sea and push the Persian Empire back57
10891842170Golden Age of PericlesThe period after the Persian Wars where Greece entered a period of peace and relative prosperity.58
10891842171PericlesThe leader of Athens after the Persian War. He rebuilt Athens, and established the Delian League. He died during the Peloponnesian war due to the plague59
10891842172The Delian LeagueAn alliance between several Greek city-states for mutual defense against aggression from their common enemies60
10891842173Socrates, Plato, and AristotleFamous Greek philosophers, who believed that truth could be determined through rational thought and observation. Considered the fathers of rational thinking61
10891842174HomerThe writer of the epics "The Illiad" and "The Odyssey", considered the first two Western masterpieces of literature.62
10891842175Peloponessian WarA war between Athens and Sparta. Although Sparta won, both states were so weakened that the Macedonians were able to take control of the entire region under the rule of Philip of Macedon63
10891842176Alexander the GreatPhilip of Macedon's son, taught by Aristotle. He widened Macedonian dominance by conquering the Persian Empire, Egypt, and moved to the shores of the Indus River, creating the largest empire of the time.64
10891842177Antigonid, Ptolemaic, SeleucidThe three divisions that Alexander made to his empire, the first represented Greece and Macedon, the second Egypt, and the last Bactria and Anatolia65
10891842178HellenismThe cultures, ideals, and pattern of life of Classical Greece66
10891842179patriciansLand owning noblemen in Rome; aristocrats67
10891842180plebiansFreemen in Rome68
10891842181The Twelve Tables of RomeThe laws of Rome, codified. Famously includes the concept of "innocent until proven guilty"69
10891842182Punic WarsA series of wars between Rome and Carthage, a city-state in North Africa. Although it ended in Roman victory, it was a close fought war indeed, and Hannibal had the ability to sack Rome at one point.70
10891842183HannibalA Carthaginian General, considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all time71
10891842184First triumvirateThe first Roman triumvirate was Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar. Caesar took control after ousting the other two.72
10891842185CaesarThe member of the first triumvirate who took control of Rome, declaring himself "emperor for life". Famously assassinated by a group of Roman Senators, especially Brutus and Cassius73
10891842186Second triumvirateAfter Caesar's death, another triumvirate composed of Octavius, Marc Antony, and Lepidus. About as successful as the first, Octavius seized control74
10891842187OctaviusMember of the second triumvirate, who rose to power and renamed himself Marcus Aurelius, or Augustus Caesar75
10891842188ConstantineA famous emperor of Rome, who issued the Edict of Milan76
10891842189The Edict of MilanThis edict ended the persecution of Christianity in Rome. He built the city of Constantinople on the Greek city of Byzantium in his own honor77
10891842190DiocletianA Roman emperor during the decline of Rome, who divided the Empire into two regions run by co-emperors78
10891842191ConstantinopleA city built by Constantine, now called Istanbul79
10891842192VisigothsA group of Germanic people who began to press the Roman Empire due to the strain of the Huns. Sacked Rome in 410 CE80
10891842193Silk RoadOne of the major trading routes via land from Rome to China.81
10891842194ConfucianismA major religion developed for the Chinese by Confucius, it stresses Ren, kindness and humanity; Li, propriety and respect; and Xiao, filial piety(respect for family obligation)82
10891842195Daoism(Taoism)Practiced by some Chinese, it considered itself the way of nature, and that ambition brought only chaos to the world. It advocated passivity and simple lifestyles. It also produced several astronomers, chemists, and botanists due to its emphasis on harmony with nature.83
10891842196LegalismAnother Chinese religion, specifically during the shortlived Qin dynasty. Legalism believed that human nature was inherently evil and that tough laws and harsh punishment, strong central government, and unquestioned authority. The Qin's adoption of this led the the resentment that would topple their empire in a decade.84
10891842197HinduismA religion widely practiced in the Indian subcontinent; originated with the Aryan beliefs. Famous for the caste system on the social end.85
10891842198BuddhismFounded by a young Hindu prince called (Sid)dhartha Gautama, who rejected his wealth and became Buddha, the enlightened one. Buddhists follow the Four Noble Truths: All life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, Freedom from desire is possible, and that through the Eightfold Path. After Buddha's death, it split into Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Rejected the caste system and other social differences86
10891842199JudaismOne of the first monotheistic religions, it believes that god chose a select group of people to reveal himself to. Uses the Torah(Jewish Holy Book) and the Laws of Moses as a guideline.87
10891842200ChristianityA splinter religion from Judaism, Christianity came when Jesus, a charismatic Jewish teacher, claimed to be the Son of God. While many believed him, the Roman and Jewish leaders were less interested, and crucified him. His followers believe he rose from the dead, and Christianity exists today. Rome finally recognized the religion and stopped persecuting Christians with the Edict of Milan88
10891842201IslamA new monotheistic religion which is famous for the Five Pillars of Islam, followers are known as Muslims89
10891842202Qu'ranThe holy book for Muslims90
10891842203jihad"To struggle", both the struggle to be a better Muslim and the struggle against nonbeliever91
10891842204MedinaOne of the most important Islamic cities, where Mohammad fled after being persecuted.92
10891842205hjiraThe date of Mohammad's flight to Medina.93
10891842206TenochtitlanWhat is now Mexico City, an Aztec city.94
10891842207Temple of the SunAn ancient ruin in Cuzco, built by the Inca95
10891842208Machu PiccuA ancient ruin in Peru, built by the Inca96
10891842209Bubonic PlagueThe plague was started in Asia in the 14th century, and was carried by trade routes to Europe, where it devastated the population97
10891842210First CrusadeA military campaign initiated by Pope Urban in response to the success of the Seljuk Turks, hoping to capture Jerusalem.98
10891842211Medici FamilyA ruling family in Florence that sponsored a great deal of art from famous painters and sculptists99
10891842212Michelangelo/BrunelleschiA famous Renaissance artist100
10891842213Leonardo da VinciA famous Renaissance sculptor and painter. A realist, he often studied dead bodies and anatomy.101
10891842214Johannes GutenbergThe inventor of the printing press, which allowed for the mass-printing of books.102
10891842215Martin LutherA german monk who famously began the Protestant split in the church by nailing a list of 95 grievances to a church door. He advocated a more personal relationship with God, without the church as a middleman.103
10891842216Catholic ReformationA reform in the church to regain membership104
10891842217Divine RightA similar concept to the Mandate of Heaven, European rulers used this, claiming they were ordained by God to lead, and that not following them was ungodly. Notably different from the Mandate of Heaven in that it had no clause for poor rulers.105

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