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AP World History - Period 2 Flashcards

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11348684695Ahura MazdaIn Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.0
11348684696Alexander the GreatAlexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.E.), conqueror of the Persian Empire and part of northwest India.1
11348684697AryansIndo-European pastoralists who moved into India about the time of the collapse of the Indus Valley civilization; their role in causing this collapse is still debated by historians.2
11348684698AshokaThe most famous ruler of the Mauryan Empire (r. 268-232 B.C.E.), who converted to Buddhism and tried to rule peacefully and with tolerance.3
11348684699Caesar AugustusThe great-nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar who emerged as sole ruler of the Roman state at the end of an extended period of civil war (r. 31 B.C.E.-14 C.E.).4
11348684700Cyrus (the Great)Founder of the Persian Empire (r. 557-530 B.C.E.); a ruler noted for his conquests, religious tolerance, and political moderation.5
11348684701Darius IGreat king of Persia (r. 522-486 B.C.E.) following the upheavals after Cyrus's death; completed the establishment of the Persian Empire.6
11348684702Greco-Persian WarsTwo major Persian invasions of Greece, in 490 B.C.E. and 480 B.C.E., in which the Persians were defeated on both land and sea.7
11348684703Gupta EmpireAn empire of India (320-550 C.E.).8
11348684704Han dynastyChinese dynasty that restored unity in China softened legalist policies. Begun in 202 B.C. by Liu Bang, the dynasty ruled China for more than 400 years.9
11348684705Hellenistic eraThe period from 323 to 30 B.C.E. in which Greek culture spread widely in Eurasia in the kingdoms ruled by Alexander's political successors.10
11348684706HerodotusGreek historian known as the "father of history" (ca. 484-ca. 425 B.C.E.). His Histories enunciated the Greek view of a fundamental divide between East and West, culminating in the Greco-Persian Wars of 490-480 B.C.E.11
11348684707hopliteA heavily armed Greek infantryman. Over time, the ability to afford a military wares and to fight for the city came to define Greek citizenship.12
11348684708IoniaThe territory of Greek settlements on the coast of Anatolia; the main bone of contention between the Greeks and the Persian Empire.13
11348684709Mandate of HeavenThe ideological underpinning of Chinese emperors, this was the belief that a ruler held authority by command of divine force as long as he ruled morally and benevolently.14
11348684710Battle of MarathonAthenian victory over a Persian invasion in 490 B.C.E.15
11348684711Mauryan EmpireA major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.16
11348684712PatriciansWealthy, privileged Romans who dominated early Roman society.17
11348684713Pax RomanaThe "Roman peace," a term typically used to denote the stability and prosperity of the early Roman Empire, especially in the first and second centuries C.E.18
11348684714Peloponnesian WarGreat war between Athens (and allies) and Sparta (and allies), lasting from 431 to 404 B.C.E. The conflict ended in the defeat of Athens and the closing of Athens's Golden Age.19
11348684715PersepolisThe capital and greatest palace-city of the Persian Empire, destroyed by Alexander the Great.20
11348684716Persian EmpireA major empire that expanded from the Iranian plateau to incorporate the Middle East from Egypt to India; flourished from around 550 to 330 B.C.E.21
11348684717PlebiansPoorer, less privileged Romans who gradually won a role in Roman politics.22
11348684718Punic WarsThree major wars between Rome and Carthage in North Africa, fought between 264 and 146 B.C.E., that culminated in Roman victory and control of the western Mediterranean.23
11348684719Qin DynastyA short-lived (221-206 B.C.E.) but highly influential Chinese dynasty that succeeded in reuniting China at the end of the Warring States period.24
11348684720Qin ShihuangdiLiterally "first emperor" (r. 221-210 B.C.E.) forcibly reunited China and established a strong and repressive state.25
11348684721SolonAthenian statesman and lawmaker (fl. 594-560 B.C.E.) whose reforms led the Athenians toward democracy.26
11348684722WudiHan emperor (r. 141-86 B.C.E.) who began the Chinese civil service system by establishing an academy to train imperial bureaucrats.27
11348684723XiongnuNomadic peoples to the north of the Great Wall of China who were a frequent threat to the stability of the Chinese state.28
11348684724AristotleA Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.); student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.29
11348684725Bhagavad GitaA great Hindu epic text, part of the much larger Mahabharata, which affirms the performance of caste duties as a path to religious liberation.30
11348684726BrahmanThe "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.31
11348684727BrahminsThe priestly caste of India.32
11348684728BuddhismThe cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama33
11348684729ConfucianismThe Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.34
11348684730ConfuciusThe founder of Confucianism (551-479 B.C.E.); an aristocrat of northern China who proved to be the greatest influence on Chinese culture in its history.35
11348684731ConstantineRoman emperor (r. 306-337 C.E.) whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe.36
11348684732DaoismA Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.37
11348684733Filial pietyThe honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.38
11348684734Greek rationalismA secularizing system of scientific and philosophic thought that developed in classical Greece in the period 600 to 300 B.C.E.; it emphasized the power of education and human reason to understand the world in nonreligious terms.39
11348684735HinduismA word derived from outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions.40
11348684736HippocratesA very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 B.C.E.); regarded as the father of medicine.41
11348684737Jesus of NazarethThe prophet/god of Christianity(ca. 4 B.C.E.-ca. 30 C.E.).42
11348684738YahwehA form of the Hebrew name of God used in the Bible. The monotheistic religion developed by the Hebrews, emphasizing a sole personal god with concerns for social justice.43
11348684739KarmaIn Hinduism, the determining factor of the level at which the individual is reincarnated, based on purity of action and fulfillment of duty in the prior existence.44
11348684740LaoziA legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century B.C.E.; regarded as the founder of Daoism.45
11348684741LegalismA Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous punishments.46
11348684742MokshaIn Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with Brahman.47
11348684743NirvanaThe end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion.48
11348684744PlatoA disciple of Socrates whose Dialogues convey the teachings of his master while going beyond them to express Plato's own philosophy; lived from 429 to 348 B.C.E.49
11348684745PythagorasA major Greek philosopher (ca. 560-ca. 480 B.C.E.) who believed that an unchanging mathematical order underlies the apparent chaos of the world.50
11348684746Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)The Indian prince (ca. 566-ca. 486 B.C.E.) who founded Buddhism.51
11348684747SocratesThe first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).52
11348684748UpanishadsIndian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 B.C.E.53
11348684749VedasThe earliest religious texts of India, a collection of ancient poems, hymns, and rituals that were transmitted orally before being written down ca. 600 B.C.E.54
11348684750Warring States PeriodPeriod in China from 403 to 221 B.C.E. that was typified by disorder and political chaos.55
11348684751Yin and YangExpression of the Chinese belief in the unity of opposites.56
11348684752ZoroastrianismPersian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zarathustra.57
11348684753caste as varna and jatiThe system of social organization in India that has evolved over millennia; it is based on an original division of the populace into four inherited classes, with the addition of thousands of social distinctions based on occupation, which became the main cell of social life in India.58
11348684754dharmaIn Indian belief, performance of the duties appropriate to an individual's caste; good performance will lead to rebirth in a higher caste.59
11348684755helotsThe dependent, semi-enslaved class of ancient Sparta whose social discontent prompted the militarization of Spartan society.60
11348684756KshatriyaThe Indian social class of warriors and rulers.61
11348684757latifundiaHuge estates operated by slave labor that flourished in parts of the Roman Empire62
11348684758PericlesA prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age.63
11348684759SudraThe lowest Indian social class of varna; regarded as servants of their social betters; eventually included peasant farmers64
11348684760the "three obediences"In Chinese Confucian thought, the notion that a woman is permanently subordinate to male control: first that of her father, then of her husband, and finally of her son.65
11348684761UntouchablesAn Indian social class that emerged below the Sudras and whose members performed the most unclean and polluting work.66
11348684762VaisyaThe Indian social class that was originally defined as farmers but eventually comprised merchants.67
11348684763Silk RoadTrade route stretching from China into Europe.68
11348690873DiasporaA dispersion of people from their homeland69
11348698866MissionaryAn individual who helps to diffuse a universalizing religion.70
11348705030MonasticismThe practice of living the life of a monk71
11348708459ShamanismThe practice of identifying special individuals (shamans) who will interact with spirits for the benefit of the community. Characteristic of the Korean kingdoms of the early medieval period and of early societies of Central Asia. (p. 292)72
11348712265AnimismBelief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.73
11348715386Ancestor VenerationThe practice of praying to your ancestors. Found especially in China.74
11348720692Shi HuangdiFounder of the short-lived Qin dynasty and creator of the Chinese Empire (r. 221-210 B.C.E.). He is remembered for his ruthless conquests of rival states and standardization. (16375
11348724780Zhou DynastyThe longest lasting Chinese dynasty, during which the use of iron was introduced.76
11348731164Julius Caesar100-44 B.C. Roman general who became the republic's dictator in 45 B.C.77
11348734096OligarchyA small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.78
11348744554DemocracyA political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them79
11348747066SyncretismA blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith80
11348755533Great Wall of ChinaWorld's longest man made structure built to keep invaders from the north out of China, started by the Qin Dynasty, expanded by the Han Dynasty,81
11348762166BureaucracyA large, complex organization composed of appointed officials82
11348762167FortificationA defensive wall or other reinforcement built to strengthen a place against attack83
11348775721Corvee laborUnpaid labor required by a governing authority84
11348777646Chattle SlaveryThe ownership of human beings as property85
11348782310TributeMoney paid for protection86
11348789777Trans-Saharan TradeRoute across the sahara desert. Major trade route that traded for gold and salt, created caravan routes, economic benefit for controlling dessert, camels played a huge role in the trading87
11348792772SanskritThe most important language of ancient India88
11348797631StupaBuddhist shrine that is shaped like a dome or mound89
11348800010JainismA religion founded in India in the sixth century BC, whose members believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore shouldn't be harmed. Mahavira founded this religion.90
11348813973SatrapsGovernors of provinces in the Persian Empire91
11348818049ShamansSpiritually adept men and women who communicated with the unseen world92
11348820017White HunsNomadic invaders from central Asia; invaded India; disrupted Gupta administration93
11348822757Yellow Turban RebellionA massive Chinese peasant uprising inspired by Daoist teachings that began in 184 C.E. with the goal of establishing a new golden age of equality and harmony.94
11348842078List factors that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty.-Emperor Wu replaced stable policies for imperial control -Taxation -Raids from other nomadic people -Sino-Xiognu wars95
11348850268List factors that led to the collapse of the Gupta Empire.-Huns invaded -Weak rulers96
11348853975List factors that led to the collapse of the Roman Empire.-Invasion of barbarian traders -over reliance on slave labor -military overspending97
11348867129List factors that led to the collapse of the Maurya Empire-Weak kings -Ashoka's death left no one to maintain order98

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