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AP World History - Period 2 Flashcards

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11238691647Ahura MazdaIn Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.0
11238691648Alexander the GreatAlexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.E.), conqueror of the Persian Empire and part of northwest India.1
11238691649AryansIndo-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
11238691650AshokaThe 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
11238691651Caesar 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
11238691652Cyrus (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
11238691653Darius 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
11238691654Greco-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
11238691655Gupta EmpireAn empire of India (320-550 C.E.). Known as the Golden Age of India with many achievements.8
11238691656Han 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. A Golden Age of China.9
11238691657Hellenistic 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
11238691658HerodotusGreek 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
11238691659Mandate 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.12
11238691660Mauryan EmpireA major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India. This is the empire of Ashoka and the spread of Buddhism in India.13
11238691661PatriciansWealthy, privileged Romans who dominated early Roman society.14
11238691662Pax 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.15
11238691663Peloponnesian 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.16
11238691664PersepolisThe capital and greatest palace-city of the Persian Empire, destroyed by Alexander the Great.17
11238691665Persian 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.18
11238691666PlebiansPoorer, less privileged Romans who gradually won a role in Roman politics.19
11238691667Punic 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.20
11238691668Qin 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.21
11238691669Qin ShihuangdiLiterally "first emperor" (r. 221-210 B.C.E.) forcibly reunited China and established a strong and repressive state. Used Legalism, standardized currency and weights and built the Terra cotta army.22
11238691670WudiHan emperor (r. 141-86 B.C.E.) who began the Chinese civil service system by establishing an academy to train imperial bureaucrats.23
11238691671XiongnuNomadic peoples to the north of the Great Wall of China who were a frequent threat to the stability of the Chinese state.24
11238691672AristotleA Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.); student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.25
11238691673Bhagavad GitaA great Hindu epic text, part of the much larger Mahabharata, which affirms the performance of caste duties as a path to religious liberation.26
11238691674BrahmanThe "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.27
11238691675BrahminsThe priestly caste of India.28
11238691676BuddhismThe cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama in India.29
11238691677ConfucianismThe Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.30
11238691678ConfuciusThe 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.31
11238691679ConstantineRoman emperor (r. 306-337 C.E.) whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe.32
11238691680DaoismA Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.33
11238691681Filial pietyThe honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.34
11238691682Greek 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.35
11238691683HinduismA word derived from outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions.36
11238691684HippocratesA very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 B.C.E.); regarded as the father of medicine.37
11238691685Jesus of NazarethThe prophet/god of Christianity(ca. 4 B.C.E.-ca. 30 C.E.).38
11238691686YahwehA 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.39
11238691687KarmaIn Hinduism, the determining factor of the level at which the individual is reincarnated, based on purity of action in the prior existence.40
11238691688LaoziA legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century B.C.E.; regarded as the founder of Daoism.41
11238691689LegalismA Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous harsh punishments.42
11238691690MokshaIn Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with Brahman. The ultimate goal of Hindus and freedom from the cycle of rebirth.43
11238691691Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)The Indian prince (ca. 566-ca. 486 B.C.E.) who founded Buddhism.44
11238691692SocratesThe first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).45
11238691693UpanishadsIndian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 B.C.E.46
11238691694VedasThe 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.47
11238691695Warring States PeriodPeriod in China from 403 to 221 B.C.E. that was typified by disorder and political chaos.48
11238691696Yin and YangExpression of the Chinese belief in the unity of opposites.49
11238691697ZoroastrianismPersian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zarathustra.50
11238691698Caste SystemThe 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.51
11238691699DharmaIn Indian belief, performance of the duties appropriate to an individual's caste; good performance will lead to rebirth in a higher caste.52
11238691700KshatriyaThe Indian social class of warriors and rulers.53
11238691701LatifundiaHuge estates operated by slave labor that flourished in parts of the Roman Empire54
11238691702PericlesA prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age of Democracy.55
11238691703SudraThe lowest Indian social class of varna; regarded as servants of their social betters; eventually included peasant farmers56
11238691704the "three submissions"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.57
11238691705UntouchablesAn Indian social class that emerged below the Sudras and whose members performed the most unclean and polluting work.58
11238691706VaisyaThe Indian social class that was originally defined as farmers but eventually comprised merchants.59
11238691707Silk RoadTrade route stretching from China into Europe.60
11238691708SyncretismAttempted union or reconciliation of diverse or opposite tenets or practices, especially in philosophy or religion. (ex. Hellenistism)61
11238691709Ancestor VenerationThe custom of worshiping deceased ancestors who are considered still a part of the family and whose spirits are believed to have the power to intervene in the affairs of the living. Practiced in Classical China.62
11238691710Codificationthe action or process of arranging laws, rules or religious beliefs according to a system or plan.63
11238691711Jewish Diasporathe dispersion of Israelites, Judahites and later Jews out of their ancestral homeland (the Land of Israel) and their subsequent settlement in other parts of the globe64
11238691712Monasticisma religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work; typically in a house of worship (ex. Christrianity and Buddhism)65
11238691713ReincarnationThe rebirth of the soul in a new body. A belief of both Hinduism and Buddhism.66
11238691714NirvanaThe goal of the Buddhist path. It is the ultimate spiritual goal in Buddhism and marks the release from rebirths.67
11238691715Mahayana Buddihismone of the two major traditions of Buddhism, now practiced in a variety of forms especially in China, Tibet, Japan, and Korea. Became more a religion and Buddha became viewed as a god.68
11238691716Theravada BuddhismOne of the two major traditions of Buddhism. It is more similar to the Buddha's origional philosophy and Buddha is seen as a teacher rather than a god. It is practiced mainly in Southeast Asia in places such as Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.69
112386917175 Key RelationshipsRuler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, elder to younger and friend to friend. Confucius believed that if society follows these then it will lead to social harmony and order.70
11238691719Reasons why Belief Systems SpreadMissionaries, merchants and trade routes71
11238691720AnimismThe ancient religious belief that objects, places and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. All things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems,—considered alive with spiritual presence.72
11238691721PhoeniciansOne of the earliest trading empires in world history that dominated the Mediterranean region; created the world's first known alphabet system that was later adapted by the Greeks.73
11238691722Mayaa Mesoamerican civilization (Mexico) noted for its hieroglyphic script—the only known fully developed writing system of the pre-Columbian Americas—as well as for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system.74
11238691723TeotihuacanLocated in the Basin of Central Mexico, was the largest and most revered city in the history of Mesoamerica, and it flourished in a Golden Age during the Classic Period of the first millennium CE. Dominated by two gigantic pyramids and a huge sacred avenue, the city, its architecture, art, and religion would influence all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures, and it remains today the most visited ancient site in Mexico.75
11238691726Merchants in ChinaPlaced at the bottom of the social pyramid in China because they were viewed as greedy and selfish76
11238691727Patriarchya system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it77
11238691728Reasons for the Collapse of Classical EmpiresExcessive mobilization of resources, overexpansion, erosion of political institutions, social class tensions, spread of disease, security issues along borders, invasions78
11238691729Trade Routes of the Classical EraEurasian Silk Roads, Trans-Saharan caravan routes, Inidan Ocean sea lanes, Mediterranean sea lanes79
11238691734Missionarya person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity or Buddhism in a foreign land80
11238691735city-statea city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state with its own leader; ex. Greece (polis)81
11238691736Bodhisattva(in Mahayana Buddhism) a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings82
11238691738Roman RepublicThe era of ancient Roman civilization beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom, traditionally dated to 509 BC, and ending in 27 BC with the establishment of the Roman Empire. It was during this period that Rome's government was headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and advised by a senate composed of appointed magistrates.83

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