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AP World History - Period 2 Flashcards

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10112856949Alexander the GreatAlexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.E.), conqueror of the Persian Empire and part of northwest India.0
10112856950AryansIndo-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.1
10112856951AshokaThe 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.2
10112856952Caesar 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.).3
10112856953Cyrus (the Great)Founder of the Persian Empire (r. 557-530 B.C.E.); a ruler noted for his conquests, religious tolerance, and political moderation.4
10112856954Darius IGreat king of Persia (r. 522-486 B.C.E.) following the upheavals after Cyrus's death; completed the establishment of the Persian Empire.5
10112856955Greco-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.6
10112856956Gupta EmpireAn empire of India (320-550 C.E.).7
10112856957Han 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.8
10112856958Hellenistic 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.9
10112856959HerodotusGreek 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.10
10112856962Mandate 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.11
10112856963Battle of MarathonAthenian victory over a Persian invasion in 490 B.C.E.12
10112856964Mauryan EmpireA major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.13
10112856965PatriciansWealthy, privileged Romans who dominated early Roman society.14
10112856966Pax 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
10112856967Peloponnesian 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
10112856968PersepolisThe capital and greatest palace-city of the Persian Empire, destroyed by Alexander the Great.17
10112856969Persian 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
10112856971Punic 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.19
10112856972Qin 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.20
10112856973Qin ShihuangdiLiterally "first emperor" (r. 221-210 B.C.E.) forcibly reunited China and established a strong and repressive state.21
10112856975WudiHan emperor (r. 141-86 B.C.E.) who began the Chinese civil service system by establishing an academy to train imperial bureaucrats.22
10112856976XiongnuNomadic peoples to the north of the Great Wall of China who were a frequent threat to the stability of the Chinese state.23
10112856977AristotleA Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.); student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.24
10112856979BrahmanThe "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.25
10112856980BrahminsThe priestly caste of India.26
10112856981BuddhismThe cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama27
10112856982ConfucianismThe Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.28
10112856983ConfuciusThe 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.29
10112856984ConstantineRoman emperor (r. 306-337 C.E.) whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe.30
10112856985DaoismA Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.31
10112856986Filial pietyThe honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.32
10112856988HinduismA word derived from outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions.33
10112856989HippocratesA very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 B.C.E.); regarded as the father of medicine.34
10112856992KarmaIn 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.35
10112856994LegalismA Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous punishments.36
10112856995MokshaIn Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with Brahman.37
10112856996NirvanaThe end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion.38
10112856999Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)The Indian prince (ca. 566-ca. 486 B.C.E.) who founded Buddhism.39
10112857000SocratesThe first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).40
10112857002VedasThe 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.41
10112857003Warring States PeriodPeriod in China from 403 to 221 B.C.E. that was typified by disorder and political chaos.42
10112857004Yin and YangExpression of the Chinese belief in the unity of opposites.43
10112857006caste 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.44
10112857007dharmaIn Indian belief, performance of the duties appropriate to an individual's caste; good performance will lead to rebirth in a higher caste.45
10112857009KshatriyaThe Indian social class of warriors and rulers.46
10112857010latifundiaHuge estates operated by slave labor that flourished in parts of the Roman Empire47
10112857011PericlesA prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age.48
10112857012SudraThe lowest Indian social class of varna; regarded as servants of their social betters; eventually included peasant farmers49
10112857013the "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.50
10112857014UntouchablesAn Indian social class that emerged below the Sudras and whose members performed the most unclean and polluting work.51
10112857015VaisyaThe Indian social class that was originally defined as farmers but eventually comprised merchants.52
10112857016Silk RoadTrade route stretching from China into Europe.53

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