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AP World History Period 2 Flashcards

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10922483228AshokaThe 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.0
10922483229Athenian democracyA radical form of direct democracy in which much of the free male population of Athens had the franchise and officeholders were chosen by lot.1
10922483230Caesar 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.).2
10922483231Cyrus (the Great)Founder of the Persian Empire (r. 557-530 B.C.E.); a ruler noted for his conquests, religious tolerance, and political moderation.3
10922483232Darius IGreat king of Persia (r. 522-486 B.C.E.) following the upheavals after Cyrus's death; completed the establishment of the Persian Empire.4
10922483233Greco-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.5
10922483234Gupta EmpireAn empire of India (320-550 C.E.).6
10922483235Han dynastyDynasty that ruled China from 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E., creating a durable state based on Shihuangdi's state-building achievement.7
10922483236Hellenistic 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.8
10922483237HerodotusGreek 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.9
10922483238hopliteA heavily armed Greek infantryman. Over time, the ability to afford a hoplite panoply and to fight for the city came to define Greek citizenship.10
10922483239IoniaThe territory of Greek settlements on the coast of Anatolia; the main bone of contention between the Greeks and the Persian Empire.11
10922483240Mandate 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
10922483241Battle of MarathonAthenian victory over a Persian invasion in 490 B.C.E.13
10922483242Mauryan EmpireA major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.14
10922483243Olympic GamesGreek religious festival and athletic competition in honor of Zeus; founded in 776B.C.E. and celebrated every four years.15
10922483244PatriciansWealthy, privileged Romans who dominated early Roman society.16
10922483245Pax 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.17
10922483246Peloponnesian 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.18
10922483247PersepolisThe capital and greatest palace-city of the Persian Empire, destroyed by Alexander the Great.19
10922483248Persian 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.20
10922483249PlebiansPoorer, less privileged Romans who gradually won a role in Roman politics.21
10922483250Punic 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.22
10922483251Qin 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.23
10922483252Qin ShihuangdiLiterally "first emperor" (r. 221-210 B.C.E.) forcibly reunited China and established a strong and repressive state.24
10922483254WudiHan emperor (r. 141-86 B.C.E.) who began the Chinese civil service system by establishing an academy to train imperial bureaucrats.25
10922483255XiongnuNomadic peoples to the north of the Great Wall of China who were a frequent threat to the stability of the Chinese state.26
10922483256Yellow Turban RebellionA major Chinese peasant revolt that began in 184 C.E. and helped cause the fall of the Han dynasty.27
10922483263BrahmanThe "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.28
10922483264BrahminsThe priestly caste of India.29
10922483265BuddhismThe cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama30
10922483266ConfucianismThe Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.31
10922483267ConfuciusThe 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.32
10922483268ConstantineRoman emperor (r. 306-337 C.E.) whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe.33
10922483269DaodejingThe central text of Daoism; translated as The Way and Its Power.34
10922483270DaoismA Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.35
10922483271Filial pietyThe honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.36
10922483272Greek 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.37
10922483273HinduismA word derived from outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions.38
10922483274HippocratesA very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 B.C.E.); regarded as the father of medicine.39
10922483276Jesus of NazarethThe prophet/god of Christianity(ca. 4 B.C.E.-ca. 30 C.E.).40
10922483279LaoziA legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century B.C.E.; regarded as the founder of Daoism.41
10922483280LegalismA Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous punishments.42
10922483283NirvanaThe end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion.43
10922483284PlatoA 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.44
10922483286Saint PaulThe first great popularizer of Christianity (10-65 C.E.).45
10922483287Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)The Indian prince turned ascetic (ca. 566-ca. 486 B.C.E.) who founded Buddhism.46
10922483288SocratesThe first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).47
10922483292VedasThe 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.48
10922483293Warring States PeriodPeriod in China from 403 to 221 B.C.E. that was typified by disorder and political chaos.49
10922483294Yin and YangExpression of the Chinese belief in the unity of opposites.50
10922483295ZarathustraA Persian prophet, traditionally dated to the sixth or seventh century B.C.E. (but perhaps much older), who founded Zoroastrianism.51
10922483296ZoroastrianismPersian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zarathustra.52
10922483298dharmaIn Indian belief, performance of the duties appropriate to an individual's caste; good performance will lead to rebirth in a higher caste.53
10922483299helotsThe dependent, semi-enslaved class of ancient Sparta whose social discontent prompted the militarization of Spartan society.54
10922483300karmaIn Indian belief, the force generated by one's behavior in a previous life that decides the level at which an individual will be reborn.55
10922483304"ritual purity" in Indian social practiceIn India, the idea that members of higher castes must adhere to strict regulations limiting or forbidding their contact with objects and members of lower castes to preserve their own caste standing and their relationship with the gods.56
10922483305scholar-gentry classA term used to describe members of China's landowning families, reflecting their wealth from the land and the privilege that they derived as government officials.57
10922483311Empress WuThe only female "emperor" in Chinese history (r. 690-705 C.E.); patronized scholarship, worked to elevate the position of women, and provoked a backlash of Confucian misogynist invective.58
10922483322MayaThe major classical civilization of Mesoamerica; flourished from 250 to 900 C.E.59
10922483323MocheAn important regional civilization of Peru, governed by warrior-priests; flourished from around 100 to 800 C.E.60
10922483328Semi-sedentaryTerm frequently used to describe the peoples of the eastern woodlands of the United States, Central America, the Amazon basin, and the Caribbean islands who combined partial reliance on agriculture with gathering and hunting.61
10922483329TeotihuacánThe largest city of pre-Columbian America, with a population between 100,000 and 200,000; seemingly built to a plan in the Valley of Mexico, flourished between 300 and 600 C.E., during which time it governed or influenced much of the surrounding region. The name is an Aztec term meaning "city of the gods."62
10922483330TikalMajor Maya city, with a population of perhaps 50,000 people.63

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