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AP World History - Period 2 Terms Flashcards

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12182178394Ahura MazdaIn Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.0
12182178395Alexander the GreatKing of Macedon (356-323 B.C.E.), conqueror of the Persian Empire and part of northwest India.1
12182178396AryansIndo-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
12182178397AshokaThe 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
12182178398Caesar 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
12182178399Cyrus (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
12182178400Darius 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
12182178401Hellenistic 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.7
12182178402HerodotusGreek 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.8
12182178403Mandate 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.9
12182178404PatriciansWealthy, privileged Romans who dominated early Roman society.10
12182178405Pax 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.11
12182178406Peloponnesian 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.12
12182178407PersepolisThe capital and greatest palace-city of the Persian Empire, destroyed by Alexander the Great.13
12182178408PlebiansPoorer, less privileged Romans who gradually won a role in Roman politics.14
12182178409Punic 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.15
12182178410Qin 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.16
12182178411Qin 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.17
12182178412WudiHan emperor (r. 141-86 B.C.E.) who began the Chinese civil service system by establishing an academy to train imperial bureaucrats.18
12182178413XiongnuNomadic peoples to the north of the Great Wall of China who were a frequent threat to the stability of the Chinese state.19
12182178414AristotleA Greek philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.); student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.20
12182178415Bhagavad GitaA great Hindu epic text, part of the much larger Mahabharata, which affirms the performance of caste duties as a path to religious liberation.21
12182178416BrahminsThe priestly caste of India.22
12182178417BuddhismThe cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama in India.23
12182178418ConfucianismThe Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.24
12182178419ConstantineRoman emperor (r. 306-337 C.E.) whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe.25
12182178420DaoismA Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.26
12182178421Filial pietyThe honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.27
12182178422HippocratesA very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 B.C.E.); regarded as the father of medicine.28
12182178423Jesus of NazarethThe prophet/god of Christianity(ca. 4 B.C.E.-ca. 30 C.E.).29
12182178424YahwehA 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.30
12182178425KarmaIn Hinduism, the determining factor of the level at which the individual is reincarnated, based on purity of action in the prior existence.31
12182178426LaoziA legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century B.C.E.; regarded as the founder of Daoism.32
12182178427LegalismA Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous harsh punishments.33
12182178428MokshaIn Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with Brahman. The ultimate goal of Hindus and freedom from the cycle of rebirth.34
12182178429Siddhartha GautamaThe Indian prince (ca. 566-ca. 486 B.C.E.) who founded Buddhism.35
12182178430SocratesThe first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).36
12182178431UpanishadsIndian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 B.C.E.37
12182178432VedasThe 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.38
12182178433Warring States PeriodPeriod in China from 403 to 221 B.C.E. that was typified by disorder and political chaos.39
12182178434Yin and YangExpression of the Chinese belief in the unity of opposites.40
12182178435ZoroastrianismPersian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zarathustra.41
12182178436Caste 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.42
12182178437DharmaIn Indian belief, performance of the duties appropriate to an individual's caste; good performance will lead to rebirth in a higher caste.43
12182178438KshatriyaThe Indian social class of warriors and rulers.44
12182178439LatifundiaHuge estates operated by slave labor that flourished in parts of the Roman Empire45
12182178440PericlesA prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age of Democracy.46
12182178441SudraThe lowest Indian social class of varna; regarded as servants of their social betters; eventually included peasant farmers47
12182178442the "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.48
12182178443UntouchablesAn Indian social class that emerged below the Sudras and whose members performed the most unclean and polluting work.49
12182178444VaisyaThe Indian social class that was originally defined as farmers but eventually comprised merchants.50
12182178445SyncretismAttempted union or reconciliation of diverse or opposite tenets or practices, especially in philosophy or religion. (ex. Hellenistism)51
12182178446Ancestor 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.52
12182178447Monasticisma religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work; typically in a house of worship (ex. Christianity and Buddhism)53
12182178448Jewish 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 globe54
12182178449NirvanaThe goal of the Buddhist path. It is the ultimate spiritual goal in Buddhism and marks the release from rebirths.55
12182178450Mahayana 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.56
12182178451Theravada 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.57
121821784525 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.58
12182178453AnimismThe 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.59
12182178454PhoeniciansOne 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.60
12182178455Patriarchya system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it61
12182178456Monsoonsa seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (wet), or from the northeast between October and April (dry)62
12182178457Qanat Systeman ancient system of underground tunnels that supply mountain water to dry lower places in the Middle East. First used in the Persian Empire.63
12182178458Bodhisattva(in Mahayana Buddhism) a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings64
12182178459Roman 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.65
12182178460SatrapsPersian administrators, usually members of the royal family, who governed a satrapy.66

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