AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP World History Unit 2 Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
5282036565Persian EmpireEmpire represented in this map0
5282036566AthensFirst recorded democracy ever established. Direct democracy with juries of up to 2,500 people. Had to be an 18 year old male with Athenian parents to rule.1
5282036567Greco-Persian WarsTwo major Persian invasions of Greece, 490 and 480 B.C.E., in which the Persians were defeated on both land and sea each time.2
5282036568HellenismCivilizations represented on this map3
5282036569Alexander the GreatBetween 334 and 323 B.C.E. he conquered the Persian Empire, reached the Indus Valley, founded many Greek-style cities, and spread Greek culture across the Middle East.4
5282036570AugustusThe first emperor of Rome whose leadership brought about a long period of Pax Romana (Roman Peace).5
5282036571Qin Shihuangdi(r.221-210 BCE) The emperor who unified China and established the first dynasty of a unified empire.6
5282036572Han Dynasty(202 BC - 220 AD) dynasty started by Lui Bang; a great and long-lasting rule, it discarded the harsh policies of the previous dynasty and adopted Confucian principles; Its rulers chose officials who passed the civil service exams rather than birth; it was a time of prosperity7
5282036573Mauryan Dynasty322-185 BCE. The first state to unify most of the Indian subcontinent.8
5282036574AshokaThird ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the earliest surviving Indian writing.9
5282036575legalismChinese philosophy developed by Hanfeizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws10
5282036576ConfucianismChinese ethical and philosophical system. It sought to minimize conflicts by stressing obedience to superiors, reverence for elder family members, and honoring of ancestors11
5282036578VedasAncient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.12
5282036579UpanishadsA collection of over two hundred texts composed between 900 and 200 BC that provide philosophical commentary on the Vedas13
5282036580Siddhartha GautamaFounder of Buddhism14
5282036581ZoroastrianismOne of the first monotheistic religions, particularly one with a wide following. It was central to the political and religious culture of ancient Persia. A religion that developed in early Persia and stressed the fight between the forces of good and the forces of evil and how eventually the forces of good would prevail.15
5282036582JudaismA religion with a belief in one god. It originated with a covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants the Hebrew people. Yahweh was responsible for the world and everything within it. Holy Book is the Torah16
5282036583Greek RationalismA secularizing system of scientific and philosophic thought that developed in the period 600 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E.; it emphasized the power of education and human reason to understand the world in nonreligious terms.17
5282036584Socrates(470-399 BCE) An Athenian philosopher who thought that human beings could lead honest lives and that honor was far more important than wealth, fame, or other superficial attributes. He taught students to question everything until a reasonable conclusion could be arrived at, later became Socratic method. condemed to death for corrupting young minds.18
5282036586AristotleGreek philosopher. A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great, and the author of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural sciences, politics, and poetics, he profoundly influenced Western thought. In his philosophical system, which led him to criticize what he saw as Plato's metaphysical excesses, theory follows empirical observation and logic, based on the syllogism, is the essential method of rational inquiry.19
5282036587Jesus of NazarethFounder of Christianity. His teachings were based on Judaism but eventually became a separate faith and spread throughout the Roman Empire and the world.20
5282036589Yellow 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.21
5282036590castedistinct social class grouping; in China, Varna consisted of four classes that people were born into for life, and in India,22
5282036596CyrusFounder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Between 550 and 530 B.C.E. he conquered Media, Lydia, and Babylon. He allowed the Jews to return to their homeland23
5282036597DariusPersian ruler who brought order to the Persian Empire. He also built roads; established a postal system; and standardized weights, measures, and coinage.24
5282036598Alexander the GreatSuccessor of Philip of Macedon; 1st global empire, but no lasting bureaucracy; spread of Hellenism is greatest achievement25
5282036599PersianOf or relating to Iran or its people or language or culture26
5282036600Satrapsunder Darius's rule these were known as governors who ruled the provinces. They collected taxes, served as judges, and put down rebellions27
5282036601Persian WarsConflicts between Greek city-states and the Persian Empire, ranging from the Ionian Revolt (499-494 B.C.E.) through Darius's punitive expedition that failed at Marathon. Chronicled by Herodotus. (131)28
5282036602Ahura MazdaMain god of Zoroastrianism who represented truth and goodness and was perceived to be in an eternal struggle with the malign spirit angra mainyu.29
5282036603Angra Mainyuevil spirit in zoroastrianism, the explanation for the presence of evil in the world30
5282036606LaoziChinese Daoist philosopher; taught that governments were of secondary importance and recommended retreat from society into nature.31
5282036607Qin ShihuangdiRuler of China who united China for the first time. He built road and canals and began the Great Wall of China. He also imposed a standard system of laws, money, weights, and writing.32
5282036608Han WudiThe most important Han Emperor: expanded the Empire in all directions; created the Civil Service System based upon Confucian learning; established Imperial University; promoted the Silk Roads33
5282036610DaoismChinese School of Thought: Daoists believe that the world is always changing and is devoid of absolute morality or meaning. They accept the world as they find it, avoid futile struggles, and deviate as little as possible from the Dao, or 'path' of nature.34
5282036611LegalismIn China, a political philosophy that emphasized the unruliness of human nature and justified state coercion and control. The Qin ruling class invoked it to validate the authoritarian nature of their regime. (p.52)35
5282036612Qin DynastyThe dynasty that replaced the Zhou dynasty and employed Legalist ideas in order to control warring states and unify the country.36
5282036613Han dynastyA great and long-lasting rule, it discarded the harsh policies of the Qin dynasty and adopted Confucian principles. Han rulers chose officials on merit rather than birth. It was a time of prosperity37
5282036614Yellow Turban UprisingLarge revolt throughout China during the Han dynasty led by desperate peasants wearing yellow turbans. This uprising tested the resilience of the Han state during the late second century CE. It weakened the Han state during the second and third centuries CE. Leads to fall of Han Dynasty38
5282036615Chandragupta MauryaHe founded India's first empire (Mauryan). He was an Indian prince who conquered a large area in the Ganges River valley soon after Alexander invaded western India.39
5282036616AshokaThe grandson of Chandragupta Maurya; extended conquests of the dynasty; converted to Buddhism and sponsored its spread throughout his empire.40
5282036617Chandra GuptaLaid the foundations for the Gupta empire, he forged alliances with powerful families in the Ganges Region and established a dynamic kingdom about the year 320 C.E. Golden Age41
5282036618Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha42
5282036619Mauryan EmpireThe first state to unify most of the Indian subcontinent. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 B.C.E. and survived until 184 B.C.E. From its capital at Pataliputra in the Ganges Valley it grew wealthy from taxes. (184)43
5282036620Gupta EmpirePowerful Indian state based, like its Mauryan predecessor, in the Ganges Valley. It controlled most of the Indian subcontinent through a combination of military force and its prestige as a center of sophisticated culture. Golden Age44
5282036621HunsNomadic invaders from central Asia; invaded India; disrupted Gupta administration (Overthrew Gupta)45
5282036622Buddhisma world religion or philosophy based on the teaching of the Buddha and holding that a state of enlightenment can be attained by suppressing worldly desire46
5282036623Homerancient Greek epic poet who is believed to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey (circa 850 BC)47
5282036624SocratesGreek philosopher; socratic method--questioning; sentenced to death for corrupting Athens youth48
5282036625PlatoPhilosopher (429 BC-347 BC) who studied under Socrates and questioned reality. He believed that ideal forms existed on a separate plane than our conception of reality. In his work the Republic, he described an ideal society, in which philosopher-kings would rule and everyone would be given jobs based on their talents. He also creates the Academy, an ancient school of philosophy.49
5282036626AristotleGreek philosopher. A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great, and the author of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural sciences, politics, and poetics, he profoundly influenced Western thought. In his philosophical system.50
5282036630polisGreek word for city-state51
5282036631SpartaGreek city-state that was ruled by an oligarchy, focused on military, used slaves for agriculture, discouraged the arts52
5282036632Persian WarKing Darius of Persia wanted to conquer all of the Greek city-states but Athens and Sparta resisted. Greek city-states vs. Persia - Greek city-states won. Athens emerged as most powerful city state in Greece.53
5282036633Delian LeagueAn alliance headed by Athens that says that all Greek city-states will come together and help fight the Persians54
5282036634Peloponnesian Wara war in which Athens and its allies were defeated by the league centered on Sparta55
5282036635Hellenistic AgeGreek culture spread across western Asia and northeastern Africa after the conquests of Alexander the Great. The period ended with the fall of the last major Hellenistic kingdom to Rome, but Greek cultural influence persisted until the spread of Islam.56
5282036637Ptolemaic EmpireThe Hellenistic empire in Egypt area after Alexander's death; created by Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals.57
5282036638Seleucid EmpireThe empire in Syria, Persia, and Bactria after the breakup of Alexander's empire.58
5282036639Julius CaesarMade dictator for life in 45 BCE, after conquering Gaul, assassinated in 44 BCE by the Senate because they were afraid of his power59
5282036640Augustus CaesarThe first empreror of Rome, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, help Rome come into Pax Romana, or the Age of Roman Peace60
5282036641Punic Warone of the three wars between Carthage and Rome that resulted in the destruction of Carthage and its annexation by Rome61
5282036642Twelve tablesthe earliest written collection of Roman laws, drawn up by patricians about 450B.C., that became the foundation of Roman law62
5282036643PatriciansA member of one of the noble families of the ancient Roman Republic, which before the third century B.C. had exclusive rights to the Senate and the magistracies.63
5282036644PlebeiansMembers of the lower class of Ancient Rome including farmers, merchants, artisans and traders64
5282036645ConstantineEmperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)65
5282036646Silk roadsTrade routes stretching from China to the Mediterranean, which allowed for the exchange of goods and ideas from China to the Roman Empire66
5286281856QanatsUnderground irrigation systems developed by Persians67
5286284887AquaductsAbove ground structures that piped in fresh drinking water to public fountains in Roman Empire68
5286290100concreteRoman innovation that aided construction of large-scale projects.69
5286292441Paul of TarsusOne of the most important apostles who is largely responsible for the spread of Christianity around the Mediterranean World in the 1st century.70
5286314206Stepwellsan innovation of the gupta empire that allowed for the storage of fresh drinking water in a fashion that minimized evaporation.71
5286397889Jatia Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members (such as barber or potter)72
5286419141filial pietyThe Confucian belief that one should obey older family members and pay respect to ancesters.73
5286423491ShudraThe serving class, the lowest caste in Hinduism before the creation of the untouchables74
5286428376Four Noble TruthsThe Buddhist beliefs that all life is a cycle of suffering, the cause of suffering is desires for worldly pleasures, and that the cycle of suffering will not be broken until a person escapes re-birth through a process of Enlightenment.75
5286432977BrahmaIn Hinduism, a universal spirit believed to be the origin of everything.76
5286454964SalonA reformer who preserved Athenian democracy by initiating a series of compromises between aristocrats and commoners.77
5286466429stupaBuddhist shrines, usually believed to hold holy relics.78
5286468202synchretismwhen elements of two or more cultures blend together79
5286472055boddisattvaIn Buddhism, a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so to remain on earth as a spiritual guide to others.80
5286478312gangesA holy river in Hinduism81
5286479316PersepolisThe city created by Darius the Great as the grand capital of the Achaemenid Empire.82
5286487494PataliputraLarge city along the Ganges River which was the capital of the Mauyaran Empire83
5286494254PaarsargadA capital city created by Cyrus the Great84
5286496297ConstantinopleLarge Roman trading city located on the straits between the Black and Mediterranean Seas.85
5286505827PeterEstablished an early Christian Church in Rome. Viewed by Christians as the first Pope.86
5288873388asceticsomeone who forgoes traditional desires such as food, sex, and shelter-usually for religious reasons.87
5288892775cynicisma Hellenistic philosophical movement that rejected material wealth and traditional authority.88

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!