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AP World History: Ancient World Flashcards

First set of words in the AP World History book by the Princeton Review.

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3609933169AgricultureThe deliberate effort to modify a portion of Earth's surface through the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock for sustenance or economic gain.0
3609933170Agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society1
3609933171Bands/ Clansextended family groups that generally lived together2
3609933172Barbarianwithout civilizing influences3
3609933173Bureaucracysystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)4
3609933174Civilizationa society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)5
3609933175City-Statesdifferent sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)6
3609933176Classicalof or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times7
3609933177Domesticationprocess of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans8
3609933178Economysystem by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs9
3609933179Egalitariana person who believes in the equality of all people10
3609933180Emperorsupreme ruler of an empire11
3609933181Empiremany territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)12
3609933182Feudalisma political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"13
3609933183Foragingthe process of scavenging for food14
3609933184Hierarchya series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system15
3609933185HierarchicalOf, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy16
3609933186Hunter-GathererA hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild, foraging and hunting without significant recourse to the domestication of either plants nor animals17
3609933187Irrigationsupplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.18
3609933188Monarchya government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power19
3609933189Monotheismbelief in a single God20
3609933190NeolithicThe New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)21
3609933191Nomadic(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently22
3609933192Pastoralrelating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)23
3609933193PaleolithicThe Old Stone Age from circa 750,00 to 500,000 years BCE to 8,500 years BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans and the development of minor tools24
3609933194Philosophythe rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics25
3609933195Polytheismbelief in multiple Gods26
3609933196River Valleythe fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them27
3609933197Sedentaryremaining in one place28
3609933198Settlementthe act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position29
3609933199Subsistencethe necessities of life, the resources of survival30
3609933200Surplusa quantity much larger than is needed31
3609933201Sustenancethe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence32
3609933202Theocracygovernment run by religious leaders33
3609933203Traditionalconsisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices34
3609933204Urbanizationthe social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban35
3609933205Vassalslesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity36
3609933206Alexander the Greatking of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)37
3609933207Analects of Confucius"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings38
3609933208Bronze Agea period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons39
3609933209Byzantiumthe civilization that developed from the eastern Roman Empire following the death of the emperor Justinian (C.E. 565) until the fall of Constantinople (C.E.1453)40
3609933210Calendara system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year41
3609933211Code of Hammurabithe set of laws drawn up by Babylonian king Hammurabi dating to the 18th century BC, the earliest legal code known in its entirety42
3609933212CuneiformOne of the first written languages known: A system of writing in which wedge-shaped symbols represented words or syllables. It originated in Mesopotamia and was used initially for Sumerian and Akkadian but later was adapted to represent other languages of western Asia.43
3609933213Democracya political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them44
3609933214Eight Fold PathEight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.45
3609933215Four Noble Truthsas taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism46
3609933216Gothic MigrationsThe Migration period, also called the Barbarian Invasions or German: Völkerwanderung (wandering of the peoples), was a period of human migration that occurred roughly between the years 300 to 700 CE in Europe, marking the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages. These movements were catalyzed by profound changes within both the Roman Empire and the so-called 'barbarian frontier'. Migrating peoples during this period included the Goths, Vandals, Bulgars, Alans, Suebi, Frisians, and Franks, among other Germanic and Slavic tribes.47
3609933217Great Walla fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC48
3609933218Han Dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy49
3609933219HellenismThe ideals and principles that spread from Greece through much of the ancient world. Much of its influence such as philosophy, athletics, and architecture penetrated the Middle East.50
3609933220The HunsFierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms51
3609933221Indian Ocean Tradeconnected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.52
3609933222Iron Agethe period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons53
3609933223Jewish DiasporaA "scattering" of the Jewish people54
3609933224LegalismIn Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period- A philosophy of focusing on the text of written law to the exclusion of the intent of law, elevating strict adherence to law over justice, mercy and common sense55
3609933225Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.56
3609933226PyramidsHuge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top57
3609933227Roman RepublicThe period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.58
3609933228Roman Senatea council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders59
3609933229Shang CivilizationChina's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE60
3609933230Shi Huang Diharsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)61
3609933231Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha62
3609933232Silk Road TradeThe most famous of the trading routes established by pastoral nomads connecting the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Mediterranean civilizations; transmitted goods and ideas among civilization.63
3609933233The Torahthe most sacred text of Judaism64
3609933234The Vedas of HinduismAryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.65
3609933235Zigguratsa temple or tomb of the ancient Assyrians, Sumerians, or Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories66

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