AP World History: Ancient World

The 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.

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform, agrarian society

extended family groups that generally lived together

without civilizing influences

system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials (not elected)

a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)

different sections of land owned by the same country but ruled by different rulers (e.g. Greece)

of or characteristic of a form or system felt to be of first significance before modern times

process of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans

system by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs

a person who believes in the equality of all people

supreme ruler of an empire

many territories, countries, or peoples controlled by one government (also just any territory ruled by an emperor)

a political system and a social system where by a powerful lord would offer "protection" in return for "service"

the process of scavenging for food

a series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system

Of, relating to, or arranged in a hierarchy

A 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 animals

supplying dry land with water by means of ditches, sprinklers, etc.

a government in which power is in the hands of a single person who usually inherits their power

belief in a single God

The New Stone Age from circa 8500 to 4500 BCE: The period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s)

(of groups of people) tending to travel and change settlements frequently

relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle (e.g. pastoral peoples)

The 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 tools

the rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics

belief in multiple Gods

the fertile land surrounding a river- the first civilizations arose near them

remaining in one place

the act of colonizing or a small group of people in a sedentary position

the necessities of life, the resources of survival

a quantity much larger than is needed

the act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence

government run by religious leaders

consisting of or derived from tradition; customary practices

the social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban

lesser lords who pledged their service and loyalty to a greater lord -- in a military capacity

king of Macedon, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, and Persia; founder of Alexandria (356-323 BC)

"something that is repeated" - a collection of Confucius' famous sayings

a period between the Stone and Iron ages, characterized by the manufacture and use of bronze tools and weapons

the 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)

a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year

the set of laws drawn up by Babylonian king Hammurabi dating to the 18th century BC, the earliest legal code known in its entirety

One 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.

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Eight steps to end suffering and attain enlightenment according to Buddhist tradition.

as taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism

The 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.

a fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC

imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy

The 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.

Fierce warriors from Central Asia- First invaded southeastern Europe and then launched raids on nearby kingdoms

connected to Europe, Africa, and China.; worlds richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion.

the period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons

A "scattering" of the Jewish people

In 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 sense

A period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.

Huge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that met in a point on top

The period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.

a council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders

China's first dynasty almost 2000 BCE

harsh ruler who united China for the first time and used legalism in ruling (Qin China)

founder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; also know as Buddha

The most famous of the trading routes established by pastoral nomads connecting the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Mediterranean civilizations; transmitted goods and ideas among civilization.

the most sacred text of Judaism

Aryan hymns originally transmitted orally but written down in sacred books from the 6th century B.C.E.

a temple or tomb of the ancient Assyrians, Sumerians, or Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories