Paleolithic
-period of the Stone Age associated with the evolution of humans -1st
Neolithic
-period of the Stone Age associated with the ancient Agricultural Revolution(s) -2nd
Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution(s)
-the change from food fathering to food production -(8000-2000 BCE)
megalith
-structures and complexes of very large stones -constructed for ceremonial and religious purposes -Neolithic times
city-state
-a small independent state consisting of an urban center and the surrounding agricultural territory -(Characteristic political form in early Mesopotamia, Archaic and Classical Greece, Phoenicia, and early Italy.)
Hammurabi
-Amorite ruler of Babylon (r. 1792-1750 BCE) -conquered many city-states in S and N Mesopotamia -best known for a code of laws, inscribed on a black stone pillar, illustrating the principles to be used in legal cases.
ziggurat
-a massive pyramidal stepped tower made of mudbricks -associated with religious complexes in ancient Mesopotamian cities -function unknown
cuneiform
-system of writing -wedge-shaped symbols represent words or syllables -originated in Mesopotamia -used for Sumerian and Akkadian -later adapted to represent other languages of W Asia -literacy of this confined to small group of admins
papyrus
-reed that grows along banks of Nile -from it produced a coarse paper-like writing medium -for Egyptians and surrounding areas
hieroglyphics
-system of writing where picture symbols represent sounds, syllables, or concepts -used for official and monumental inscriptions in ancient Egypt -confined to small group of admins
loess
-light silt deposited by wind and water -fertile soil of Yellow River Valley -not compact, gives Yellow River color
divination
-techniques for ascertaining the future or the will of gods by interpreting natural phenomena -China use cracks of oracle bones -Greece use flight of birds through sky
Mandate of Heaven
-Chinese religious and political ideology -developed by the Zhou -chief deity grant power to ruler of China -if ruler fail to do what best for people can be replaced
Legalism
-Chinese -political philosophy that emphasize unruliness of human nature -justified state state control -Qin used to validate authoritative nature of regime
Confucius
-Kongzi -doctrine of duty and public service influence Chinese thought and code of conduct for gov officials -hierarchy and duty
Dao
-PATH OF NATURE -Chinese school of thought by Laozi -alternative to Confucian emphasis of hierarchy and duty -world always changing -accept world as they find it
yin/yang
-complementary factors help maintain equilibrium of world -1st with female--dark passive qualities -2nd with male--light active qualities
Akhenaten
-Egyptian pharaoh -earliest instance of monotheism -built new capital of Amarna -impose worship of sun-disk (Aten- supress traditional gods) -letters from under his rain preserve official correspondences
Minoan
-civilization of Aegean island of Crete -people engaged in far-flung commerce in Med -cultural influence on early Greeks
Israelites
-people of Israel -freed from Egyptians by Moses -40 years in desert
monotheism
-belief in existence of single divine entity -Akhenaten and Yahweh
diaspora
-communities of given ethnic groups living outside their homeland -means dispersal -eg. Jews
Carthage
-city founded by Phoenicians about 800 BCE -major commercial center and naval power in Med -defeated by Rome
satrap
-governor of province in Persian Empire -responsible for protection of province and forwarding tribute to central admin -farther out = more freedom
Cyrus
-founder of Persian Empire -conqueror -Iran and subject people traditions -Persians and Medes in admin -respected institutions and beliefs of subject peoples
Zoroastrianism
-Iran religion with prophet Zoroaster -single deity-- Ahuramazda -ideas of heaven and hell, etc. -influence Judaism, Christianity, more
polis
-Greek term for city0state -urban center and agricultural territory under its control -characteristic of Greek political organization -some oligarchic and some democratic
hoplites
-heavily armed Greek infantry -fight in close-packed formation -middle and upper class, own equipment -superior force
tyrant
-someone who seize and hold power in violation of normal procedure and tradition of community -Greek -take advantage of disaffection of middle class -contribute advancement of democracy
Pericles
-aristocratic leader who guide Athens state from transformation to democracy for male citizens -construct Acropolis -expansions led to Peloponnesian War
trireme
-Greek and Phoenician warship -sleek, light -170 oars in 3 vertical tiers -manned by skilled sailors -short bursts of speed and complex maneuvers
Hellenistic Age
-time when Greek culture spread across W Asia and NE Africa -conquests of Alexander the Great
Alexander
-king of Macedonia in N Greece -conquer Persian Empire -found many Greek-style cities -spread Greek culture across Mid East
Roman Republic
-Period when Rome ruled by Roman Senate -A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president
paterfamilias
-male head of houshold
latifundia
-large estates in ancient Rome -purchase farmers who are in army's land and run it by slaves -cash crops -make Italy dependent on foreign grain
princeps
-term used for 'emperor' of Rome -after Republic -really an empire -'first among equals'
Augustus
-name for Octavian -found Roman Principate, military dictatorship -defeat all rivals -time of stability and prosperity
pax romana
-'Roman peace' -refer to stability and prosperity of Roman Empire -spread of culture, technology, and religion
aqueducts
-water carrying elevated or underground -use gravity to carry water from source to location-- usually to city -Romans use
Jesus
-Jew, reform Jewish beliefs and practices -Executed as a revolutionary by Romans -hailed as Messiah and son of God by followers -central figure in Christianity-- developed after death
Constantine
-Roman emperor -reunite Roman Empire, move capital to Constantinople and Christianity favored religion
Shi Huangdi
-founder of Qin dynasty and Chinese Empire -ruthless conquests -standardization of practices -forcible organization of labor for military and engineering tasks -terracotta warriors
gentry
-Chinese class of prosperous families -next in wealth below rural aristocrats -admin personnel -privileged group and made gov more efficient and responsive
atman
-breath -immortal essence separated from body at death -reborn in another body -Vedic belief
karma
-residue of deeds performed in past and present lives that adheres to a spirit and determines form it will assume in next life cycle -India elite use to encourage acceptance of social position and duty
Vedas
-early Indian sacred knowledge -religious texts passed down orally for a long time -main source of info of Vedic period
jati
-smaller social classes within the larger varna castes
Brahmins
-Indian priest class (highest ranking)
moksha
-Hindu concept of spirit's liberation from endless cycle of rebirths -achieved through discipline, meditation, and acts of devotion to gods -spirit merge with divine force and animates of universe
Buddha
-Siddhartha Gautama -Indian prince renounce wealth and social position -become enlightened and spread beliefs through India and Asia
boddhisattva
-person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings
Ashoka
-Third ruler of Mauryan Empire in India -convert to Buddhism and broadcast beliefs on stones and pillars -- earliest surviving Indian writing
theater-state
-state that acquires prestiege and power by developing attractive cultural forms and staging elaborate public ceremonies -attract and bind subjects to the center -eg. Gupta in India
Silk Road
-caravan routes connecting China and the Middle East across Central Asian and Iran
stirrup
-device for securing a horseman's feet -enable to wield weapons better -1st in N Afghanistan
savanna
-tropical or subtropical grassland -treeless or clumps of trees -extensive in sub-Saharan Africa,
Sahel
-belt south of Sahara -"coastland" in arabic
Bantu
-name for group of sub-Saharan African languages and people who speak them
Shi'ites
-Muslims who believe God vests leadership of Islam community in Ali -religion of Iran
Sunni
-Muslims who believe Islam community should select own leadership -most common Islamic belief
Mecca
-city in W Arabia -birthplace of Muhammad -ritual center of Islamic religion
Muhammad
-Arab prophet -founder of Islam
umma
-community of all Muslims -against traditional Arabia -- usually held together by kinship
caliph
-chief Muslim leader of Islamic empire -successor of Muhammad
Islam
-religion by prophet Muhammad -based on his works compiled in Quran -recognize one god, Allah
Muslim
-someone who follows Islam religion -submits to will of God
Mamluks
-Turkic military slaves important to Islamic military system -Abbasid Caliphate -eventually found own state (Egypt and Syria)
ulama
-Muslim religious scholars -work with Islamic law
Charlemagne
-emperor of Carolingian Empire -encompasses all of Gaul, and parts of Germany and Italy -illiterate but sponsor intellectual revival
medieval
-'middle age' -Europe between 500-1500 -between Greco-Roman and Renaissance
schism
-formal split within religious community -Christianity
manor
-medieval Europe -large self-sufficient landholding -consisting of lord's residence, outbuildings, peasant village, and surrounding land
serf
-medieval Europe -agricultural laborer legally bound to a lord's property -obligated to perform set services for lord
fief
-medieval Europe -land granted in return for sworn oath to provide specific military service
vassal
-medieval Europe -sworn supporter of king or lord committed to rendering specified military service to that king or lord
papacy
-central admin of Roman Catholic Church -Pope is head of this
monasticism
-living in religious community away from secular society -adhere to rule stipulating chastity, obedience, and poverty -prominent in medieval Christianity and Buddhism -primary literary centers
Crusades
-armed pilgrimages to Holy Land by Christians determined to recover Jerusalem from Muslim rule -end to western Europe's isolation from intellect and culture
pilgrimage
-journey to sacred shrine by Christians -seeking to show their piety, fulfill vows, or gain absolution for sins -other religions too (Muslims to Mecca)
Li Shimin
-one of Tang founders, second emperor -expanded empire into Central Asia
Grand Canal
-1100 mile waterway linking Yellow and Yangzi rivers -begun during Han period and completed during Sui
tributary system
-in Han Empire -countries in E and SE Asia not under direct control acknowledge superiority of Chinese emperors -in exchange trading rights or strategic alliances
Uighurs
-Turkic-speakers who control own centralized empire in Mongolia and C Asia
junk
-large flatbottom sailing ship from Tang, Ming, and Song Empires -designed for long-distance commercial travel
movable type
-type where each individual character is cast on separate piece of metal -replaces woodblock printing
Fujiwara
-aristocratic family that dominated Japanese imperial court between 800-1100
Champa rice
-quick maturing rice can allow two harvests in one growing season -from Champa to India and then China as tribute
chinampas
-raised fields constructed along lake shores in Mesoamerica to increase agricultural yields
khipu
-system of knotted colored cords used by preliterate Andean peoples to transmit information
ayllu
-Andean lineage group or kin-based community
mit'a
-Andean labor system based on shared obligations to help kinsmen and work on behalf of the ruler and religious organizations
Teotihuacan
-powerful city-state in central Mexico
Tenochtitlan
-capital of Aztec Empire -Mexico City constructed on ruins
tribute system
-system where defeated peoples forced to pay a tax in form of goods and labor -subsidized development of large cities -Inca and Aztec important
Genghis Khan
-Temujin's title meaning oceanic or universal leader -founder of Mongol Empire
Yuan Empire
-Chinese Mongol Empire by Khubilai Khan
Timur
-member of prominent Jagadai Khanate Mongol family -control much of C Asia and Iran -Mughal Empire in India
Golden Horde
-Mongol khanate founded by Batu -S Russia and adopt Turkic language and Islam
Il-Khan
-khan based in Persiam founded by Hulegu -control much of Iran and Iraq
tsar
-Russian title for monarch -first used by Ivan III
lama
-Tibetan Buddhism teacher
Zheng He
-imperial eununch and Muslim -Ming emperor Yongle send on voyages through Indian ocean to gain tributary states
Yongle
-Zhu Di, 3rd Ming emperor -building of Forbidden City -sponsor Zheng He voyages -reopen China borders to travel and trade
bubonic plague
-bacterial disease of fleas transmitted to rodents and humans -spread through Mongols
kamikaze
-'divine wind' -Japanese credit with blowing Mongol invaders away form their shores
monsoon
-seasonal winds of Indian Ocean -caused by changes in temperature between rapidly heating and cooling landmasses and slow changing ocean waters -sailors use winds to ride for trade
Ibn Battuta
-Moroccan Muslim scholar -most widely traveled individual of his time -wrote of visits to Islamic lands
Delhi Sultanate
-centralized Indian empire of varying extent -created by Muslim invaders
Mali
-empire created by indigenous Muslims in W Sudan of W Africa -trans-Saharan gold trade
Mansa Musa
-ruler of Mali -pilgrimage from Egypt to Mecca establish empire's reputation for wealth
dhow
-ship of small to moderate size -used in W Indian Ocean -triangular sail and sewn timber hull
Swahili Coast
-E African shores of the Indian Ocean
Timbuktu
-city of Niger River -founded as seasonal camp by Tuareg -part of Mali empire -center for trans-Saharan trade & Islamic learning
Malacca
-port city in SE Asia -trading center on Strait of Malacca