AP World History Ways of the World Chapters 1-5

Paleolithic carvings of female form, often with exaggerated breasts, buttocks, hips and stomachs, which may have had religious significance.

In San culture, a nightlong ritual held to activate a human being's inner spiritual potency (n/um) to counteract evil influences of gods and ancestors. Common to the Khoisan people.

In early societies, a person believed to have the ability to act as a bridge between living humans and supernatural forces, often by means of trances induced by pyschoactive drugs.

A Paleolithic people still living on the nothern fringe of the Kalahari desert in southern Africa

The process by which some Paleolithic peoples moved toward permanent settlement in the wake of the last Ice Age. Settlement was marked by increasing storage of food and accumulation of goods as well as growing inequalities in society.

Although this term can refer to any art of a hunting or gathering society, it is usually done to describe the hundreds of Paleolithic paintings discovered in Spain and France dating back to 20,000 years ago; these paintings usually depict a range of animals, although human figures and abstract designs can also be found. The purpose of this art is debated.

Literally "old stone age", the term to describe early Homo Sapiens in the period before the development of agriculture.

Term coined by scholar Marshall Sahlins in 1972 to describe Paleolithic societies which he regarded as affluent not because of having too much, but because they wanted and needed so little.

Of the San, a spiritual potency that becomes activated during "curing dances" and protects humans from the malicious forces of gods or spirits.

A European varient of Homo sapiens that died out 25,000 years ago.

Dying out of a large number of animal species, including the mammoth and several species of horses and camels, that occured around 11,000-10,000 years ago, at the end of the Ice Age.

A settled Paleolithic culture of prehistoric Japan, characterized by seaside villages and the creation of some of the world's earliest pottery.

A San cultural practice meant to deflate pride that involved negative comments about meat brought in by a hunter and the expectation that a successful hunger would disparage his own kill.

Any number of cold periods in the Earth's history; the last one was at its peak around 20,000 years ago.

The term used to describe the transition of humans acting out of biological imperative to dependence on learned or invented ways of living (culture)

A people of Northern Tanzania, almost the last surviving Paleolithic society

According to one theory, a dominant deity of the Paleolithic era

People who live by collecting food rather than producing it. Recent scholars have turned to this term instead of the older "hunter-gatherer" in recognition that such societies depend much more heavily on gathering than on hunting for survival.

A recently discovered hominid species of Indonesia

The native Australian Aborigines' belief about how they came to be

The earliest widespread and distinctive culture of N. America; named from a particular kind of projectile point

Paleolithic culture of Southern California that survived until the modern era.

A prestigious craft guild that monopolized the building and ownership of large ocean-going canoes, or tomols, among the Chumash people (S. California)

The last phase of the great human migration that established a human presence in every habitable region on Earth. These people settled in the Pacific Islands and Madagascar in a series of seaborne migrations that began around 3500 years ago.

Also known as the Neolithic Revolution, this is the transformation of human (and world) existence caused by the deliberate cultivation of particular plants and the deliberate taming and breeding of particular animals.

An Asian-language family whose speakers gradually became the dominant culture of the Phillippines, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands thanks to their mastery of agriculture.

A Chinese archeological site where the remains of a significant Neolithic village have been found

An African-language family whose speakers gradually became the dominant culture of eastern and southern Africa thanks to their agricultural techniques and, later, their iron working skills.

The spread of Bantu-speaking peoples from their homeland in what is now southern Nigeria or Cameroon to most of Africa in a process that started ca. 3000 BCE and continued for several millennia.

Archeologists' term for the diet of gathering and hunting societies, which included a wide array of plants and animals.

An important agricultural chiefdom of North America that flourished around 1100 CE.

An important Neolithic site in what is now Turkey.

A societal grouping governed by a chief who typically relies on generosity, ritual status, or charisma rather than force to win obedience from the people.

The gradual spread of agricultural techniques without extensive population movement.

The taming and changing of nature for the benefit of humankind.

A process of global warming that began around 16,000 years ago and ended about 5,000 years later, with the earth enjoying a climate similar to that of our own time; the end of the Ice Age changed conditions for human beings, leading to increased population and helping to pave the way for agriculture.

Region sometimes known as Southwest Asia that includes the modern states of Iraq, Syria, Israel/Palestine, and southern Turkey; the earliest home of agriculture.

Hoe-based agriculture, typical of early agrarian societies.

The process of getting more in return for less; for example, growing more food on a smaller plot of land.

Site of an important early agricultural settlement of perhaps 2000 people in present day Israel.

The valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq

Often called "Aboriginals" the natives of Australia continued to live (and to some extent still do) by gathering and hunting despite the transition to agriculture in nearby lands.

A human society that relies on domesticated animals rather than plants as the main source of food; lead their animals to seasonal grazing grounds rather than settling permanently in a single location.

A term used to describe the series of technological changes that began ca. 4000 BCE, as people began to develop new uses for their domesticated animals, exploiting a new source of power.

Village-based societies usually organized by kinship group that functioned without a formal government apparatus.

The wild ancestor of maize.

Period of Chinese history from 1122 to 256 BCE

A legendary series of monarchs of early China, traditionally dated to 2200-1766 BCE.

The largest city of ancient Mesopotamia.

The largest city of ancient Mesoamerica, flourished around 500 CE.

Title of the ruler of China, first known from the Zhou dynasty.

Period of Chinese history from 1766 to 1122 BCE.

An ancient city of China that developed independently from the Shang dynasty.

The buildup of minerals in soil, decreasing its fertility; can be caused by long-term irrigation.

A process of centralisation that took place in the first civilizations, growing out of the greater complexity of life (urban) in recognition of the need for coordination, regulation, adjudication, and military leadership.

A series of knotted cords, used for accounting and perhaps as a form of writing in the Norte Chico civilization.

A civilization in the area of present-day Lebanon, creators of the first alphabetic writing system. Pyramid monumental tomb for Egyptian pharaoh; mostly built during the Old Kingdom (2663"2195 BCE). Pyramids are also found in Meroe to the south of Egypt.

Naming a king of Egypt. The term literally means "the palace" and came into use in the New Kingdom, but it is generally employed in reference to all ancient Egyptian rulers.

Literally "rule of the father"; a social system of male dominance.

In Chinese civilization, animal bones that were heated and the cracks were then interpreted as prophecies. The prophecies were written on the bone and provide our earliest written sources for ancient China.

An early civilization that developed along the coast of Mexico around 1200 BCE.

A civilization to the south of Egypt in the Nile valley, noted for development of an alphabetic writing system and a major ironworking industry by 500 BCE.

A region along the central coast of Peru, home of a civilization that developed in the period of 3000"1800 BCE. Caral was the largest of some 25 urban centers that emerged in the area at the time.

A major city of the Indus valley civilization, flourished around 2000 BCE.

An advanced civilization that developed on the island of Crete around 2500 BCE.

The "land between the rivers", Tigris and Euphrates in modern Iraq.

The 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.

Home of a major civilization that emerged from what is now Pakistan during the third millenium BCE, in the valleys of the Indus and Saraswati rivers, noted for the uniformity of its elaborately planned cities over a large territory.

A pastoral group of unknown ethnicity that invaded Egypt and ruled in the north from 1650 to 1535 BCE. Their dominance was based on their use of horses, chariots and bronze weapons.

An Indo-European civilization established in Anatolia in the 18th century BCE.

Ancient Egyptian writing system, literally "sacred writing" as Greeks saw them in ancient temples.

Smaller earlier civilization whose monotheistic faith provided foundation for modern Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Ancient Egypt's most famous queen, reigned 1472"1457 BCE.

Major Indus Valley civilization, and flourished around 2000 BCE.

Most famous extant literary work from ancient Mesopotamia, tells story of a man's quest for immortality.

Region would not have been able to support such significant human population without the Nile's silt deposits to support agriculture and daily life.

Wedge-shaped writing in the form of symbols incised into clay tablets; used in Mesopotamia from around 3100 BCE to the beginning of CE.

Term used for Southern Mesopotamia (in modern day Iraq)

Series of laws publicised at the order of King Hammurabi of Babylon (d. 1750 BCE). Not actually a code but a number of laws that proclaim the king's commitment to social order.

In Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.

Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 BCE) conqueror of the Persian Empire and part of NW India.

Indo-Europeans 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.

The most famous ruler of the Mauryan Empire (r. 268-232 BCE) who converted to Buddhism and tried to rule peacefully with tolerance.

A radical form of direct democracy in which most of the free male population of Athens had the franchise and officeholders were chosen by lot.

Athenian victory over a Persian invasion in 490 BCE.

The 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 BCE-14 CE)

Founder of the Persian Empire (r. 557-530 BCE); a ruler noted for his conquests, religious tolerance, and political moderation.

Great king of Persia (r. 522-486 BCE) following the upheavals after Cyrus's death; completed the establishment of the Persian Empire.

Two major Persian invasions of Greece in 490 BCE and 480 BCE in which the Persians were defeated on both land and sea.

An empire of India (320-550 CE)

Dynasty that ruled China from 206-220 BCE creating a durable state based on Shihuangdi's state-building achievement.

The period from 323-30 BCE in which Greek culture spread widely in Eurasia in the kingdom ruled by Alexander's political successors.

Greek historian known as the "father of history"; His histories enunciated the Greek view of a fundamental divide between East and West, culminating in the Greco-Persian Wars of 490-480 BCE.

A heavily armed Greek infantryman; the ability to afford a panoply and to fight for the city came to define Greek citizenship.

The territory of Greek settlements on the coast of Anatolia; the main bone of contention between the Greek and Persian empires.

The 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.

A major empire (322-185 BCE) that encompassed most of India.

Greek religious festival and athletic competition in honour of Zeus; founded in 776 BCE and celebrated every four years.

Wealthy, privleged Romans who dominated early Roman society.

The "Roman peace" a term typically used to denote the stability and prosperity of the early Roman empire, especially in the first and second centuries CE.

Great war between Athens (and allies) and Sparta (and allies) lasting from 431-404 BCE. The conflict ended in the defeat of Athens and the closing of Athen's Golden Age.

The capital and greatest palace-city of the Persian Empire, destroyed by Alexander the Great.

A major empire that expanded from the Iranian plateau to incorporate the Middle East from Egypt to India; flourished from around 550 to 330 BCE.

Poorer, less-privleged Romans who gradually won a role in Roman politics.

The major wars between Rome and Carthage in North Africa, fought between 264 and 146 BCE, that culminated in Roman victory and control of the Western Mediterranean.

A short-lived (221-206 BCE) but highly influential Chinese dynasty that succeeded in reuniting China at the end of the Warring States period.

Literally "first emperor from Qin"; forcibly reunited China and established a strong and repressive state.

Athenian statesmen and lawmaker (594-560 BCE) whose reforms led the Athenians toward democracy.

Han emperor (r. 141-86 BCE) who began the Chinese civil service system by establishing an academy to train imperial bureaucrats.

Nomadic peoples to the north of the Great Wall of China who were a frequent threat to the stability of the Chinese state

A major Chinese peasant revolt that began in 184 BCE and helped cause the fall of the Han Dynasty.

The first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism towards questions of human existence (469-399 BCE).

The Indian prince turned ascetic (ca. 566-ca. 486 BCE) who founded Buddhism.

The first great popularizer of Christianity (10-65 CE).

A major Greek philosopher (ca. 560-ca. 480 BCE) who believed that an unchanging mathematical order underlies the apparent chaos of the world.

A disciple of Socrates whose Dialogues convey the teachings of his master while going beyond them to express own philosophy; lived 429 to 328 BCE.

The end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion.

In Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with the Brahman.

"Great Vehicle", the popular development of Buddhism in the early centuries of the Common Era, which gives a much greater role to supernatural beings and proved to be much more popular than the original (Theravada) Buddhism.

A Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous punishments.

A legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century BCE; regarded as a founder of Daoism.

In Hinduism, the determining factor of the level at which the individual is reincarnated, based on purity of action and fulfillment of duty in the prior existence.

The monotheistic religion developed by the Hebrews, emphasizing a sole personal god (Yahweh) with concerns for social justice.

The prophet/god of Christianity (ca. 4 BCE-ca. 30 CE)

One of the most important prophets of Judaism, whose teachings show the transformaton of the religion in favour of compassion and social justice (eighth century BCE).

A very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 BCE); regarded as the father of medicine.

A word derived from outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions.

A secularizing system of scientific and philosophic thought that developed in classical Greece in the period 600 to 300 BCE; it emphasized the power of education and human reason to understand the world in nonreligious terms.

The honouring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.

A Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates the simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.

The central text of Daoism, translated as The Way and its Power.

Roman emperior (r. 306-337 CE) whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe.

The founder of Confucianism (551-479 BCE); an aristocrat of northern China who proved to be the greatest influence on Chinese culture in its history.

The Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.

The cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha).

The priestly caste of India.

The "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.

An immensely popular development in Hinduism, advocating intense devotion toward a particular deity.

A great Hindu epic text, part of the much larger Mahabharata, which affirms the performance of caste duties as a path to religious liberation.

A major female Confucian author of Han-dynasty China (45-116 CE) whose works give insight into the implication of Confucian thinking for women.

The human soul, which in classic Hindu belief seeks union with Brahman.

A Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 BCE) a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.

In Zoroastrianism, the evil god, engaged in a cosmic struggle with Ahura Mazda.

In Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.