600 BCE to 600 CE Key Terms

Question 1

Qin Dynasty:

Answer 1

Ruled China from 221 to 207 BCE. It was notable for reuniting the old Zhou kingdom as well as conquering several new areas of central China. It was also notable for standardizing weights, measures, writing, and for building the Great Wall.

Question 2

Qin Shi Huangdi :

Answer 2

Literally, “The First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty,” this dude was also the first non-mythical person to take the title of “Emperor” in China.

Question 3

Han Dynasty:

Answer 3

Ruled 206 BCE to 220 CE. This Confucian dynasty established a long period of unity in China. They are notable for completing the Qin’s standardization of language, creating the system of Chinese characters used up to the modern day. They also established the precedent of a large, self-regulating bureaucracy.

Question 4

Confucianism:

Answer 4

The official ideology of Chinese courts from the Han Dynasty until 1911. It places an emphasis on hierarchy, education, and just governance. Founded by Confucius (551–479 BCE).

Question 5

Daoism:

Answer 5

Originally a philosophy founded in the sixth century BCE, Daoism has since accrued many spiritual and religious aspects. It emphasizes being in harmony with oneself and nature.

Question 6

Legalism:

Answer 6

The official ideology of the Qin Dynasty. Very similar to totalitarianism, it places an emphasis on the need for the government to harshly punish or execute people for the smallest moral infractions.

Question 7

Silk Road:

Answer 7

A network of land and sea routes connecting China with the rest of Afro-Eurasia.

Question 8

Hinduism:

Answer 8

A very diverse religion with many vastly different denominations. Hinduism developed out of Vedism and places value of communing with Brahman, the divine “reality” underneath the real world.

Question 9

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha:

Answer 9

The founder of Buddhism, lived from 563 to 483 BCE.

Question 10

Buddhism:

Answer 10

An offshoot of Hinduism, Buddhism centers on escaped the endless cycle of reincarnation through shedding individual consciousness.

Question 11

Caste system:

Answer 11

A term later applied to the Hindu concepts of jati (occupational group), in which persons born into one occupation were considered destined to perform that occupation.

Question 12

Ashoka:

Answer 12

A ruler of the Maurya Empire in India, Ashoka is most known for converting to and spreading Buddhism. Lived from 304 to 232 BCE.

Question 13

Maurya Empire:

Answer 13

The first empire to unify most of India, Pakistan, and Burma. It lasted from 322 BCE to 185 BCE.

Question 14

Gupta Empire:

Answer 14

A large and influential Indian empire, it ruled Pakistan and the north of India from 320 to 550 CE.

Question 15

Polis:

Answer 15

Greek name for an independent city-state

Question 16

Athens:

Answer 16

A large and powerful city-state. Athens was known for a limited form of democracy in which a small portion of the population (male landowners) voted in the public square on every major issue.

Question 17

Sparta:

Answer 17

Another large and powerful city-state. It was ruled by kings, who were sometimes selected by a general assembly. All male Spartan citizens trained for the army, leaving work to the slaves (two-thirds of their population).

Question 18

Alexander the Great:

Answer 18

A Macedonian ruler raised in Greece. He would later conquer most of the Achaemenid Empire.

Question 19

Hellenism:

Answer 19

The Greek cultural influences seen in the Middle East, Central Asia, and India following Alexander’s conquests.

Question 20

Roman Republic:

Answer 20

The government of early Rome, in which citizens voted on senators to represent them. Overthrown by a series of dictators in 27 BCE.

Question 21

Roman Empire:

Answer 21

The new government after 27 BCE, in which the Senate was subservient to an emperor.

Question 22

Constantine:

Answer 22

Ruled the Roman Empire from 306 to 337 CE. Legalized Christianity and built a new capital at Constantinople.

Question 23

Jesus of Nazareth:

Answer 23

Lived from 6 BCE or 4 BCE to the late 20s or early 30s CE. Founder of Christianity. “Jesus” is actually the Greek form of his name, which was the Hebrew name Yehosua (Joshua).

Question 24

Maya:

Answer 24

Culture of several city-states in southern Mexico and Central America. Declined in the 8th and 9th centuries CE.