Final 2015 Flashcards
neolithic age
period between 8000 and 4000 BCE during which people gained greater control over their food supply
hittites
indo-european people who settled in Anatolia around 2000 BCE
divination
religious practice in which people looked for signs to determine future events and the will of the gods
hammurabi
mesopotamian ruler who created the old babylonian empire and issued a famous law code around 1760 BCE
hammurabi’s code
famous law code created for the babylonian people; helped shape our law system today
cyrus
persian king who brought the jews back to their homeland
domestication
practice of adapting wild animals to live with humans or wild plants for cultivation
city-state
city that is also an independent nation
satrapy
large, administrative unit of the persian empire, governed by a satrap
ozymandias
poem written about ramses II; a poem about how all great leaders will one day lose their power
polytheism
belief in the existence of many gods
assyrians
semitic people who settled in the upper tigris river valley around 2000 BCE
king solomon
hebrew king who built the hebrew temple in jerusalem
ahura mazda
primary god from persian religion zoroasterism
moses
hebrew prophet who led the hebrews out of egypt and received the ten commandments from god
monotheism
belief in the existence of only one god
anthropomorphic
looking and behaving like people
history
accounts of the human past that use written records
zoroasterism
persian religion that has to deal with light versus the dark (good versus evil)
mesopotamia
lands surrounding the tigris and euphrates rivers and the site of a bronze age civilization; modern iraq
cuneiform
mesopotamian writing system that put wedge-shaoed indentations on clay tablets
nebuchadrezzar
chaldean king of the new babylonian who captured jerusalem in 587 BCE
ziggurat
step-shaped pyramid serving as the main temple in mesopotamian cities
babylonians
semitic people who settled in central mesopotamia around 2000 BCE and established the old babylonian empire in 1730 BCE
king david
hebrew king who made jerusalem the hebrew capital city
mummification
dying process by which bodies are preserved after death
patriarchal society
society in which men have the primary authority
hieroglyphics
earliest form of egyptian writing
pharaoh
ruler of ancient egypt
material culture
physical remains left by past humans.
archaeology
Scientific study of the remains of past human societies.
anthropology
Scientific study of modern human cultures and societies.
neanderthals
Human subspecies that originated as early as 350,000 B.C. and became extinct soon after 40,000 B.C.
matriarchal society
Society in which women have the primary authority.
near east
In antiguity, Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Iran; in the modern day also known as the Middle East.
pastoralism
Mobile lifestyle based on keeping flocks and herds.
agriculture
Sedentary style of life based on the cultivation of crops.
cultural assimilation
Acquisition by one group of people cultural traits of another people.
fertile crescent
Arc of fertile land running through Egypt, the Levant, and Mesopotamia, in which early agriculture was practiced.
levant
Lands between the eastern coast of the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia,including Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.
civilization
A form of human culture that includes agriculture, urbanization, social classes, metal technology, and writing.
bronze age
In the Near East,the period from 3,000 to 1,200 B.C., when bronze was used for weapon making and when most civilizations were located in river valleys, based on extensive agriculture, and had large populations.
myths
Stories,often about gods,explaining things that people did not understand.
legends
Accounts of people and events in the distant past that have been passed on orally.
anatolia
Modern-day Turkey, also known as Asia Minor.
hierarchical structure
Social structure organized according to rank, status, and privilege.
barter
Form of exchange using goods and services rather than coined money.
dowry
Financial contribution provided to a bride by her family.
adobe
Mixture of clay and straw dried in the sun, used to make plaster or bricks.
semitic peoples
Pastoral peoples living in semiarid regions of Syria and northern Arabia who spoke versions of the same language.
akkadians
Semitic people who established the first Near Eastern empire, in 2350 B.C. under their king, Sargon.
empire
Political unit incorporating different peoples and nations under a single government.
elam
Ancient kingdom located in western Iran.
amorites
Western Semitic peoples,including the Assyrians and Babylonians, who moved into Mesopotamia around 2,000 B.C.
talent
Mesopotamian unit of weight, about 56 minas, with each mina being composed of 60 shekels.
astrology
Branch of learning based on the belief that the future was ordained by gods and could be read in the motions of the stars and planets.
indo-european peoples
Pastoral peoples of Central Asia who settled in areas from India to Europe and spoke versions of the same language.
steppe
Treeless grass-covered plain covered by short grass.
aryans
Indo-European peoples who settled in the area of Iran around 2,000 B.C.
balkans
Southeastern Europe, including modern Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.
kassites
Indo-European people who invaded Mesopotamia around 1,500 B.C.
impalement
Form of execution in which a victim was skewered on a sharpened stake.
nubia
Region of Africa located in the upper Nile River valley just south of Egypt.
dynasty
Group of rulers belonging to the same family.
nomes
Smaller geographical and administrative regions of ancient Egypt, governed by nomads.
ma’at
Egyptian goddess who represented order, justice, and stability.
concubine
Female sexual partner ranking below a wife.
book of the dead
Catalogue of magical spells that was buried with mummies to ensure that Egyptians received a good afterlife.
hyksos
Semitic people who captured Egypt in 1730 B.C.
vassals
Subordinate rulers who declare loyalty to a higher-ranking ruler.
egyptian empire
Egyptian conquests in Palestine and Syria that served to protect Egypt from invasion, created by Thutmose III.
mercenaries
Hired soldiers who often are foreigners.
hatshepsut
Female pharaoh who fortified Egypt.
aton
sun god whom the pharaoh akhenaton attempted to make the supreme god of egypt
tut-ahkh-amon
Also known as King Tut. Egyptian pharaoh whose tomb was not robbed in antiquity.
peloponnesian war
war between athens and sparta lasting from 431 to 404 BCE because athens crosed the line with sparta’s allies
thermopylae
battle at a narrow pass in northern greece where 300 spartans were annihilated by the persians in 480 BCE
pericles
athenian leader during the golden age of athens in the fifth century who sponsored many building projects
antigonids
family that rued macedonia after the death of alexander the great
thucydides
greek historian of the late fifth century known for his account of the peloponnesian war
olympiad
four-year period that separated each holding of the olympic games
aristotle
greek philosopher who established scientific classification methods and the school known as Lyceum; also tutored alexander the great
alexandria
name given to greek colonies established by alexander the great, the most famous of which was in egypt
marathon
baatle in 490 BCE in which the athenians defeated the persians
olympic games
a religious, and athletic festival played in honor of Zeus
delian league
anti-persian alliance of greek cities organized by athes in 478 BCE
tyrant
llegal, unconstitutional Greek ruler who opposed the aristocrats
oligarchy
constitutional form of government based on rule by the wealthy
solon
politician and poet of athens in the early sixth century who created the oligarchy at athens
philip II
king of macedonia who defeated the greeks in 338 BCE; father of alexander the great
homer
blind greek poet of about 800 BCE whose LLiad and Odyssey told of the trojan war and its aftermath
herodotus
author of a history of the persian wars, known as the father of history
plato
athenian philosopher of the early fourth century BCE who wrote the republic and dialogues and established a school called the academy
ptolemies
family that ruled egypt after the death of alexander the great
socrates
athenian philosopher of the late fifth century BCE who used a question and answer method of teaching, now known as the socratic method
salamis
naval battle at an island off the coast of athens where the greeks defeated the persians
alexander
son of philip II who took over the macedonian throne after his father’s assasination; took over the known western world
hippocrates
greek physician of the early fourth century who established Greek medicine and whose ethical model provides the oath taken my modern physicians
seleucids
family that ruled asia after the death of alexander the great
hoplite
heavily armed greek infantryman
equestrian
a person wealthy enough to own a horse; roman social class ranked just below the senators
remus and romulus
twin brothers, the legendary founders of rome
imperium
power of roman kings and consuls to govern rome and command armies
triumvirate
a group of three men; the first triumvirate was formed in 60 BCE and the second triumvirate in 43 BCE
gladiator
a person, usually slave, who fought in an arena against animals or other gladiators for entertainment of the audience
mark antony
one of caesar’s generals and a member of the second triumvirate; defeated by octavian committed suicide
scipio aemilianus
grandson of scipio africanus roman senator who defeated carthage at the 3rd punic war
patricians
the most privileged of the early roman citizens, equivalent to aristocrats
auspicium
power of roman kings and consuls to determine the will of the gods
plebeians
the less privileged of the early roman citizens; later, the generic term for roman citizens
crassus
very rich senator, member of the first triumvirate; died in battle
scipio africanus
roman general who defeated hannibal at the battle of zama ending the 2nd punic war
augustus
title given to octavian in 27 BCE that he used as his name; also used as the title of all subsequent roman emperors
lepidus
one of caesar’s generals and a member of the second triumvirate
Lecretia
prominent roman matron who was allegedly raped by tarquin the proud; thus ending the roman monarchy
the twelve tables
first written collection of roman law, created by the decemvirs
the punic wars
series of three wars that rome fought against carthage in north africa
pontifex maximus
an ancient title for the chief priest of rome
principate
roman empire from 27 BCE as established by augustus
romulus
twin brothers,, one of the legendary founders of rome; became the first king of rome
hannibal
carthaginian general who invaded italy in 218 BCE beginning the second punic war
julius caesar
member of the first triumvirate who conquered gaul and seized control of rome after a civil war; became a dictator and was assasinated on March 15, 44 BCE
pompey
excellent general, member of the first triumvirate known as the teenage butcher
estruscans
inhabitants of northwestern italy whose culture was greatly influenced by early rome
octavian
adopted son of caesar and a member of the second triumvirate who gained control of the roman world in 30 BCE
pax romana
roman peace; period when the roman empire was at its height
aton
Sun god whom the pharaoh Akhenaton attempted to make the supreme god of Egypt.
tut-ahkh-amon
Also known as King Tut. Egyptian pharaoh whose tomb was not robbed in antiquity.
what battle had athenian hoplites defeated persian army on a beach?
marathon
what battle had spartan warriors winning a strategic victory against persia in a narrow pass?
thermopylae
what battle had an athenian navy defeated persian navy?
salamis
latin term for long period of peace?
pax romana
what carthaginian general won many victories but lost the war?
hannibal
legendary twin brother and founder of rome?
romulus
this nation south of rome was the recipient of three lost wars against rome?
carthage
what tribe had the first seven kings of rome?
estruscans
who became dictator of rome illegally through force?
julius caesar
who were the main opponents in the peloponnesian war?
athens and sparta; sparta wins
who were the opponents in the punic wars?
rome and carthage; rome wins
who were the members of the first triumvirate?
julius caesar, pompey, crassus
who were the members of the second triumvirate?
lepidus, mark anthony, ocatvian (augustus)
the principate is another name for what?
the roman empire
what was the upper class of roman citizens?
patricians
what was the lower class of roman citizens?
plebians
what was the middle class that arose in rome?
equestrians
name the naval battle that determined who would be rome’s leader out of the second triumvirate?
battle of actium
early in the roman republic the laws were referred to as the…
twelve tables
her rape by an etruscan king is said to trigger the revolution that led to the roman republic.
lucretia was raped by tarquin the proud
neolithic vs paleolithic age
old stone age to bronze age
ozymandias poem
poem about ramses the second
ziggurats
steppe shaped pyramids for religious worship
code of hammurabi
first law code written about king hammurabi
sumerians
sumeria was part of the northern kingdom of israel
epic of gilgamesh
epic about a major flood; quest for immorality
polytheism
the belief in many gods
monotheism
the belief in one god
zoroaster
created the religion zoroasterism
persian satrap
a persian province
characteristics of major early civilizations (egypt, mesopotamia)
egypt- isolated; predictable flooding; optimistic people
mesopotamia- pessimistic people; unpredictable flooding
assyrians
people from assyria; loved warfare
hieroglyphics
the egyptian writing system
cuneiform
the form of writing from mesopotamia
moses
received the ten commandments
king david
made jerusalem the capital
king solomon
constructed the temple of jerusalem to contain the ark of the covenant
xerxes
son of darius; king of persians who burnt athens at the battle of thermopylae
cyrus
king of persia; founded the persian empire
homer
wrote the lliad and odyssey; famous author
delian league
athenian league during the peloponnesian league
peloponnesian war
athens vs sparta then persia+athens vs sparta
40 years of fighting for nothing
started because land and money
herodotus
father of history; first to use historical method
thucydides (a general in the peloponesian war)
famous for his first accounts of the peloponnesian war
pericles
athenian leader
- gave jobs to the slaves
- massive building projects
hoplite
heavily armed foot soldier
tyrant
dissatified with oligarchy
-unstable form of government
oligarchy
form of government based on wealth
greek drama
actors wore masks; two genres= comedy and tragedy
solon
aristocrat solon abolished draco’s harsh laws except the murder court
socrates
question and answer philosophy; questioned the athenian values- he was then sentenced to death
plato
created the school of philosophy( The Academy)
- divinely established perfection
- wrote The Republic
aristotle
pupil of plato; tutored alexander the great
- created the scientific method
- geocentric universe
olympic games
festival of zeus that had athletic events
sophocles
greek writer for tragedy, the genre of drama
author of antigone
philip ii of macedonia
alexander the great’s father; king of macedonia
-unified greece
alexander the great
king of macedonia; took over all of the western world
alexandria
name of most of the persian provinces
hebrews
people descended from the israelites
lliad&odyssey
written by homer
battle of salamis
naval battle off the coast of greece between athens and persia
battle of marathon
athens vs persians; persians no match for athenian hoplites; athens= victory
battle of thermopylae
king xerxes of persia vs athenians and spartans
persians burnt athens down
estruscans
tribe who influenced the romans greatly
plebians
lowest class of romans
patricians
wealthiest social class of the romans
hannibal
carthaginian general from the punic wars
romulus
first king of rome; founded rome
carthage
city in north africa; destroyed in the third punic war
punic wars
1,2, and 3; wars between rome and carthage
roman republic
- no monarchy
- two consuls
- the senate
roman empire
- no more republic (ineffective)
- 1 emperor
julius caesar
member of the first triumvirate; who took over the roman republic
octavian
adopted son of julius caesar;
pax romana
roman peace; the best period of time in the roman empire
caesar augustus
octavian=augustus
senator to emperor
changed the republic to empire
became proconsul then emperor
first triumvirate
crassus, pompey, and julius caesar
second triumvirate
lepidus, mark anthony, and octavian
