Free Response Questions Flashcards
Tetriarchy
Tetrarchy (meaning rule of four) was established in Rome by Emperor Diocletian (around 205 to 284 AD) due to how large the empire had become. Without this political system, emperors were at risk of being assassinated (like such emperors before him) by governors who overthrew their districts, and it was nearly impossible to keep the empire united under one watcher when the people were so widespread across several modern-day countries. Aware of this peril, he instated two emperors of the east (Julius and Augustus) and he and his equal co-emperor, Maximian, ruled in the west.
Buddhism
Buddhism was formed from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (563-483) who was known was “The Buddha” meaning the enlightened one. Buddha taught the “Four Noble Truths” which in essence states that life’s suffering came from life’s desires. If one was able to get ignore or get rid of those desires, then he would alleviate suffering and achieve Nirvana. The way to curb those desires, as Buddha taught, was by following the Eightfold Path: Right views, Aspirations, Speech, Conduct, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Meditation.
Indus Valley Civilization
This is the earliest known urban civilization in the Indian subcontinent. It sprouted next to the Indus Valley River around 2500 BC. They used the river to cultivate the land and expand their agriculture. This civilization had two major cities: Harappa, which housed around 3500 individuals and Mohenjo-Daro being several times larger than the other. There is also evidence of the people having a trade system with others around Mesopotamia and Central Asia. They began to decline around 1900 BC likely due to changes in the environment.
Confucianism vs Legalism
Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system founded by Confucius (Kong Fuzi, 551–479 BC) in ancient China. It emphasizes morality, social harmony, and proper behavior based on a structured society. Legalism was a political philosophy in ancient China that emphasized strict laws, centralized control, and harsh punishments to maintain order. It became especially influential during the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC) under Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The difference hangs in how these ideas say how people should be governed. While legalism focuses more on punishment and reward to keep order, Confucianism relies on influencing people to be orderly, not because of the consequences, but out of the goodness of their hearts.
