History Flashcards
Mesopotamia
A region in the near east situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is known as the Fertile Crescent. Ideal Farming conditions led to Neolithic Revolution and birth of civilization.
Neolithic Rev- Transition from hunter gatherer to farming. Farming allowed people to stay in one place for food which allowed other people to specialize in other trades (blacksmith, politicians, bureaucrat, other members of a society)
Mesopotamia geography
Flat open land made Mesopotamia subject to numerous invasions
Mesopotamia civilizations
Sumer, Babylon, Hittites, New Babylon, Persia
Mesopotamia- Sumer Civilization
3500-2000 BC One of first civilizations Invented wheel First systems of math First writing systems- cuneiform "wedge form" Complex Systems of irrigation City-State structure Polytheistic
2000BC Sumarians conquered by Semites-people who spoke Semetic Lang. Hebrew or Arabic
Mesopotamia- Babylon
2000-1500 BC
Capital of Babylonia
Babylonian ruler Hammurabi built a great empire, lasted from around 1800 to 1500 BC and unify the region under a more centralized government.
Culture recorded by scribes
Worlds first written legal codes Hammurabi’s code
360 deg in circle
60 sec in min , 60 min hour
Ziggurats- buildings that served as temples, storehouse, meeting places
Mesopotamia- Hittites
2000-700 BC
Conquered much of northern Mesopotamia and Asia minor, conflicts and alliances with Egypt
Bronze Age
Pioneers of iron smelting
Fast chariots
Hittite capital, Hattusas, burned in 1200 BC
Fled to the west to get away from the Greeks
Mesopotamia- Phoenicians
2900 BC - 600 AD Canaan Maritime culture Dominated Mediterranean trade Importing and Exporting various goods Purple die-only the very wealthy could afford it, that's why purple means royalty Influential alphabet- 22 consonants- Greeks added vowels Became part of Persia, then Syria
Mesopotamia- Assyrians
2000-600 BC Warlike people conquered much of Mesopotamia Ruled by terror and intimidation Vast highway system Extensive library Postal system
Mesopotamia- New Babylon
700-500 BC
Chaldeans conquered Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, establishing a New Babylonian empire under Nebbuchanezzer
Chaldeans - founded the civilization (Known for study of stars)
Government of the new Babylon utilized in advanced system of bureaucracy
“bureaucracy”- departments in a government
Hanging Gardens of Babylon built by Nebbuchanezzer - One of the seven wonders of ancient world
Mesopotamia- Persia
500-300 BC
Ranked among the world’s greatest empires- largest geographical empire of ancient times
Through conquest, the Persians attempted to unify the entire Near East
Zoroastrianism -ethics based religion
Empire fell to Alexander the Great
Egypt
3100 - 500 BC “Dynastic Period”
Arise around fertile Nile River
Geographically isolated, defensible borders, leading to long periods of political stability
Annual floods
Egypt Life
Centered around serving Pharoah, regarded as living God
Polytheistic- Rah-sun god Anubis-God of dead
Falcon is a common symbol for god
Belief in afterlife-mummified and pyramids to house bodies
Advances in math, medicine,writing- hieroglyphics
Kush
2000 BC - 350 AD
region south of Egypt, conquered by Egypt then conquered Egypt.
Place of cultural exchange for Mediterranean, Near East, Africa
Kushite society adopted from Egypt, developed their own styles of art, writing, gods after winning independence.
China
Alternates btwn periods of unity (dynasties-ruled by single family) and disunity. Invaders were assimilated into Chinese population
Shang Dynasty-first one
Chou Dynasty- from west , start of Great Wall of China
Ch’in Dynasty- root of China strong central govt- legalism - finish Great Wall
Han Dynasty- prosperity, trade with Europe, Confusious, Buddhism
Sui Dynasty - grand canal
Tang Dynasty - 300 yr prosperity, arts and culture, schools of Buddhism
Sung Dynasty - early ripening rice , gun powder, compass, typing
China - The Silk Road
Series of overland trade routes that connected the Chinese silk industry with the western world
Chinese Religions
Buddhism- emphasized the middle path and the release of all cares as a route to Nervana
Taoism- emphasized a natural way of living and connectedness to the universe
Confucianism- dealt with the importance of people’s roles in society and coupled with doctrine of legalism largely formed the foundation of Chinese culture and politics
Classical Civilizations- Greece
Greece was hit, not ideal farming, seafaring culture that dominated the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean.
Tales of seafaring journey and battles in Greek Literature- Iliad and Odyssey by Homer
Greek religion
Polytheistic- complex mythology
Zeus god of thunder and lightening, king of gods Apollo son of Zeus Athena daughter of Zeus God of wisdom Aphrodite god of love Hades god of underworld Ares god of war
Early Civilizations in Greece
Minoans and Mycenaeans
During its classical era Greece was dominated by powerful city states such as Athens and Sparta
Greece-Athens
Athens was a democracy whose influence on modern Western politics arts and architecture would be difficult to over estimate
Placed great value on learning and intellectual discourse and gave us philosophers such as Socrates-dialectics, Plato-form, and Aristotle-poetics and final purpose
Greece-Sparta
Totalitarian city-state ruled by king
Highly militaristic and emphasized physical and mental strength above all else practicing eugenics (good genes, killed babies who didn’t fit good mold) to ensure physical superiority
Spartans did give greater rights and liberties to women than any other city state in Ancient Greece (gave birth to warriors)
Persian War
Athens Sparta and other Greek city states united to defend Greece against invading Persian army’s
After defeating Persia Athens and Sparta turned against each other dividing the other city states along lines of allegiance and for 13 years fought the Peloponnesian War, A conflict which is devastated Greek society. Sparta won
Greece- Alexander the Great
From Macedonia
During Hellenic Age, he conquered and united the Greek and Persian worlds
The Roman Republic
500-27 BC
Inc. Greek society and emerged as the dominant world power after the Punic Wars with Cartage
Society was divided into patricians (upper aristocracy), plebeians (commoners), and slaves
The seat of Roman government was the Senate.
After assassination of Julius Caesar, Augustus became the first emperor of the Roman Empire
Controlled entire Mediterranean trade routes
Architecture- coliseums and aqueducts
286AD- empire divided into east and west
313AD- Constantine made Christianity legal
Reasons for fall of Roman Empire
Problems such as political instability, mercenary army’s, inflation, excessive taxation, decreased agricultural production, division over rise of Christianity weekend the Roman empire and continuous barbarian invasions eventually devastated Rome.
Fall of (western) Rome in Late 400sAD- and of ancient civilization
Eastern Roman Empire
The Byzantine Empire (eastern) continued it to exist for many centuries after the fall of western Rome
After all it’s massive achievements one of the most lasting influences of the Romans was there a law which was collected in the Justinian Code
Hebrew Civilization
1900BC-100AD
Established first lasting monotheistic religion which became the basis for modern Judaism
-Jews lived in Canaan, went to Egypt under Joseph-enslaved-Moses led them out
Hebrew Civilization
Biblical OT Saul-David-Somon
1000BC 12 tribes United under Saul. First writings of Torah- OT Pentateuch
Split Judah’s/Israel
Conflict with Rome led to the distraction of Jerusalem and the expulsion of many Jews from Palestine- “Diaspra”
India
Indus Valley Civilization
Or Harrapan Civilization
3300-1700BC
Evolved into a highly advanced culture who’s architectural achievements included a planned urban grid and the worlds first urban sanitation system
Harrapan- mature phase, highly advanced with historical contributions ranging from precise scientific measurement system to graceful bronze and terra-cotta sculptures
India
Vedic Period
1700BC- 500BC
Laid the foundation’s of early Hinduism, diverse believe system which spans the gamut of mono theism polytheism and pantheism (God in all things)
India culture
Caste system A rigid social structure that divided the population into four distinct casts which are believed to have emerged from the varnas of Perusha
1) Bramas- teachers, priests
2) rulers and warriors
3) merchants and artisans
4) peasants
Or OUTCASTS- not part of a caste
Open geography subjective the region to wave after wave of invasions from central Asia and other surrounding regions
Medieval and Early Modern Asia
China
1200s China fell under control of Mongol Empire, largest contiguous empire in history of world ruled by Genghis Khan and his successors
Effective warriors, advanced military technology
Ming Dynasty: 1300-1600 Mongols ousted china practices isolationist policy, no trade
Medieval and Early Modern Asia
Japan
Borrowed heavily from Chinese politics and culture began to develop a distinct identity during the Heian Era (800-1200AD)
Emperor had a little power. Shogun had more power, military ruler chosen from among the daimyo (Nobel land owners) who were served by samurai (soldier)
Tokugawa Period- Japan practiced extreme isolationism
Medieval and Early African Civilization
Seaports and international trade gave rise to various city states along the eastern coast where cultures such as Swahili thrived
African interior, Zimbabwe became a strong kingdom based on the gold trade
Western Africa was heavily influenced by Islam
Medieval and Early African Civilization
Berbers
Nomadic people of Northern Africa who is origin extend as far back as ancient times
Referred to by other Ames such as Libyans, Mauri, and Moors
