Midterm Exam #2 Flashcards
What changes did Akhenaten bring to Egyptian society?
He introduced monotheism (worship of Aten, the sun disk), moved the capital to Amarna, and disrupted traditional religious and political structures, though his reforms were reversed after his death
What’s important about King Tut’s reign?
Tutankhamun’s reign was short and unremarkable, but his intact tomb, discovered in 1922, provided invaluable insights into New Kingdom burial practices and art
What were the climate and subsistence patterns of the Indus Valley?
The region had a semi-arid climate with fertile floodplains
Subsistence relied on agriculture (wheat, barley) and domesticated animals (cattle, sheep, goats)
What are the defining features of Mehrgarh?
1 of the earliest Neolithic sites (7000 BCE) with evidence of mud-brick houses, burials with grave goods, and early craft production (pottery, beads)
What unique objects were found at Mehrgarh?
Early evidence of dentistry (drilled teeth), figurines, and intricate beadwork
What are key elements of urban planning at Mohenjo-Daro?
Grid-like streets, advanced drainage systems, standardized bricks, and public structures (Great Bath), suggesting a highly organized society
What suggests bureaucratic oversight in Harappan civilizations?
Standardized weight, seals and uniformity in urban planning and artifacts indicate centralized control and administration
What are possible causes for the end of the Harappan Civilization?
Climate change (drought), river course shifts, and declining trade may have contributed to its decline
Why are Harappan sites difficult to excavate?
Many sites are buried under alluvial deposits, and the lack of deciphered writing makes interpretation challenging
What are the differences between the Huanghe and Yangtze River Valleys?
The Huanghe (Yellow River) had a drier climate and millet agriculture
Yangtze River has a wetter climate and rice agriculture
What’s significant about Hemudu?
A Neolithic site in Yangtze Delta known for early rice cultivation, stilt houses, and advanced woodworking
What’s oracle bone divination?
A practice during the Shang Dynasty where questions were posed to the deities & ancestors, written on animal bones/shells, and heated to produce cracks interpreted as divine messages
What was the primary building technique for ancient Chinese elite architecture?
Timber-framed structures with tiled roofs, often built on raised platforms
What’s the Xia state, and why’s it controversial?
A semi-legendary pre-Shang dynasty mentioned in texts but lacking conclusive archaeological evidence, leading to debates about its existence
What are the key features of Shang Dynasty craft production?
Elaborate bronze vessels made using piece-mold casting, often used for rituals and owned by elites
What are common motifs on Shang bronze vessels?
Taotie, dragons and geometric patterns
What was the Late Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean collapse?
A period around 1200 BCE when major civilizations (Hittites, Mycenaeans) declined doe to factors like invasions, climate change, and economic disruption
What defines the Iron Age?
The widespread use of iron tools and weapons, beginning around 1200 BCE, leading to technological and military advancements
Who were the Phoenicians?
A seafaring people from the Levant known for their trade, purple dye and development of the alphabet
What strategies did the Assyrian Empire use?
Military conquest, deportation of populations and administrative reforms to control their vast empire
Where might the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have actually been?
Some theories suggest they were in Nineveh, built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib
What are the key features of Babylon?
The Ishtar Gate, ziggurats and the Code of Hammurabi
What are the origins of coinage?
1st used in Lydia (modern Turkey) in the 7th century BCE as a standardized medium of exchange
What’s the significance of the Roman Republic?
510-31 BC
A period of oligarchic rule where Rome transitioned from a monarchy o a system of elected magistrates and a Senate. It laid the foundation for Roman expansion and the eventual rise of the Roman Empire
Who were the key figures in the 1st Triumvirate?
The 1st Triumvirate was an informal political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus formed to consolidate power and push their political agendas
What were the Punic Wars?
A series of 3 wars (264-146 BC) between Rome and Carthage, fought primarily over control of the western Mediterranean
Rome eventually defeated Carthage, leading to its dominance in the region
Who was Hannibal, and what’s his significance?
A Carthaginian general who famously crossed the Alps with his army during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) to attack Rome. Despite several victories, he was unable to capture Rome itself
What led to the fall of the Roman Republic
The fall of the Roman Republic was caused by internal strife, power struggles among generals (Caesar, Pompey) and the eventual rise of Augustus as the 1st Roman emperor in 31 BC
What’s the significance of Augustus in Roman history
Augustus (31 BC-14 AD) was the 1st Roman emperor, marking the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire
He initiated a period of peace and stability known as the Pax Romana
What were the key features of Roman cities
Roman cities were typically planned around a rectangular grid, with forums, temples, marketplaces, and public baths.
Wealthy residents lived in mansions, while most people lived in multi-story tenement blocks
What was the Roman Forum
The central public space in Rome, used for elections, public speeches, trials, and commercial activities
It was surrounded by important government buildings and temples
What was the Colosseum, and why was it important
A massive amphitheater in Rome, built in 80 AD, used for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, and the other events
Could hold 50,000-80,000 spectators and is a symbol of Roman engineering
What were Roman aqueducts, and how did they function?
Roman aqueducts were structures designed to transport water to cities using gravity.
They supplied water for public baths, fountains and private homes and were built with arches to cross valleys
What was the Roman military’s structure?
The Roman military was organized into legions, each consisting of about 5,200 soldiers during the Empire. Legions were supporting by auxiliary troops recruited from conquered territories
What was the Hadrian’s Wall, and why was it built
Hadrian’s Wall was a 117-km stone wall built in northern Britain (122 AD) to mark the northern frontier of the Roman Empire and protect Roman Britannia from Caledonian tribes
What was the significance of Roman roads?
Roman roads were essential for military movement, communication, and trade
They connected the empire and allowed for rapid movement of troops and goods with some roads still in use todayT
What was the Roman economy based on?
The Roman economy was based on agriculture , trade, and coinage
The denarius was the primary currency, and Rome relied heavily on grain imports from Egypt and other provinces
What caused the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
The eruption in 79 AD buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under volcanic ash and pumice, preserving the cities and providing a snapshot of Roman life
What was the Crisis of the 3rd Century
235-284 AD
A period of political instability, barbarian invasions, plagues and economic decline that nearly caused the collapse of the Roman Empire
What was the significance of the Roman navy
The Roman navy was primarily used for patrolling coastlines, protecting trade routes, and supporting land campaigns. It played a key role during the Punic Wars but was less prestigious than the legions
What were Roman villas, and who lived in them?
Large country houses owned by wealth Romans, often used as retreats or for agricultural purposes
Were richly decorated with frescoes and mosaice
What was the importance of Roman coinage
The backbone of Roman economy
Coins often depicted emperors and gods, serving as propaganda and a a means of economic exchange
What was the role of the Roman Senate
A governing body that advised magistrates and emperors
During the Republic, it held significant power, but its influence waned under the Empire
What was the role of the “Estate of Amun” in the New Kingdom
A powerful religious and economic institution dedicated to the god Amun-Ra
Controlled vast lands, resources and labor, functioning like a state within a state
Temples of Amun, particularly at Karnak, were centers of worship and economic activity, with large estates, grain storage, and significant political influence
What’s the significance of the Valley of the Kings?
A burial site for New Kingdom Pharaohs and elites, located near Thebes
Contains elaborate tombs carved into rock designed to protect the deceased and their treasures
Tombs were hidden to prevent looting and were richly decorated with scenes from the afterlife
Punt
A fabled land known to the ancient Egyptians for its exotic goods, including gold, ebony, ivory, incense and wild animals
Hatshepsut sent a famous trade expedition to Punt, recorded on the walls of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri - expedition brought back luxury items that enriched Egypt’s economy and culture
Armarna
(Akhenaten) was the capital city established by Akhenaten during his religious revolution
Was dedicated to the worship of Aten, the sun disk, and marked a break from traditional Egyptian polytheism
City was abandoned after Akhenaten’s death, and his reforms were reversed
Abu Simbel
A monumental temple complex built by Ramses II in Nubia
The temples are famous for their colossal statues of Ramses II and their alignment with the sun, which illuminates the inner sanctuary twice a year
The site was relocated in the 1960s to save it from flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam
Sarasvati River
(Ghaggar-Hakra)
An ancient river in the Indus Valley that dried up between 4000 and 16000 BCE
A major water source for Harappan settlements, and its disappearance may have contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization
Kot Diji
An Early Harappan site in Pakistan, known for its defensive walls and evidence of urban planning
Provides insights into the transition from small villages to large cities during the Indus Valley Civilization
Huanghe River Valley
Yellow River Valley is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization
Early cultures like Yangshao and Longshan developed here, laying the foundation for Chinese state formation
Millet
Yangtze River Valley
A fertile region in southern China known for early rice cultivation
Sites like Hemudu show advanced agricultural practices and stilt-house architecture, contributing to the development of Chinese civilization
Erlitou
A Bronze Age site in China, often associated with the Xia Dynasty
Features large palace complexes, bronze workshops, and evidence of early state formation
Some scholars consider it the 1st capital of the Xia state
Hemudu
A Neolithic site in the Yangtze Delta, known for early rice cultivation, stilt houses, and advanced woodworking
Provides evidence of a sophisticated agricultural society in southern China
Anyang (Yin)
The last capital of the Shang Dynasty
Is famous for its royal tombs, oracle bones, and bronze workshops
The site provides valuable insights into Shang political, religious and social organization
Huanbei
A Shang Dynasty site near Anyang, featuring a large palace-temple complex
It was intentionally burned down after less that 50 years, possibly due to political or ritual reasons
Sanxingdui
An ancient site in Sichuan, China, known for its unique bronze artifacts, including masks and statues
Represents a distinct culture outside the Shang Dynasty, showing the diversity of early Chinese civilizations
Xiaotun
A ritual center at Anyang, associated with the Shang Dynasty
Its the source of many oracle bones used for divination, providing insights into Shang religious practices and writing
Tyre
A major Phoenician city-state known for its maritime trade, purple dye production, and role in establishing colonies like Carthage
Its a key player in Mediterranean trade networks
Gordion
The capital of the Phrygian Kingdom, associated with King Midas
Is famous for its royal tombs, including the “Tomb of Midas”, and its role in Anatolian history
Urartu
An Iron Age kingdom in the Armenian Highlands, known for its fortified cities and resistance to Assyrian expansion
Played a key role in the geopolitics of the ancient Near East
Nineveh
The capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its massive walls, palaces, and libraries
Was a center of administration, culture and military power
Babylon
A major city in Mesopotamia, famous for its Ishtar Gate, ziggurat (Etemenanki), and the Code of Hammurabi
A center of culture, religion, and political power
Nimrud
An Assyrian city, known for its palaces, lamassu statues, and wall reliefs
Served as a capital under Ashurnasirpal II and was a center of Assyrian art and administration
Behistun
A cliff in Iran featuring a monumental inscription by Darius the Great
The inscription, written in 3 scripts (Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian) was key to deciphering cuneiform
Palatine
Palatine Hill is 1 of 7 hills of Rome, traditionally associated with the city’s founding by Romulus
It became the site of imperial palaces during the Roman Empire
Pompeii
A Roman city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE
It’s well preserved ruins provide a snapshot of daily life in the Roman Empire
Carthage
A Phoenician colony and later a major power in the western Mediterranean
It was Rome’s rival in the Punic Wars and was eventually destroyed in 146 BCE
Zebu Cattle
A humped breed domesticated in South Asia
Were important in the Indus Valley Civilization for agriculture, transportation and religious symbolism
Ola Leaf Manuscripts
Palm leaves used for writing in ancient South Asia
They were a common medium for recording texts, including religious and literary works
Niuheliang Temple
A Hongshan culture site in China, known for its life-sized clay statues and ritual structures
It provides evidence religious practices in East Asia
Bi and Cong
Bi = Flat disks
Cong = Tubes
Jade artifacts from ancient China, often found in elite burials
Symbolize heaven and earth and were used in rituals
Chariot Burials
Tombs containing chariots, horses, and drivers found in Shang Dynasty China
They reflect the importance of chariots in warfare and elite status
Blackware Ceramics
finely made, thin walled pottery from the Longshan culture
Were used as elite grave goods and represent advanced ceramic tech
Scapulamancy
A divination practice using animal shoulder blades, common in ancient China
Was used to communicate with ancestors and deities
Tian
A Chinese concept meaning “heaven” or “sky”
Central to Shang cosmology, representing the divine order and the king’s role as a mediator between heaven and earth
Hang Tu
A Chinese construction technique using rammed earth
Used to build walls and platforms in ancient cities like Erlitou
Ting
A type of bronze cauldron used in Shang rituals
Symbolized elite status and was used to prepare offerings for ancestors
Taotie Motif
A mythical creature depicted on Shang bronzes
Is thought to represent a protective or ancestral spirit
Ishtar Gate
A monumental entrance to Babylon, decorated with glazed bricks depicting lions, dragons, and bulls
Symbolized the city’s power and wealth
Temple of Marduk
AKA Esagila was the main temple in Babylon, dedicated to the city’s patron god
Housed a massive gold statue of Marduk
Processional Way
In Babylon was a grand avenue used for religious processions, especially during the New Year festival
It connected the Ishtar Gate to the Temple of Marduk
Alphabet
Developed by the Phoenicians, simplifying writing by using symbols for individual sounds
Spread across the Mediterranean and became the basis for many modern scripts
Lamassu
Lamassu and Assyrian protective deities depicted as winged bulls/lions with human heads
Guarded the entrances to palaces and temples
Cyrus Cylinder
A clay artifact inscribed with a declaration by Cyrus the Great, often called the first charter of human rights
Reflects Persian policies of tolerance and governance
Tomb of Midas
A Phrygian burial mound at Gordion, associated with King Midas
It contained rich grave goods, including bronze vessels and furniture
Electrum
A natural alloy of gold and silver, used by the Lydians to mint the 1st coins
It played a key role in the development of currency
Etemenanki
The ziggurat of Babylon, dedicated to Marduk
Is associated with the biblical Tower of Babel
Fora
Plural of forum
Public spaces in Roman cities, used for markets, meetings and political activities
The Roman Forum was the center of public life in Rome
The Pantheon
A Roman temple with a massive dome, dedicated to all the gods
It’s 1 of the best preserved ancient buildings and a masterpiece of Roman architecture
Harpax
A Roman naval weapon, a catapult-fired grappling hook used to seize enemy ships
It was a key innovation in naval warfare
Opus Caementicium
Roman concrete, a durable building material used in structures like aqueducts, amphitheaters and domes
It revolutionized Roman architecture
