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Ancient and Medieval Cultures > Midterm Exam > Flashcards

Midterm Exam Flashcards

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1
Q

Code of Hammurabi

A

Collection of judgements made by Hammurabi; not the earliest law code or collection of judgements, but it helped create modern ideas of jurisprudence

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2
Q

Cuneiform

A

“Wedge-shaped” writing that ancient Mesopotamians developed

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3
Q

D

A

Source used in the creation of the Hebrew Bible; primarily consists of the book of Deuteronomy

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4
Q

Epic of Gilgamesh

A

Earliest known piece of epic literature that attempts to answer universal questions about human existence

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5
Q

Henotheism

A

The belief that there are multiple gods in the universe but that you need to honor only one of those gods

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6
Q

J

A

Early source used in the production of the Hebrew Bible. Depicts an anthropomorphic Yahweh

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7
Q

Josiah of Judah

A

Ruler of Judah who embarked on a series of religious reforms that centralized worship in Jerusalem and enforced worship of Yahweh alone; perhaps inspired by Deuteronomy

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8
Q

Mesopotamia

A

Area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers where early cities developed

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9
Q

Monotheism

A

The belief that there is a single, universal, and omnipotent god who created and controls the universe

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10
Q

P

A

One of the latest sources used in the production of the Hebrew Bible; depicts a single, omnipotent deity

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11
Q

Sumerians

A

Early city dwellers in southern Mesopotamia

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12
Q

Syncretism

A

The idea that cultures and religions do not develop in a vacuum but instead are the result of the blending of different cultural and religious ideals

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13
Q

The Torah

A

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) that were composed, edited, and rewritten over the course of centuries

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14
Q

Ziggurats

A

Stepped pyramid temples that were built in Mesopotamian cities to honor the gods

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15
Q

Asoka

A

Indian ruler who helped spread Buddhism by building stupas and pillars across India

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16
Q

Atman

A

The individual soul in Hindu tradition

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17
Q

Bhagavad Gita

A

The Song of the Lord; a segment of the Mahabharata that contains a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna in which Krishna outlines various possible paths to moksha

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18
Q

Brahman

A

The universal soul that binds together the world; where one’s atman will go when it attains moksha

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19
Q

dharma

A

The ritual duties that one owes to one’s family, gods, varna, and society in Hindu traditions

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20
Q

Dharma

A

The law and teachings of the Buddha as seen in the Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Law and other teachings

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21
Q

Dharmachakra

A

The wheel of the law; Buddhist symbol for the teachings of the Buddha

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22
Q

Eschatology

A

Religious belief that history is moving toward a final judgement in which all souls will receive their just reward or punishment

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23
Q

Indo-Aryans

A

Term used to describe the people who spoke an Indo-European language that migrated into India

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24
Q

Indo-Europeans

A

Linguistic group that developed either in the modern Ukraine (Steppe Theory) or Anatolia (Anatolian Theory) and spread across India and Europe

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25
Civilization that developed along the Indus River, traded with Mesopotamia, and collapsed before the arrival of the Indo-Aryans
Indus Valley civilization
26
Krishna
An avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu who comes to earth to help humanity by defeating evil and teaching how to attain moksha
27
Moksha
Liberation from samsara
28
Nirvana
Buddhist concept of non-existence; freedom from desire and an end to physical suffering and samsara
29
Rig Veda
The Verses of Knowledge that preserve the hymns and traditions of the Indo-Aryans
30
Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Law
First sermon of the Buddha that outlines the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path
31
Siddhartha Gautama
The founder of Buddhism known as the Buddha (the enlightened one)
32
Stupas
Circular shrines built by Buddhists that contained a relic of the Buddha or one of his early followers that helped serve as a devotional focus for Buddhists
33
Samsara
The cycle of reincarnation common to Indian religious and philosophical traditions
34
The Upanishads
A collection of texts containing the teachings of individual teachers and their students from ancient India; they contain the foundational ideas for many Indian religious and philosophical traditions
35
Varna
Literally “color”; the class system of India containing Brahmins (or priests), Kshatriyas (or rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (or merchants and peasants), and Shudras (or laborers)
36
Yoga of Action
A path suggested by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita that focuses on following one’s dharma above all else
37
Yoga of Devotion
A path suggested by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita that focuses on devoting one’s life to the worship and honoring of a deity (such as Vishnu)
38
Zoroastrianism
Persian religious tradition centered on the conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu
39
Aristotle
One of Plato’s students who studied everything that he could and created the foundations of western knowledge and intellectual culture through the Middle Ages
40
Capital
The top of a column that artisans often elaborately decorate
41
Contrapposto
Artistic stance developed by the classical Greeks to show movement
42
Corinthian order
Architectural order developed by the Greeks but adopted by the Romans; characterized by capitals decorated with acanthus leaves
43
Doric order
Early architectural order developed by the classical Greeks. Characterized by short, thick columns and plain capitals
44
Eusebia
Greek virtue of piety and honoring the gods
45
Forms
Plato’s idea of an ideal world of existence that contains the ideal, perfect concepts that are the perfect versions of all physical objects and ideas
46
Ionic order
Architectural order developed in western Turkey; characterized by volute capitals (meaning the capitals are carved to look like the two ends of a scroll)
47
Kore
Archaic Greek female statue
48
Kouros
Archaic Greek male statue
49
Minoan society
Civilization that developed on Crete and traded across the Mediterranean
50
Mycenaean society
Warlike civilization that developed in mainland Greece. Heavily influenced by Minoan society
51
Plato
- One of the great founders of Greek philosophy. Taught in Athens and wrote works about Socrates (including The Republic) - Taught the theory of the Forms
52
Polis
- Greek city-states that developed during the Greek Dark Age after the collapse of Mycenaean and Minoan society - Key political institution that characterized Greek society for centuries
53
Pre-Socratics
- Philosophers who developed prior to Socrates | - A prime example are the Sophists
54
The Republic
One of the best known of Plato’s works. Contains The Allegory of the Cave, a discussion of the Forms, as well as a critique of Athenian democracy
55
Socrates
- One of the founders of Greek Philosophy who was put on trial for corrupting the youth of Athens and committed suicide - Plato’s teacher and mentor
56
Xenia
Greek virtue of hospitality
57
Alexander the Great
Ruler of Macedon whose conquests result in the creation of the Hellenistic kingdoms and the global expansion of Greek culture
58
Bactria
Geographical area consisting of modern northern Afghanistan and portions of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan that Alexander and his successors conquered
59
Cameo
A carved gemstone or piece of glass that shows an image or scene. Common, but very difficult, Hellenistic and Roman technique
60
Consul
- Most important magistrates in the Roman Republic | - Main generals and ran the Republic on a day-to-day basis with the help of the Senate and the lower magistrates
61
Epicureanism
- Hellenistic philosophy founded by Epicurus | - Focused on how to live a peaceful life by rationally seeking pleasure
62
Gandhara
Geographical area consisting of modern eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan that Alexander and his successors conquered
63
Hellenistic
Term used to describe the evolution of Greek culture, politics, art, society, etc. after the conquests of Alexander the Great
64
Histories
- History of the Roman Republic written by Polybius | - Provides a detailed, if somewhat idealized, depiction of the Roman Republic’s government and society
65
Mudra
- Hand gestures in Buddhist art (usually seen in images of the Buddha, cosmic buddhas, and bodhisattvas) - Different hand positions have a variety of meanings
66
Patricians
The elites who dominated Roman society
67
Plebeians
The lower classes of Rome
68
Ptolemy
One of Alexander’s generals who seized control of Egypt and founded Ptolemaic Egypt
69
Seleucus
One of Alexander’s generals who seized control of Mesopotamia and Central Asia and founded the Seleucid Empire
70
Stoicism
- Hellenistic philosophy that spread widely in the Roman world - Highlights the need to rationally understand the workings of the divine force that binds together and predetermines all things
71
The Manual
- Hellenistic philosophy that spread widely in the Roman world - Highlights the need to rationally understand the workings of the divine force that binds together and predetermines all things
72
The Punic Wars
- Series of wars conducted in the 200s and 100s BCE between Rome and Carthage - Results in Rome’s victory and domination of the Western Mediterranean
73
The Roman Republic
Government of Rome consisting of three main bodies (the Magistrates, the Senate, and the Assemblies) that ruled Rome from 509 BCE to the ascension of Octavian
74
Tribune of Plebs
The extremely powerful and influential Roman magistrates who represented the plebeians
75
Ushnisha
Characteristic topknot shown in images of the Buddha symbolizing his cosmic wisdom
76
Wet drapery
Technique in which robes both hide a figure but also serve to accentuate movement by clinging to the body
77
Emperor Worship
Roman tradition of worshiping the spirits of dead Emperors as a way of showing loyalty to the state
78
Episcopus
A religiously neutral term (it originally meant “overseer”) that early Christians used to refer to their religious leaders. Usually translated as “Bishop” today
79
Epistles
Letters written by early Christian leaders to churches or individual followers. Some of the most important are credited to Paul (including Galatians and 1st Timothy), but scholars believe that some were written by later Christians and simply backdated to make them seem more authentic
80
Gaius Marius
Consul who reformed the army of the Roman Republic by creating professional, permanent, and well-trained legions. Historians often credit his reforms with destroying the Republic
81
Gnosticism
A pre-Christian religious movement that slowly blended with Christianity. Condemned as a heresy by bishops and other early Christians
82
Gospels
The “Good News”. Texts written about the life of Jesus by early Christians. These include the four canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and Infancy, Passion, and Wisdom gospels that are not included in the New Testament
83
Kriophoros
Classical image of a deity (typically Hermes) carrying a ram or calf for sacrifice. A model for the later image of the Good Shepherd
84
Mystery Religions
Religious traditions in the Hellenistic and Roman world marked by their secrecy. Offer a personal connection to a divine being and the promise of a more fulfilling/happy afterlife
85
Octavian
Also known as Augustus; the nephew and heir of Julius Caesar who became the first emperor of Rome via his creation of the Principate
86
Orans
Prayer posture in early Christianity that they borrowed from Roman traditions
87
Pastoral Epistles
Three letters (1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus) that are credited to Paul but which scholars believe were written by a single author in the years after Paul’s death
88
Paul
One of the most important early Christian missionaries and writers. Credited with writing epistles to Christian communities in which he articulates the universality of Jesus’s message
89
Romanization
The spread of Roman literature, architecture, languages, and technology around the Mediterranean and into northern Europe. The process by which people became Roman
90
The Five Good Emperors
The emperors of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. Their rule marks the highpoint of the Pax Romana
91
The Pax Romana
The Roman Peace. The time when the Roman Empire was basically peaceful, the economy was strong, and Christianity developed and spread
92
The Principate
Form of government created by Octavian in which the Republic appeared to be operating normally, but Octavian dominated from behind the scenes.

Ancient and Medieval Cultures (2 decks)

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