World History Flashcards
Civilization (definition)
- use metal tools and weapons
- written language
- defined territorial state
- use a calendar
Earliest Civilizations locations
- Nile River Valley
- Mesopotamia (Tigris Euphrates River)
- Indus River
- Hwang Ho (China)
Fertile Crescent
Modern day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, and Jordan. Where earliest civilizations arose.
Egyptians
- advanced construction methods (pyramids)
- complex religion, mummification
- paper (papyrus)
- advanced knowledge of arithmetic and geometry
Babylonians
Code of Hammurabi - code of law for the whole state
Assyrians
horse drawn chariots and organized military
Hebrew/Ancient Israelites
Developed the monotheistic religion that developed into modern Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Persians
Conquerors but tolerant of other cultures. . Had influence on modern religious practice. Developed an alphabet.
Minoans
Island of Crete (greece)
- Syllabic writing system
- Colorful palaces and advanced architecture
- Linear Script A
- depended on trade
- disrupted by earthquakes and volcanoes
- supplanted by Mycenaeans
Mycenaeans
- First major civilization in Europe
- Depended on conquest (rather than trade like the Minoans)
- States include Sparta, Metropolis, and Corinth
- History recorded by Homer (including the Trojan War)
- Religion that grew into the Greek pantheon (zeus, olympian gods)
- Linear Script B (ancient form of classical greek)
Phoenicians
- Seafarers, used the stars to navigate
- Purple dye, glass, metals
- Phonetic alphabet
Indus Valley/Ancient India
- Developed the concept of zero
- early Hinduism and Buddhism
- caste system
- ancient literature including Mahabharata (Bhagavad Gita), Ramayana, Arthashastra, the Vedas
- Indo - european languages such as English find their beginning in ancient languages
Ancient China
Developed along Yangzte River 500,00 years ago
Oldest uninterrupted civilization
- ancient literature includes works by Confucius, Analects, Tao Te Ching, and poetry
- Silk, millet, Longshan black pottery
Civilizations of Mesopotamia
- Sumerians
- Amorites
- Hittites
- Assyrians
- Chaldeans
- Persians
All autocratic
Sumer
Cultural Legacies:
- Invention of writing
- Invention of the wheel
- First library (Assyria, Ashurbanipal)
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- First written laws (Ur Nammu’s Codes and Code of Hammurabi)
- First epic story in history (Epic of Gilgamesh)
- invented the wheel and irrigation
- timekeeping system still in use
Kushite
South of Ancient Egypt, at one point larger than Egypt. Matrilineal descent of kings (like Egypt). Kerma (capitol) major trade center. Polytheistic religion included Egyptian and African gods.
Norte Chico
In modern day Peru, oldest civilization in the Americas.
Started 5,000 years ago
Agricultural
Anasazi (Ancient Pueblo)
Southwest U.S.
Adobe homes
Maya
Mexico and Central America
2600 BCE
Written language and complex calendar
Dorian Invasion
Hypothetical invasion of the Mycenaeans. around 1200 BCE, at the same time as the destruction of the Hittite civilization
Spartans and Athenians
Powerful city states
Spartans (Peloponnesus): Oligarchy, military state, farming, strongest military force
Athens (Attica): Democracy, art, theater, philosophy
Fought each other in the Peloponnesian War (431 - 404 BCE)
Ancient Greece
Cultural Contributions:
Theater - Aristophanes
Alphabet - derived from Phoenician alphabet
Geometry - Pythagoras and Euclid, Archimedes discovered Pi
Historical Writing - ancient history and mythology
Philosophy - Socrates, Plato, Aristotle “Fathers of Western Philosophy”
Alphabet development
Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Modern Day
Alexander the Great
One of the greatest conquerors in history. Conquered Egypt and Achaemenid/Persian Empire - an empire founded by Cyrus the Great that spanned 3 continents. Spread Greek culture and Hellenistic traditions into the “east.” Increased trade between eastern and western civilizations
Persian Wars
Persian empire ruled by Cyrus the Great. Persians v. Greeks 499 - 448 BCE Battle of Marathon Battle of Thermopylae (v. Spartans) Battle of Salamis Battle of Plataea
Maurya Empire
Powerful Empire in Indian subcontinent
322 - 185BCE
Ruled by Chandragupta
Highly developed - standardized economic system, waterworks, private corporations.
Traded with Greeks - silk, foods, spices
Protected rights of people and animals
Rise of Buddhism and Jainism, peaceful empire
Accomplishments of Chinese Empires
- Great Wall of China
- Invention of paper, paper money, printing, and gunpowder
- Artistic developments
- Silk production
Byzantine Empire
Eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Constantine founded Constantinople - center of the empire. Influenced by Mesopotamia and Persia.
Famous for:
- lavish art and architecture
- Code of Justinian, collected Roman Law into a clear system
Nicene Creed
First unified doctrine of Christianity
325 First Council of Nicaea
451 Council of Chaldeon said any rejection of the Trinity was blasphemy
Fall of Roman Empire
Increasing size of empire made it hard to manage
Germanic tribes refused to follow the Nicene Creed and opposed Roman Empire, eventually took control of the empire
Roman Catholic v. Easter Orthodox Churches
Emperor Leo III of the Byzantine Empire ordered the destruction of all icons - made images of holy figures blasphemy
Pope Gregory II called a synod who decided this was heretical.
Leo III tried to kidnap Pope Gregory but his plan failed
European Feudalism
Arose as a way to ensure rulers would be able to quickly raise an army when necessary.
Vassals swore their military service to lords in exchange for a “fief” - a parcel of land. Vassals had the land worked by serfs.
Vassals gave a portion of their income to lords, who in turn gave a portion to the king.
Similar to manorialism (the same system but in one manor)
Roman Catholic Church in Medieval Society
Church supplied education, filled power void - lots of political and economic power. Controlled a lot of land and influenced Kings.
Black Death/Bubonic Plague
Came from fleas on rats from sailing vessels. Killed over 1/3 of the population of Europe. Ended feudalism, serfs became skilled laborers. Nation states rise and for some religion declines.
Crusades
11th and 12 centuries. Goal was to slow progression of Muslim forces into Europe and to take control of Jerusalem and Palestine. Led by Eastern Emperor Alexius I and Pope Urban II. Captured Jerusalem, but it changed hands many times over time. 2nd crusade failed to take Damascus. 3rd failed to capture Jerusalem. 4th under Pope Innocent III went through Egypt.
Gupta Dynasty
After Mauryan Dynasty
Invented decimal system and the concept of 0
Produced cotton and Calico to trade
Complex system of medicine
Ended with Muslim invasions in 11th century - sultans
Famous Sultans
Tamerlane expanded India's borders, founding Mogul Dynast Gradson Akbar (the great) promoted freedom of religion and built buildings throughout the country
Isolationist China
Mongols led by Genghis Khan and grandson Kublai Khan (not isolationist) Isolationist Ming (porcelain) and Manchu (farming and roads) dynasties right after These two dynasties ended China's interaction with other countries until the 18th century