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Sometimes called the "Old Stone age," named for the types of tools used and was societies generally followed the pattern of the pastorl nomads. All prior to 10,000 BC
Paleolithic period
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Occurred in 9000 BC. Men learned to domestcate Animals, and Women to domesticate and harvest plants.
Agricultural Revolution
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In the neolithic period this led to the demise of migration
Agricultural revolution
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What caused fewer people to have to farm in the neolithic period?
Specialization of labor. Because more people could focus on other specific tasks, fewer were needed to worry about farming.
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What led to social stratification in the neolithic period?
Surplus
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Where is Mesopotamia in a modern day context?
Iraq
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What is a nickname for Mesopotamia?
"Between the rivers"
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What were the geographical challenges associated with the early culture of Mesopotamia?
Little rain, muddy swamps and unpredicatable flooding.
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What factors led to the technological revolution in Mesopotamia?
The need to control the water.
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Occurred between 6000 and 3000 BCE in Mesopotamia
Technological revolution
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What was the result of the need to create various projects for controlling the water in Mesopotamia?
Organizational revolution
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Took 10 years to build, was created to get one closer to the almighty and was believed to house deities.
The Ziggurat of Ur
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Was a pastoral nomad in an ancient Mesopotamian legend. Half man and half animal and created a significant problem for many civilized people until they were able to "tame" him
Enkidu
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The first example of a written Epic in world history
The Epic of Gilgamesh
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He corrupts Enkidu in an attempt to control him. Introduces him to sex with a harlot.
Gilgamesh
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Why do Enkidu and Gilgamesh wrestle?
Enkidu is trying to prevent Gilgamesh from going to bone someone else's wife.
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A "Noah" figure for ancient Mesopotamia
Utnapishtim
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Nicknamed the gift of the Nile
Egypt
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Why was Egypt less urban than Mesopotamia?
Water was more predictable and easier to control and so there was less need to improve on technology to change anything
-
What is the difference between the Nile rivers and the Tigris/Euhprates rivers?
The Nile flowed on a regular pattern and deposited silt into the ground.
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This is the first period in Egyptian history that goes from 3100-2600 BC.
The Archaic Period
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This is the period from 2660-2160 BC in Ancient Egpyt
The Old Kingdom
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This is the period from 2160-1640 BC in Epgytian history
Middle Kingdom
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This is the period from 1550-1075 BC in Egyptian history
New Kingdom
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He is an Egyptian sun God and it is believed that all of the subsequent pharoahs are his offspring
Horus
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In what ways were Pharoahs percieved as Demi Gods?
They were believed to the be the Offspring of Horus
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Constructed of 2,000,000 limestone blocks, 500 feet tall and covers 13 acres of land
The Great Period
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This God would judge an individual at the end of his or her life according to Egyptian mythology
Osiris
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This cult had a very highly developed concept of judgment and afterlife
The cult of Osiris
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The indigenuos people of India and the banks of the Indus River who had dark skin and are sometimes called Harappans
Dravidians
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A nomadic tribe who arrived in India about 1500 BC and sought to control the Dravidians and ushered in the Vedic age
Aryans
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An ancient society known for using standard weights and measures, currency and possibily even a trade affiliation with Harrapa
Mohenjo Daro
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A society that mysteriously ended
Harappan
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This occurred in 2500 BC and led to the aryans coming down to India
The indo-european migration
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This age occurs from 1500 BC to 500 BC and starts when the Aryans set up shop in India
The Vedic Age
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Why did the Aryans defeat the Harappans/Dravidians?
Chariot technology
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The Aryans called the Dravidians "Dasa." What does this mean?
Subject people
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Why did the Aryans develop the Varna and Caste systems in India?
They were worried about Aryans interbreeding with the Dravidians
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The root meaning of the word "Varna"
Skin color
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the root meaning of the term "caste"
Heredity
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In the caste system, this is the most powerful class or sometimes called the "priest" class.
Brahmin
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In the caste system, this is the warrior class and also the class of the political leaders
Kshatriya
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In the caste system this is the merchant/artisan class
Vaishyas
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This is the common or labor class in the caste system. They make up 95% of the Indian subcontinent
Shudras
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The term that refers to sub-castes or castes within castes
Jati
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From what legend did the Caste system emerge?
The sacrficice of Purusha. All of his various body parts represent the different body parts that make up the body of India
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Why were the vedas developed?
To detail the correct procedure for sacrifice.
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Occurred between 1000 and 700 BC in India
Kingship rose up
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This commentary on the Vedas created a change in the purpose of sacrifice and further empowered the Brahmin class
Brahmana
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How did the brahmanas empower the Brahmins?
It was believed that their sacrficice literally constrained the Gods to bless the people. It was no longer an act of benevolence and this elevated the position of the Brahmins.
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This movement occurred in the late vedic age and led to a backlash against the brahmana movement
The upanishads
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What is the idea that one must conquer the material world with spiritual strength, and to practice self denial
Ascetism
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In what ways did the Upanishads challenge the authority of the Brahmins and their Brahmanas?
It stressed non-violence, calling their sacrfice into question. It also brought the Dravidian religious notions into play (Brahman, samsara, karma and moksha) which played an effect on the imoprtance of the class system.
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How did the Upanishads have a strengthening effect on the social structure of India.
It solidified the class system because it spread the idea that a person had "what they deserved" in this life, but that everyone would get the opportunity to move up.
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Indian concept of nonviolence
Ahimsa
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What does the term "classical" refer to in the subject of empire?
That of Greek or Roman descent
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These empires dominated India from 321 BC to 550 BC
The Mauryan and Gupta Empires
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This man overthrew the rules of Magadha and created the first unified Indian Empire
Chandragupta Maurya
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His government had an advisor, a network of spies and courtesans and he developed a handbook of political statecraft called the Arthashastra
Chandragupta Maurya
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Was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya nad lived from 268-232 BC
Ashoka Maurya
-
What happened to the Maryan empire at about 185 BC?
It began to fragment and disappear
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This dynasty was found by Chandragupta
The Gupta Dynasty
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This dynasty established popular Hindu thought within its boundaries as well as long distance trade and wealth
Gupta Dynasty
-
What did the expansion of wealth in the Gupta Empire do the to status of the lower classes?
It increased
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These were people reacting to the social changes going on in the Mauryan/Gupta empires and are what modern day readers would call "atheists"
Charavakas
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These people reacted to the social changes of the Mauryan empire and rejected the teaachings of the Brahmins and focused more on renouncement and personal enlightenment (Think of the Jain and the Buddha)
Ascetics
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Lived from 540-468 BC. Was an Ascetic renouncer, A statue known as Gomateshwara has been erected in his honor
Mahavira
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The enlightened teacher, and what Mahavira became
The Jain
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Was part of the Kshatriya class who renounced it all after discovering suffering in the world
Siddharta Guatama
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The path that exists between the path of indulgence and the path of denial (that Siddharta sought)
The Middle Path
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In Buddhist doctrine, "the way" or "the law."
Dharma
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What happened in the Buddhist world in 528 BC
Monastic orders established. Buddha obtains followers
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He supported, converted to and funded Buddhism, largely in part to his guilt in conquering Kalinga
Ashoka
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What changes occurred in popular Buddhist thought from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD?
The idea of the Buddha divine and the Bodhissatva
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This mode of Buddhism is known as the "greater vehicle"
Mahayana Buddhism
-
this form of Buddhism is known as the "lesser vehicle"
Theravada Buddhism
-
What factors led to the decline of Buddhism in India?
Monastic isolation, rise of Atheism and Islam
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This river gave rise to early Chinese Empires. Sometimes called "China's sorrow" because of its destructive history
The Yellow River
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The Earliest known Chinese Dynasty dating back to 2200 BC
The Xia Dynasty
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An early Chinese Dynasty existed from 1766-1122 BC
Shang Dynasty
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What factor gave rise to most powerful empires in the East?
Hydraulic States or the ablity to control water
-
One factor of the Shang Dynasty's power was this process:
Broze Metallurgy
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This metallurgy occurred in 1200 BC during the time of the Shang dynasty
Bronze
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In what ways was Bronze Metallurgy crucial to the shang Dynasty's power?
It was the basis of tools and weaponry and the state monopolized it.
-
What form of Leadership did the Shang Dynasty employ?
A decentralized, Feudal form
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This Dynasty existed from 1122-256 BC and Eclipsed the shang rule
Zhou Dynasty
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What lead to the decline of the Zhou dynasty?
Discovery of Iron and their own decentralized ledership
-
How did the Zhou dynasty ensure that their overthrow of the Shang could be justified?
The "Mandate of Heaven"
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How did the mandate of heaven solidify the Zhou's power in overthrowing the Shang?
It presented the idea that it was God given and that "might makes right" was not at work. It was the work of God, and not just any regular Joe could do it.
-
How did the Zhou rules determine whether or not the Gods were pleased with the current ruler?
The State of the Yellow River
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Zhou literature became the foundation for Chinese literature and a religion to come later
Confucianism
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What helped to Unify China during the Zhou Dynasty?
Wars...people wanted to find the most effective method for reorganizing society
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This leader was heavily influenced by Zhou literature and died in 479 BC. Was not a prophet or holy man...just a scholar teacher and had a desire to be a political advisor
Confucius
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The compilation of Confucius' sayings, created posthumously
The Analects
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The confucian principle that officials should all act for the common good
Ren
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The cnofucian principle that Propriety and deference should be shown to Elders and superiors
Li
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the confucian principle that fillial piety was essential and that Children should respect their parents
Xiao
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The confucian ideal for a perfect leader in society
Junzi
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An optimist and believer in Ren. He created a school of thought based on Confucian principles and lived from 372-289 BC.
Mencius
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A confucian scholar who was a pessimist and believed in the fundamental selfishness of humanity and encouraged rigid discipline and propriety Lived from 298-238 BC
Xunzi
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Founder of Taoist thuoght. Was an advisor to chinese rulers. Renounced society and moved to western China
Lao-Tzu (Laozi)
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What word do Taoists use to criticize Confucianists?
Activists
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The writings of Lao-Tzu
Tao Te Ching
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The natural order of the world according to Lao-Tzu
Tao
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four characteristics of Tao
Undefinable, cyclical, quiet and dispassionate
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Positive inaction or acting without acting. Taoist philosophy
Wu-wei
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Taoists use this to help understand Tao and what it means to understand it
The Tao of water. Yielding, soft and without ambition
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Principle of Tao based on being ready to recieve new ideas and not to develop rigid pre-concieced notions
"BE THE POT"
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Practical and efficient statecraft with little regard for ethics, morality or natural forces
Legalism
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Lived from 280 to 233 BC and synthesized legalist theories into a collection of essays
Han Feizi
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In Legalist doctrine this is the law and foundation for society
Fa
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In legalist doctrine this is the idea of a ruler's methods, tctices and art. (Often rooted in maintaining secrecy)
Shu
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Legalist principle of legitimacy or charisma of a leader
Shi
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According to Legalist docrtine what are the two strengths of any state?
Agriculture and Military
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This period existed in China from 403 to 221 BC
The warring states period
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This ruler united China in 221 BC. He divided China into districts, dismantled regional fortresses and established a unified system of writing. Also known to be a legalist and to have burned all Zhou literature
Qin Shi Yung
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These men were worker on qin Shu Yung's great wall but led a rebellion and to the collapse of the Qin Dynasty
Chen Shang and Wu Guang
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Rose up after the deaths of Cheng Sheng and Wu Guang (the great wall workers) and established the Han Dynasty
Lu Bang
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Known as the "martial emperor" of the Han dynasty and most influential. He built roads and canals, reinstated Confucianism and created an imperial university
Han Wudi
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Major Accomplishments of the Han Dynasty
Confucian system of education and the explansion in Korea, Vietnam and Central Asia
-
Han Economic innovations
Silk textiles and Paper
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Known as the socialist emperor. Lived from 6 BC to 23 AD.
Hang Wang
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What did Hang Wang do to deal with the problem of land distribution?
Confiscated land from the wealthy and redistributed it to the poor.
-
When the Aryan's settled Persia in 3000 BC, who was there?
The Babylonians
-
What advantages did the early barbarians have over the civilized people regarding warfare?
They were mobile, had nothing to defend, had been trained in cavalry their whole lives
-
Who established civilizations in Persia in 3000 BC?
Aryans
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This man founded the Achaemenid Empire
Cyrus the Great
-
Cyrus the Great is associated with which century?
The 6th century
-
The son of Cyrus and notable for conquering Egypt
Cambyses
-
Most influential leader in the Achaemenid Empire?
Darius
-
What was the beuracratic center and "heart" of Darius' empire?
Persepolis
-
Darius divided the empire into administrative districts called
Satrapies
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Each Satrapy in Darius' empire had a leader known as a __________
Satrap
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All of Darius' satraps were from Persia. What was the advantage of this?
They were loyalists
-
What policies did darius implement that are similar to those from the leaders of the Qin Empire?
Standardized currency, writing and language
-
What ideal did Darius implement in his Empire that helped it run efficiently and to keep people content?
Cultural tolerance
-
-
Xerxes abandoned the culturally tolerant ideals of his father and created enemies with surrounding empires...what is this phenomenon?
Persianization
-
What led to the downfall of Xerxes empire?
The people he'd alienated were pissed, they were at war with the Ionian Greeks and Alexander the Great invaded
-
Leader of the Zoroastrian religion
Zarathustra
-
Zarathustra had a vision from God and was given information to spread to the people in what would become zoroastrianism. What was the name of this God?
Ahura Mazda
-
The evil counterpart of Ahura Mazda
Angra Mainyu
-
The Zoroastrian equivalent of the Vedas or Vedic Hymns
Gathas
-
What were the appeals of Zoroastrianism?
Life of moderation but not asceticism, it filled a spiritual void that the original Persian religion wasn't filling with ritual sacrifice and it was endorsed by king Darius himself.
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