Difference between revisions of "World History Study Guide to 1648"

From Conservapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(improved)
(→‎Basic terms: better)
Line 118: Line 118:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Celts]]
 
|[[Celts]]
−
|A tribal people who had lived and had controlled parts of Europe including Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales since ancient times, whose religious consisted of worshiping many gods and being led by priests called "druids."
+
|A tribal, ancient people living in what is now Ireland and Great Britain, who worshiped many gods and had priests called "druids."
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[C.E.]]  
 
|[[C.E.]]  
Line 127: Line 127:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Chaldean Empire]]
 
|[[Chaldean Empire]]
−
|Ancient Babylonian Empire that lasted from 605 B.C to 562 B.C
+
|Ancient Babylonian Empire that lasted from 605-562 BC
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Chandragupta Mauryan]]
 
|[[Chandragupta Mauryan]]
−
|Built the largest Indian empire in India's history. A tough and strong dictator who defeated Greek general Seleucus in 322 B.C., taking from him the portion of the Greek empire that was slightly north of India.  
+
|Built the largest Indian empire ever; he was a tough and strong dictator who defeated Greek general Seleucus in 322 BC, taking from him the portion of the Greek empire slightly north of India.  
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Charlemagne]]
 
|[[Charlemagne]]
−
|King of the Franks from 768 AD to 814 AD, and Holy Roman Emperor after being crowned by the Pope in 800 AD; he greatly expanded both his empire and Christianity during his rule.
+
|King of the Franks from AD 768-814, and Holy Roman Emperor after being crowned by the Pope in AD 800
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Charles Martel]]
 
|[[Charles Martel]]
Line 142: Line 142:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[China]]
 
|[[China]]
−
|One of the world's oldest major civilizations
+
|One of the world's oldest major civilizations, lacking in a major religion
−
|-
+
−
|[[Christian Catacombs]]
+
−
|Ancient graves of Christians. These catacombs served as secret passage-ways for Christians to meet and worship God together. The Catacombs contain the bodies of thousands of ancient Christians.
+
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Cicero]], Marcus Tullius
 
|[[Cicero]], Marcus Tullius
Line 257: Line 254:
 
|[[Four Noble Truths]]  
 
|[[Four Noble Truths]]  
 
|Important principles in [[Buddhism]]
 
|Important principles in [[Buddhism]]
 +
|-
 +
|the Franks
 +
|Germanic tribes settling in the northern part of the Roman empire, rising in power and territory from AD 330-751 and defeating rival groups; Charles the Hammer and Charlemagne were Franks
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Gentiles]]  
 
|[[Gentiles]]  

Revision as of 19:40, October 9, 2011

This is the growing list of study terms for World history, from creation to 1648 (the same midpoint used by the CLEP exams).

Currently at about 426 terms (roughly half basic, half honors). The goal is to build this to nearly 500 terms by mid-October 2011. An examination on this material will be given in late October or early November 2011.

Basic terms

Term Description
Abraham 2000 BC: father of Jewish people, made a covenant with God; Arabs claim descendance from Abraham's son Ishmael.
Acropolis part of a Greek city-state that is built on a hilltop for easy defense. Example: where the democratic assembly met in Athens.
the Academy Founded by the Greek philosopher Plato in 387 BC, this was the world's first great center of learning.
Aesop a Greek writer famous for writing Aesop's Fables around 600 BC, such as "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," to teach life lessons
Alexander the Great 356-323 BC: born to Philip II of Macedon and tutored by Aristotle. Conquered Greece, Egypt, Persia, and more, but not India. Alexander's conquests spread Greek culture and language, helping the future expansion of Christianity.
Alexandria City in Egypt captured by Alexander the Great and then "Hellenized" (made Greek-like). Known for its famous library.
Analects a record of the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, written and compiled by his disciples circa 400-300 BC
Ancient world civilizations before the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476
Aeneid a fictional epic poem, describing how a wandering Trojan became the ancestor of the Romans, written by the great Roman poet Virgil.
Anselm a medieval Christian philosopher who founded scholasticism and developed an "ontological" proof for the existence of God based on degrees of perfection.
Archimedes 287–212 BC: Greek mathematician and engineer. Discovered Archimedes' Principle, invented "Archimedes' screw," and built defenses against the Romans for his city of Syracuse; killed by the Romans.
Archons Aristocratic officials elected by the Athenian government to make the laws; later overtook by tyrants who rose to power in the 600s BC
Arianism a heresy (false doctrine) claiming that Jesus was not God
aristocracy rule by the wealthy and privileged, rather than by democracy
Aristotle 384-322 BC: Greek philosopher, student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great. Emphasized the value of experience, and founded the Lyceum (a school resembling a university with specimens and a library)
Art of Warfare first military treatise; written by Sun Tzu and telling the insights of ancient Chinese culture
Assyrian Empire 1400-605 BC: was first dependent on Babylonia, then became an independent state, and finally an empire. Known for cruelty, especially to the Hebrews. Captured northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC.
Athens birthplace of democracy in 509 BC, Athens was a Greek city-state previously ruled by aristocrats. It defeat invading Persians.
Attila the Hun (AD 406-453): last and greatest ruler of the Huns, called the "Scourge of God"; almost defeated the Roman empire but was talked out of looting Rome by Pope Leo I.
Augustus Caesar the first Roman Emperor (27 BC-14 AD), whose name was Octavian; he took power away from the Roman Senate, he began "Pax Romana" (peaceful prosperity), and he was the emperor when Jesus was born
Babylon the major Mesopotamian city in the ancient Middle East, its greatest ruler was Hammurabi. Babylon developed Cuneiform, used base-60 numbers, defeated ancient Sumer about 2000 BC, and was later cruel to Hebrews.
Babylonia State and Empire created by Babylon. First empire existed from 1900-1600 BC, later reemerged as the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 625-538 BC
Babylonian Exile Period of time from 597 to 538 BC, during which the Israelites were kept as prisoners in Babylon.
barbarian any "uncivilized" (not Roman), unshaven, ruthless warriors who would attack and invade ancient Rome (name "barbarus" means "bearded").
Battle of Tours Pivotal victory against the Muslims (732); led by Charles "the Hammer" of the Germanic people known as the "Franks".
B.C.E. a non-Christian term for "B.C." "B.C.E." means "Before Common Era" instead of "Before Christ."
Bible Collection of Hebrew (Old Testament) and Christian (New Testament) Scriptures. Foretells the coming of a Messiah for the Hebrews, and recounts ancient history including the Tower of Babel and the Great Flood.
Brahman/Brahmin Brahmin is the ultimate god or existence in Hinduism, of which all existence is a part; "Brahmin" means the highest class for families in the Hindu caste system
Bronze Age 3500-1200 BC: when copper and bronze were used for jewelry, tools, utensils, weapons; this eventually enabled the introduction of the plow for easier farming.
Buddha "Awakened One" in Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama was the first Buddha.
Buddhism A belief system which teaches that desire causes suffering and if desire is eliminated, enlightenment and Nirvana are attained.
Byzantine Empire It was the eastern part of the Roman empire, based in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), which outlasted the Western half by 1000 years.
Caligula (AD 37-41) cruel and senseless Roman emperor, who even declared his horse to be a Roman Senator.
Carolingian Court Dynasty that started with Charles Martel and his descendants, including Charlemagne, whose revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance. The crowning of Charlemagne in 800 is considered the birth of the "Holy Roman Empire", also known as the Carolingian empire.
Carthage An ancient city on the coast of northern Africa (across the Mediterranean Sea from Italy) which fought against Rome in the three Punic Wars, which left Carthage destroyed, never to be rebuilt again.
caste the social rank in Hinduism: Brahmans are priests and scholars, Kshatriya are rulers, Vaishya are peasants, and Shudra are serfs. Good karma enables one to improve his caste in the next life.
Celts A tribal, ancient people living in what is now Ireland and Great Britain, who worshiped many gods and had priests called "druids."
C.E. A non-Christian term for "A.D." "C.E." stands for "Common Era" instead of "Year of our Lord."
Chaldeans The ancient Babylonians
Chaldean Empire Ancient Babylonian Empire that lasted from 605-562 BC
Chandragupta Mauryan Built the largest Indian empire ever; he was a tough and strong dictator who defeated Greek general Seleucus in 322 BC, taking from him the portion of the Greek empire slightly north of India.
Charlemagne King of the Franks from AD 768-814, and Holy Roman Emperor after being crowned by the Pope in AD 800
Charles Martel Charles "the Hammer"; Christian ruler who led the Franks to a decisive victory against the Muslims in the Battle of Tours (732)
Chivalry Code of behavior developed during feudalism; required loyalty to God, looking out for one another, and different roles for men and women
China One of the world's oldest major civilizations, lacking in a major religion
Cicero, Marcus Tullius Famous Roman orator, senator and lawyer who lived from 106-43 BC, and who opposed Marc Anthony.
City-states Small nations consisting of only a single city each; common in ancient Greece. Examples included Sparta, Athens and Corinth. They fought each other, but also banned together to defeat the Persians when that great empire sought to absorb Greece.
Civilization A group of people who live in an area. They have agriculture, currency, a government and laws, and an economy.
Classical Civilizations Ancient Mediterranean civilizations that were generally pre-Christian, such as Rome, Greece, and Egypt
Classicism A Renaissance movement in the arts, looking back to ancient Rome and Greece for inspiration
Cleisthenes Established democracy in Athens in 507 BC, giving all free men the right to vote
Cleopatra The queen of Egypt who reigned from 51-30 BC
Code of Hammurabi The code of Hammurabi was one of the first set of written laws. It was a harsh code that demanded an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth. Hammurabi was the king of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 BC
Code of Manu Hindu law containing rules and codes of conduct. Written in 200 BC in India.
Colosseum A massive stadium in Rome that was used to hold gladiatorial contests, chariot racing and killing Christians and others for entertainment. Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre.
Comedy In ancient Greece, a play with a happy ending. All classical plays were either a "comedy" or a "tragedy".
Confucius A very famous Chinese philosopher who came up with many ideas about ethics and social conduct
Constantine (the Great) The first Christian emperor of Rome who legalized Christianity, ended the persecution of Christians, and united the eastern with the western Roman empires
Constantinople Modern day Istanbul, it was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire from AD 330. Originally known as Byzantium.
Council of Nicaea A.D. 325, a council of bishops called by Constantine to obtain agreement on various aspects of Christianity (e.g., the Trinity) and to end heresies (e.g., Arianism).
cuneiform The earliest known form of writing. Consists of lines and dashes to represent different concrete things, such as fish.
Cynicism Greek philosophy emphasizing living life without worldly possessions, founded by Socrates' student Antisthenes.
David Second king of Israel and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. He was chosen by God to replace Saul and he expands the kingdom of Israel greatly.
Delian League Alliance against Persia; formed in 477 BC consisting of Athens and various other Greek city-states and Aegean towns; controlled by Athens who imposed taxes and used the League's budget to fund Athenian projects
Dharma The laws of religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism
Diaspora The migration or scattering of a people away from their ancestral home.
Diocletian The Roman emperor who tried to save the empire of Rome by dividing it into eastern and western regions. He established the "tetrartchy", and ruled from A.D. 284 to 305.
Direct Democracy laws are made by votes of the citizens, rather than by elected officials. Athens of ancient Greece was the first direct democracy.
Dorians tribes that settled Greece between 1100 and 1000 B.C., having an oppressive military ruling class. The "Doric order" is the simplest form of Greek architecture, consisting of a straight column without any artistic trim at the top.
Early agriculture Crops such as grain being grown in places such as Egypt
Edict of Milan a political proclamation that fully legalized Christianity (and all other religions) throughout the Roman Empire, issued by Constantine I in A.D. 313 AD after the Diocletian persecutions against Christians
Egypt One of the oldest civilizations in recorded history, going back over 5,000 years
Eightfold Path The Buddhist path to reach the end of suffering
Emperor A ruler or king of a country, i.e. Augustus Caesar 1st emperor of Rome.
Enlightened One A translation of the name Buddha
Epic of Gilgamesh A Sumerian poem preserved on stone tablets with a story bearing great resemblance to Noah's ark
Euclid Lived 325-365 B.C. in Hellenistic Alexandria.A Greek mathematician and the father of geometry who wrote the Elements.
Euphrates river The Euphrates is a river that was the border of Mesopotamia and was both a trading route and a protection for Mesopotamia. The land between the Euphrates and the Tigris river is known as the fertile crescent and is the birthplace of civilization.
Fertile Crescent An area of land in the Middle East, located along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, where it was easy to grow crops. Generally regarded as the birthplace of civilisation and probably the location of Eden.
feudalism way of life in Western Europe in the early Middle Ages, consisting of a "lord" who owned land (given by the king) on which "peasants" or "serfs" farmed in exchange for food and protection.
First Punic War between Rome and Carthage in 254-241 BC: Rome conquered the island of Sicily and developed a navy; though Rome was no match for the powerful Carthaginian navy, Romans invented a corvus, allowing them to board enemy ships and win the war
Four Noble Truths Important principles in Buddhism
the Franks Germanic tribes settling in the northern part of the Roman empire, rising in power and territory from AD 330-751 and defeating rival groups; Charles the Hammer and Charlemagne were Franks
Gentiles The term for people who are not of Hebrew (Jewish) descent.
Golden Age An age of great peace and prosperity.
Gracchi brothers Two tribunes of ancient Rome who wanted to help the poor by redistributing land from the rich
Great Wall of China the long and high wall in China that was built beginning with the Qin dynasty in 200 B.C. or so, in order to keep invaders out
Greece The most significant ancient civilization, and it may have even been the greatest civilization of all time. Greece had many remarkable acheivments including, the invention of democracy, and the discovery of mathematics and philosophy. Intellectually, politically, and militarily, Greece had it all.
Greek drama Theatrical tradition of ancient Greece between 600 and 400 B.C. with two main types: comedies (good ending) and tragedies (bad ending)
Greek empire An important empire that produced some of the first works of literature and mythology that has impacted culture today
Gaul A barbaric people who lived in what is now France and terrorized Roman Empire much to its fall.
Gupta empire (AD 240-550): large Indian empire that developed with algebra, the concepts of zero and infinity, and the numbers 1-9
Hammurabi King of Babylon who developed the Code of Hammurabi, which is based on the concept of an eye for an eye
Han dynasty 202 B.C. - A.D. 220, this was the greatest of all the Chinese dynasties and was similar to the Roman empire in expanding territory, administering justice, and enjoying peace like the Pax Romana. The Han dynasty valued education highly, and created a scholar class of people known as "shi".
Hannibal Military commander who planned attacks against Rome and Spain
Hebrews God's chosen people, and the ancestors of the Israelites
heliocentric A theory where the Sun is the center of the universe.
Hellenistic Relating to Greek culture, particularly in lands beyond Greece as conquered by Alexander the Great beginning in 335 B.C.
Hieroglyphics A phonetic alphabet developed by the ancient Egyptians that uses the pictographic symbols to represent both an object and/or a phonetic sound.
Himalaya Mountain Range Mountain range famous for having the world's tallest peaks, including Mount Everest and K2; a geographic protection which isolated ancient China
Hinduism A major religion. It is polytheistic, and is practiced in many places, most notably India.
Hippocrates "The father of medicine", developed the Hippocratic Oath which all medical students worldwide take as a condition of graduation.
Holy Roman Empire It lasted from A.D. 800 to 1806, and included the territory in Europe under the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor. Constituent states often ruled themselves.
Homer An early Greek poet, famous for lengthy sagas such as Iliad and The Odyssey.
Hsia dynasty rulers in China up until 1766 B.C., when Emperor Chieh (the last in the dynasty) was overthrown
Huns A confederation of Asian tribes who fought with the Romans in what is now the Ukraine, Germany, France, Italy and the Balkans. They were considered by many Romans to be the most ferocious of enemies
Ideograms A graphic symbol representing a concept or an idea
Imperator A title first used by Octavian (Augustus Caesar), literally meaning in Latin “general” or “commander”, giving him power over the entire army.
India A country that was home to the Indus Valley civilization and dates back over 3,000 years
Indo-European A very general classification of peoples that includes all the way from India to Egypt.
Indus River Valley A fertile valley that was home to an ancient civilization and is modern Pakistan and northwestern India
Iron Age An era where tools and weapons were made primarily out of iron
Isaac The promised son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. The father of the Israeli people.
Ishmael The son born to Abraham and Sarah's servant, Hagar. Ishmael is revered by Muslims as an ancestor who was unfairly treated as an outcast after Isaac was subsequently born to Abraham and Sarah.
Israel The chosen nation of God and place where most events of the Bible took place
Jainism Branched off of Hinduism, this religion stresses strict vegetarianism and non-violence towards all life.
Japan An island archipelago made up of 4 large islands and over 4,000 smaller ones.
Jesus The Holy Messiah of the Christian faith, and the only son of God who was promised to save all humanity. He was the only founder of a religion to perform miracles to cure the suffering, the only one to emphasize the power of faith, and the only one to give up His life for the salvation of others.
Joan of Arc 17 year old girl who heard God calling her to lead the French army against the English in the 15th century. Was later canonized by the Catholic Church
Judah, Kingdom of the southern kingdom of a divided Israel
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) a military and political leader who laid out the groundwork for the future Roman Empire before he was murdered by Roman senators
Julian Calendar The 12 month, 365-day calendar established by Julius Caesar, and the basis for the Gregorian calendar we use today.
Justinian I and the Justinian Code Eastern Roman Emperor from 527 to 565 who developed the Justinian Code, which is the basis of civil law in many places
Karma In Hinduism, everything a person has done. This determines status in the next life, so a Hindu wants "good karma."
Latin the powerful language spoken in ancient Rome that has contributed to many modern day European languages, including English
Lyceum The great center of learning founded by Aristotle, which then competed with the Academy
Niccolo Machiavelli An Italian political theorist who wrote the The Prince, the most famous guide to how a conniving politician can seize and hold power by dishonestly manipulating others
Magna Carta A charter of personal and political liberties granted to the barons by King John of England in June 1215.
maize corn, first grown by Native Americans, now one of the most popular foods in the entire world
Mandate of Heaven Chinese mandate that held that the gods blessed good rulers and overthrew bad ones
manor Under feudalism during the Middle Ages, a manor was a farm owned by a lord who had peasants to do the work and pay him rent in exchange for food, shelter and protection
Marc Antony A Roman commander and close friend of Caesar. He was in the 1st civil war of the Roman Republic
Marcus Aurelius A Roman emperor known most for ending Pax Romana and conquering Germanic tribes.
Marcus Crassus A wealthy Roman who ruled Rome along with Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, as a part of the first triumvirate.
Martin Luther An important Christian figure who launched the Protestant Reformation and founded the Lutheran Church. He was responsible for the first major split from the Catholic Church in Western Europe.
Mauryan Empire A Buddhist empire covering much of modern India
Mesoamerica Mexico and Central America, where Pre-Columbian (before Christopher Columbus' exploration in 1492) civilizations existed
Mesopotamia Modern-day Iraq, where civilization first appeared
Messiah Essentially means anointed by God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah of Christianity
Michelangelo A Renaissance painter and sculptor, known for his paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, among other masterpieces. The archetypal Renaissance man.
Middle Ages A period of time, also called the Medieval Ages, spanning from approximately 500 AD to 1500 AD, where kingdoms were ruled by the system of feudalism
Mongol empire Peaked in power in the A.D. 1200s, held more contiguous (connected) land than any empire in history, but failed twice in trying to conquer Japan.
Middle Kingdom Egyptian kingdom known for its works and ideas that ended due to a civil war
monotheism The belief in a religion worshiping only one god. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are monotheistic religions.
Moses The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt. He also brought the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, and is credited with writing the first five books of the Bible
Nile River in Egypt which flows northward towards the Mediterranean Sea and supplies Egypt with water.
New Kingdom Ancient Egypt at the time of Moses, where many buildings were built primarily with slave labor
Nero One of the most irresponsible, cruelest emperors of Rome. Nero reigned from when he was sixteen years of age, until A.D. 69.
Nicene Creed A core statement of Christianity that asserts the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Ghost
Nirvana The ultimate goal of Buddhism, the end of all suffering
Octavian The grandnephew of Julius Caesar who became the first Emperor of Rome, ruling with his new name of Augustus Caesar.
Old Kingdom The ancient Egyptian kingdom that built the famous pyramids
Olympics (Ancient Greek) An ancient Greek sporting event first held in 776 B.C., establishing the beginning of the Greek civilization
Paper thin layer of pulp dry on the bamboo screen.
Paul an energetic evangelist for early Christianity, who wrote many letters now in the New Testament of the Bible
patricians The upper class of the Roman Republic. Consisted of wealthy landowners; took up only 10% of the society.
Pax Romana 27 BC-180 AD: the "glory days" of the Roman empire, a time of peaceful prosperity and influence (but cruelty to Christians)
Peloponnesian War War fought between Athens and Sparta, 431-404 B.C. The war was ultimately won by Sparta and its allies
Pentateuch The first five books of the modern Bible, believed to have been written by Moses
Persian empire A large empire stretching from India to southern Europe and Egypt
Persian Wars Wars between Persia (modern-day Iran) and Greek city-states such as Athens and Sparta
Peter a leading apostle of Jesus who became the first pope in Rome, where he was martyred
phalanx Common Greek military formation. Rectangular, also the Greek word for "finger".
pharaoh a ruler of Ancient Egypt, considered by Egyptians to be a son of god
Philip of Macedon King of Macedonia who arranged for the homeschooling of his son, Alexander the Great.
Philistines Group of people occupying the land of Canaan. Enemies of Israel and God.
Phoenicians Ancient people who lived and traded goods on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, developing a new language using an alphabet of 22 letters, on which Greek, Latin, English, French, etc., are based.
Pillars of Islam Five basic rules of Islam: submit to Allah, pray, fast, give to the poor, and make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia today)
Plato Greek (Athens) philosopher who taught emphasized the value of logic, while his student Aristotle preferred the value of experience.
Pompey the Great Ruled Rome as a part of the first triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus. Pompey is well known for his noble act of ridding the Mediterranean sea of pirates.
polis The name for city-states in Ancient Greece
polytheism A religion with many gods. This was the norm in ancient times until Judaism and Christianity emerged
Ptolemy Greek mathematician, geographer, astronomer, and astrologer
Punic Wars Won by the Roman Republic, enabling it to gain control of the Mediterranean Sea and access many goods
pyramids Very large monuments in Egypt for the burial of pharaohs, built with a precision that cannot be duplicated even today.
Qin Shia Huandgi the first Chinese emperor he ruled from 221-210 B.C. He built new roads and made all of China use the same coin and weight system. He also made a standard form of writing so everyone would understand his decrees. This Qin (or Chi'in) state Ch'in was the first unified Chinese empire.
Ramses II Most famous Pharaoh of Egypt who served during the New Kingdom.
Reformation Events that led to the separation of Catholic and Protestant churches
The Republic Plato's greatest writings, which form the foundation for America's system of government.
Renaissance A revival in the arts and in Greek and Roman literature, and more of a focus on the current life
Roman Catholic Church The Christian Church led by the Pope; the first Pope being Saint Peter. Catholic means "universal".
Roman citizenship a special status attained by living in Rome, being birthed to a Roman citizens, or earning the condition by enlisting in the army for 25 years.
Roman empire (27 BC-476 AD) Began when August Caesar became emperor, and ended 500 years later when barbarians overran it; the Roman empire civilized western Europe, built roads, established laws, and eventually spread Christianity.
Roman law began with a code of laws inscribed in the Twelve Tables. Through these laws, the concept of "justice" - ruling by principle and not by whim - was developed.
Roman military Considered to be invincible; each soldier was equipped with shields, helmets, swords, and javelins.
Roman republic 509-27 B.C.: The first republic in history, it was located in Rome and inspired some of the principles of the government of the United States. The Roman republic ended when Augustus Caesar took full power and established the Roman empire.
Roman senate 300 members representing wealthy families in Rome, it dominated the Roman Republic; similar to the U.S. Senate today
Rome The capital city of the Roman Empire, and of modern day Italy. Founded by Romulus and Remus; supposedly Romulus killed his brother, and had the city was named after him.
Rosetta Stone Ancient text written on stone in three different languages that enabled the first translations of Egyptian hieroglyphics
Royal Road Ancient Persian highway rebuilt by Darius the Great
Saul The first king of Israel appointed by God. A flawed character, Saul was jealous of David.
satraps Governors in the distant lands of the Persian empire which extended to Egypt and Arabia; carefully watched by the "King's Eyes and Ears" soldiers to prevent rebellions
Scholasticism Christian doctrines about man popular in the Middle Ages
Scientific Revolution The beginning of modern science in the mid-1500s
Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage in 218-202 BC; Carthage's leader Hannibal led his army with elephants over the Alps to surprise the Romans, but could not conquer Rome; by the end Rome had acquired Spain
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World A listing of the most impressive public works in the world written by Greek writer Antipater in the 2nd century B.C.
Shang Dynasty First major dynasty of China, which lasted from 1766 B.C. (when T'ang overthrew the [prior dynasty) to 1122 B.C.
Siddhartha Gautama The Buddha, and the founder of the religion of Buddhism
Silk Road A trade route from East China to Central Asia and Europe
Socrates the first great Greek philosopher, Socrates taught that the world we see is not all of reality. Socrates taught Plato, who taught Aristotle.
Socratic method A teaching method developed by Socrates which consists of asking questions
Solomon Third king of Israel. Wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.
Solon of Athens One of the Seven Sages of Greece, believed that one should, "keep everything with moderation."
Sparta A Greek city-state well-known for its military prowess. Fought (and won) the Peloponnesian war against Athens.
Spread of Buddhism Buddhism traveled outside of India along the Silk Road
Stirrup The stirrup was invented in China in 322 B.C. The stirrup greatly helped riders control their horses more and gave advantage in battle.
St. Augustine (A.D. 354-430) A father of the early Christian church who wrote intellectual discussions of the faith entitled Confessions, City of God, and On Christian Doctrine
Sumer Homeland of the Sumerians, located in Mesopotamia, in present-day Iraq
Sumerians The earliest civilizations living in the Middle East; invented many things including the first known form of writing
Sun Tzu Wrote The Art of War, a Chinese book on military strategy.
Taijitu Also called "Yin and Yang", this is the symbol for Taoism. It represents a constant interaction and harmony in nature between two forces having opposite qualities.
Taoism (Daoism) Chinese philosophy of seeking harmony with nature
Ten Commandments The laws of the God of Israel handed down to Moses
Theocracy A government ruled by the laws of a specific religion
Thales of Melitus philosopher in the Greek tradition.
Thomas Aquinas An Italian Christian philosopher whose ideas were influential in developing complex Christian theology.
Third Punic War Romans conquered and destroyed Carthage in 146 BC and then went into Macedonia and Greece to defeat the regions in revenge for having helped Hannibal; as a result, Rome controlled all the land around the Mediterranean, equivalent to the entire western civilized world
Thucydides Greek scientific historian, wrote History of the Peloponnesian War, the first work of historical analysis
Torah The Jewish name for the five books of Moses, meaning Law. The first five books of the modern Bible.
Tragedy A type of drama and/or poetic saga that was common in Ancient Greece. It normally followed the fall of a character, often because of a specific character flaw such as envy or greed.
Troy An ancient city whose destruction was recorded in the Iliad, and survivors supposedly helped found Rome and the civilization of the Britons.
Tutankhamen "King Tut": a young Egyptian pharaoh (18th dynasty pharaoh) who ruled from 1341-1323 BC. Howard Carter first discovered his tomb in 1922, shedding light on Egyptian culture.
Twelve Tables 450 BC: basic and successful Roman laws that filled twelve tablets, such as "If one is slain while committing theft by night, he is rightly slain."
Vedas Holy books of Hinduism
Virgil (70-19 BC) a Roman poet & philosopher, a friend of Octavian (Augustus Caesar), and author of the Aeneid. Portrayed in the Middle Ages as a noble pagan and symbol of wisdom.
Vishnu Supreme god of Hinduism
Visigoths A confederacy of Germanic tribes that ultimately fell to the Moors
Vulgate The Latin translation of the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Teastament written out by Saint Jerome. It was used as the authoritative bible for over 1000 years.
Warring States Period War period in China also known for the philosophical schools that flourished
Wheel The ancient Mesopotamia invention, originally in the form of a potter’s wheel. This is considered the first and greatest of man's inventions.
Yahweh God as described in the Old Testament, written as YHWH in the original Hebrew (which lacked vowels).
Yangtze River Longest river in Asia which flows south for 3000 miles; navigable from the sea for half of its course; along with the Yellow River, it is one of the most important rivers in the history, culture, and economy of China
Yellow River Second longest river in Asia; known also as Huang He and "the cradle of Chinese civilization", it runs westward from the Yellow Sea; has a tendency to flood surrounding lands causing frequent course changes and devastating results
Zeus Highest of Greek Gods, God of Thunder, supposedly father of the Gods.
Zhou dynasty (or Chou dynasty) 1071 to 221 B.C., it was the longest lasting dynasty in China and included both Prince Zheng as a leader, and Confucius as the major philosopher. This dynasty benefited from the Iron Age.
Ziggurat Manmade step-sided structures resembling pyramids that were built in Mesopotamia. The Tower of Babel, described in Genesis 11, may have been a giant ziggurat.
Zoroastrianism Polytheistic religion founded between 1200 and 600 B.C. by the Persians.

Honors terms

Term Description
Aeneas According to legend, a prince who escaped from Troy who's son began Rome and grandson, Brutus began the Britons.
Aeschylus The oldest of the three great Athenian tragic playwrights (next to Sophocles and Euripides), 525-456 B.C.
Age of Metal discovery of metals for use in tools: copper (beginning 3500 B.C.), iron (beginning 2500 B.C.), and bronze (beginning 1200 B.C.) were developed as tools.
Age of Pericles The "golden age" of Athens, led by Pericles, who introduced a form of direct democracy from 461-429 B.C.
Ahuramazda The Creator in Persia's religion of Zoroastrianism.
Ahhotep A Middle Kingdom Pharaoh who repelled Hyksos from Egypt.
Akkadian Empire A Sumerian empire (2360-2180 B.C.) located in the fertile crescent in the lower Mesopotamia and north of the Sumer River.
Alluvial A deposit of sediment (alluvium) in a river bed.
archons in the early Greek empire (around 700 B.C.), archons were government officials elected by the land-owning aristocrats. The archons then made the law.
Arianism A heresy spread by Arius in A.D. 320, denying that Jesus was God; rejected and banned by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325.
Aristophanes Athenian playwright, a writer of comedies and political satires. 456-380 B.C.
Ark of the Covenant The chest used by the Hebrews to contain the tablets of the Law given to Moses by God.
Aryans A semi-nomadic Nordic tribe who invaded and settled India around 1500 B.C.
Ashoka Emperor of the Mauryan Empire of India (273-232 B.C.). Upset by the horrors of war (despite winning), he converted to Buddhism and recorded Buddha's teachings on thousands of rock pillars.
Assembly of Centuries the group of representatives who approved new laws in the Roman republic
Assembly of Tribes the governing entity that held the election of representatives
Ashoka Emperor of the Mauryan Empire of India (273-232 B.C.). Upset by the horrors of war (despite winning), he converted to Buddhism and recorded Buddha's teachings on thousands of rock pillars.
Aztecs <fill in>
Bantu Over 400 tribes in Africa that share the Bantu language and common customs.
Barracks Emperors A series of Roman emperors (235-284 AD) who used the Roman army as a base for political power. These emperors usually had a poor, rural background.
Battle of Marathon In August 490 B.C., King Darius I of Persia brought his army to the plains of Marathon to invade Athens. Despite being outnumbered ten to one, the Athenian army defeated the Persians.
Battle of Chalons 451 BC: one of the bloodiest battles in world history and the last major victory of the Roman empire, when it defeated Attila the Hun in what is now France; Attila returned later for revenge and could have looted Rome
Bhagavad Gita A section of the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Hindu text written in Sanskrit which consists of Krishna's writings on philosophy and morality.
Breda Became one of the leaders of the Hun, but was killed by his power-hungry brother, Attila the Hun.
Caesar's Commentaries A history by Julius Caesar describing the wars he fought.
Caligula A Roman emperor, ruling from 37 AD to 41 AD, who is historically depicted as a brutal monster, and who was so hated that he was murdered by his own guards.
Canaan The geographical area that encompasses modern-day Israel, the West Bank and a portion of land east of the Jordan River.
Catal Huyuk An ancient settlement in southern Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey.
Catholic Monarchs The title given by Pope Alexander VI to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, whose marriage in 1469 unified Spain led to its conversion back to a Catholic nation from Islam (the "Reconquest").
Cato the Censor A Roman statesman who during the Punic War called for the destruction of Carthage.
Champollion, Jean Jean Champollion (1790-1832) is the father of Egyptology (the study of Egypt), and who translated a portion of the Rosetta Stone.
Chandragupta Maurya The founder of the Mauryan Empire in India who ruled between 320 and 293 B.C. The first Indian emperor to be converted to Jainism, he eventually renounced his throne and joined a group of nomadic Jain monks.
Cicero A Roman consul, statesman, lawyer, philosopher and author. After Julius Caesar's assassination, Cicero was one of the most powerful politicians in Rome, and was Mark Antony's rival.
Cincinnatus A Roman hero for whom the city of Cincinnati, Ohio is named. In 458 B.C., he raised an army in Rome and came to the aid of the consul Minucius and his men, who were trapped by the Aequians. Cincinnatus also voluntarily giving up power, surpassed only by George Washington in that respect.
Claudius Roman emperor who became ruler after his nephew Caligula's assassination, he ruled from 41-54 AD, when he was poisoned by his wife Agrippina. Britain came under Roman rule during his reign, and his edict expelling the Jews from Rome is mentioned in the Book of Acts in the Bible.
Cleopatra Seven Egyptian queens of Greek decent that ruled from 193 BC until 30 BC during the Ptolemaic Dynasty. The most famous, Cleopatra VII Philopator, Egypt's last independent ruler, had affairs with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
Code of Hammurabi An elaborate code of law created by Hammurabi that called for harsh punishment, such as an eye for an eye, a foot for a foot.
Confucianism A Chinese ethical and moral philosophy based on the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius that focuses on human morality and right action. It has had a significant influence on the development on the culture and history of East Asia.
Constitutional monarchy A government with a constitution that acknowledges a monarch as head of state with varying degrees of influence in the running of the country. Countries with constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain.
consul An elected governmental position in ancient Rome that held executive authority and military command of the Roman Republic.
Copts The Coptic Church originated in Egypt around 50 AD when St. Mark the Evangelist traveled to Alexandria, and is one of the oldest Christian denominations. Its leader is the Patriarch of Alexandria, who is called Pope.
Covenant An oath or promise.
Cynicism A Greek philosophy founded by Antisthenes (444 BC - 365 BC) that rejects worldly pleasure in favor of happiness derived from virtue.
Cyrus A Persian emperor (576 BC – 529 BC) who conquered Babylon and sent the Jews back to Israel.
Darius A Persian emperor (521 BC – 486 BC) who quelled the Ionian Revolt and invaded Greece, but was forced to withdraw at the Battle of Marathon.
Delian League A confederation during the Persian Wars controlled by Athens, and consisting of Athens and other Greek city-states and Aegean towns. Its navy helped defend Greece from Persia.
Demosthenes A ancient Greek statesman who spoke against Philip II of Macedonia in speeches that came to be known as "Philippics". He also attempted to convince Greeks to rise up against Macedonian rule after the death of Philip's son, Alexander the Great.
Diadochi After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was partitioned among the rivalling generals of his army, the so-called diadochi ("successors").
Diocletian The last Barrack Emperor of Rome, he ruled from 284-305 AD. He divided the Roman Empire into eastern and western regions in an attempt to save the empire, and formed a tetrarchy of four rulers, two for each region. He required the military to worship the Roman pagan gods, making it impossible for Christians to be soldiers, and persecuted them.
Dorians Tribes that settled in Greece between 1100 BC and 1000 BC, and had a military ruling class, which persisted in Sparta and Crete even after democracy was established in Athens. These tribes created the simplest style of Greek architecture, known as the Doric order, which consisted of unadorned, straight columns.
Draco a tyrant in Athens during the early Greek empire (600s B.C.) who established a set of written laws that were so strict that the term "draconian" today refers to overly harsh rules of punishment
Dravidians Dravidians are the people of southern India and Sri Lanka who speak the Dravidian languages and are found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Empress Lu The wife of the Chinese emperor Han Gaozu, who after her husband's death had all other possible heirs murdered and installed her son as emperor, ruling as regent until her death.
Epicureanism A philosophy founded by Epicurus in the late 4th century that holds the belief that great happiness is achievable through the avoidance of pain and fear. It does not believe in divine power interacting with humanity.
Etruscans People who settled in the Italian peninsula prior to 700 BC. Most Etruscan cities ran on a democratic-style system. Their culture influenced the later Roman Empire.
Euripides Athenian tragic playwright, BC 480-406.
Exodus The abrupt departure of the people of Israel from Egypt, as told in the Book of Exodus in the Bible.
Ezana Ezana was the king of Axum, in Africa, ruling from A.D. 330-350. He was the first Christian king in Africa.
Five Good Emperors Five consecutive Roman emperors who ruled between 96 AD to 180 AD and were elected due to talent rather than family connections.
foraging society A pre-farming economy based upon scavenging, hunting, and gathering resources.
Four Emperors Era A series of Roman emperors who ruled in quick succession in 68-69 AD.
Franks A Germanic people that, beginning in the 4th century AD, eventually conquered the areas of France, Benelux, Belgium, The Netherlands and portions of Germany.
Gaul The Roman name for the area comprising modern-day France and Belgium, and parts of northern Italy, western Switzerland and Germany, and the Netherlands. This area was under Roman rule for most of its existence.
Golden mean Is considered the middle between two extremes in philosophy.
Great Canal A canal that connected the Nile River to the Red Sea, built during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt.
Hadrian The third of the "Five Good Emperors" of the Roman Empire, Hadrian ruled from A.D. 117 to 138 and had two main achievements: he ended Rome's costly territorial expansion, fortifying her boundaries with numerous "Walls of Hadrian," and he effectively "Hellenized" Rome by anointing Athens the empire’s cultural center, thereby enhancing learning.
Han empire was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms.
Harappa A city that is part of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is part of modern Pakistan
Hatshepsut Originally a regent for her son, Thutmose III, Hatshepsut was the longest reigning female ruler of Egypt. She ruled during the eighth dynasty from 1479-1458 B.C. She established trade networks for Egypt and thus collected most of the wealth of the eighth dynasty. She was eventually dethroned when her son took power at the age of 22. Her monuments are the Temple of Karnak, Deirle-Bahri, and Speos Artemidos.
Hellenistic culture Greek culture after the death of Alexander in 323 B.C., when Greek influence extended throughout the territory he conquered; Hellenistic culture was renowned for its strict code of ethics, its culinary prowess, and its use of metal.
Helot A person from the class of serfs in the city-state of Sparta (700s - 300s B.C.) in ancient Greece.
Herodotus Greek historian (484 to 425 BC), the "father of history". His book is simply called Histories and describes the Persian Wars.
Hiram d
Hittites An ancient people in the Middle East that gained control of most of Mesopotamia in 1650 B.C. due to their advanced inventions, such as horse-drawn chariots.
Horace The leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, lived from 65-8 B.C.
humanism Thee Greek emphasis on reason, ethics and rational thinking rather than religion.
Hyksos Refers to a people who entered - possibly forcibly - into Egypt, and built their capital at Avaris in the Nile Delta area in about 1648 B.C.
Ides (of March) The 15th of March, May, July and October in the ancient Roman calendar. The 13th is the ides of all the other months. Julius Caesar was murdered on the ides of March.
Iron Smelting A technology comprised of the extraction of usable metal from iron ore.
Iliad a great Greek work of literature written by Homer in the 800s or 700s B.C., describing the mythical Trojan War
Incas <fill in>
Jericho A city in Israel by the Jordan River. Mentioned extensively in the Bible. Joshua and the Israelites marched around this city and blew trumpets in order to destroy it and to reach the promised land.
Josephus Flavius Josephus 37 - 101 A.D. Jewish general and historian who took part in the Jewish revolt against the Romans and later worked for a Roman patron.
Judaism The monotheistic religion of the Hebrews, also the oldest religion that remains currently active.
Kassites Led by their king Agumkakrine, they took advantage of the Hittite raid of 1595 B.C. and occupied the Babylonian region, where they ruled for over 400 years.
Kautilya Advisor to Chaundragupta Maurya, wrote book

"Arthoshastra" on maintaining political power.

Khufu Egyptian pharaoh who had the pyramid of Giza built
Khyber Pass An important break in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan, pivotal in military campaigns by Alexander the Great, Aryans, Muslims, and later the British, who had to overcome defensive positions taken from above by local tribesman.
Kush Was part of a larger region called Nubia.
Larger Vehicle a form of Buddhism practiced in China, Korea, Japan and Tibet, teaching how to attain full enlightenment for the sake of others. (Also known as Mahayana Buddhism.)
Last Roman Emperor The last ruler of the Roman Empire was Romulus Augustus, who ruled from October of 475 A.D. to September of 476 A.D.
legalism Legalism is the excessive adherence to law or formula.
Legions Legions were the principal unit of the Roman army comprising 3,000 to 6,000 foot soldiers and cavalry in addition to the foot soldiers.
Lesser Vehicle in Buddhism, describes how to attain freedom from one's own suffering.
Livy A Roman historian (59 B.C. - 17 A.D.) who wrote a monumental history of Rome from its beginnings to his day.
Loess d
Magadha Led Aryans to join and try to repel the Persians.
Mahayana d
Manichaeism d
Marathon A small town about 26 miles from Athens where the Greeks won a key battle against the Persians in 490 B.C., and a messenger ran the distance to deliver the news to Athens, inspiring the modern marathon race today.
Marcus Aurelius Roman emperor from AD 161 to 180. Marcus Aurelius was also a philosopher, a Stoic, and wrote a famous book, Meditations.
Marius d
Masada d
Maya <fill in>
Menes Was a legendary Pharoah of Egypt from somewhere between 3100-2850 BC.
Meroe d
Mesolithic Age Before the beginning of recorded history in 3500 B.C., when humans changed from hunting and gathering food to producing food, as in planting and farming.
Minoan Civilization d
Moche <fill in>
Moksha d
monsoons Tropical storms, particularly in the climate of India, where the "southwest monsoon" occurs from about mid-June to the first week in October, and consists of winds carrying heavy rainfall from the Indian Ocean and resulting in widespread flooding
Mount Sinai A 7,498 foot mountain, located in Southern Sinai, now part of modern Egypt.The location where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
Mycenaean Civilization Was an early Indo-European civilization of Greece.
Nebuchadnezzar I was the emperor of the Babylonian Empire from 1146 to 1123 BC.
Nebuchadnezzar II Lived from 635 BC- 562 BC, was King of the Chaldeans and final conqueror of the Southern Kingdom of Israel, called "Judah." He was the first of many heads of state of foreign superpowers to come to a possibly salvific knowledge of God.
Neolithic Age The last part of the Stone Age (neo = "new", lithic = "of/like stone"), before the invention of metallurgy. It immediately preceded the rise of the first civilizations.
Nero Was the Emperor of Rome from AD 54-68. He blamed the great fire of Rome on the Christians who were unpopular due to their belief in one God.
Nerva Roman emperor from AD 96 to 98. Following the turmoils after Nero's death, he stood at the beginning of a long peaceful and prosperous time in the history of the Roman empire.
Nile River A river that ran throughout all of Egypt and fueled its entire agricultural and economic system.
Nineveh The capital of Assyria, seized and destroyed by the Chaldeans in 612 B.C.
Nok culture The African culture where the people created the first terracotta production as well as iron-smelting technology.
Oath of the Hindu Physician Oath requiring, among other things, that doctors not to drink alcohol and to have an honest doctor-patient relationship.
Octavian Also known as Augustus Caesar (63 B.C. - A.D. 14) was the first Roman emperor. He was originally called Gaius Octavius Thurinus until he changed it after being adopted by Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.
Odyssey The Odyssey was an epic poem written by the Greek poet Homer. It traces the journey home to Greece by a hero of the Trojan war and the troubles he faces at the hands of gods and men.
Olmec The first major Pre-Columbian civilization in Mexico
oracle bone First concrete evidence that the Shang Dynasty really existed. They were generally used as medicine by grinding them up into powder but they were also used to write on.
Origen dddd
Ostrogoths Were a Germanic tribe influential in the last days of the Roman Empire.
Ovid Ovid or Publius Ovidius Naso was a famous Roman poet, known for his Heroides, Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphosis. He lived from 43 B.C. to 17 A.D.
Paleolithic Age Is the name given by atheists to the first part of the Stone age, followed by the Neolithic Age. During the Paleolithic Age, atheists believe people harvested wild plants and animals for food.
papyrus A thin parchment constructed from reeds near the Nile River
pariah An outcast or any person or animal that is despised.
Parthenon The Parthenon is a celebrated marble temple of Athene, on the Acropolis at Athens. It was of the pure Doric order, and has had an important influence on art.
patricians A patrician is a person of high honor or rank.
Pericles 493-429 BC: a fabulous orator, he led Athens during its Golden Age (between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars), and expanded democracy: "Government in the hands of the many, not of the few," he said.
Peru Peru is a country in South America with a rich history. Once dominated by the Incas, Peru fell to the Spanish in the 16th Century.
Petra Petra was an ancient city that lasted from some time in 6th century B.C. to 360 A.D. when an earthquake destroyed their water supply. The city is famous for its buildings carved in red sandstone and given the name the pink city. Also Indiana Jones was filmed there.
Philippides An athlete sent by Athens to run 150 miles to Sparta as they needed help in their battle against Persia, where they were outnumbered 10 to 1. His remarkable ability continues to inspire ambitious joggers today.
Philo (20 B.C. - 50 A.D.) was a Jewish historian from Alexandria in the first century. He combined Judaism and Greek philosophy.
pictograph A pictorial symbol for a word or phrase. Pictographs are the foundation for cuneiform and hieroglyphics, having been discovered in Egypt and Mesopotamia from before 3000 B.C.
Pisistratids Was a ruler of Athens around 570 B.C.
plebian A Plebian was one of the lower classes in the early Roman world, such as small farmers and shopkeepers, similar to a commoner in Medieval Europe. This status was inherited in ancient Rome, though it could change through marriage or (rarely) promotion.
Plutarch d
Pompey 106-48 B.C., general, statesman, and triumvir during the last years of the Roman Republic. His soldiers are credited with bestowing the title Magnus (the Great) while serving in Africa (82–81 BC).
praetors one of a number of elected magistrates charged chiefly with the administration of civil justice and ranking next below a consul.
Prehistory Before 3400 B.C.
purdah The seclusion of women from the sight of men or strangers. Purdah is practiced most in the Muslim and Hindu religions.
Pythagorus A Greek philosopher mathematician (569-475 B.C.), best known for his Pythagorean Theorem which equates the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle to the sum of the squares of each side. His philosophy included abstracting 2 ships + 2 ships = 4 ships to the more general truth that 2 of anything plus 2 of anything = 4 of anything.
Ramayana A Sandskrit epic, depicting the life and adventures of Ramachandra.
Ramses II Ramses II was the king of Egypt. His reign is remembered by his constant war with the Hittites.
Rembrandt A Dutch painted who lived from 1606-1669 A.D.
Rig Veda A collection of over one thousand hymns that date back to as early as two thousand B.C.
Romance of Three Kingdoms Is a novel written by Luo Guanzhong in the Han Dynasty when it fell into disorganization.(A.D. 220-280)
Romulus and Remus Rome obtained its name from Romulus and Remus, who were twins, and by legend the the sons of Mars who were rescued from death by a mother wolf after his uncle threw him into the Tiber river out of jealousy.
rule of tyrants during the early Greek empire in the 600s, a series of tyrants ruled Athens. One was "Draco", who imposed the same penalty of death for every crime, no matter how minor!
Saint Patrick Born in Wales and grew up in England. Later traveled to Ireland and converted the Celts there to Christianity in the mid-400s A.D.
Sargon the Great The first person in recorded history to create an empire or multi-ethnic state.
Sati (Buddhism) Mindfulness, self-collectedness, powers of reference and retention. In some contexts, the word sati when used alone covers alertness
Satrap Local governors established in distant lands by the powerful Persian ruler Cyrus
Saxons Were a Germanic tribe, eventually settling in England and North Western France.
Schliemann, Heinrich d
Scipio d
Seneca Roman philosopher (a Stoic), statesman and playwright; teacher of Nero. BC 4 - AD 65.
Shang dynasty Was a major ancient Chinese dynasty from about 1766 to 1122 BC. Built cities in northern China along the Yellow River. It consisted of city-states which were often at war with one another.
Shang Yang Was a Chinese statesman and philosopher. He promoted Legalism, which was like the divine right of kings in the West.
Shi A scholar class created by the Han dynasty
Shiva In Hinduism, Shiva "the Destroyer" is the third member of the Trimurti, or the "Hindu triad", along with Brahma "the Creator" and Vishnu "the Preserver".
Solon Solon was an Athenian statesman who introduced economic, political, and legal reforms.
Sophocles Athenian tragic playwright, BC 497-406.
Steppes Steppes are large areas of flat unforested grassland in southeastern Europe or Siberia.
Stoicism The second of the two main Greek philosophical schools of thought. Stoicism sought to find a sense of divine justice, deemphasizing pain and pleasure for the goal of reason, logic, and self discipline.
Stone age The stone age is believed to be at time before men had metal working skills in our prehistory. Young Earth Creationists dispute the exsistence of a stone age rather there were stone working cultures.
Stupa An ornate Buddhist dome-like stone structure originally built to cover items believed to be relics of the Buddha.
Sulla (138-78 BC) was a Roman general and dictator during the Republican period. He won Rome's first civil war. Reforms during his time gave the Senate more power.
Sunna d
Sumuabum d
Suttee An ancient Hindu practice in India where a wife sacrifices herself upon her husband's funeral pyre. Outlawed by the British Raj.
Tacitus (A.D. 55-120) Was the Roman author of Histories, Annals, and Germania, describing first century Rome. His work chronicles Nero's blaming of the Christians for the fire in Rome and the resulting large scale persecution of Christians that ensued.
Taj Mahal A marble memorial located in Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth.
Teotihuacan <fill in>
terra cotta A hard fired clay, distinctively brownish-red colored traditionally used for architectural purposes, especially ornamental, and for pottery and sculpture.
Terracotta army when Shia Huandgi (the first emperor of China) died in 210 B.C he was buried with an army of life sized terracotta warriors, which all had different expressions on their carved faces.
Thales Thales of Miletus (ca. 624 BC–ca. 546 BC) was the first Greek philosopher. He successfully predicted the solar eclipse of 585 BC and posited that water was the basic principle of all matter in the world.
Theravada Oldest surviving Buddhist school, founded in India
Thirty Years' War A religious conflict as Catholic states sought to suppress Protestantism. It began as a fight between Bohemian Protestants and Hapsburg Catholics in 1618, and soon became a political conflict for power that included Spain, Holland, Denmark, France, Sweden, and the Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. The war ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
Thutmos III The 6th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. The first 22 of years of his reign he was co-regent with his stepmother, Hatshepsut. Reigned from 1479 BC to 1425 BC;
Tiber River One of the longest Italian rivers, over 250 miles long, it flows through the city of Rome.
Tiberius Tiberius was a tyrannical Roman emperor who reigned from 14-37 A.D.
Tigris and Euphrates Two rivers where civilization began in Mesopotamia before 3500 B.C., as described in the Book of Genesis and also confirmed by non-biblical sources.
Titus and Domitian The two sons of Emperor Vespasian. Titus ruled from 79 – 81 A.D. Domitian ruled from 81-96 A.D.
Toltecs AD 900-1200: a northern Mexican nomadic tribe that ruled about 50 miles north of present-day Mexico City, in a city called Tula
Trajan Was a Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD and the second of the Five Good Emperors.
Tribal Assembly Was a Roman assembly of plebians & patricians, composed of members of 35 various Roman tribes
Triumvirate A triumvirate is a system of governance led by 3 leaders. The two most important triumvirates of ancient times were those of Rome: one led by Julius Caesar, Pompeius Magnus ("Pompey the Great") and Marcus Crassus; the other led by Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. It was the failings of these triumvirates that lead to the downfall of the Republic, and the emergence of the Roman Empire.
Untouchables People at the very bottom of the Hindu caste system. Their Hindi name is "Dalits." Under the system,these people literally are not be touched because they are considered to be so undesirable.
Upanishads Hindu scriptures that describe reincarnation. Written in Sanskrit, they predate the teachings of Buddha by several centuries.
Ur Important city-state in Mesopotamia
Vandals Eastern Germanic tribe that sacked Rome in A.D. 455. Sweeping through Gaul and Spain they finally settled in North Africa. The Spanish region of Andalusia is named after them.
Vergil Writer of Famous Roman Mythology "The Aeneid."
Vespasian a Roman Emperor (A.D. 70-79), also the general in charge of putting down the Jewish revolt near the end of the A.D. 60s
Xenephos (435-354 B.C.) Was historian, philosopher, and military commander, born at Athens, son of an Athenian of good position; was a pupil and friend of Socrates.
Xenophon Famous Greek writer, Writer of renowned historical work "The Anabasis."
Xerxes A Persian king in the 5th century BC who attacked and conquered much of Greece, before being defeated in a naval battle in the Battle of Salamis and forced to withdraw back to Babylon
Zealots A group of Jews in the 1st century AD who sought the violent overthrow and expulsion of Rome from Israel. Their most famous battle (and defeat) came at Masada, a mountain fortress that still holds spiritual significance for Israel today.
Zeno a Greek philosopher who proposed Paradoxes, such as how a destination is never reached if the traveler goes half the distance to the goal an infinite number of times.





Retrieved from "https://conservapedia.com/index.php?title=World_History_Study_Guide_to_1648&oldid=926049"