Term
|
Description
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Abraham
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2000 BC: father of Jewish people, made a covenant with God; Arabs claim descendance from Abraham's son Ishmael.
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acropolis
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part of a Greek city-state that is built on a hilltop for easy defense. Example: where the democratic assembly met in Athens.
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the Academy
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Founded by the Greek philosopher Plato in 387 BC, this was the world's first great center of learning.
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Aesop
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A Greek writer famous for writing Aesop's Fables around 600 BC, such as "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," to teach life lessons
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Alexander the Great
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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.
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Alexandria
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City in Egypt captured by Alexander the Great and then "Hellenized" (made Greek-like). Known for its famous library.
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Allah
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The god of the Islamic religion. Followers of Allah are called Muslims.
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Analects
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a record of the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, written and compiled by his disciples circa 400-300 BC
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Ancient world
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civilizations before the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476
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Aeneid
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a fictional epic poem, describing how a wandering Trojan became the ancestor of the Romans, written by the great Roman poet Virgil.
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Anglo-Saxon
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refers both to the people of England from AD 449-1066 who came from Germanic tribes, and to their Old English language
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Anselm
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a medieval Christian philosopher who founded scholasticism and developed an "ontological" proof for the existence of God based on degrees of perfection.
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Archimedes
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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.
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archons
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Aristocratic officials elected by the Athenian government to make the laws; later overtook by tyrants who rose to power in the 600s BC
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Arianism
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a heresy (false doctrine) claiming that Jesus was not God
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aristocracy
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rule by the wealthy and privileged, rather than by democracy
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Aristotle
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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)
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Art of War
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first book on military strategy, written by Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, having insights like "If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril."
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Assyrian Empire
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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.
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Athens
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birthplace of democracy in 509 BC, Athens was a Greek city-state previously ruled by aristocrats. It defeat invading Persians.
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Attila the Hun
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(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.
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Augustus Caesar
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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
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Aztecs
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A fierce type of people (AD 1200-1521), also known as "the Mexica," from Central Mexico who built a glorious capital city titled Tenochtitlan, and established three causeways to connect it to the mainland.
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Babylon
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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.
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Babylonia
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State and empire created by Babylon. First empire existed from 1900-1600 BC, later reemerged as the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 625-538 BC
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Babylonian Exile
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Period of time from 597 to 538 BC, during which the Israelites were kept as prisoners in Babylon.
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barbarian
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any "uncivilized" (not Roman), unshaven, ruthless warriors who would attack and invade ancient Rome (name "barbarus" means "bearded").
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Battle of Tours
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Pivotal victory against the Muslims (732); led by Charles "the Hammer" of the Germanic people known as the "Franks".
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B.C.E./C.E.
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anti-Christian terms for B.C./A.D., whereby "Before Common Era (B.C.E.)" replaces "Before Christ (B.C.)", and "Common Era (C.E.)" replaces "In the Year of Our Lord (A.D.)"
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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.
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Brahman/Brahmin
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Brahman 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
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Bronze Age
|
2500-1200 BC: when bronze was used for jewelry, tools, utensils, weapons; this eventually enabled the introduction of the plow for easier farming.
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Buddha
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"Awakened One" in Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama was the first Buddha.
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Buddhism
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A belief system which teaches that desire causes suffering and if desire is eliminated, enlightenment and Nirvana are attained.
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Bushi
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Proficient, skilled generals from Japan who raised their own "samurai" soldiers to defend and protect their land.
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Byzantine Empire
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It was the eastern part of the Roman empire, based in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), which outlasted the Western half by 1000 years.
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Caligula
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(AD 37-41) cruel and senseless Roman emperor, who even declared his horse to be a Roman Senator.
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Carolingian Court
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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.
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Carthage
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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.
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caste
|
the social rank in Hinduism: Brahmins 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.
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Celts
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A tribal, ancient people living in what is now Ireland and Great Britain, who worshiped many gods and had priests called "druids."
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Chaldeans
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The ancient Babylonians
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Chaldean Empire
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Ancient Babylonian Empire that lasted from 605-562 BC
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Chandragupta Mauryan
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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.
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Charlemagne
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King of the Franks from AD 768-814, and Holy Roman Emperor after being crowned by the Pope in AD 800
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Charles Martel
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Charles "the Hammer"; Christian ruler who led the Franks to a decisive victory against the Muslims in the Battle of Tours (AD 732)
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Chivalry
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Code of behavior developed during feudalism; required loyalty to God, looking out for one another, and different roles for men and women
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China
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One of the world's oldest major civilizations, with a tradition of philosophers rather than religious leaders
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Christendom
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A massive church-state network that consisted of religious hierarchy and held influence over all of Europe during the Middle Ages.
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Cicero, Marcus Tullius
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Famous Roman orator, senator and lawyer who lived from 106-43 BC, and who opposed Marc Anthony.
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city-states
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Small nations consisting of only a single city each, especially 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.
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civilization
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must have towns, social and government institutions, record-keeping systems for property, and an agricultural surplus so not everyone is farming
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classical civilizations
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Ancient Mediterranean civilizations that were generally pre-Christian, such as Rome, Greece, and Egypt
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classicism
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Near the end of the Middle Ages, a Renaissance movement in the arts, looking back to ancient Rome and Greece for inspiration
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Cleisthenes
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Established democracy in Athens in 507 BC, giving all free men the right to vote
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Cleopatra
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The queen of Egypt who reigned from 51-30 BC
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Code of Hammurabi
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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.
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Code of Manu
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Hindu law containing rules and codes of conduct. Written in 200 BC in India.
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Colosseum
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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.
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comedy
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In ancient Greece, a play with a happy ending. All classical plays were either a "comedy" or a "tragedy".
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Confucius
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A famous Chinese philosopher who came up with many ideas about ethics and social conduct
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Constantine (the Great)
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The first Christian emperor of Rome who legalized Christianity, ended the persecution of Christians, and united the eastern with the western Roman empires
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Constantinople
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Now named Istanbul, it was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire beginning in AD 330. Originally known as Byzantium.
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Council of Nicaea
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AD 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).
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Crusades
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(AD 1099-1204): a series of four major military expeditions by Christians to free Jerusalem and make it safe for pilgrimages, beginning with the successful First Crusade but later including the looting of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.
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cuneiform
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The earliest known form of writing. Consists of lines and dashes to represent different concrete things, such as fish.
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Cynicism
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Greek philosophy emphasizing living life without worldly possessions, founded by Socrates' student Antisthenes.
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Daimyo
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Japanese feudal lord. Smaller agricultural workers would function under them. Daimyos began their importance after a civil war in 1467.
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Darius the Great
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the king of Persia (522-486 BC) and one of the greatest rulers of the Achaemenid dynasty, best known for his failed attempts to conquer Greece; in 492 a storm destroyed his fleet, and in 490 BC Athens defeated his army at Marathon
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David
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Second king of Israel, as chosen by God, and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. He expanded the kingdom of Israel.
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Delian League
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Formed in 477 BC as an alliance consisting of Athens and other Greek city-states to guard against the Persia (Achaemenid) empire after the Persian Wars; but Athens misused it to impose taxes and fund Athenian projects.
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Dharma
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The laws of the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism
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diaspora
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The migration or scattering of a people, especially the ancient Hebrews, away from their ancestral home.
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Diocletian
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The Roman emperor who tried to save the empire of Rome by dividing it into eastern and western regions. He established the "tetrarchy" (rule by four), and ruled from AD 284 to 305.
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direct democracy
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laws are made by votes of the citizens, rather than by elected officials. Athens of ancient Greece was the first direct democracy.
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Dorians
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tribes that settled Greece, 1100-1000 BC, 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.
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Dravidians
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The lowest class of the Aryans, they were the children of mixed Aryans and not treated very well. They were people of Southern India and Sri Lanka
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early agriculture
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crops such as grain being grown in places such as Egypt
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Edict of Milan
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a political proclamation that legalized Christianity (and all other religions) throughout the Roman empire, issued by Constantine I in AD 313 after the Diocletian persecutions against Christians
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Egypt
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One of the oldest civilizations in recorded history, going back to nearly 3000 BC
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Eightfold Path
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The Buddhist way to end suffering and attain inner peace and contentment. It includes wisdom (right view and intention); ethics (right speech, action & livelihood); and mind (right effort, mindfulness & concentration).
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Emperor
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A ruler or king of a country, such as Augustus Caesar as the first Roman emperor.
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Enlightened One
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A translation of the name Buddha, in Buddhism
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Enlightenment
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A philosophical movement in the 1700s that included atheistic ideas like utilitarianism.
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Epic of Gilgamesh
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A Sumerian (Mesopotamia) poem preserved on stone tablets with a story bearing great resemblance to Noah's Ark and the Great Flood
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Euclid
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A Greek mathematician around 300 BC who developed geometry and wrote the Elements.
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Euphrates river
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The Euphrates is a river that was the border of Mesopotamia and was both a trading route and a protection for Mesopotamia.
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Fertile Crescent
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An area of land in the Middle East along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, where it was easy to grow crops, which was the birthplace of civilization and probably the location of the Garden of Eden.
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feudalism
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way of life in Europe (particularly Western and Central 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.
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First Punic War
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between Rome and Carthage in 254-241 BC: Rome conquered the island of Sicily and developed a navy; although Rome was no match for the powerful Carthaginian navy, Romans did invent a corvus that allowed them to board enemy ships and win the war
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Four Noble Truths
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in Buddhism: (1) suffering is universal, (2) craving or desire causes it, (3) the cure is to eliminate the craving or desire, and (4) following the Eightfold Path helps eliminate this desire in order to attain "nirvana" (complete contentment).
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The Franks
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Germanic tribes settling in the northern part of the Roman empire (including northern France), rising in power and territory from AD 330-751 and defeating barbarians; Charles the Hammer and Charlemagne were Franks
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Gentiles
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The term for peoples, such as Greeks, who are not of Jewish or Arab descent.
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Golden Age
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An age of great peace and prosperity, especially in ancient Greece between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
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Gracchi brothers
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Two tribunes (high elected officials) of ancient Rome who wanted to help the poor by redistributing land from the rich
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Great Schism
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AD 1054: the Eastern Orthodox Church splits from the Roman Catholic Church in a dispute over icons and statues, the origin of the Holy Spirit, and regional differences
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Great Wall of China
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the long and high wall in China that was built beginning with the Qin dynasty in about 200 BC, to keep invaders out
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Greece
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perhaps the greatest ancient civilization: invented democracy, developed mathematics and philosophy, and adopted ethical standards like the Hippocratic Oath (which prohibits abortion)
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Greek drama
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Theatrical tradition of ancient Greece, 600-400 BC, with two main types: comedies (good ending) and tragedies (bad ending)
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Gregory the Great
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One of the most significant popes, who used church money for non-religious purposes such as paying for public projects such as roads, supporting armies, and establishing government programs for the poor; this later caused controversies.
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Gaul
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Now France, it was a place for barbarians to attack the Roman empire.
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Gnosticism
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A heresy, false teaching or distortion of the Christian faith that still exists today. Gnostics believed only in what could be supported by human reasoning, and attempted to add to the New Testament and edit out information that was hard to prove.
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Gothic
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architecture of the late Middle Ages, featuring tall, perpendicular structures, long or stained-glassed rose windows, pointed arches, and flying buttresses (stone supports on the outer walls of churches)
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Gupta empire
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(AD 240-550): large Indian empire that developed with algebra, the concepts of zero and infinity, and the numbers 1-9
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Hammurabi
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King of Babylon, 1792-1750 BC, who developed the Code of Hammurabi, which is based on the concept of an eye for an eye
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Han dynasty
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202 BC - AD 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".
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Hannibal
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A military commander for Carthage who had a brilliant surprise attack against Rome during the Second Punic War
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Hebrews
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God's chosen people who established the nation of Israel and wrote the Old Testament
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Hellenistic
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Relating to Greek culture and language, particularly in lands beyond Greece as conquered by Alexander the Great beginning in 335 BC
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Hernando Cortes
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Led the Spanish to capture and burn the Aztec capital in 1519.
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hieroglyphics
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A phonetic alphabet developed by the ancient Egyptians that uses the pictographic symbols to represent both an object and/or a phonetic sound.
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Himalaya Mountain Range
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Mountain range famous for having the world's tallest peaks, including Mount Everest and K2; geographic protection that isolated ancient China
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Hinduism
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An ancient polytheistic religion followed by 82% of (Asian) Indians to this day
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Hippocrates
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"The father of medicine" in ancient Greece who developed the Hippocratic Oath, an ethical code that all medical students traditionally repeated as a condition of graduation.
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Holy Roman Empire
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Lasting from AD 800 to 1806, it included the territory in Europe under the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor. Constituent states often ruled themselves.
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Homer
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An early Greek poet, famous for lengthy sagas such as Iliad and The Odyssey.
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Hsia dynasty
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rulers in China up until 1766 B.C., when Emperor Chieh (the last in the dynasty) was overthrown
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Huns
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A confederation of Asian tribes who fought against 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 enemies
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ideograms
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In primitive societies, a graphic symbol (rather than alphabetic words like these) representing a concept or an idea
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The Incas
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developed a huge empire beginning in AD 1250 in the Andes Mountains in South America, making it the largest civilization in all of the Americas
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India
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A country that was home to the Indus Valley civilization and dates back over 3,000 years, and was birthplace of Hinduism and (later) Buddhism
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Indus River Valley
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A fertile valley that was home to an ancient civilization and is modern Pakistan and northwestern India
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Invisible Hand
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A powerful unseen force that benefits all when the government leaves free enterpise alone.
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Iron Age
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An era following the Bronze age when tools and weapons were made primarily out of iron: 1200 BC in Europe, but later (600 BC) in China.
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Isaac
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The promised son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, whom Abraham offered to sacrifice to God despite Abraham's great love for Isaac. Isaac is the father of the Israeli people.
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Isaac Newton
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(1643-1727) Scientist during the Scientific Revolution and Christian fundamentalist who discovered and explained the invisible force of gravity
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Ishmael
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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.
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Islam
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the only major world religion that developed after Christ, Islam was founded by Muhammad in AD 622 and is based on the "Five Pillars of Islam."
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Israel
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Nation founded by King David in 1010 BC, first temple destroyed by Babylonians in 587 BC, Jerusalem was rebuilt in 515 BC, Alexander the Great then conquered region in 332 BC.
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Jainism
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Branched off of Hinduism, this religion stresses strict vegetarianism and non-violence towards all life.
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Japan
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an island archipelago made up of 4 large islands and over 4,000 smaller ones, it had feudalism during the same time period that Europe did
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Jesus
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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.
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Joan of Arc
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17-year-old girl who led the French army to a remarkable military victory over the English in 1429, and was later captured and martyred by the English and made a saint by the Catholic Church
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Johannes Kepler
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(1571-1630) Scientist in Scientific Revolution who built on Copernicus's work and discovered that planets orbit the sun in ellipses rather than circular orbits; also a devout Christian
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John Locke
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(1632-1704) Leading political philosopher in the Enlightenment whose ideas helped the American colonists form a new government with the social contract theory
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Judah, Kingdom of
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the southern kingdom of a divided nation of Israel, after the death of Solomon in 928 BC
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Julius Caesar
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(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
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Julian Calendar
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The 12 month, 365-day calendar established by Julius Caesar, and the basis for the Gregorian calendar we use today.
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Justinian I and the Justinian Code
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Eastern Roman Emperor from AD 527 to 565 who developed the Justinian Code, which is the basis of civil law in many places
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karma
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In Hinduism, everything a person has done. This determines status in the next life, so a Hindu wants "good karma."
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knight
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An armored soldier of feudalistic Europe. These soldiers first began using plate mail around the time of the crusades.
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Latin
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the powerful, concise language spoken in ancient Rome that has contributed many roots of words and terms to modern European languages. "Caveat emptor!" (let the buyer beware)
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Lawrence
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One of the earliest Christian martyrs. He was roasted to death on a grid, but stayed true until the end. He even said during his execution, "Turn me over. I am done on this side!"
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lord
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The ruler and owner of a feudalistic area, under him are the serfs.
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Lyceum
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The great Greek center of learning founded by Aristotle, which then competed with the Academy
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Niccolo Machiavelli
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An Italian political theorist who wrote the The Prince, the most famous guide to how a conniving politician can seize power by manipulating others
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Magna Carta
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A charter of personal and political liberties granted to the barons by King John of England in 1215, which later became a foundation for personal rights in the US Constitution.
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maize
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corn, first grown by Native Americans, now one of the most popular foods in the world
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Mandate of Heaven
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Chinese mandate that held that the gods blessed good rulers and overthrew bad ones
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manor
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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
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Marc Antony
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A Roman commander and close friend of Caesar. He was in the 1st civil war of the Roman republic
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Marcus Aurelius
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A Roman emperor known most for ending Pax Romana and conquering Germanic tribes.
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Marcus Crassus
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A wealthy Roman who ruled Rome along with Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, as a part of the first triumvirate.
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Martin Luther
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an important Christian figure who launched the Protestant Reformation in AD 1517 and founded the Lutheran Church based on a theory of salvation by faith alone, causing a split in the Catholic Church in Central Europe, then in Western and Northern Europe.
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Mauryan Empire
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323–185 BC: a Buddhist empire covering much of modern India
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Maya
|
The civilization of the Mayans existed in Mesoamerica (including where Guatemala is today) from about AD 300-900. They were advanced in math and astronomy and had a written pictographic language; today 4 million people still speak the Mayan language.
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Mesoamerica
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Mexico and Central America, where pre-Columbian (before Columbus' exploration in 1492) civilizations existed
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Mesopotamia
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Modern-day Iraq, where civilization first appeared
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Messiah
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Anointed by God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah of Christianity
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Michelangelo
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(AD 1475-1564) A Renaissance man known for his paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceiling and his sculptures of David and the Pieta (Mary holding Jesus after the Crucifixion).
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Middle Ages
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A period of time, also called the Medieval Ages, spanning from AD 500-1500, when feudalism was common
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Middle Kingdom
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2100-1650 BC: Egyptian kingdom known for its works and ideas, which ended due to a civil war
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Ming Dynasty
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Kept to itself while rebuilding and strengthening its country's defenses against the Mongols. Was replaced in 1644.
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monasteries
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communities of Christian monks that are set apart for God, and which preserved knowledge during the Middle Ages.
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Mongol empire
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Peaked in power in the AD 1200s, held more contiguous (connected) land than any empire in history, but failed twice in trying to conquer Japan.
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monotheism
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The belief in a religion worshiping only one god. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are monotheistic religions.
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Moses
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The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt, gave them the Ten Commandments, and wrote the first five books of the Bible.
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Muhammad
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The man who preached a new monotheistic religion "Islam", founded on only one god, Allah.
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Nile
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River in Egypt which flows northward towards the Mediterranean Sea, supplying Egypt with water.
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Nero
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One of the most irresponsible and cruel emperors of Rome. Nero reigned beginning when he was 16 years old, ruling until AD 69.
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New Kingdom
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1550-700 BC: ancient Egypt at the time of Moses, where many buildings were construted primarily with slave labor
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Nicene Creed
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A core statement of Christianity that affirms the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Ghost
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Nicolaus Copernicus
|
(1473-1543) Polish scientist who first sparked this movement with the bold declaration that the earth revolved around the sun, instead of sun revolving around the earth
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Nirvana
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The ultimate goal of Buddhism: the end of all suffering
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Normans
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Vikings who settled in northwest France (Normandy), and then invaded and conquered England in AD 1066
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Octavian
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The grandnephew of Julius Caesar who became the first Emperor of Rome, ruling with his new name of Augustus Caesar.
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Old Kingdom
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3000-2200 BC: the ancient Egyptian kingdom that built the famous pyramids
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Olympics (Ancient Greek)
|
An ancient sporting event first held in 776 BC, establishing the beginning of the Greek civilization
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Paper
|
Invented by Chinese in AD 100, from dipping a bamboo screen into a mixture of bark, rags and plants, and then allowing only a thin layer of pulp to dry on the bamboo screen.
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patricians
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the upper 10% of the Roman republic, consisting of wealthy landowners
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Paul
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an energetic evangelist for early Christianity, who wrote many letters now in the New Testament of the Bible
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Pax Romana
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27 BC-180 AD: the "glory days" of the Roman empire, a time of peaceful prosperity and influence (but cruelty to Christians)
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Peloponnesian War
|
fought between Athens and Sparta, 431-404 BC, which was ultimately won by Sparta and its allies
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Pentateuch
|
The first five books of the modern Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy
|
Pepin
|
Son of Charles Martel, Father of Charlemagne. Donated territories to the Pope and was a wise and judicious king of the Franks.
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Persian empire
|
550-330 BC: a large empire stretching from India to southern Europe and Egypt
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Persian Wars
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492-449 BC: wars between Persia (modern-day Iran) and Greek city-states including Athens and Sparta
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Peter
|
a leading apostle of Jesus who became the first pope in Rome, where he was martyred
|
pharaoh
|
the ruler in Ancient Egypt, considered by Egyptians to be a son of god
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Philip of Macedon
|
King of Macedonia who arranged for the homeschooling of his son, Alexander the Great.
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Philistines
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ancient people who occupied the land of Canaan, who were enemies of Israel and God.
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Phoenicians
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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.
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Pillars of Islam
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the 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)
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Plato
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Greek (Athens) philosopher who emphasized the value of logic, while his student Aristotle preferred the value of experience.
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Pompey the Great
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Ruled Rome as a part of the first triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus. Pompey is well known for ridding the Mediterranean sea of pirates.
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polis
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The name for city-states in Ancient Greece
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polytheism
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A religion with many gods, which was common in ancient times until Judaism and Christianity emerged.
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Pope
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The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who was most powerful in Europe during the time of the Holy Roman Empire.
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Ptolemy
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(AD 90-168) a mathematician, geographer and astronomer in Hellenistic Egypt
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Punic Wars
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Won by the Roman republic, enabling it to gain control of the Mediterranean Sea and control commerce
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pyramids
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Very large monuments in Egypt for the burial of pharaohs, built with a precision that cannot be duplicated even today.
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Qin Shia Huandgi
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the first Chinese emperor, who ruled from 221-210 BC, built new roads, and established a standard coin, weight and writing system. This Qin (or Chi'in) state was the first unified Chinese empire.
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Qur'an (Koran)
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the holy book of Islam
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Ramses II
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the most famous pharaoh, whose reign from 1279-1213 BC (during the New Kingdom) was the second longest in Egyptian history
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Red Sea
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The Red Sea is between Egypt and the Sinai peninsula. The Israelites would have died if not for the protection of the Red Sea, yes they would have died if a miracle had not been preformed Through Moses God parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape from the Egyptian army.-
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Reformation
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Events beginning in 1517 when German monk Saint Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses to a Church door, leading to a separation of Catholic and Protestant churches.
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The Republic
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Plato's greatest writings, which form a foundation for America's system of government.
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Renaissance
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a revival in artwork and Greek and Roman achievement, from the AD 1300s to the 1600s, that made the transition from medieval to modern times
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Richard the Lionheart
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King of England and primary leader of the third Crusade, the only Christian leader feared by Muslims. He supposed to free the Jerusalem but his French partner king Philip left the Crusade and supported his brother revolt against him. He is known for his Chivalry and adhering of Christian ideas.
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Roman Catholic Church
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The Christian Church led by a Pope, beginning with Peter the Apostle. The word "catholic" means "universal".
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Roman citizenship
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This special status was attained by living in along the Tiber River, being born to Roman citizens, or serving in the army for 25 years. Privileges associated with citizenship included the right to serve as a priest or magistrate and the right to appeal to Caesar. Roman citizens could not be scourged or crucified.
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Roman empire
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(27 BC-476 AD) Began when Augustus Caesar ended the Roman Republic and became the emperor of Rome's vast territory, and ended 500 years later when barbarians overran it; the Roman empire laid foundations to cities in Southern, Western and Central Europe, built roads, established laws, and eventually spread Christianity.
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Roman law
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began with a code of laws inscribed in the Twelve Tables, establishing the concept of "justice" - rule by principle and not by whim
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Roman military
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considered to be invincible; each soldier was equipped with shields, helmets, swords, and javelins
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Roman republic
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509-27 BC: The first republic in history with a senate and a constitution, 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.
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Roman senate
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300 members representing wealthy families in Rome, it dominated the Roman republic; similar to the U.S. Senate today
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Romanesque
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architecture popular in the early Middle Ages, featuring thick walls, rounded arches and small windows
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Rome
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the capital city of the Roman empire, and of modern day Italy; supposedly founded by Romulus and Remus, and named after Romulus after he killed his brother
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Rosetta Stone
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ancient text written on stone in three different languages, which enabled the first translations of Egyptian hieroglyphics
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Royal Road
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ancient Persian highway rebuilt by Darius the Great
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samurai
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elite warriors of feudalistic Japan who followed a special honor code called Bushido
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Saul
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the first king of Israel, appointed by God; Saul was a flawed man, jealous of David.
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Satraps
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Governors in the distant lands of the Persian empire, which extended to Egypt and Arabia, who were carefully watched by the "King's Eyes and Ears" soldiers to prevent rebellions
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scholasticism
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Christian philosophy from the AD 900s-1500s that developed logic in the direction of God
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scientific revolution
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The beginning of modern science in the AD mid-1500s, starting with the recognition by Copernicus that the Earth revolves around the Sun
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Second Punic War
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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 itself; by the end Rome had acquired Spain
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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
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a listing of the most impressive public works in the world, written by Greek writer Antipater in the 2nd century BC (200-100 BC)
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Shang Dynasty
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first major dynasty of China, which lasted from 1766 BC (when T'ang overthrew the prior dynasty) to 1122 BC
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Shiite Muslims
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fundamentalist Muslims who are considered more aggressive than Sunni Muslims
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Shinto
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The national religion of Japan, which considered the emperor to be descended from a godlike "sun kami"; Shinto is sometimes considered more of a code of conduct rather than a religion.
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shogun
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a feudalistic military ruler of Japan
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Siddhartha Gautama
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the Buddha, and the founder of the religion of Buddhism
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Silk Road
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A trade route from East China to Central Asia and Europe
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Sir Isaac Newton
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Discovered the explained the force of gravity. Many say he was the second most influential man after Jesus Christ.
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Socrates
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The first great Greek philosopher, Socrates taught that the visible world is not all of reality; Socrates taught Plato, who later taught Aristotle
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Socratic method
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A teaching method developed by Socrates, which consists of asking questions and is used today in law schools
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Solomon
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Third king of Israel and the author of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon; known for his wise justice
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Solon of Athens
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One of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece, who believed that one should "keep everything with moderation"
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Sparta
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a Greek city-state well-known for its military prowess, which won the Peloponnesian war against Athens.
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Spread of Buddhism
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Buddhism traveled outside of India along the Silk Road
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St. Augustine
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(AD 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
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Sumer
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Ancient homeland of the Sumerians, located in Mesopotamia, located in where Iraq is today
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Sunni Muslims
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moderate Muslims who oppose the more aggressive Shiite Muslims
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Sumerians
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the earliest civilizations living in the Middle East, where inventions included the wheel and the first known form of writing
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Taijitu
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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.
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Taoism (Daoism)
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Chinese philosophy of seeking harmony with nature by recognizing that two major forces are opposed to each other
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Ten Commandments
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the laws of the God of Israel handed down to Moses
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Theocracy
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a government ruled by the laws of a specific religion, as in some Muslim nations today
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Thomas Aquinas
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(AD 1225–1274) A brilliant medieval priest who merged Aristotle's insights with Christian faith, and wrote Summa Theologica as a summary of Christian theology that is studied even today
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Third Punic War
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Romans conquered and destroyed Carthage in 146 BC and then went into Macedonia and Greece to defeat them in revenge for having helped Hannibal; Rome then controlled the entire western civilized world (all the land around the Mediterranean)
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Thucydides
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Greek historian who wrote History of the Peloponnesian War
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Toltecs
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A northern Mexican nomadic tribe that reigned over a city called Tula (AD 900-1200) in present-day Mexico City.
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Tragedy
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A type of drama or poetic saga that has an unhappy ending. Common in ancient Greece, this type of work focused on the followed the fall of a character, often because of a specific character flaw such as envy or greed.
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Tribune
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A representative of the poorer lower class (plebians) in the Roman republic. The Assembly of Tribes elected these officials, and they could present the plebe's resolutions before the Senate for ratification.
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Troy
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an ancient city whose destruction was recorded in the Iliad, and its survivors supposedly helped found Rome
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Tutankhamen
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"King Tut": a young Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from 1341-1323 BC. Archaeologist Howard Carter first discovered his tomb in 1922, shedding light on ancient Egyptian culture.
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Twelve Tables
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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."
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Valentine
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A Christian martyr, Valentine is honored by our present-day holiday, Valentine's day. He was a physician who also conducted marriages contrary to Roman law (marriage was outlawed so that more men would be free to join the army). Before he died on February 14th, he left a note for the jailer's daughter--the very first valentine.
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Vassals
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Performed military services to the lords in exchange for protection and land in the feudal system.
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Vedas
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Holy books of Hinduism
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Virgil
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(70-19 BC) a Roman poet & philosopher, friend of Octavian (Augustus Caesar), and author of the Aeneid. Portrayed in the Middle Ages as a noble pagan and symbol of wisdom.
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Vishnu
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Supreme god of Hinduism
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Visigoths
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a confederacy of Germanic tribes that harassed the Roman empire but later fell in AD 711 to the Moors, who were North African Muslims
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Vulgate
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The Latin translation by Saint Jerome of the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament. It was then used as the authoritative Bible for over 1000 years.
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Warring States Period
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475-221 BC: war period in ancient China also known for the philosophical schools that flourished
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Wheel
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The ancient Mesopotamia invention, originally in the form of a potter’s wheel; the wheel is considered the first and greatest of man's inventions.
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Yahweh
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God as described in the Old Testament, written as YHWH in the original Hebrew (which lacked vowels).
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Yangtze River
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Longest river in Asia which flows south for 3000 miles; navigable from the sea for half of its course; the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are the most important rivers in Chinese history
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Yellow River
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Second longest river in Asia; known also as Huang He and "the cradle of Chinese civilization," it runs westward from the Yellow Sea and has a tendency to flood surrounding lands such its course can change with devastating results
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Zeus
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Highest of Greek Gods, God of Thunder, supposedly father of the gods.
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Zhou dynasty (or Chou dynasty)
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1071-221 BC: 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 after 600 BC.
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Ziggurat
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man-made step-sided structures resembling pyramids that were built in Mesopotamia. The Tower of Babel, described in Genesis 11, may have been a giant ziggurat.
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Zoroastrianism
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Polytheistic religion founded between 1200 and 600 BC by the Persians.
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