World History Study Guide to 1648

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

This should grow from 376 (about half are honors) to 500 terms -- about half basic and half honors -- and every term should be described in the table. An examination on this material will be given in November 2011.

Basic terms

Term Definition
Abraham Approximately 2000 B.C. Father of Jewish people; God made a covenant with him to make his descendants great in number. Arabs claim descendance from Abraham's son Ishmael.
Acropolis Portion of a town or city that is built on a hilltop for easy defense. Best known Acropolis is in Athens, where the democratic assembly met. Most Greek city-states had an Acropolis.
the Academy Founded by Plato, this was the first great center of learning
Aesop a Greek writer famous for writing ''Aesop's Fables'' (around 600 B.C.), such as "The Fox and the Grapes" and "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing".
Aesop's Fables Stories and fables written by Aesop around 600 B.C. They contain moral teaching.
Ahuramazda The creator in the Persian's religion of Zoroastrianism.
Alexander the Great 356 - 323 B.C. Born to Philip II of Macedon and tutored by Aristotle. Conquered Greece, Egypt, Persia, and more, but turned back at India. Alexander's conquests spread Greek culture and language and helped the future spread of Christianity.
Alexandria City in Egypt captured by Alexander the Great and Hellenized. Known for its famous library.
Analects The analects are a record of the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, written and compiled by his disciples circa 400-300 B.C.
Ancient world Civilized world before the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476.
Anselm A Christian philosopher, founder of scholasticism, and archbishop of Canterbury
Antisthenes A disciple of Socrates; founded Cynicism.
Archimedes 287 – 212 B.C. 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
Aristocracy "Rule by the best": aristocrats were generally wealthy and privileged. European feudal government resembled aristocracy, and some governments in ancient Greece were aristocracies.
Aristotle 384 to 322 B.C. Greek philosopher, student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great. Focused on experience with the physical world; studied biology and founded a school, the Lyceum, resembling a university with specimens and a library.
Art of Warfare First military treatise; written by Sun Tzu. Reflects the insight shared by ancient Chinese culture.
Assyrian Empire 1400-605 B.C. 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, but destroyed by Medians in the 600s.
Athens Greek city-state. Democracy begun by Pericles in 5th century B.C. Previously ruled by aristocrats. First democracy in the world and a great naval power. Rival with Persia but united to defeat invading Persians.
Attila the Hun Last and greatest ruler of the Huns. Fought against the eastern Roman Empire and then fought the western Roman Empire throughout the mid AD 400s. Almost defeated, but then almost sacked Rome; turned away by Pope Leo I.
Augustus Caesar 63 B.C. - A.D. 14. Succeeded Julius Caesar and became first Roman Emperor. Ruler during the birth of Christ. Defeated Mark Antony for rule of Rome.
Babylon The major Mesopotamian city in the ancient Middle East. Greatest ruler was Hammurabi. Developed Cuneiform, used base-60 numbers, and defeated ancient Sumer about 2000 B.C. Later cruel to Hebrews.
Babylonia State and Empire created by Babylon. First empire existed from 1900-1600 B.C. Resurged as the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 625-538 B.C. Imposed Babylonian Exile on Hebrews.
B.C.E. Flawed secularized term to denote "Before Common Era" same dating system as B.C. but secularized.
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 Brahman: the ultimate god or existence in Hinduism, of which all existence is somehow a part, or from which all comes; Brahmin: the highest class for families in the Hindu caste system
Bronze Age It is the age referred to during which time bronze was the common metal used in people's everyday lives. It was used for jewelry, tools, utensils, weapons, and it helped enable the introduction of the plough.
Buddha "Awakened One" in Buddhism. What Siddhartha Gautama's followers called him.
Buddhism It is 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 that split away. It outlasted the Western half by 1000 years due to its greater financial resources.
Carthage A city off the coast of Africa whose rivalry with Rome led to the three Punic Wars at the end of which Carthage was destroyed and decreed never to be rebuilt.
Caste It is a 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 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", until converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick in Ireland
C.E. Secularized term for A.D. same dating system as A.D. But Means Common Era instead of In the Year of our lord.
Chaldeans The ancient Babylonians
Chandragupta Mauryan Built the largest Indian empire in India's history. A tough and strong dictator.
Charlemagne King of the Franks from 768 AD to 814 AD, and Holy Roman Emperor from 800 AD; he greatly expanded both his empire and Christianity during his rule.
China The world's oldest major civilization
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
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 B.C.
Code of Manu Hindu law containing rules and codes of conduct.Written in 200 BC, India.
Colosseum A massive stadium in Rome that was used to hold gladiatorial contests, chariot racing and killing Christians for entertainment.
Comedy In a classical sense, 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 first Christian emperor of Rome who legalized Christianity and ended the persecution of Christians
Constantinople Modern day Istanbul, it was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire from AD 330. Also known as Byzantium.
Council of Nicaea 325 AD. A council of bishops called by Constantine to obtain agreement on various aspects of Christianity such as the doctrine of the Trinity and the role of the Roman Bishop(the Pope)and also in order to address disunity in the Church stemming from Arianism.
cuneiform The earliest known form of writing. Consists of lines and dashes to represent different concrete things, such as fish.
Cynicism Philosophy that focuses on the negative things of life. Founded by Antisthenes.
David Second king of Israel and a descendant 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.
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 a military ruling class that oppressed the local people some cities even after the Greeks established democracy in Athens. 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. This edict was issued by Constantine I in 313 AD, shortly after the end of 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
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 area where it was easier to grow crops
Four Noble Truths Important principles in Buddhism
Gentiles The term for people who are not of Israeli descent.
Gracchi brothers Two tribunes of ancient Rome who wanted to help the poor by redistributing land from the rich
Great Wall of China A large wall created in Ancient China to keep invaders out of the country
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
Gupta empire An empire that covered much of modern India and Pakistan that came up 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
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 Sometimes called the First Reich; it lasted from 900 to 1806 AD, and included the territory in Europe that was loosely under the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor. In practice, the constituent states ruled themselves.
Homer An early Greek poet, famous for lengthy sagas such as Iliad and The Odyssey.
Huns A tribe of people who fought with the Romans in what is now the Ukraine. They were considered by many Romans to be the most ferocious of enemies
Ideograms A graphic symbol representing a concept or an idea
India A country that was home to the Indus Valley civilization and dates back over 3,000 years
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.
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 A political leader who laid out the groundwork for the future Roman Empire, and also provided the foundation of the Gregorian calendar
Justinian I/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. Determines status in the next life
Kassites Eastern Tribe which controlled Babylon.
Latin The language spoken in ancient Rome that has contributed to many modern day European languages, including English
Luke One of Jesus's twelve disciples. Luke was a Greek physician, but he also accompanied Paul, and wrote the Acts.
Lyceum The great center of learning founded by Aristotle, which then competed with the Academy
Niccolo Machiavelli An Italian political theorist and author, known for his book The Prince, which showed how a self-serving ruler will follow the policy that the "end justifies the means."
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
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
Mark One of Jesus's twelve disciples. Mark was most likely home schooled by his mother, and eventually became a scribe for Peter, a fellow disciple
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
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
Middle Kingdom Egyptian kingdom known for its works and ideas that ended due to a civil war
monotheism The belief in a religion worshipping 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 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
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
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
Paul An apostle of Jesus, and the only one not to have seen Him in the flesh. He went to different churches and wrote letters that make up a part of the New Testament of the Bible
Pax Romana 27 B.C.-180 A.D. A time of peace for the Roman Empire
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 disciple and apostle of Jesus, who taught in areas such as Jerusalem and Palestine
phalanx Common Greek military formation. Rectangular, also the Greek word for "finger".
pharaoh The ruler of Ancient Egypt
Philip of Macedon King of Macedonia, and father of Alexander the Great who arranged for him to be homeschooled. Philip lived from 359 to 336 B.C., and his son succeeded him in power.
Philistines Group of people occupying the land of Canaan. Enemies of Israel and God.
Phoenicians An ancient people who lived and traded goods on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and who developed a new language based on an alphabet of 22 letters. All Western alphabets, such as English and French and Italian and Greek and Latin, are based on it.
Plato Athenian philosopher who wrote several treatises on philosophy, logic, ethics, rhetoric, and mathematics. He founded the Academy, of which Aristotle was the most famous student.
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 Enabled the Roman republic to gain control of the Mediterranean Sea and access to many goods
pyramids A structure with 3 or more triangular-shaped sides and a base that is either a triangle, a rectangle or some other polygon. These structures have been built for thousands of years, in such diverse areas as Egypt, Mexico, North America, China and India. Pyramids have either smooth sides, like the famous pyramids in Egypt, or stepped sides similar to those built by the Mayans in Mexico.
Qin dynasty Also called the Ch'in dynasty- The first imperial Chinese dynasty. The Qin dynasty was excellent in battle, because they had chariots and iron weapons. It was during the Qin dynasty when they began to build the Great wall, which still stretches across China for 1,400 miles.
Reformation Events that led to the separation of Catholic and Protestant churches
Renaissance A revival in the arts and in Greek and Roman literature, and more of a focus on the current life
Roman empire Transition of Rome from a republic to having an emperor, starting with the appointment of Augustus Caesar as ruler in 27 B.C.
Roman republic The first republic, located in Rome, and the basis of many principles of the government of the United States
Rome The capital city of the Roman Empire, and of modern day Italy. Founded by Romulus and Remus, who supposedly fought over which one of them the city would be named after. Romulus killed his brother, and had the city named after himself.
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. He turned out to be a very flawed character, afflicted by jealousy for David.
satraps Governors in the distant lands of the Persian empire which expanded further to Egypt and Arabia; carefully watched by a special force called the "King's Eyes and Ears" to prevent any rebellions
Scholasticism Christian doctrines about man popular in the Middle Ages
Scientific Revolution The beginning of modern science in the mid-1500s
Senate The dominant force of the Roman Republic's government.
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 dynasty of China that lasted from 1766 B.C. 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 An Athenian philosopher who believed that the world we experience is a poor substitute for reality. His philosophy inspired Plato and in turn Aristotle, and became the accepted Orthodoxy until modern times.
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 an intellectual discussions of the faith
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". Symbol for Taoism. Represents a constant interaction 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.
Thirty Years' War Primarily 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 Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire. The war ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
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. The production and study of tragedies was very important in early philosophical movements, particularly that of Aristotle
Tutankhamen A young Egyptian 18th dynasty pharaoh who ruled from approx. 1341 B.C. to 1323 B.C. The discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 shed light on Egyptian culture.
Vedas Holy books of Hinduism
Virgil Well-known Roman poet and philosopher
Vishnu Supreme god of Hinduism
Visigoths A confederacy of Germanic tribes that ultimately fell to the Moors
Warring States Period War period in China also known for the philosophical schools that flourished
Xenophon Famous Greek writer, Writer of renowned historical work "The Anabasis."
Yahweh God as described in the Old Testament, written as YHWH in the original Hebrew.
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
Yin and Yang Daoist idea that everything in the universe stays in harmony
Zeus Highest of Greek Gods, God of Thunder, supposedly father of the Gods.
Zhou dynasty 771 to 221 B.C. Longest lasting Chinese dynasty. Confucius lived during it.
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 Definition
Aeschylus The oldest of the three great Athenian tragic playwrights (next to Sophocles and Euripides), 525-456 B.C.
Age of Metal Copper, iron, and bronze 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.
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 theological view, taught by Arius around 320 AD, that Jesus was divine but was created by and is lesser than God. This view was considered heresy by orthodox Trinitarians, and condemned by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
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 that invaded and settled India around 1500 B.C.
Ashoka Emperor of the Mauryan Empire of India from 273 to 232 B.C. He was upset by the horrors of war after being triumphant, and became an advocate of Buddhism. After his conversion, he had thousands of rock pillars erected that were inscribed with the teachings of the Buddha. These are the first recordings of Buddha's teachings.
Bantu Over 400 tribes in Africa that share the Bantu language and common customs.
Barracks Emperors A series of Roman emperors who from 235 AD to 284 AD 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.
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.
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 caused the unification of Spain and 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 was 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 in a dead-end valley by the Aequians. The Roman Senate had declared war against the Aequians because they had been raiding Roman farms. Cincinnatus is also known for voluntarily giving up power, surpassed only by George Washington in that regard among government leaders.
Claudius Roman emperor who became ruler after his nephew Caligula's assassination, he ruled from 41 AD until 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 AD until 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 also required the military to worship the Roman pagan gods, thus making it impossible for Christians to be soldiers, as well as cruelly 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.
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 d
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 d
Herodotus d
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 d
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.
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
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.
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 Also known as Mahayana Buddhism, is a form of Buddhism practiced in China, Korea, Japan and Tibet. Teaches how to attain full enlightenment for the sake of others.
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 calvary in addition to the foot soldiers.
Lesser Vehicle Also called the Hinayana, describes how to attain freedom from suffering for oneself alone.
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
Mahayana d
Manichaeism d
Marathon Marathon is a small town near Athens where the Greeks won an important battle against the Persians in 490 B.C. News of the victory was carried on foot to Athens by a soldier. Modern marathon running takes its name from that feat and covers a distance of 42 kilometers, allegedly the distance between Marathon and Athens.
Marcus Aurelius d
Marius d
Masada d
Menes Was a legendary Pharoah of Egypt from somewhere between 3100-2850 BC.
Meroe d
Mesolithic Age Sometime 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
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 d
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 d
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 d
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.
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 d
oracle bone d
Origen dddd
Ostrogoths d
Ovid d
Paleolithic Age d
papyrus A thin parchment constructed from reeds near the Nile River
pariah d
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 d
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.
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 d
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 d
plebian d
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 d
Prehistory Before 3400 B.C.
purdah d
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
Romulus and Remus Rome obtained its name from Romulus and Remus, who were twins, and also the sons of Mars.
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) d
Satrap d
Saxons d
Schliemann, Heinrich d
Scipio d
Seneca Roman philosopher (a Stoic), statesman and playwright; teacher of Nero. BC 4 - AD 65.
Shang dynasty d
Shang Yang d
Shi d
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 d
Sunna d
Sumuabum d
Suttee An ancient Hindu practice in India where a wife sacrifices herself upon her husband's funeral pyre.
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.
terra cotta A hard fired clay, distinctively brownish-red colored (from Latin "terra cotta": baked earth) traditionally used for architectural purposes, especially ornamental, and for pottery and sculpture.
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 d
The Republic Plato's greatest writings, which form the foundation for America's system of government.
Thutmos III d
Tiber River One of the longest Italian rivers, over 250 miles long, it flows through the city of Rome.
Tiberius 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 d
Trajan d
Tribal Assembly d
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; and that 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.
Twelve Tables d
Untouchables People at the very bottom of the Hindu caste system. Under the system,these people literally are not be touched because they are considered to be so undesirable.
Upanishads d
Ur d
Vandals d
Vespasian d
Wheel The ancient Mesopotamians invented the wheel, originally in the form of a potter’s wheel. This is considered the first and greatest of man's inventions.
Xenephos d
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 the Masada, a mountain fortress that still holds spiritual significance for Israel today.
Zeno a Greek philosopher and follower of Parmenides who devised a number of famous arguments (his Paradoxes) directed against the opponents of Parmenides. His most famous was to explain how a finite distance can be divided into an infinite number of segments, each time traveling half the distance towards the destination such that destination would never be reached.