Unit 3Vocabulary
Subcontinent: large landmass that juts out from a continent.
Indo-European Migration: Around 1500 B.C., groups from North Central Europe migrated to regions of Europe and Asia in search of good pastureland.
Mohenjo-Daro & Harappa: Well planned ancient cities of the Indus River Valley.
Aryans: Indo-European Group who overtook the Indus Valley from the Dravidians around 1500 B.C. Ganges River
Chandragupta Maurya: Leader of the Maurya Empire which controlled the Ganges Valley in India from 321 b.c. to 185 b.c.
Asoka: Emperor of the Mauryan Empire who converted to Buddhism, spread the religion to neighboring countries, and practiced religious tolerance.
“Middle Kingdom”: The ancient Chinese explanation of where they lived, “in the center of the world.”
monopoly: The complete control of a product or business by or person or group. The Chinese had a monopoly on silk making.
Veneration of Ancestors: The calling of the spirits of ancestors to bring good fortune to a family
oracle bones: Old animal bones or turtle shells on which Shang Priests wrote questions to the gods and ancestors.
Shi Huangdi: 1st emperor of the “Ch’in/Qin dynasty who united the Chinese city-states into one strong central government.
Mandate of Heaven: The right to rule comes from the spirits or gods.
Dynastic Cycle: The succession process of dynasties in China because of the Mandate of Heaven.
Han Dynasty: Powerful dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 A.D.) which based its rule on Confucian teachings, expanded its borders, and made major advances in technology.
civil service system: The idea that government positions should be won by merit rather than family. A series of exams are taken in order to achieve a higher rank.
Silk Road: The trade route across Asia that linked China with the Middle East.
Socrates: The first great Athenian Philosopher. He profoundly affected Western philosophy through his influence on Plato and Aristotle.
philosophy The study of the laws of nature and the universe.
Persian War The Greek city states united to defeat the invading Persian Army. This made Athens the most powerful city- state.
Peloponnesian War War between Athens & Sparta that ended Athenian greatness.
Pericles Leader of Athens who developed the direct democracy and lead Athens to a Golden Age
Golden Age A time in a culture of high achievement in arts, literature, and science. Generally occurs in times of peace and economic prosperity.
democracy A system of government in which the citizens hold the legislative, judicial, and executive power, based on majority rule.
Alexander the Great ( bc), king of Macedonia, conqueror of Greece, Egypt, the Persian Empire, and India. One of the greatest military geniuses of all times.
Hellenistic Age: The time period in Greek history from 336 B.C. when Alex’s reign began to 146 B.C., when the Romans conquered Greece.
Republic A political system in which a country is ruled by law, has representative government, and is democratic in nature.
Pax Romana A 200 hundred year period of relative peace throughout the Roman Empire that occurred during the first two centuries C.E..
Law of 12 Tables: Engraved tablets which displayed the Roman laws which are the basic principles of our justice system today. They include: all are equal under the eyes of the laws and innocent until proven guilty.
Julius Caesar Roman general and statesman. He is responsible for setting up the imperial system in Rome which placed his grandnephew, Augustus, on the throne.
Augustus First emperor of Rome who restored order and prosperity to the Empire after nearly a century of turmoil. Grandnephew to Julius Caesar.
Colosseum An amphitheatre in the centre of Rome which is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
Parthenon A large temple dedicated to the goddess Athena on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was built in the 5th century BCE, during the Athenian golden age.
Aqueducts A massive arch structures used to carry water from the mountains to the cities.