1. Most common empires and famous dudes

2. Paleolithic Age=Old Stone Age People migrate Nomads who move from place to place Invent stone tools and oral language Discover fire

3. Neolithic Age=New Stone Age Discover agriculture (farming) and domestication (taming animals) – ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SETTLE INTO VILLAGES

4. Sumerian Civilization 1 st civilization City-states in Mesopotamia First written code of laws, first organized religion, first organized governments, first empires First writing- called cuneiform

5. Egyptian Civilization Nile River Pyramids, pharaohs (kings) Influenced by Kush, a kingdom to the south Hieroglyphics

6. Indus Civilization Indus River in India Highly organized, built perfectly planned cities with sewer and water systems Invaded by Indo-Aryan people

7. Indo-Aryans Invaded India Introduced caste system, a social class system that prevents people from increasing their class

8. Chinese Civilization First on Yellow, then Yangtze River Created dynasties- kings whose power is based on birth

9. Mauryan Empire Indian empire Most famous emperor was Asoka, who converted to Buddhism and worked to spread Buddhism

10. Gupta Empire “Golden Age” of India Advances in math, literature, astronomy

11. Hebrew civilization Abraham father of Judaism – First Monotheistic religion Moses & Ten Commandments- set of moral laws

12. Phoenicians Best traders of the ancient world Trading empire throughout Mediterranean region Invented the alphabet

13. Persian Empire Created by Cyrus I – Showed conquered people tolerance Built roads, esp the Royal Road to help communicate with empire, good for moving armies too Practice Zoroastrianism religion

14. Greek Civilization Small city-states develop because they are separated from each other by water and mountains Athens develops direct democracy (people vote directly on laws) – Athens contributions to “Western” civilization (European) include art, architecture (Parthenon), philosophy, literature (Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey) Sparta has a militaristic culture

15. Alexander the Great’s Empire A group of Greek-like people called Macedonians invade Greece under king Philip II His son, Alexander takes over when Philip dies and builds a huge empire in Europe, Africa, and Asia Greek culture mixes with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culture to form Hellenistic Culture

16. Roman Republic Rome develops a republic, or indirect democracy (people vote for people to vote on laws) Goes to war with Carthage over control of Western Mediterranean during Punic Wars – Rome wins, builds an empire

17. Roman Empire Toward end of republic, a general named Julius Caesar takes over Rome and tries to become king, he’s assassinated His adopted son Augustus avenges him and becomes Rome’s first emperor This beings 200 years of peace and prosperity called Pax Romana

18. Fall of Rome Eventually Roman Empire gets too big to defend and control Germanic people like Attila the Hun invade and eventually conquer the western half of the Roman Empire Eastern half of empire continues as Byzantine Empire

19. Byzantine Empire Capital city Constantinople – Protected on 3 sides by water and by massive walls on the other side Justinian I most powerful emperor – Conquers much of Roman Empire – Creates code of laws called Justinian’s Code (Justice) – Builds Hagia Sophia (big church)

20. Charlemagne’s Empire Western Europe began Middle Ages after fall of Roman Empire, lots of tiny kingdoms always fighting each other Charlemagne, a Frankish (French) king, conquers many of these and builds a new empire – He tries to revive (recreate) the Roman Empire (fail) – Allies with the Catholic church and builds schools

21. Muslim Empires After Muhammad died, Islam expanded rapidly Under Umayyad Caliphate, conquers central Asia, northern Africa, and Spain. Almost conquered Europe, but stopped by Charles Martel at Battle of Tours Baghdad becomes capital – Important city for learning (they invent algebra, and preserve Greek/Roman learning)

22. Ghana, Mali, Songhai West African kingdoms Animist religions and Islam Timbuktu an important trade and cultural city Depend on gold-salt trade

23. Aksum Christian kingdom Depended on trade

24. Maya, Aztec, Inca All polytheistic All depend on agriculture Inca build road system to help communicate with empire

25. England After fall of Roman Empire, England conquered by Anglo-Saxons (Anglo=English) Then conquered by William the Conqueror and Normans

26. France After Charlemagne, ruled by Hugh Capet and Capetian Dynasty Fights England during the 100 Years War French peasant girl named Joan of Arc rallies French troops and defeat the Brits. French become nationalistic

27. Spain Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand unite Spain by kicking out the Moors (Muslims) and Jews

28. Mongol Empire Ghengis Kahn builds biggest empire ever – Russia, China, Central Asia

29. Russia Ivan the Great kicks out Mongols – Becomes the first czar Russia becomes a free country

30. Hammurabi Sumerian dude Invented first written code of laws – Very harsh punishments, but kept society in order

31. Abraham Founder of Judaism, the world’s first monotheistic religion

32. Moses Jewish dude who led Jews out of slavery in Egypt – God sent him the 10 Commandments, a set of social and religious laws

33. Buddha (Prince Siddhartha Guatama) Founder of Buddhism Taught that enlightenment (state of perfect understanding) is possible – People should follow Eightfold Path and Four Noble Truths

34. Confucius Chinese founder of Confucianism who taught that society should be more ordered Respect for elders, teachers, rulers

35. Shi Huangdi Brutal Chinese emperor who unified China Built the Great Wall of China

36. Pericles Greek dude from Athens who expanded democracy in Athens “Golden Age of Pericles” – a highpoint of Greek cultural achievement (built the Parthenon for example)

37. Plato, Socrates, Aristotle Greek philosophers

38. Julius Caesar Roman general who overthrew the Roman Republic Assassinated by Roman Senate

39. Augustus Caesar 1 st Roman Emperor Began period of Pax Romana- 200 years of peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire

40. Jesus of Nazarath Founder of Christianity Taught about a personal relationship with God through prayer and good deeds

41. Apostles Peter and Paul Early Christians Peter was the founder of the Church Paul spread Christianity through the Roman Empire

42. Constantine Roman Emperor toward the end of the Roman Republic Legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire Converted to Christianity on his death bed

43. Justinian Byzantine Emperor during high point Reconquered Roman Empire, built Hagia Sophia, created Justinian’s Code of Laws

44. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine missionaries who created alphabet for Slavic people to read bible – Called Cyrillic alphabet after Cyril

45. Muhammad Arabian founder of Islam from Mecca

46. Charles Martel Frankish (French) dude who defeated Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours – Saved Christian Europe from being conquered by Muslims

47. Charlemagne Frankish king (grandson of Charles Martel) who conquered much of Western Europe and revived the idea of the Roman Empire – Also opened schools

48. William the Conqueror Norman (French & Viking) guy who conquered England and centralized the king’s power

49. Joan of Arc French girl who rallied the French to defeat the English during the 100 Years War

50. Isabella and Ferdinand Spanish queen and king who kicked the Muslim Moors and Jews out of Spain