AP World History Ch. 7-12 Period 2

Liu Ban (202-195 BCE)

Founder of the Han dynasty and emperor of the Gaozu. Continued the tradition of a centralized government and imperial rule. Restored order after the Qin dynasty. He reduced taxes and privatized coinage.

Han Wudi (141-87 BCE)

He was called the "martial emperor" because of his hardworking nature. Made advances in roads and communications. Levied taxes to fund government programs and new machinery to improve technology in the Han dynasty.

Arthashastra (150 BCE-300 CE)

A manual offering detailing the instructions for the use of power and the principles of government. It outlined methods for administering the empire, trade, agriculture, taxes, maintaining order, foreign relations and waging war. One of the few pieces of Kautilya's work talking about government procedure to survive to this day.

Laozi (600 BCE)

A philosopher and poet in ancient China. Was the founder of Daoism which is one of the three schools of thought. Wrote the Tao Ti Ching which described the way of Dao and Tao.

Wang Mang (9-23 CE)

A powerful and respected Han minister. most important reform during his leadership was on poverty. Was known as the "socialist emperor" for redistribution of land to the poor. He ultimately failed in doing so and was later assassinated.

Mani (216-272 CE)

A prophet that the religion Manichaeism derived from. He was born Zoroastrian from Babylon in Mesopotamia but drew deep influence from Buddhism and Christianity. Believed that Jesus was the prophet of the Mediterranean world, Buddha was the prophet of India, and Zarathustra was the prophet of Persia and there needed to be a prophet for all humanity. His doctrine that he wrote was appealing because it offered a rational explanation for the presence of good good and evil in the world while also providing the opportunity for individuals to achieve personal salvation and contribute to the triumph of good over evil in this world.

Gregory the Wonderworker (third century C.E)

A tireless Christian missionary. Had a reputation for performing miracles such as expelling demons, diverting river floods. Popularized Christianity in central Anatolia. Gregory and his missionaries helped to make Christianity massively popular religion of salvation in the Roman empire.

Alexander III of Macedon (reigned from 336-323 BCE)

Alexander of Macedon also known as "Alexander the Great" , was the son of King Philip II of Macedon. When his father was killed, the invasion fell to him at age 20. He was a intelligent strategist and an inspirational leader. By 333 B.C.E, he had controlled Ionia & Anatolia, and within the following year, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. He became the emperor of Persia in 330 B.C.E. After returning to Mesopotamia with his army from the India, he fell ill after celebrating and dies at age 33.

Chandra Gupta (340-298 BCE)

Aligned himself with powerful families in the Ganges kingdom and established a dynamic kingdom. Formed the Gupta empire and had successors forming the Gupta Dynasty. Brought stability and unity to the area. Organized the government by letting the local government of each area that had been conquered to remain intact.

St. Augustine (354-430 CE)

An intellectual elite that was the bishop of the North African city of Hippo. He experimented with multiple religions in his youth and finally decided on Christianity. He reconciled Christianity with Greek and Roman philosophical traditions, specifically Platonism. He made Christianity articulate for the educated class and made it intellectually respectable.

Socrates (470-399 BCE)

Athenian Greek philosopher who was driven by a powerful urge to understand human beings and human affairs in all their complexity. Focused on human affairs rather than the natural world and believed honor was more important than other superficial things and believed in personal integrity. Plato, his disciple, wrote down his dialogues and his teaching method. He focused his teaching method on always asking questions. He was forced to commit suicide because of his teaching method that caused corruption in the youth.

Ashoka (269-232 BCE)

Began as a conqueror to later be known as a governor. He adapted Buddhism after the war against the Kalinga. This caused a mass Buddhist conversion in India. He banned animal sacrifices and became a vegetarian, causing lots of his peoples to become vegetarians. He encouraged the spread of Buddhism and gave lots of land and money to building monasteries; monasteries became so wealthy and trusted they also became banks. He also sent missionaries to spread Buddhism which spread it to all of Asia.

Gracchi Brothers (Tiberius:163-132 BCE, Gaius:153-121 BCE)

Chief proponents of the social reform in the Roman republic. They put a limit to the amount of land an individual could own and if you did not follow those restrictions you would have your land taken away. Elites frequently exceeded the limits and were very frustrated by the brothers. They were later assassinated in 121 BCE.

Xerxes (reigned 486-465 BCE)

Darius's successor, had more difficult relations with his subjects. Mesopotamia and Egypt felt the burden of Persian rule because of their long history of independence. Many rebellions were initiated during Xerxes rule. He harshly repressed riots and gained a reputation for cruel and insensitive treatment of his citizens.

Kautilya (371-283 BCE)

Devised procedures for the governance of the Chandragupta's realm. He created the work called "Arthashastra". He advised Chandragupta to use spies, including prostitutes who could work as informants. He helped Chandragupta to build a bureaucratic administrative system that enabled them to implement policies throughout the state.

Solon (638-558 BCE)

Diverged between classes while devising a solution to class conflict in Attica. He forged compromise between the classes and provided representation for the common class in government. With his help, opportunities for commoners began to increase during the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E.

Zoroastrianism (600 BCE)

Emerged and became very widely popular in Iran and to most of the larger Persian empires. Contributed in the influence of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Odovacer (433-493 CE)

Germanic general that ended imperial power in the Roman Empire. Got rid of the last Roman emperor in the western part of the Roman Empire. Later in his life, became the first king of Italy. His rule marks the end of the western Roman Empire.

Darius (reigned 521-486 BCE)

Greatest of the Achaemenid emperors. He extended the empire east and west and into northwestern India and the Indus River. He also absorbed the northern Indian kingdom of Gandhara. Established communication with all parts of his realm and designed institutions that would be able to tax his citizens.

Romulus (753-716 BCE)

He and his brother Remus were left by the Tiber River but were nursed back to health by a she-wolf. Romulus founded the city of Rome and declared himself the king. Was said to have ruthless policy and expansion. Was supposedly stabbed to death.

Jesus of Nazareth (4 BCE-30 CE)

Jewish teacher who Jews recognized as the savior. He was peaceful and taught devotion to God and love for others. He attracted very large crowds for to be able to see his miracles. Roman officials saw his messages as threatening and executed him crucifixion in the 30s CE.

Paul of Tarsus (4-70 CE)

Known as Apostle Paul. Was a principal figure in the expansion of Christianity. He taught Christianity to expand and attract urban masses. He explained that individuals should have high moral standards and should regard others with respect. He said the creation of the world was God's doing.

Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BCE)

Laid the foundation for the Mauryan empire, which was the first state to bring a centralized and unified government to most of India. Originally conquered small remote regions, then worked inward. Overthrew the ruling dynasty and his empire embraced all of northern India from the Indus and Ganges by the the end of the fourth century B.C.E.

Cyrus (reigned 558-530 BCE)

Launched the Persians imperial venture. Was called Cyrus the Shepherd or Cyrus the Great. Laid the foundation of the first Persian empire, also known as the Achaemenid Empire. Thereafter the rulers claimed to be descended from the Cyrus Achaemenid clan.

Gaius Marius (157-86 BCE)

Most important of Roman generals. Sided with social reformers and practiced land redistribution. He placed the city under military occupation so he would be able to search for and hunt down his political enemies. He died the next year, 86 BCE.

Pericles (reigned from 443-429 BCE)

Most popular Athenian leader. Held huge influence in a large government, and supported building programs that provided employment for thousands. Under his leadership, Athens became the most sophisticated polis. Boasted that Athens was "the education of Greece."

Han Feizi (280-233 BCE)

Most systematic legalist in the Legalism school of thought. Was one of two very powerful components of the Legalism foundation. Legalism was a very strict way of governing which upheld strict laws.

Plato (430-347 BCE)

One of Socrates disciples that wrote down Socrates dialogues and elaborated on Socrates ideas and made his own theory called Forms or Ideas. Believed that the secrets of the world were available only to philosophers, meaning those who applied their rational faculties to the pursuit of wisdom and he advocated for an intellectual aristocracy. Taught Aristotle and influenced many of his ideas.

Mithradates I (171-138 BCE)

One of the Persians greatest conquerors, he came to throne and transformed the entirety of the state into a mighty empire. During 155 BCE he had solidified his hold on Iran and had also extended Parthian rule to Mesopotamia.

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

Plato's disciple who came to distrust the theory of Forms and Ideas. He believed that philosophers could rely on their senses to provide accurate info about the world and use reason to sort out its mysteries. He wrote not only based on philosophy, but on ethics, biology, physics, astronomy, politics and literature. His work provided a coherent and comprehensive vision of the world that he was called "the master of those who know." He has become an intellectual authority and a religious figure after his death because of his ideas.

Aristophanes (5th Century BCE)

Playwright that was a famous Greek comic dramatic. He dealt with serious issues of human striving and responsible behavior. He criticized the public and political figures. This influenced the progression of stage drama and how it is performed today.

Shapur I (239-272 BCE)

Reigned during the Sassanids period of stabilizing their western frontier. Created a series of buffer states between Rome and them. Settled the prisoners in Iran after defeating several Roman armies. They then used their famous engineering skills to construct roads and dams.

Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE)

Replaced Rome's republic constitution with a centralized imperial form of government. Caesar played an active role in Roman politics and frequently in the public eye. He refused to go out of power and declared himself "dictator for life". He was later assassinated in 44 BCE.

Diocletian (reigned 284-305 CE)

Roman emperor who divided the empire into two administrative districts. A co-emperor ruled each district. He was a skillful administrator that was able to bring Rome's multiple armies under firm imperial control. He tried to also adjust spending expenditures which would help stabilize the economy.

Philip II of Macedon (reigned from 359-336 BCE)

Ruler of Macedon during a period where it underwent a thorough transformation. He built a powerful military machine featuring an infantry of small farmers and a calvary of aristocrats with a lot of land, which were both strong in the fourth century B.C.E. He invaded Greece following 350 B.C.E, annexing polis and their surrounding areas, creating temporary alliances. He had Greece under his control by 338 B.C.E. He was later assassinated in 336 B.C.E.

Xunzi (289-238 BCE)

Second of the Confucius disciples. He believed in strong discipline and that humans were naturally selfish. Emphasized Li more than Ren in his government practice. He used extreme discipline when ruling and leading to instill a warm nature in his people.

Seleucids (323-83 BCE)

Second of the four ruling dynasties Dominated the territories of the former Achaemenid empire. Founded new cities throughout the realm and attracted many Greek colonists. This greatly stimulated trade and economic development.

Constantine (306-330 CE)

Son of Diocletian's co-ruler Constantius who became sole emperor of Rome causing the reunification of the empire. He overcome all of his rivals and consolidated his grip on power. He ordered construction of a new capital city Constantinople (Istanbul). Made the Edict of Milan which allowed Christians to practice their faith openly in the Roman empire.

Qin Shihuangdi (221-210 BCE)

The first emperor of the Qin dynasty. He would establish a centralized imperial rule that provided large scale organization. Qin also standardized Chinese text. When he died he had a elaborate tomb created with a thousand terracotta warriors in his tomb.

Achaemenids (558-330 BCE)

The first of four ruling Persian dynasties. Consisted of Medes and Persians. Cyrus, Cambyses, and Darius were very prevalent rulers and made a great impact on the foundation of the empire.

Siddhartha Gautama (480-400 BCE)

The founder of Buddhism from a kshatriya family that gave up his position of power for salvation. Looked for the explanation of suffering and gave up asking people and lived as a hermit. He sat 49 days under a bo tree and found enlightenment and became the Buddha. His values was spread throughout India and later making it all around the world challenging the caste system. He made the Dharma, which talked about the Four Noble Truths and how people should live moderately and they could one day reach Nirvana. He got raised to god level by finding enlightenment and started the Buddhist movement.

Sasanids (224-651 CE)

The last of the remaining ruling dynasties. Originated from Persia and claimed direct descendance from the Achaemenids. Their capital was at Ctesiphon. They were called the "king of kings" and provided strong rule from Parthia to Mesopotamia.

Confucius (551-479 BCE)

The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. Education was a big aspect in his way of government. Emphasized on Ren, Li, and Xiao. One of the many thinkers working to resolve political problems.

Parthians (247-224 BCE)

Third ruling dynasty of the Parthians. They established themselves as lords and were based in Iran and extended into Mesopotamia. Occupied the region of Iran around Khurasan. They had a non-centralized government style with a federation of leaders on a council.

Mencius (372-289 BCE)

Two later disciples of Confucius. Was an optimist and was compared to John Locke in current times. Held a light approach to governing and expressed the principle of Ren.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BCE)

Veteran of many foreign campaigns who sided with the conservative and aristocratic classes. Organized horrific killings of his enemies and publicly defamed others. This resulted in the murder of possibly ten thousand citizens in Rome. By the time of his death he had established a conservative legislation.

Atila (5th century C.E. died in 453 CE)

Warrior king of the Huns. Organized the Huns into an almost unbeatable and unstoppable military army. Under his command the Huns invaded Hungary, Roman frontiers, the Balkan region, Gaul, northern Italy and attacked Germanic people living on the borders of the Roman empire. With his death the Huns disappeared as a political and military force.