HIST 151

Mahayana Buddhism

"Great Vehicle" branch of Buddhism followed in China, Japan, and Central Asia. The focus is on reverence for Buddha and for bodhisattvas, enlightened persons who have postponed nirvana to help others attain enlightenment.

Han Dynasty

(202 BC - 220 AD) dynasty started by Lui Bang; a great and long-lasting rule, it discarded the harsh policies of the Qin dynasty and adopted Confucian principles; Han rulers chose officials who passed the civil service exams rather than birth; it was a time of prosperity

Constantine

(274 CE - 337 CE) Roman Emperor between 306 CE and 337 CE. He issued the Edict of Milan which outlawed the persecution of Christians. He also founded the city of Constantinople, the future capital of the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine Empire

(330-1453) The eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived after the fall of the Western Empire at the end of the 5th century C.E. Its capital was Constantinople, named after the Emperor Constantine.

Plato

(430-347 BCE) Was a disciple of Socrates whose cornerstone of thought was his theory of Forms, in which there was another world of perfection. Founded an academy in Athens.

Peloponnesian War

(431-404 BCE) The war between Athens and Sparta that in which Sparta won, but left Greece as a whole weak and ready to fall to its neighbors to the north.

Augustus

(63 BCE - 14 CE) First emperor of Rome (27 BCE - 14 CE) He restored order and prosperity to the Empire after nearly a century of turmoil. Grandnephew to Julius Caesar.

Four Noble Truths

1) All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. 2) The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hated and desire. 3) The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirtue. 4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

Nestorians

A Christian sect found in Asia; tended to support Islamic invasions of this area in preference to Byzantine rule; cut off from Europe by Muslim invasions

Ramayana

A Hindu epic written in Sanskrit that describes the adventures of the king Rama and his queen

Sufi

A Muslim who seeks to achieve direct contact with God through mystical means (third sect of Islam)

Sunni

A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad. Largest branch (85% of Muslims)

Athens

A democratic Greek polis who accomplished many cultural achievements, and who were constantly at war with Sparta. Capital and largest city in Greece.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Hijab

A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women.

Jihad

A holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral or spiritual or political goal (Holy war)

Constantinople

A large and wealthy city that was the imperial capital of the Byzantine empire and later the Ottoman empire, now known as Istanbul

Normans

A member of a Viking people who raided and then settled in the French province later known as Normandy, and who invaded England in 1066

Christianity

A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior.

Pax Romana

A period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180 (Lasted 200 years)

Hajj

A pilgrimage to Mecca, performed as a duty by Muslims

Jainism

A religion that branched off from Hinduism and was founded by Mahavira; its belief is that everything has a soul, and its purpose was to cleanse the soul. Some were extreme aesthetics. Believed in complete non-violence.

Dictator

A ruler who has complete power over a country

Persian Wars

A series of wars between the Greeks (mainly Athens) and the Persians in which the Greeks were usually victorious (400 BCE)

Caliph

A supreme political and religious leader in a Muslim government

Silk Roads

A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia (between China and the Middle East), along which traders carried silk and other trade goods.

Kautalya

Advisor of Chandragupta who wrote ancient political handbook known as the Arthashastra, a manual offering detailed instructions on the uses of power and the principles of government

Cyrillic Alphabet

An alphabet for the writing of Slavic languages, devised in the ninth century A.D. by Saints Cyril and Methodius

Arthashastra

Ancient Indian political treatise from the time of Chandragupta Maurya; its authorship was traditionally ascribed to Kautalya, and it stressed that war was inevitable.

Pericles

Athenian leader noted for advancing democracy in Athens and for ordering the construction of the Parthenon.

Moksha

Becoming liberated for the cycle of reincarnation in Hinduism. Liberation of the soul.

Buddhism

Belief system that started in India in the 500s BC. Happiness can be achieved through removal of one's desires. Believers seek enlightenment and the overcoming of suffering.

Sharia

Body of Islamic law that includes interpretation of the Quran and applies Islamic principles to everyday life

Immortals

Bodyguards of Xerces, the Elite soldiers of the Persian Army. The 300 put their name to the test.

Hinayana Buddhism

Branch of Buddhism known as the "lesser vehicle," also known as Theravada Buddhism; its beliefs include strict, individual path to enlightenment, and it is popular in south and southeast Asia.

Boddhissattva

Buddhist concept regarding individuals who had reached enlightenment but who stayed in this world to help people.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor in the 6th century A.D. who reconquered much of the territory previously ruled by Rome, initiated an ambitious building program , including Hagia Sofia, as well as a new legal code

Eastern Orthodox Church

Christian followers in the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire); split from Roman Catholic Church and shaped life in eastern Europe (present day Turkey) and western Asia

Mecca

City in western Arabia; birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, and ritual center of the Islamic religion.

Hector

Crown Prince of Troy. Killed by Achilles.

Abbasids

Dynasty that ruled much of the Muslim Empire from A.D. 750 to 1258. Many classical Greek works were translated to Arabic in Baghdad during Abbasid rule.

Abu Bakr

First caliph of Islam after the death of Muhammad

Christians

Followers of Christianity

Remus

Founder of Rome, killed by his twin brother Romulus

Allah

God of Islam

Achilles

Greatest Greek warrior, husband of Briseis whom Agamemnon steals, only vulnerable place is his heel, prophecy that he would die in the Trojan war, which he does at the hand of Paris

Herodotus

Greek Historian, considered the father of History. He came from a Greek community in Anatolia and traveled extensively, collecting information in western Asia and the Mediterranean lands.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher. A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great, and the author of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural sciences, politics, and poetics, he profoundly influenced Western thought. In his philosophical system, which led him to criticize what he saw as Plato's metaphysical excesses, theory follows empirical observation and logic, based on the syllogism, is the essential method of rational inquiry.

Theodosius

He divides the Roman Empire into two different empires (Roman & Byzantine). He also makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Senate

In ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only of aristocrats. Made up of 300 men.

Gupta Dynasty

Indian Empire (320 CE-550 CE) known for re-establishing Hinduism and for achievements in math and science. Reunited India after collapse of Mauryan dynasty

Minoan Society

Inhabited the island of Crete (major city: Knossos); around 2200 B.C.E. they acted as the center of maritime trade in the Mediterranean; used Linear A, an undecipherable syllabic alphabet; through a series of both natural disasters (1700 B.C.E.) and foreign invaders, were conquered by 1100 B.C.E.

King Leonidas

King of Sparta; military commander in Battle of Thermopylae; led 300 Spartans and other Greeks and stayed with his men

Charlemagne

King of the Franks (r. 768-814); emperor (r. 800-814). Through a series of military conquests he established the Carolingian Empire, which encompassed all of Gaul and parts of Germany and Italy. Illiterate, though started an intellectual revival.

Romulus

Legendary hero who founded Rome. First King of Rome.

Plebians

Members of the lower class of Ancient Rome including farmers, merchants, artisans and traders (commoners)

Hagia Sophia

Most famous example of Byzantine architecture, it was built under Justinian I and is considered one of the most perfect buildings in the world. Known as the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople.

Ka'ba ("cube")

Most revered religious shrine in pre-Islamic Arabia; located in Mecca; focus of obligatory annual truce among bedouin tribes; later incorporated as important shrine in Islam

Banu Hashim

Muhammad's clan in the tribe of Quraysh Named after Prophet's great grandfather Poor clan with traditional emphasis on tribal connectivity that shift to individualism with Islam's emphasis on individual responsibility to God and society, not tribes.

Kama

Pleasure, especially of sensual love; one of the four goals of life

Julius Caesar

Roman General made dictator for life in 45 BCE, after conquering Gaul, assassinated in 44 BCE by the Senate because they were afraid of his power.

Angel Gabriel

The angel who came to Muhammad and recited messages from God

Hadith

The compiled work of the life and teachings of Muhammad.

Quaran

The holy book of Islam

Han Wudi

The most important Han Emperor. Expanded the Empire in all directions. Created the Civil Service System. Established Public Schools.

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince who is said to have founded Buddhism.

Muhammed

The prophet and founder of Islam

Shia

The second largest sect within Islam. It originated in the early centuries of Islam perhaps over a political dispute over who would be the next Caliph. This group believed that Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin Ali should be the Caliph. Over time this faction's religious interpretations and practices have also come to differ slightly from most Muslims.

Alexander of Macedon

The son of King Philip who inherited all of his father's army. A very powerful and successful leader. He and his army conquered all of Persia and into India. He neglected to appoint a successor so all his conquered land was split up and distributed.

Nirvana

The state of englightenment for Buddhists.

Confucianism

The system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.

Patricians

The wealthy, hereditary aristocrats during the Roman era. Land owning noblemen.

Saint Augustine

Theologian that worked to reconcile Christianity with Greek and Roman philosophical traditions, especially Platonism, and to articulate Christianity in terms that were familiar and persuasive to the educated classes. Brought Christianity to England.

Asoka

Third ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the earliest surviving Indian writing.

Skeptics

This group of Hellenistic philosophers questioned any assumptions and had a goal of achieving peace of mind.

Umman

Worldwide community of Muslims

Anno Hegira (AH)

Year of the Hijra 0 AH = 622 CE

Muslim

a follower of the religion of Islam; means "one who submits."

Mahabharata

a great Indian epic poem, developed orally, reflecting the struggles of the Aryans as they moved south into India (tells of an epic civil war between 2 family branches.)

Jesus of Nazareth

a teacher and prophet born in bethlehem and active in nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity

Isnad

chain of narrators of the hadith; official list of sources that goes along with each Hadith

epidemic disease

disease acquired by many people in a given area in a short time

Mauryan Dynasty

first ruler was Chandragupta Maurya; unified much of the entire subcontinent; large armies with thousands of chariots and elephant borne troops; developed a substantial bureaucracy with a postal service; autocratic government. Reached its peak under Ashoka.

Sasanid "king of kings"

group from Persia who defeated the Parthians and ruled until 651 CE Shapur I-alive from 239-272 CE, emperor that stabilized the western frontier of the empire. Capital was Ctesiphon.

Latifundia

huge estates bought up by newly wealthy Roman citizens

Edict of Milan

issued by Constantine in 313, ended the "great persecution" and legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire

Olympic games

one of the pan-Hellenic rituals observed by all Greek city-states; involved athletic competitions and ritual ceremony. Competition held every 4 years in honor of Zeus.

Spartacus

slave, trained as a gladiator, who led a rebellion against the roman army for slave freedom- he was killed after two years

Jizya

tax paid by Christians and Jews who lived in Muslim communities to allow them to continue to practice their own religion

Pope

the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church

Paterfamilias

the head of the family or household in Roman law -always male- and the only member to have full legal rights. This person had absolute power over his family, which extended to life and death.

Brahmin

the highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests (In Aryan society)

Theodora

the wife of Justinian, she helped to improve the status of women in the Byzantinian Empire and encouraged her husband to stay in Constntinople and fight the Nike Revolt.

Five Pillars of Islam

true Muslims were expected to follow (principle of Salvation): Shahada: belief in Allah, Salat: pray 5 times a day, Sawm: fasting during Ramadan, Zakat: giving of alms, Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime