9th Grade SS: Classical Civilization

Empire

An extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.

Important Features of Classical Civilizations

1. Patriarchal family structures—valued male authority 2. Agricultural-based economies—most common occupation was farmer 3. Complex governments—because they were so large 4. Expanding trade base—their economic systems were complex, connected by land and sea

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy in which people decide (vote on, form consensus on) policy initiatives directly. The power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than being exercised through their representatives. Athenian democracy—prevailed during Athens' Golden Age (but replaced by oligarchy after the Athenian defeat in Sicily in 409 BC) formed the cornerstone of all democracies in the modern world.

Alexander the Great

A king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. Was tutored by Aristotle until age 16. Dad (king Philip) was assassinated. Succeeded his father to the throne at age 20 (336 BC). Greatly expanded the army, had lots of battles, and created one of the largest empires of the ancient world—conquests: western Asia and Egypt, parts of Central Asia and India. All of the land was divided up among his generals. One of the most influential people in history, along with his teacher Aristotle.

Urbanization

A population shift from rural to urban areas. Why did cities form? Reduced transport costs for goods, people and ideas by bringing them together in one spot. Cities contributed to worker productivity. Provided protection for people and their valuables. There was a city called Ur in Mesopotamia!

City-State

A sovereign (supreme ruler) state that consists of a city and its dependent territories. E.g. Uruk, Ur, Rome, Athens, Sparta. Today, only a handful of modern ones exist—Singapore, Monaco, Vatican City.

Republic

A state in which the people and their elected representatives hold supreme power, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch. (E.g. During it's 12 centuries of existence, Roman civilization shifted from monarchy to republic(509 BC to 482 BC) to autocratic empire.) Roman republic headed by 2 counsuls, elected annually by citizens and advised by a senate composed of appointed magistrates.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. E.g. Qin created a bureaucracy. Qin bypassed aristocrats and governed through those whose positions depended on loyal obedience to the state. Bureaucrats were employees of the state whose position in society (unlike nobles or aristocrats) did not rest on independent wealth or land ownership. They had positions and power granted by Qin.

Epidemic

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time. Diseases traveled the silk roads and sea routes of the Classical world. Viruses, bacteria, etc. were able to infest societies where people had no natural immunity to them. E.g. smallpox and measles. In China: Epidemics wiped out nearly half the population during the Han Dynasty→fall of Han Dynasty

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade and cultural transmission routes through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East (merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers, nomads and urban dwellers) from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea. Was over 6,000 miles. Got its name from Chinese silk carried on the Road. The main traders: Chinese, Persians, Somalis, Syrians, Romans, Armenians, Indians.

Edict

An official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority. E.g. The "Edicts of Ashoka" are a collection of 33 inscriptions on pillars, boulders and cave walls made by Ashoka during his reign. They represent the first evidence of Buddhism. They describe Ashoka's attempts to solve societal problems—Hindu dharma (law)

Ashoka

Ashoka Maurya. A bad-tempered Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty—one of India's greatest emperors. Ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent (Afghanistan to Bangladesh—so included Pakistan) from 268 BC to 232 BC. Ruled for 40 years. Midway, he embraced Buddhism and became non-violent—a Buddhist kingship—govern in a moral manner. Legend says that after he died, his body burned for 7 days and nights.

Golden Age

Classical Period. From 500 BC to 300 BC. The first age of the world. An untroubled and prosperous era. An idyllic time of peace and happiness. Has given us the great monuments, art, philosophy, architecture, and literature which are the building blocks of our own civilization. The two most well known city-states were rivals: Athens and Sparta

Hellenistic Period

Covers the period of ancient Greek (Hellenic) history between the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC) and the emergence of the Roman Empire as signified by the Battle of Actium (31 BC) and the conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt the following year. Greek cultural influence and power was at its peak in Europe, Africa and Asia. Prosperity and progrees in arts, literature, theater, architecture, music, math, philosophy, science. Competitive games, comedy, poetry. Sometimes thought of as a time of decadence and degeneration.

Examples of Classical Civilizations

Rome (753 BC to 476 AD) 776 First recorded Olympic Games! Greece (490 BC to 300 BC) China (500 BC to 100 AD) India (520 BC to 415 AD)

Legacy

Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor from the past. E.g. Greek legacies are governmental systems, culture and arts, science and technology.

Classical

Something that creates the foundation for modern times

Gupta Empire

The Golden Age of India., after the Mauryan empire collapsed. An ancient Indian empire founded by Maharaja Sri Gupta (320 AD to 550 AD) that covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. A time of peace and prosperity—discoveries in science, art, literature, math, religion, astronomy, philosophy. Solidified elements of Hindu culture. The Gupta dynasty conquered 21 kingdoms!

Qin Shi Huangdi

The King of the state of Qin who conquered all other Warring States and united China in 221 BC. He was just 13 when he became king! Lots of assassination attempts and executions took place. During his reign, his generals greatly expanded the size of China. He enacted major economic and political reforms, a massive new road and canal system, standardized weights/measurement, and built a city-sized mausoleum guarded by 8,00 terracotta soldiers. He was afraid to die and spent years trying to find an elixir for immortality!

Qin Dynasty

The first imperial dynasty of Ancient China (221 BC to 206 BC)—only 15 years! Formed after the conquest of 6 other states by the Qin state, and its founding emperor Qin Shi Huang. The Qin government had a huge army, created a rigid system of laws, built the Great Wall of China on the northern border during the Warring States Period. Made the people pay huge taxes→the dynasty was overthrown

Classical Civilization

Very highly organized civilization that contributed many things to our lives today. A long period of cultural history (1,000 BC to 500) centered on the Mediterranean Sea. Begins roughly with earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and Alexander the Great and the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century AD), and ends with the dissolution of classical culture at the close of Late Antiquity (300 - 600 AD).