AP World History Unit 2 Review

Pax Romana

"the Roman peace", A period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180. *significant because it shows periods of prosperity in the roman empire

Han Dynasty

(202 BCE-220 CE) This dynasty continued the centralization of the Qin Dynasty, but focused on Confucianism and education instead of Legalism. *significant because Confucianism is used a lot during this time period.

Pericles

Athenian statesman whose leadership contributed to Athen's political and cultural supremacy in Greece *significant because he contributed to politics and culture in greece.

Julius Caesar

Dictator of Rome Circa 100-44 BCE *significant because under his rule did the Roman Republic become an empire.

Constantine

Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337) *significant because he popularized christianity and was a famous emperor of rome.

Gupta Empire

Golden Age of India; ruled through central government but allowed village power; *significant because it restored Hinduism

Polis

Greek city-state *significant because it shows the organization of City States in Greece- Athens and Sparta

Sparta

Greek city-state that was ruled by an oligarchy, focused on military, used slaves for agriculture, discouraged the arts *significant because Sparta was involved in the Peloponnesian war

socrates

Greek philosopher; sentenced to death for corrupting Athens youth *significant because he is responsible for the socratic method of questioning

Aristotle

Greek philosopher; teacher of Alexander the Great; *significant becausehe believed that knowledge was based on observation of phenomena in material world

hoplite

Heavily armed Greek infantry who carried long spears and fought in closely spaced rows *significant because this is the warfare use for many centuries to come.

constantinople

Previously known as Byzantium, Constantine changed the name of the city and moved the capitol of the Roman Empire here from Rome. *significant because this is a place where one can visit to see the incomplete fall of the roman empire.

Jesus

Religious leader and founder of Christianity *significant because he founded the one of the worlds major religions.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who divided the empire in two and oversaw the eastern part *significant because he was responsible for the influence of both parts of what was the roman empire.

qin shihuangdi

Ruler of China who united China for the first time. He built road and canals and began the Great Wall of China. He also imposed a standard system of laws, money, weights, and writing. *significant because he contributed to Chinese language and coinage/currency.

Philosophy

a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school *significant because we study philosophy in school/ college

tyrant

a cruel and oppressive dictator *significant because many emperors in many empires have been tyrants and have changed the organization of said empires.

satrap

a governor of a province in the Persian empire *significant because it shows the organization of persian government

democracy

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them *significant because democracys are widely used today

republic

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them *significant because it shows how republics today are similar or dissimilar.

oligarchy

a system of government in which a small group holds power *significant because sparta was an olligarchy

Silk Road

an ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean (4,000 miles) *significant because it spread many goods such as spices, silk, and gunpowder, and religions such as buddhism and christianity throughout asia and much of europe.

Plato

ancient Athenian philosopher; was Socrates' student *significant because he had ideas of ideal governments and how knowledge based on consideration of ideal forms outside the material world

homer

ancient Greek epic poet who is believed to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey (circa 850 BC) *significant because he told us much about greek culture and religion

Varna

four classes into which the Aryans divided people *significant because it was the caste system

Christians

people who believe Jesus was the Messiah *significant because they contributed to culture in many societies

slaves

people who were regarded as the property of their masters *significant because slaves have been used throughout world history and are still used today in Africa by African tribes.

Monarchy

state ruled over by a single person, as a king or queen *significant because many religions today are monarchies

qin dynasty

the Chinese dynasty (from 246 BC to 206 BC) that established the first centralized imperial government and built much of the Great Wall *significant because the Great Wall was built in this dynasty, first centralized empire.

Herodotus

the ancient Greek known as the father of history *significant because he was the father of history

Athens

the capital and largest city of Greece *significant because it set the tone for republics around the world throughout history.

empire

the domain ruled by an emperor or empress *significant because it shows patterns with empires and emperors/empress'

Twelve Tables

the earliest written collection of Roman laws, drawn up by patricians about 450B.C., that became the foundation of Roman law *significant because it is the foundation of roman laws which in turn lay the foundation for many laws still active present day.

Scholar Gentry

the educated upper classes in China *significant because it shows social class divisions in the golden age of china.

Germanic Tribes

the groups of invaders who took over the Western Roman Empire *significant because they helped continue the decline of the roman empire

plebeians

the poorer majority of the roman empire; the working class; couldnt be part of government; could vote but not hold office; couldnt be in army *significant because it shows us patterns in roman empire with social/gender classes/divisions

patricians

the wealthy class in Roman society; landowners *significant because it shows patterns of the social classes in Classic Rome

confucius

Chinese philosopher (circa 551-478 BC) *significant because he founded Confucianism and is still widely practiced today.

persian wars

Conflicts between Greek city-states and the Persian Empire *significant because these wars help us understand the different cultures battling

civil service exams

Confucian exam to acquire a position in the Chinese bureaucracy *significant because it shows us how important it was to know material and have good values was to Confucius.

justinians code

A law code created by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian about 530 CE. It was a revision of the old Roman law system. *significant because it was a revision of popular roman laws

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism. *significant because they were the earliest texts that pertained to Hinduism written in Sanskrit.