The Classic Empires of Persia, India, China, and Greek and Roman Control over Mediterranean Society
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106 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Achaemenids | Ruling Dynasty of Persia From 558-330 B.C.E. |
| Ahura Mazda | Supreme God of the Zoroastrian Religion. |
| Alexander of Macedon | A brilliant strategist and an inspired leader who had inherited a well equipped and highly spirited force from his father. |
| Avesta | Holy book of the Zoroastrian religion. |
| Battle of Marathon | fight that resulted in the Persians suffering a rout and major loss. |
| Croesus | The last king of Lydia who Died in 545 B.C.E. (was defeated by Cyrus and later became Cyrus's adviser.) |
| Cyrus | A tough, wily leader and an outstanding military strategist, whose conquests laid the foundation for the first Persian Empire. (ruled from 558 - 530 BCE) |
| Darius | Cyrus's younger Kinsmen that ruled Persia and expanded the Empire to include everything from the Indus river in the East to Aegean Sea in the West |
| Gathas | Zarathustra's hymns composed in honor of the different deities he recognized. |
| Magi | Zoroastrian priests. |
| Medes | Indo-European People that migrated from central Asia to Persia |
| Mithradates I | The Parthians' greatest conqueror, he came to throne about 171 B.C.E. and transformed his state into a mighty empire. |
| Parthians | Ruling Dynasty of Persia from 274 B.C.E - 224 C.E. |
| Pasargadae | a Capital City of Ancient Persia. |
| Persepolis | Capital built (520 B.C.E.) during the reign of Darius that lasted until the end of the Achaemendis Dynasty. |
| Persian Royal Road | 2,575 Kilometers long and stretched from the port of Ephesus on the Aegean Sea to Sardis in Antolia. Every 40 - 50 Kilometers there was a station for rest and horse changes for post carriers.. |
| Persian Wars | Greek Ionian cities rebelled, expelled or executed their governors (Satraps), and asserted their independence. Their rebellion launched a series of conflicts known as "___ _______ ____" |
| Persians | From the family of peoples who spoke Indo-European languages; their earliest religion closely resembled that of the Aryans of India. |
| Qanat | remarkable underground Irrigation Canal System that crisscrossed the Iranian Plataea. |
| Sasanids | Ruling Dynasty of Persia from 224 - 651 C.E. |
| Satraps | Governors of the 23 satrapies (states) of Persia. |
| Seleucids | Ruling Dynasty of Persia from 323 - 83 B.C.E. |
| Shapur I | Sasanid leader who ruled Persia from 239 - 272 C.E.; he built up a series of "Buffer States" between Persia and the Roman Empire. |
| Xerxes | (Reigned from 486 - 465 B.C.E.) Flaunted his Persian identity, and sought to impose his own values on conquered lands. |
| Zarathustra | a priest that introduced Zoroastrianism to Persia. He experienced a series of Visions and proclaimed that there was single, supreme God called Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord) who had chosen him to serve as his prophet and spread his message. |
| Analects | The teachings of Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.) compiled by his disciples. |
| Confucianism | Philosophy, based on the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Kong Fuzi (551-479 B.C.E.), or Confucius, that emphasizes order, the role of the gentleman, obligation to society, and reciprocity. |
| Dao | Key element in Chinese philosophy that means the "way of nature" or the "way of the cosmos." |
| Daoism | Chinese philosophy with origins in the Zhou dynasty; it is associated with legendary philosopher Laozi, and it called for a policy of inaction. |
| Han Dynasty | Chinese dynasty that ruled an expanding empire with a large bureaucracy based upon Legalist and Confucian values. The empire taxed agriculture and trade and raised large armies to colonize Vietnam, Korea, and the Xiongnu territory. |
| legalism | Chinese philosophy from the Zhou dynasty that called for harsh suppression of the common people. |
| Li | Confucian concept, a sense of propriety. |
| Patriarchy | System of social organization in which males dominate the family and where public institutions, descent, and succession are traced through the male line. |
| Qin | Chinese dynasty (221-207 B.C.E.) that was founded by Qin Shihuangdi and was marked by the first unification of China and the early construction of defensive walls. |
| Ren | The Confucian value of propriety, courtesy, respect, and deference to elders. |
| Wuwei | Daoist concept of a disengagement from the affairs of the world. |
| Xianyang | Capital city of Qin empire. |
| Xiao | Confucian concept of respect for one's parents and ancestors. |
| Yellow Turban Uprising | A revolt against the land distribution policies of the Han dynasty (25-220 C.E.). |
| Zhuangzi | A compendium of Daoist philosophy. |
| Ahimsa (uh-HIM-suh) | Jain term for the principle of nonviolence to other living things or their souls. |
| Artha | Hindu concept for the pursuit of economic well-being and honest prosperity. |
| Arthashastra (AR-thah-sha-strah) | Ancient Indian political treatise from the time of Chandragupta Maurya; its authorship was traditionally ascribed to Kautalya, and it stressed that war was inevitable. |
| Bactria | The ancient region stretching from the Hindu Kush mountain range to the ancient Ganhara region of the Indian subcontinent. |
| Bhagavad-Gita (BUH-uh-vahd GEE-tuh) | "Song of the Lord" an Indian short poetic work drawn from the lengthy Mahabharata that was finished around 400 C.E. and that expressed basic Hindu concepts such as karma and dharma. |
| Bodhisattvas (BOH-dih-SAT-vuhs) | Buddhist concept regarding individuals who had reached enlightenment but who stayed in this world to help people. |
| Buddha (BOO-duh) | The "enlightened one" the term applied to Siddhartha Gautama after his discoveries that would form the foundation of Buddhism. |
| Buddhism (BOO-diz'm) | Religion, based on Four Noble Truths, associated with Siddhartha Gautama (563--483 B.C.E.), or the Buddha; its adherents desired to eliminate all distracting passion and reach nirvana. |
| Caste | Social class system in which distinctions and restrictions on marriage; occupation; handling of food; and other matters are transferred through generations or through class. The term usually refers to the social system of India. |
| Four Noble Truths | The foundation of Buddhist thought: (1) life is pain; (2) pain is caused by desire; (3) elimination of desire will bring an end to pain; (4) living a life based on the Noble Eightfold Path will eliminate desire. |
| Gupta (GOOP-tah) | Indian dynasty (320-550 C.E.) that briefly reunited India after the collapse of the earlier Mauryan dynasty. |
| Hinayana (HEE-nah-yah-nuh) | 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. |
| Hinduism | Main religion of India, a combination of Dravidian and Aryan concepts; Hinduism's goal is to reach spiritual purity and union with the great world spirit; its important concepts include dharma; karma; and samsara. |
| Jainism (JEYEN-iz'm) | Indian religion associated with the teacher Vardhamana Mahavira (ca. 540-468 B.C.E.) in which every physical object possessed a soul; Jains believe in complete nonviolence to all living beings. |
| Jati | Indian word for a Hindu subcaste. |
| Mahabharata (mah-hah-BAH-rah-tah) | Massive ancient Indian epic that was developed orally for centuries; it tells of an epic civil war between two family branches. |
| Mahayana (mah-huh-YAH-nah) | The "greater vehicle" a more metaphysical and more popular northern branch of Buddhism. |
| Mauryan empire | Indian dynasty (321-185 B.C.E.) founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reaching its peak under Ashoka. |
| Noble Eightfold Path | Final truth of the Buddhist Four Noble Truths that called for leading a life of balance and constant contemplation. |
| Ramayana (rah-mah-yah-nah) | Ancient Indian masterpiece about the hero Rama that symbolized the victory of dharma (order) over adharma (chaos). |
| Sanskrit | Sacred language of the early Aryans |
| Shudras (SHOO-druhs) | Hindu caste of landless peasants and serfs. |
| Siddhartha Gautama (sih-DHAR-tuh GOW-tau-mah) | Indian kshatriya who achieved enlightenment and became known as the Buddha; the founder of Buddhism. |
| Silk roads | Ancient trade routes that extended from the Roman empire in the west to China in the east. |
| Stupas (STOO-pahs) | Buddhist shrines. |
| Upanishads (oo-PAHN-ee-shahds) | Indian reflections and dialogues (800-400 B.C.E.) that reflected basic Hindu concepts. |
| Vaishyas | Hindu caste of cultivators; artisans; and merchants. |
| White Huns | Invaders who weakened the empire of the Guptas. |
| Carthage | Northern African kingdom, main rival to early Roman expansion, that was defeated by Rome in the Punic Wars. |
| Cult of Isis | A popular Roman religion of salvation in which an afterlife was promised to followers. |
| Essenes | Jewish sect that looked for the arrival of a savior; they were similar in some of their core beliefs to the early Christians. |
| Etruscans (ih-TRUHS-kuhns) | Northern Italian society that initially dominated the Romans; the Etruscans helped convey Greek concepts to the expanding Romans. |
| Latifundia (LAT-ih-FOON-dee-uh) | Huge state-run and slave-worked farms in ancient Rome. |
| Mithraism (MITH-rah-iz'm) | Mystery religion based on worship of the sun god Mithras; it became popular among the Romans because of its promise of salvation. |
| Pater familias (PAH-tur fuh_MEE-lee-ahs) | Roman term for the "father of the family," a theoretical implication that gave the male head of the family almost unlimited authority. |
| Patriarchy (PAY-tree-ahrky) | System of social organization in which males dominate the family and where public institutions, descent, and succession are traced through the male line. |
| Patricians | Roman aristocrats and wealthy classes. |
| Pax Romana | Roman Peace, a term that relates to the period of political stability, cultural brilliance, and economic prosperity beginning with unification under Augustus and lasting through the first two centuries C.E. |
| Plebians (plih-BEE-uhns) | Roman common people. |
| Stoics (STOH-ihks) | Hellenistic philosophers who encouraged their followers to lead active, virtuous lives and to aid others. |
| Strabo (STRAH-boh) | Greek geographer (first century C.E.). |
| Aeschylus (ES-kuh-luhs) | Greek tragedian, author of the Oresteia. |
| Alexandria | Capital of the Ptolemaic empire, situated at the mouth of the Nile river and home of the famous Alexandria Museum and Alexandria Library. |
| Antigonid Empire | The portion of Alexander's realm that that included Greece and Macedon. |
| Battle of Marathon | Victory for Athens (490 B.C.E.) over Persia during the Persian War (500-479 B.C.E.). |
| Cult of Dionysus | The most popular of Ancient Greek religious cults. |
| Delian League | The military and economic alliance between Greek poleis against the threat presented by the Persian Empire. |
| Dionysus | Greek god of wine, also known as Bacchus; Greek plays were performed in his honor. |
| Epicureans (ehp-ih-KYOO-ree-uhns) | Philosophers who taught that pleasure- as in quiet satisfaction- was the greatest good. |
| Hellenic Era | First phase in Greek history (ca. 2000-328 B.C.E.), which was highlighted by the Golden Age of Athens in the fifth century B.C.E. |
| Linear A | Minoan written script. |
| Linear B | Mycenaean written script, adapted from the Minoan Linear A. |
| Macedon | A frontier state north of the Greek peninsula. |
| Marathon | Battlefield scene of the Athenian victory over the Persians in 490 B.C.E. |
| Minoan (mih-NOH-uhn) | Society located on the island of Crete (ca. 2000-1100 B.C.E.) that influenced the early Mycenaeans. |
| Mycenaean (meye-seh-NEE-uhn) | Early Greek society on the Peloponese (1600-1100 B.C.E.) that was influenced by the Minoans; the Mycenaeans' conflict with Troy is immortalized in Homer's Odyssey. |
| Patriarchy (PAY-tree-ahrky) | System of social organization in which males dominate the family and where public institutions, descent, and succession are traced through the male line. |
| Peloponnesian War | A war between camps led by Athens and Sparta the ended in 404 B.C.E. with the unconditional surrender of Athens. |
| Persepolis | New capital of the Persian Empire established under the reign of Darius in 520 B.C.E. |
| Persian War | War (500-479 B.C.E.) sparked by the revolt of Greek cities on the Ionian coast against Persia. After Persia fails to take Athens, the Persian army is forced to retreat back to Anatolia. |
| Phoenicians | A maritime civilization of the Mediterranean that developed extensive trade and communication networks as well as an early alphabetical script (1500 B.C.E) |
| Polis (POH-lihs) | Greek term for the city-state. |
| Ptolemaic (tawl-oh-may-ihk) | Term used to signify both the Egyptian kingdom founded by Alexander the Great's general Ptolemy and the thought of the philosopher Ptolemy of Alexandria (second century C.E.), who used mathematical formulas in an attempt to prove Aristotle's geocentric theory of the universe. |
| Seleucids (sih-LOO-sihds) | Persian empire (323-83 B.C.E.) founded by Seleucus after the death of Alexander the Great. |
| Skeptics | Hellenistic philosophers who sought equanimity, doubting the certainty of knowledge. |
| Stoics (STOH-ihks) | Hellenistic philosophers who encouraged their followers to lead active, virtuous lives and to aid others. |
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