Paleolithic Period- From circa 2,500,000-10,000 BCE; period when simple stone tools were used by early humans
Paleolithic- nomadic tribes of 20-30 people who relied on hunting and gathering for food and used stone and fire for tools and created cave paintings
Neolithic Revolution- From circa 10,000-4,000 BCE; Period when farming was developed
Neolithic- tribes in permanent settlements with up to 6,000 people who used farming and herding for food, used copper and improved stone tools
Agricultural Revolution- See Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Period- Period of early farming
Çatalhüyük- One of the world's earliest cities; existed circa 7500 BCE-5700 BCE; built during the Neolithic Revolution in present-day Turkey
Pre-history- Time before writing and agriculture
Egypt
Geography
Kemet- Black Land; land near Nile; Egyptian name for their land; associated with Osiris
Deshret- Red Land; desert; associated with Seth
Delta- mouth of river where the water spreads out; fertile land; named after Greek letter for its resemblance
Nile Valley- valley through which the Nile flows
Upper Egypt- southern Egypt; upstream part of the Nile
Lower Egypt- northern Egypt: downstream part of Nile
Cataracts- waterfalls or rapids in a river; 7 on the Nile
Silt- fertile soil at bottom of a river; scattered over the land during the inundation
Inundation- yearly flooding of Nile; name for the season of the flood; released the silt throughout the land
Irrigation- transporting of water from a river to fields through the use of canals
Amarna- new capitol of Egypt during Akhenaten's reign Nome- a providence like sector of Egypt that the kingdom was split into Nomarch- ruler of a nome, answers to pharaoh
Technology
Shaduf
Image source: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/pics/egypt/shaduf.jpg
Shaduf- a mechanism for transporting water with buckets and counter weights
Copper Tipped Spear- spear commonly used by the Egyptians
Simple Bow- the basic bow; used by Egyptians in the Old and Middle Kingdoms; max range of 30-50 feet
Composite Bow- came in new kingdom; made of wood and horn or sinew; range of 650 feet; technology came from Hyksos
Egyptian War Chariot- lightweight and maneuverable; carried a driver and an archer; came from Hyksos
Hieroglyphs- "sacred writing" when something was carved into stone it became true. 4 types of hieroglyphs were picture, abstract idea, phonetic, and determinative
Papyrus- early form of paper made of the Papyrus reeds common to the Nile
Nilometer- measuring stick for measuring the height of Nile; way to determine height of Inundation and to determine the taxes; used by priests
Mummification- a process preformed on a dead body that preserved it; body wrapped in linens that were treated with spices and chemicals; body dried up in sand; organs were removed and placed in canopic jars to eliminate moisture; body placed in a coffin then placed in a sarcophagus
Sand Hydraulics- process of lowering an object into the ground by filling a hole with sand and removing it while the object moves lower into the ground
Three parts of the Soul- Ba, Ka, Akh
Ba- a person's personality and what makes them unique; portrayed as a bird with a the specific person's head; travelled across the sky everyday from the east to the west side of the Nile; if it couldn't recognize the body, it died
Ka- the life force of a person; required nourishment with food; without it there was no afterlife; depicted as a set of arms in a "U" shape
Akh- ghost aspect of the soul; capable of interacting with the living; could cause harm or cure sickness
Book of the Dead- gave rituals for the dead; spelled out the aspects of the afterlife; included weighing of the heart ceremony
Weighing of the Heart Ceremony
Weighing of the Heart Ceremony
Anubis holds a scale weighing a heart against the feather of truth and justice, and Thoth decided if they were equal
If the two balanced the soul would pass on. If they didn't Ammit, a crocodile/lion/hippo would eat the soul
The souls passed on from Horus to Osiris
Ankh- symbol of eternal life
Udjat- symbol of protection; represents the eye of Horus that Seth tore out
Ammit- the crocodil/lion/hippo god during the weighing of the heart ceremony that would eat the heart if it was heavier than the feather
Memorial temples- temples that commemorated the achievements of a pharaoh where offerings were given
Cult temples- temples to worship gods on the east bank of the Nile
Coffin texts- texts/prayers written on sarcófagos' to help in the after life
Budget burials- when the afterlife was promised to everyone burials were cheaper for the poor so budget burials were created that were a cheap burial and promise to an after life
Ma'at- when all of the cycles are working perfectly and in harmony so life will continue to be smooth
Art
Aspective View- drawing objects from their most characteristic angle; used in most Egyptian art
Canon of Proportion- formula of ratio for Egyptian art; kept all pictures and sculptures to scale despite their size
Hieratic Scaling- more important people were depicted larger
Smiting Posture- a commonly used setting in which the pharaoh was shown ending his enemy
Amarna style- the style of art founded by Akhenaten that used realism
China
Geography
Yellow River- River flowing west to east across North China Plain; called "China's Sorrow" because of destructive floods
Yangzi River- River in southern China flowing west to east
Gobi Desert- Desert in northern China
Tokia Makan Desert- Desert in northwestern China
Quinling Mountains- Divide north and south China
Himalayan Mountains- Mountains in southwest China
Middle Kingdom- What ancient Chinese called China
Heartland- where the king has direct control and is the political, religioius, and military leader
Technology
Piece Mold Bronze Working- Clay was used to make a mold and bronze was poured into mold
Lost Wax Bronze Working- Wax was made into shape of final product, covered with clay, and then replaced with molten bronze
Well Field System- when someone owns a large amount of land and allows others to work on the land on thier own private square, but they must also work on the middle square of the person who owns all of the land and a percentage of everyone's profit is given to the land owner
Collar harness- a harness attached to a horse and a cart to help plow the fileds
Fallow fileds- when you do not farm a plot of land for a few years so the land will become fertile again and alternate between fields
Silk Road- long road where silk and other trade was done
Seed drill- allowed farmers to sow their seeds at the correct depth
seismograph- a device that records the earth's tremors
Culture
Cowry Shells- the currency used until coins were introduced in the warring states period
Confucianism- focus on the relationships between you and others
Legalsim- using the fact that people act of self-interest to your advantage and creating strict law enforcement
Terracotta army- army of terracotta soldiers burried with Shi Huangdi
Civil Service Exams- exams held to determine if you can hold a civil service position
Civil service- government workers where there was a variety in positoin
Nonaction- going with the flow in Daoism and minimalism is the most efficient
Government
Allied Chieftans- A leader of an area surrounding the heart land that follows/works with the king
Estate Holder- Members of the ruling dynasty that ruled smaller areas to assist the king
Persia
Geography
Technology
Canats- underground pipes that brought in fresh water, at Darius' palace at Persepolis
Paradasia- a walled, rectangular, ornament garden, built at palaces, started by Cyrus
Sparabara- archer pairs; improved upon the Assyrian model; 9 archers per 1 shield man
Seige tactics- when you surround a city and cut off its supply of food and water and attack when they are weak or they will give up
Culture
Polygamy- to have multiple wives, this showed a man's wealth in Persia
Concubine- a woman who has a lower status than wife, a mistress of the man of the house
cultural assimilation- taking ideas and technology from cultures of conquered regions
The Great King-owned all the land, and held absolute power, limited only by tradition and any expectations that he consults his nobles
Satraps-the 20 satrapies were each ruled by a satrap of Persian descent with king-like power
Key Officials-worked within each satrapy, reported directly to the Great King, there were military administrative and financial officials,
Nobles-nobles of Persian descent were ranked higher, held highest government positions and served in elite cavalry divisions,
Merchants, Artisans, and skilled Freemen-these skilled workers made up a lower middle class
Unskilled freemen, Serfs, and Slaves- made up the lowest social class,unskilled freemen were payed for their manual labor, while serfs worked to pay off their debts and had low chance of earning their freedom, they were always farmers tied to their land, slaves were personal and born into slavery
Cuneiform- writing system for writing on clay tablets
Darics- coins used and created during Darius' reign
Apadana- a stone tent or audience hall built by Darius
The Kings Peace- peace treaty between Greece and Persia and was issued by Artaxerxes
Religion
Zoroastrianism- mono-theistic; worshiped Ahura-mazda; cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil; individuals must make moral choices; at the end of time good will win out, and all will be judged.
Avesta- scriptures of Zoroastrianism; contained the rules and all the teachings of Zoroaster
Ahuramazda- "the Wise Lord", the single god of Zoroastrianism
Magi- Zoroastrian priests; most orthodox practicers of Zoroastrianism; left dead out for scavengers
Greece:
Hellenes
Ancient Greek.
Hellas
Ancient Greece.
Aegean Sea
Part of the Mediterranean sea by Greece.
Peloponnesus
The mountainous southern peninsula of Greece.
Acropolis
A fortified part of Greece.
Minoans
First advanced civilization of Greece on Crete, named after King Minos.
Knossos
Largest city on Crete with palaces.
Frescoes
Interior wall paintings done on plaster while it it still wet and then later painted on.
Thera Eruption
A large eruption on the island of Crete that weakened the Minoans severely.
Linear A
The first form of writing used by the Minoans found on Crete that we still cannot read.
Linear B
The type of writing used by the Mycenaeans that is similar to linear A and uses more of a Greek syllabi.
Mycenaeans
A civilization on mainland Greece whose main city was Mycenae and were war like/militaristic.
Mycenae
Main city in the Mycenaean civilization on main land Greece.
Heinrich Schlieman
Discovered "Agamemnon's" mask.
Bard
A poet that recites epics.
Geometric Style
Pottery with bands and geometric shapes.
Aristocracy
The highest spot in a social structure
Tyranny
When a tyrant rules over a land.
Tyrant
A ruler who gains power by force.
Lyric Poetry
Poetry accompanied with a lyre and express the poet's thoughts and feelings speaking directly to the audience.
Hoplites
Greek soldiers who fought in phalanx formation with spears, a sword, and a helmet.
Phalanx
Hoplites that stood in tightly packed and dense rows of 8x8.
Battle of Marathon
The battle between Darius form Persia and Greece, and Greece won.
Hellespont
A straight of water connected to the Aegean sea.
Pontoon (Boat) Bridge
Built by Xerxes across the Hellespont using boats.
Battle of Thermopylae
Battle between Persia and the Greeks in a mountain pass, where the Spartan's, led by Leonidas, delay the Persians in return for their lives.
Battle of Salamis
A navel battle at Salamis between Persia and the Greeks, and the Persians lost.
Battle of Plataea
Battle between Persia and Greece, the Persian troops were led by Mardonius, and Persia lost.
Delian League
A political-military alliance designed on the one hand to defend Greece and on the other hand to go on the offensive on Persia.
Polis
Ancient Greek Ionian City state
Commercial Revolution
The revival of trade created both winners and losers.
Winners-Artisans whose products have international appeal or merchants and investors whose ventures succeed overseas.
Losers-Aristocrats who resist the new trade based economy and instead clinging to agriculture
New social class emerges
Business class (Winners who have newfound wealth)
Debt Slaves (People who took loans to go on international ventures but failed to make a profit and sold themselves and/or their families to work off the debt)
This new business class wanted the political power to match their wealth (they were just as wealthy as the aristocratic oligarchs but were denied power and influence) and the poor were unhappy with their situation. These factors helped lead to an overthrow of the aristocratic oligarchy, leading to tyranny.
Magna Graecia
The ancient Greek cities in southern Italy.
Kuros Very stiff statues looking of men and women that were made after their death and put as a grave marker, the men were always nude but the women were clothed due to the required modesty of women
Ostracism
When popular politicians were banished for 10 years because of the fear of them becoming too popular.
Ostraka
When you wrote who you wanted to be ostracized on a shard of pottery found on the streets.
Laconia
Sparta's region of control.
Perioikoi
Free, but nor citizens that were mainly merchants and artisans that also served in the military and could gain citizenship if they proved themselves militarily.
Helots
Bound to the land, had to hand over half of their produce and it was legal to kill them.
Messenia
One of the peripheral regions of Greece.
Spartiates
Full spartan citizens.
Code of Lycurgus
Transformed Sparta into a military state
Krypteia
"The period of hiding" when males would have to live on their own and kill helots and other enemies.
Ephors
5 total, elected annually and supervised the training and conduct . They also acted as judges in civil disputes and presided over assemblies.
Gerousia
Council of 28 elders and the two kings over the age of 60 and prepared proposals for the Apella
Apella
Assembly of all adult spartiate males who vote yes or no on proposals without debate and elect the Ephors and Gerousia.
Oracle at Delphi
The oracle at Delphi that predicted the outcomes in future events.
Olympic Games
Boule Council of 500 Athenians who worked on government year-round, giving each individual Athenian a serious hand in Athenian government. Rotated through the Tholos handling immediate daily duties.
Prytany Small group of members of the boule assuming standing duties, living in the tholos for a month, handling the daily duties.
Chairman Head or leader of the prytany of the time. A different Chairman each day.
strategos (plural = strategoi) Military leaders.
metoikoi (metics) Resident foreigners in Greece.
Archimede's screw Reverse water pump
Demes
Voting neighborhoods
Liturgy Boat or play or choir paid for by rich Greeks to gain themselves prestige while also contributing to the government as a sort of super-tax.
Drachma Athenian silver coin.
Parthenon
Great work of architecture, temple dedicated to Athena.
Pediment
The shallow triangular space left above the end columns created because of the gently sloping roofs on the temples.
Naos
A rectangular room inside of a temple that housed the statue of the god for whom the temple was built. This windwless room opened up onto a porch with columns.
capital (of a column)
The top and (usually) most detailed part of a column that is used to distinguish between the different types of columns.
Doric Column
Columns that are plain and mostly without decoration.
Ionic Column
Columns with ram’s horns patterns.
Corinthian Column
Column with carvings of acanthus leaves as if they were growing out of the capital.
Amphora
A type of storage jar with a long neck and two handles attached to either side of the jar.
Krater
A mixing bowl for water and wine that loks like a plant vse with two small handles on either side of the bowl.
Kylix A flat bottomed sipping bowl.
City Dionysia
Giant Greek theater competition.
Theatron
Seating area for spectators in a theater.
Chorus
Formation of singing narrators in Greek and Roman theater. Orchestra
“dancing place” where actors, the chorus, and other performers performed.
Skene
Background for actors shielding dressing quarters and backstage. Acted as scenery as well.
parados (plural = paradoi)
Entrances to the orchestra used by the actors and other performers.
Machina
Machine. Mechanical arm used to depict activities in the sky, such as heroes riding flying horses, or gods descending from Olympus.
deus ex machina
God out of a Machine. Convention in which a God would ccome down from a Machina and solve all the problems of the play that the plawrite could apparently think of no logical means of solving.
Ekkyklema
A moving platform used to show murderer and vicim, since violent acts weren’t acted out.
choregos (plural = choregoi)
The leader of a dramatic chorus.
symposium (plural = symposia)
A drinking party of Greek men.
Agora
The town-center of most Greek city-states. Like a Roman forum.
Gymnasia
Parks where young Greek men exercised naked.
Trireme
A boat with three rows (levels) for oars, used by the Greek navy.
Sophists
Speakers hired to advocate options that were being voted on by the ecclesia. Valued persuasion over truth.
Socratic method
Method of teaching in which the “teacher” would pose a question, then contradict every given answer, forcing the student to think further. (Chair Method.) “A dialogue of questions and answers in which a student puts forward their beliefs and the teacher questions the logic of their assumptions without offering a solution.
Plato's Republic
Plato’s book outlining his ideal state. The social classes were based on intellect rather than wealth or birth, with professions assigned based on ability or merit, with communal marriage and child-birth (to ensure that each child received the same, high-quality care and education.)
Philosopher king (Or Queen, wisest, based only on intellectual merit) àIntellectual Aristocracy (Generally smart, advised the king/queen, not a random democracy, entrust the gov’t to only the wise.)àWarriors (Slight intelligence but mostly brawn). àFarmers and Artisans (Physical work only).
Plato's Academy
Plato’s school at which he taught his beliefs. He taught co-ed classes, and many recorded teachings exist in written dialogue form.
Thirty Tyrants
Small oligarchy installed in Athens by the patrons after the Peloponnesian War.
Demosthenes' Philippics
Speeches by Demosthenes warning the Greeks of Philips impending uprise.
League of Corinth
A confederacy of Greeks to which Philip of Macedonia appointed himself leader after he conquered Greece.
The March of the Ten Thousand (401BCE)
March of 10,000 Greek soldiers out of Persi with no real opposition. Shoed that Persia was inferior and afraid of Greece, and served as a sign to Philip that Persia could be conquered.
Battle of Issus
Alexander vs. Darius III, One of the two battles at which Darius strategically “withdraws” from the battle for his personal safety.
Alexandria
Alexander’s new capital. One of the most spectacular cities of the Ancient World.
Pharos
Lighthouse built by Ptolemy I and II.
Library of Alexandria Museum Battle of Gaugamela The Companions The Marriage of Susa Hellenistic Ptolemaic Kingdom Seleucid Kingdom Antigonid Kingdom Koine mystery religions Stoicism
Rome Master Vocab List
Alps
Major mountain rangei n Italy
Apennines
Major mountain range in Italy
Magna Graecia
"Greater Greece", the Greek colonies
Cincinnatus
Roman man elected emergency dictator in a crisis, saved his army within 15 days and returned home to his farm, renouncing the title of dictator
Mos Maiorum
"Ways of our ancestors" Ideal social/lifestyle characteristics that every Roman strove for.
Paterfamilias
Male head of the Roman family
Family (familia)
Extended Roman families.
Clan
Large group of people united under a common ancestor/family name.
Patrons
Protectors of clients, or newcomers to rome without a family to attach themselves to, influential sponsors.
Clients
Lower-class people or Newcomers to Rome without a family who attached themselves to a family (or patron) in order to gain legal protection or other sponsorship.
Patricians
Noble Romans of high social status and political power.
Plebeians
Low class Romans, commoners.
Tribunes
Representatives of the people. Plebeians or Patricians elected to government in order to represent the general population of the plebs, giving them representation in government. This office also had the power singly veto any legislation.
The Twelve Tables
Laws created by the Plebs to protect themselves from selfish Patricians who would morph unwritten laws to their advantage.
Lex Hortensia (287 bc)
Stated that any law passed by the plebeian assembly held just as much weight as Patrician senate laws and bound the entire population, Patricians included. Represents the Plebeians finally attaining social equity.
Plebiscites
Laws passed by the Plebeian assembly.
Atrium
Main living area of Roman houses
Tabernae
Rooms rented out as shops in the fronts of Roman homes
Triclinium
Roman dining rooms
Peristyle
Elaborate gardens in Roman homes
Pompeii
City burned by volcanic ash from whence we get most of our evidence of Roman houses
Insulae
"Islands", Roman blocks in the grid-structure of the city. May have contained private shops, homes, etc. but often contained large apartment buildings which took up the entire block. Four or five stories high, contained small uncomfortable rooms, with windows and balconies as opposed to atriums. Were dangerous and shoddily built, crappy places to live. Often collapsed or caught fire.
Ostia
Port of Rome from which our evidence of apartment buildings come.
Hypocausts
Central heating systems in insulae
Thermae
Huge public baths which was the supposed compensation of the government for the lack of running water in insulae, which allowed subjects to remain hygienic.
Villa
Country houses. Comfortable villa for the rich outside of the crowded cities where the rich could run farming industries etc. Because they were outside of the city, they could be large, with lots of land, resulting in lavish architecture and amenities, such as pools etc.
Carthage
Prosperous North African trading city which would eventually engage Rome in the Punic wars.
Hannibal
Carthaginian general who would come very close to defeating Rome in the Punic wars.
Battle of Cannae
Battle at which th eentire Roman army was annhialated by the Carthaginians and hannibal.
Fabius Maximus "the Delayer"
Able roman general that countered the Carthaginians while Rome was trying to recover from the Battle of Cannae by tantalizing Hannibal's troops. He would come just near enough to spark fear of attack, but far enough away that he wouldn't have to engage in battle which he would surely lose. Through these tactics he kept Hannibal's army uneasy but preoccupied while Rome tried to regroup.
Scipio "Africanus"
Roman general that eventually drove the Carthaginians out of Rome.
Battle of Zama
Battle where Scipio challenged and defeated Hannibal and the Carthiginians
Consul
Highest Roman authorities (2) with control over all public business, most political administration, and military matters.
Senate
Group of senators from old Roman families that voted on legislation like our senate and house today.
Tiberius Gracchus
Tribune of Rome that proposed the public redistribution of land, was given popular support, but was eventually killed.
Gaius Gracchus
Younger brother of Tiberius, appealed for support of Knights/equestrians. Followed in his brother's footsteps gaining popular support, but was killed.
Equestrians
New social class created by Gaius made of middle-class Roman businessmen. Were the merchants contracted by the senate to carry out new legislature, and therefore emerged as a new, wealthy class that gained its name from the fact that they were those in the military that could afford to buy horses.
Marius
Roman leader who gave new strength to magistrates who commanded Rome's legions
Sulla
constantly attempted to defeat Rome. Was nominated dictator, retracted power of the Tribues, and rebuilt the roman constitution through harsh and bloody means.
Pompey "The Great"
Former alli of Sulla who undermined his new regime. Formed the military leg first Triumvirate with Crassus and Caesar before taking power while Caesar was out at Gaul until finally being defeated by Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus.
Crassus
Wealthy leg of the first triumvirate that assisted Pompey in the defeat of Sulla and the running of Rome before being defeated and kicked out of the first Triumvirate by Pompey.
Cicero
Orator who tried to help the average Roman (plebeians) gain control from Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar, but went unsupported when he suggested that they all join together to resist. Spoke the (second) Philippics, in a reference to the Philippics of Demosthenes.
Julius Caesar
Alli of Crassus and Pompey in the Second Triumvirate. Well liked politician who gained for provincial governorship of Gaul, which he then conquered with his troops while gaining their loyalty before crossing the Rubicon to take control by force from Pompey, which he eventually gained at the Battle of Pharsalus. He then enacted multiple reforms that benefitted the common people, but caused fear in the Patricians and senators that he was becoming too powerful and would soon attempt to become king (a well-founded fear that grew after he declared himself "dictator for life" in 44 bc) resulting in his assasination.
Cato
Spokesman of a small group of extremist conservatives in the senate that convinced Pompey to kick Crassus out of the second triumvirate.
Octavian
Son of Caesar, who gave power back to the Roan government, was revered and loved, called "Augustus/First Citizen" and member of the second Triumvirate who defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium (31 b.c.).
Mark Anthony
Husband of Cleopatra, former member of the 2nd Triumvirate who attempted to overcome Octavian, but lost at the Battle of Actium (31 b.c.) before committing suicide upon learning that Cleopatra had committed suicide because she'd received false information that he'd died in battle.
Battle of Actium (31 b.c.)
Battle at which Octavian defeated Anthony and Cleopatra, thereby gaining control of the entire roman empire.
Augustus
Octavian's second name. "First Citizen"
Princeps
Another term for "First Citizen" - Augustus/Octavian.
The Forum
Open place of Roman activity over what used to be a swamP.
Cloaca Maxima
Central sewer system of Rome that drained the swamp of the Forum into the Tiber.
Capitoline Hill
Hill on which Tarquin built a temple to Jupiter. Was also a citadel (top of hill for defense in case of an attack on the city).
Via Appia
Major Roman roads originated as military roads only that became trade and travel routs as well.
Aqueduct
Water carrying channels throughout Rome. Main plumbing systems.
Bascillae
Public halls which served as courts, offices, and markets.
Subura
The working-class district of Rome.
Via Sacra
Sacred street in Rome, the largest running straight through the city that was used for religious or political processions.
Circus Maximus
Arena at which there were chariot races, games, public fights, military shows, etc.
Quintus Fabius Maximus
5 time Roman Senator, defeated Ligurians. Elected dictator of rome in 217 in the face of the Carthiginian ordeal, the earthquake, and Hannibal. Managed to delay and tantalize Hannibal long enough to prevent an outright defeat of Rome.
Hamilcar Barca
Strong Carthaginian general that invaded Spain around 218. Hannibal's father that intended to defeat Rome, but never lived to succeed.
Hannibal
Hamilcar's son, attacked and gained Saguntum (city with treaty with Rome not to expand into Roman boundaries) sparking fear in the Romans. This served as only a prelude to his eventual, almost successful attempts to take Rome.
Battle of Cannae
Military defeat where Rome was defeated by Hannibal even though they had twice as many troops as he did. (Paullus and Varro vs. Hannibal)
Publius Cornelius Scipio
Roman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama (circa 237-183 BC)
Gaius Marius
Important military reformer that gained political power (consulship 7 times) through the alliegiance of his troops, not because of noble birth. Made multiple military reforms, such as repealing the land-ownership filter on joining the military.
Jugurthine War
War started when Rome stepped in to prevent the slaughter of Italians by the king Jugurtha
Jugurtha
King of Numidia who randomly kills Italians and fights both Marius and Sulla, before eventually being captured by means of Sulla.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
General under Marius who went around him to gain fame for himself by arranging the capture of Jugurtha.
Plium
A javelin with a curved hook.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Rome's greatest public speaker; he argued against dictators and called for a representative government with limited powers
Trial of Roscius
Case in which Cicero represented a man accused of killing his father. Cicero won, against Sulla's (then dictator) wishes and took an extended holiday afterwards to avoid vengeance before returning upon Sulla's death.
Trial of Verres
Trial at which Cicero prosecuted Verres who had been mismanaging and laundering the funds of Sicily. Cicero beat Quintus Hortensius, then seen to be the greatest orator of the time.
Catiline conspiracy
Conspiracy in which a senator named Catiline planned to assasinate Cicero and his fellow consul Antonius, and then take control himself. Cicero exposed him in front of the senate, and Antonius defeated Catiline and his army, killing Catiline in the process. Cicero then had all of Catiline's fellow conspirators strangled to death without trial resulting in his later voluntary exile due to a law that called for the banishment of anyone who brought about the death of a Roman citizen without trial.
2nd Triumvirate
Three-way dictatorship created by Mark Anthony, Octavian, and Lepidus that killed Cicero.
Catiline
Debt-ridden aristocrat known for sketchy dealings that planned to kill Cicero, but failed.
First Triumvirate
The parrtnership of Caesar (the influential politican), Pompey (the able military general), and Crassus (the wealthy financier) that together planned to manipulate the Roman government to gain power for themselves.
Gaul
Region which Caesar was partially governor, the rest which he attempted to conquer while he was governor. On these conquests he proved himself to be an amazing tactician and also physically powerful, with high endurance and he gained the loyalty of his troops, which eventually paid off when he asked them to cross the Rubicon with him, in open defiance of the senate.
Rubicon River
River which Caesar crossed at his point of contingence: crossing the river meant openly defying the senate and a forceful seizure of control.
Battle of Pharsalus
Battle at which Caesar defeated Pompey though outnumbered two to one, making him effectively ruler of Rome.
Ludi Romani
Important Roman religious festival at which the first performances of Greek-based Roman productions were displayed.
Plautus
"Master of Roman Comedy", famous Roman comedian playwright. Was formerly a Greek that became a Roman citizen and worked as a stage-carpenter before beginning to adapt and write comedies of straight jokes and cheap humor.
Terence
"Master of Roman Comedy", famous North African playwright that had formerly been a Roman slave and was then educated and freed, before becoming a playwright who stuck as close to possible to the orginal greek scripts, injecting much less of the easy-laugh comedy that Plautus had implemented in favor of sophisticated plot lines that were aimed at the upper-class, educated Romans.
Aeneas
Founder of the Roman people, supposed ancestor of the Julii clan. Prince of troy who escaped the burning city carrying his aged father on his back, and was supposedly prophesied by the goddess Venus to have founded the Roman civilization.
Imperialism
the practice of outward expansion of a nation.
Lepidus
Member of the 2nd Triumvirate. Important enough threat to Octavian's power for Octavian to approach him to be a member of the 2nd triumvirate, but he was eventually pushed out of the Triumvirate by Octavian and Mark Anthony when they saw that he was of little use or threat to them.
Cato the Elder
Old fashioned Roman orator and eventually censor who fought against Hannibal and believed that Greek influence would eventually be the downfall of Rome. He was extremely austere man who didn't drink while on military campaign and despised any entity that wasn't for a function.
Orations
Grand speeches given by the Romans in imitation of Greek-style political speeches.
Censor
Roman political office which took the census, controlled all public building projects, and "watched over the morals of the people" and could therefore kick anyone out of the senate if guilty of unscrupulous behavior.
Aqueduct
Public, water-carrying structures, like above-ground pipelines throughout Rome.
Tiberius Gracchus
Two-time Roman tribune that bypassed the senate in order to get land reforms passed for the greater benefit of the plebeians. Was clubbed to death when fear sparked that he was becoming so popular with the common people that he would declare himself king.
Gaius Gracchus
Two-time Roman tribune that passed reforms such as grain subsidation to the greater benefit of the plebeians. Was clubbed to death when fear among the senate sparked that he was becoming so popular that he would declare himself king.
The Social War/Italian War
Civil war in which Rome's Italian allies and controlled-nations rebelled against Rome in protest of the fact that they had assisted Rome in gaining all it's territory, and yet they weren't granted the same rights as legitimate Roman citizens. These people created their own capital and currency, and eventually gained citizenship to all free male Italians.
Populares
Political group made up of the common people of Rome. The united force with skilled politicians that would grow to counter the senate, or Optimates (patrician/wealthy Roman) party.
Tiberius
o Augustus' stepson that succeeded him. Was paranoid and therefore reclusive, deprived the plebeian assembly of the right of electing officials.
Praetorian Guard
o Elite guard of 9 cohorts of 5 men established by Augustus for the protection of the emperor and his family.
Sejanus
o Praetorian prefect entrusted with control of the empire by Tiberius while he spent 11 years on an island. Eventually planned to take power, and intimidated the now-purely-for-show senate. Was found out and killed, but caused a renewed paranoia in Tiberius, causing him to usher in a new policy of treason accusing and murder.
Gaius Caligula
o Son of Tiberius who took action to un-do most of his father's work, banishing informants, decreasing taxes, and releasing political prisoners that had been victims of his father's paranoia. Eventually however he lost touch with reality and began referring to himself as a god and suggesting that his horse should become a consul. He spent lavishly, sucking the Roman finances dry, and acted cruelly, causing him to be assassinated 4 years after he gained control.
Agrippina
• Mother to Nero, wife to Claudius, who she killed after convincing to make Nero his successor.
Nero
• Great-Great-Grandson of Augustus. Son of Agrippina, stepson of Claudius. Killed his mother, claudius' biological son, and his wife upon gaining power. He assumed absolute power by the age of 22. He partook in musical competitions and chariot races, and may or may not have started a major fire in Rome in order to clear land for a giant palace that he whished to build. After the fire, Nero organized homeless shelters, launced rebuilding projects, and introduced a new building code to reduce the risk of future fires. He blamed this fire on the Christians, however, and had them all put to death in cruel manners. His luxurious and cruel behavior led to discontent and conspiracies, which led to his paranoia and implementation of mass-treason executions. This caused discontent, and finally the armies of Spain and Gaul marched on Rome, and Nero killed himself to avoid being killed by them.
Seneca
• Nero's philospher tutor, who probably noticed the forboding signs of the maniac that would grow, and therefore encouraged and guided him to l ook in himself for "goodness". And had him write essays about virtue and good qualities.
The Great Fire
• (64 BC) Giant fire that began at the Circus Maximus and burned for 9 days. It destroyed 10 of Rome's 14 districts, conveniently creating prime land for Nero's Golden House. After the fire, Nero organized homeless shelters, launced rebuilding projects, and introduced a new building code to reduce the risk of future fires. He also took the best land and instead of rebuilding for the public, turned it into his own personal palace, or Domus Aureus.
Domus Aurea (Golden House)
o Nero's amazing palace built after a giant fire that burned prime real estate for his palace. This aroused suspicion that Nero himself had it set in order to gain the space in the otherwise crowded Rome.
Year of the Four Emperors
(69 CE)o Year of four-way civil war among Galba, governor of a Spanish province, Otho, commander of another Spanish province, Vitellus, commander of Rhine, and Vespasian, commander of Eastern troops.
o Galba was lynched by the Romans and replaced by Otho, who committed suicide after being defeated by Vitellus, and Vitellus committed himself to "unrestrained gluttony" until dying before Vespasian, after seizing control of Egypt and therefore Italy's grain supply, marched on Rome and took control.
Vespasian
o General who seized Rome after Vitellus, had this power legitimized by the Senate (getting the approval of the senate calmed Roman fear of an absolute tyrant who disregarded the traditional senate). He established a vital mutual relationship with the Senate, and ruled and administered moderately and with wisdom. His policies include "extending citizenship to provincials...granting citizenship to....men who [served in the] auxilia" and entrusting high administrative positions to equestrians and senators as opposed to ex-slaves.
Titus
o Son of Vespasiain who ruled for only 2 years, though he managed to complete the colosseum.
Pompeii
o City buried in ashes by Mt. Vesuvius' eruption.
Domitian
o Vespasian's second son who ruled after Titus. He blatantly disregarded the senate, was highly arrogant, but an efficient administrator nonetheless. He also imposed treason trials and a period of terror, and was assassinated in 96 AD.
Vigiles
o Freedmen responsible for watching the city for crimes or fires. Organized in groups, each groups assigned a region to guard.
bascilla
large roofed buildings used mostly for legal matters
Arch
o Made of semi-circular wooden frames, which were then covered with blocks of stone. The last block that fit the middle and was a slightly different shape than the others was called the "key stone". The frame was then removed. From these came "vaults, domes, and cross-vaults"
Keystone
o The stone in the middle of an arch. It's pressure was essential to the holding together of the arch
Vault
o The result of a number of Arches placed side by side.
Dome
o The result of a number of vaults placed intersecting each other.
Concrete
o A solution of volcanic dust and lime mortar which made up the stones for arches.
Colosseum
o Roman Amphitheatre begun by Vespasian and completed by Titus. Three levels structured primarily of arches, with technical lifts to raise animals to the main level, the ability to flood and drain the arena for naval battles, and a giant awning that was retractable to provide shade for spectators.
Thermae
o Public baths. Designed instricately and lavishly to prevent the commoners from becoming too putout or noticing too deeply the great gap between the high and low classes. Rooms were either codl baths or successively warmer ones, with dressing rooms and a final massage room.
Palasestrae
o Roman exercise courts next to the thermae.
Trajan's Market
o When the original forum became to small, and was expanded upon by successive emperors, eventually Trajan orchestrated the creation of a forum larger than the original and all of the other additions put together. It was 400 sq. ft. with shops up to three stories high. Contains "Trajan's Column", a column made to recout Trajan's campaign in Dacia.
Nerva
The first emperor chosen by the senate, an old, moderate senator. The first distinction at which the senate chose the Empire over the Republic. Also started the trend of adopting one's successor (merit based to ensure an able ruler, also he never had sons)
Five Good Emperors
o The emperors after Nerva who issued in a period of peace and prosperity for Rome.
Trajan
o Adopted successor to Nerva. Spanish.
Trajan's Column
o column commemorating his campaigns in Dacia, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and the Parthia.
Hadrian
o Adopted successor of Trajan. Spent many years touring the provinces to assess the empire in order to make more educated decisions when governing. He also withdrew from Trajan's conquests (above) And built "Hadrian's Wall" in an attempt to clarify define and adhere to Rome's natural boundaries.
Hadrian's Wall
o Wall built in Britain by Hadrian in order to create a definitive boundary.
Marcus Aurelius
o Last of the "Five Good Emperors". During his reign the first "cracks" of Rome began to appear: Boundary issues with barbarians attempting to migrate into the Empire, and Plague.
Commodus
o Inherited the throne from his father, Marcus Aurelius. Appeased the barbarians in order to relax into a lazy and lavish rein. Renamed Rome: Commodiana. Gave powers to advisers as opposed to ruling himself, and threatened treason trials in order to get money from the rich. Was assassinated.
Pertinax
o Commodus' appionted successor, previously Marcus Aurelius' right-hand man. Trid to change too much too fast, causing slight fear and disconent with those affected (the Praetorean Guard), resulting in his assassination.
Didius Julianus
o Old, incapable senator who bought the office of senator before being assassinated and replaced with Septimius Severus.
Septimius Severus
o First African Emperor. Winner of the power vacuum after the assassination of Pertinax. Imposed tax upon Italians and doubled taxes elsewhere in order to pay for extensive, but successful military campaigns.
Caracalla
o Son of Severus, murdered his brother Geta. Increased the pay for the army by 50% and paid barbarians to not invade Rome. He was violent and greedy, and was assassinated by his Praetorian Prefect.
Diocletian
o Restorer of political stability after many random rulers who only lived for a short time. Divided the empire into two. Maximized the importance of the soldiers, making Rome a military state, and the soldiers high class. Attempted to control inflation, and establish a new system of succession, involving the Augusti and their Caesars. The senate was made irrelevant and never issued a decree after 280.
Tetrachy
System instituted by Diocletian as a last-ditch effort to save Rome. Split the empire into East and West, each ruled by an Augustus. Those regions were then split again, and half was ruled by a Caesar, chosen successor of the Augustus. On a map, the spheres of control make the pattern "CACA"
Constantine
o Winner of the power struggle after Diocletian, who slowly re-conquered the entire empire to become sole emperor, believing that Diocletian's division of the empire was a mistake. First emperor to convert to Christianity, and legalize it, ending the Christian persecutions. Used state money to build many churches, held a meeting with all major Christian leaders to firmly define Christianity, and was baptised on his deathbed.
Constantinople
o New capital of Rome, moved because the west had been stripped bare of all it's resources, whereas the east was untapped. By moving the capital Constantine placed himself nearer the clean, untouched resources. This also enabled him to better guard the boundaries at which the barbarians posed the greatest threat.
Romulus Augustulus
o The last emperor of Rome (the West) before he was set aside (not killed) by a Germanic general who made himself emperor.
Latifundia
o Giant farming enterprises of many small farms bought up by one person and turned into one giant farm for the profit of the owner.
Coloni
o Basically share-croppers. Those whose farms were bought and turned into latifundia, and they worked and stayed on the land for a small portion of the harveset.
Forum
o In the center of the city, a marketplace and public-meeting area. There were "colonnades," or covered walkways lined with columns to offer shade or shelter from the weather.
Colonnade
o Covered walkways in the Forum lined with columns to offer shade or shelter from the weather.
Domus
Townhomes in the city for the rich Romans. Guarded by a statue of Hermes, supposedly to prevent evil from entering the home, domi consisted of an ornately decorated and furnished with a large sky-light in the roof, corridors leading to multiple bedrooms, servants' quarters, a study, the kitchen, the dining room, bathrooms, and a garden.
Insulae
Awfully built, crowded, dangerous apartments that the typical Roman lived in (in the cities). The ground floor was small shops and the upper floors (up to 5 stories) contained usually one or two room apartments. These often collapsed upon themselves, crushing residents. There was no running water, so residents had to go to public fountains and carry water up to their apartments. There was also no plumbing or bathrooms, resulting in public bathrooms on the bottom floors of the insulae. These were apparently open, public, and a great place for meetings.
Villa
fancy country estate, elaborately decorated, surrounded by gardens and farms
Farmhouse
small, up to 3 bedrooms, built of stone, wood, or thatch. Dirt floors, sparsely furnished, and a central hearth for cooking and heating.
Aqueduct
Roman water-piping systems carrying water across the countryside or to the city generally from mountain springs
Appian Way (Via Appia)
o The longest road through Italy (366 miles)
Tabernae
o Small shops in a Roman city
Capitolium
o The temple of Jupiter (and Juno and Minerva) at the top of Capitol Hill. It was rebuilt and improved upon many times until it consisted almost entirely fo white marble, with a giant gold and ivory statue of Jupiter, and other statues of Juno and Minerva. There is also a big bronze sculpture of Jupiter riding in a chariot It is supposedly the symbol of the Roman spirit.
Urban Cohorts
o A police-force created by Augustus to counteract the bad people that lurked and committed crimes at night (because there were no streetlights).
Mosaics
o artwork created by the gluing together of many colored tiles.
The Subura
o The poorest and most densely inhabited area of the city of Rome. "The projects"
Atrium
o Entrance hall to a domus with a skylight and basin to catch water that comes in the skyligt. Highly decorated, where the paterfamilias greeted guests.
Lararium
o Shrine to the gods in the typical domus atrium
Imago
o A lifelike mask of a family's most important ancestor that was placed on the lararium and worshiped.
Triclinium
o The Roman dining room.
Peristyle
o Giant garden borrowed from the Greeks in the back of Roman domi.
Hypocaust
o Central heating systems of the ancient Romans.
Tiber River
Main river through the Roman empire.
The Latins
Natives of central Italy
Eutruscans
Natives of Northern Italy
Fasces
Rods with a wooden X carried in front of an important person with Imperium.
Gauls
Germanic tribes to the north of Rome.
Veto
Power of the tribunes to reject.
Proscription
Systematic death list of a political group or candidate's opposition.
Censor
Highest honorable Roman office, conducted census and administrated over paperwork concerning citizenship.
Praetor
Administrator of the judicial system. Rung of the Cursus Honorum above Aedile/Consul, below Consul
Aedile
Administrator in charge of maintenance of public buildings and the putting on of games.
Dictator
Absolute Ruler
Triumph
Title awarded to a general by his troops
Imperator
"Supreme Commander" Title awarded to a victorious general.
Principate
The first half of the Empire. (Augustus-Commodus)
Dominate
Second half of the Empire (Commodus-Augustulus Romulus).
Province
Region ruled by a provincial governor.
Provincial Governor
Ruler of a province, office below Proconsul, often awarded after consulship has ended.
Tax Collectors
Collectors of taxes
Denarius
Coins made during Augustus' rein with his image.
Novus Homo
"New Man", first of a family to hold an elected office.
Optimates
The patrician or higher class political party who believed that the senate should hold most of the power.
Legion
A group consisting of 3-5,000 soldiers.
Legionaries
Soldiers who fought in legions and were armed with short swords and javelins (pilum).
Testudo formation
The turtle like formation soldier fought in to deflect arrows. Soldiers were close together and used their curved shields as cover.
Decimation
When soldiers ran away from battle, they were in groups of ten and pulled straws. The one with the short straw was killed by the other nine who had long straws.
Auxilia
Soldiers that were not citizens and were not as important if they were to be killed. If they served for 24 years, they gained citizenship.
Consilium
The group of 15 senators that sets the agenda for the senate.
Census
The count of citizens in Rome.
1st Jewish Revolt
The revolt during Nerva's reign and that was put down by Titus.
Panthenon
The temple to all of the Roman gods that was a giant dome.
Pontifex Maximus
Chief priest to a state region.
Augurs
Priest who read the augury (the flight pattern of birds).
Sybiline Books
Book of oracles and prophecies.
Stoicism
Philosophy of Greece, where virtue is the most important and one should endure pain.
Huns
The group of people that pushed the Gauls into Rome.
Germanic Tribes
Tribes of Germans who fought against the Romans.
Diocletian Persecution
The persecution of the Christians set up by Diocletian and was the first persecution that was done throughout the empire.
Martyr
A person who is killed because of religious beliefs, i.e. the Christians.
Pax Deorum
The time of peace.
Tetrarch
When the empire was divided in half by Diocleatian and each half was referred to as a tetrarch.
Augusti
The main ruler in charge of each tetrarch.
Caesares
Those who assisted the Augusti as well as ruler over part of the tetrarch.
Edict of Milan
The edict that allows Christianity and was passed by Constantine.
Nicene Creed
The creed by Constantine that summarizes the Christian religion.
Visigoths
The germanic tribe in Spain that attacked rome in 410 CE.
Vandals
The germanic tribe in the south that attacked Rome in 455 CE.
Depose
A testimonial outside of a court.
Byzantine Empire
The final Roman empire in the south that lasts for 1000 years after the fall of the north.
Augury
Interpreting the flight path of birds
Auspices
Interpreting the inards of a sacrificed animal
Vocabulary
Table of Contents
Prehistory
Paleolithic Period- From circa 2,500,000-10,000 BCE; period when simple stone tools were used by early humansPaleolithic- nomadic tribes of 20-30 people who relied on hunting and gathering for food and used stone and fire for tools and created cave paintings
Neolithic Revolution- From circa 10,000-4,000 BCE; Period when farming was developed
Neolithic- tribes in permanent settlements with up to 6,000 people who used farming and herding for food, used copper and improved stone tools
Agricultural Revolution- See Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Period- Period of early farming
Çatalhüyük- One of the world's earliest cities; existed circa 7500 BCE-5700 BCE; built during the Neolithic Revolution in present-day Turkey
Pre-history- Time before writing and agriculture
Egypt
Geography
Kemet- Black Land; land near Nile; Egyptian name for their land; associated with OsirisDeshret- Red Land; desert; associated with Seth
Delta- mouth of river where the water spreads out; fertile land; named after Greek letter for its resemblance
Nile Valley- valley through which the Nile flows
Upper Egypt- southern Egypt; upstream part of the Nile
Lower Egypt- northern Egypt: downstream part of Nile
Cataracts- waterfalls or rapids in a river; 7 on the Nile
Silt- fertile soil at bottom of a river; scattered over the land during the inundation
Inundation- yearly flooding of Nile; name for the season of the flood; released the silt throughout the land
Irrigation- transporting of water from a river to fields through the use of canals
Amarna- new capitol of Egypt during Akhenaten's reign
Nome- a providence like sector of Egypt that the kingdom was split into
Nomarch- ruler of a nome, answers to pharaoh
Technology
Image source: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/pics/egypt/shaduf.jpg
Shaduf- a mechanism for transporting water with buckets and counter weights
Copper Tipped Spear- spear commonly used by the Egyptians
Simple Bow- the basic bow; used by Egyptians in the Old and Middle Kingdoms; max range of 30-50 feet
Composite Bow- came in new kingdom; made of wood and horn or sinew; range of 650 feet; technology came from Hyksos
Egyptian War Chariot- lightweight and maneuverable; carried a driver and an archer; came from Hyksos
Hieroglyphs- "sacred writing" when something was carved into stone it became true. 4 types of hieroglyphs were picture, abstract idea, phonetic, and determinative
Papyrus- early form of paper made of the Papyrus reeds common to the Nile
Nilometer- measuring stick for measuring the height of Nile; way to determine height of Inundation and to determine the taxes; used by priests
Mummification- a process preformed on a dead body that preserved it; body wrapped in linens that were treated with spices and chemicals; body dried up in sand; organs were removed and placed in canopic jars to eliminate moisture; body placed in a coffin then placed in a sarcophagus
Sand Hydraulics- process of lowering an object into the ground by filling a hole with sand and removing it while the object moves lower into the ground
Culture
Red Crown-crown of Lower EgyptWhite Crown- crown of Upper Egypt
Double Crown- combination of Red and White crowns; symbol of the unification of Egypt; worn by Egyptian pharaohs
Pharaoh- title of the Egyptian king; considered divine
Rosetta Stone- stone tablet written in the time of Greek rule; key in the translation of the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs; written in Hellenistic Greeks, hieroglyphs, and demotic
Sun Temples- for Ra; combined pyramids with obelisks; most got destroyed because they were made of mud brick
Religion
Three parts of the Soul- Ba, Ka, AkhBa- a person's personality and what makes them unique; portrayed as a bird with a the specific person's head; travelled across the sky everyday from the east to the west side of the Nile; if it couldn't recognize the body, it died
Ka- the life force of a person; required nourishment with food; without it there was no afterlife; depicted as a set of arms in a "U" shape
Akh- ghost aspect of the soul; capable of interacting with the living; could cause harm or cure sickness
Book of the Dead- gave rituals for the dead; spelled out the aspects of the afterlife; included weighing of the heart ceremony
Weighing of the Heart Ceremony
- Anubis holds a scale weighing a heart against the feather of truth and justice, and Thoth decided if they were equal
- If the two balanced the soul would pass on. If they didn't Ammit, a crocodile/lion/hippo would eat the soul
- The souls passed on from Horus to Osiris
Ankh- symbol of eternal lifeUdjat- symbol of protection; represents the eye of Horus that Seth tore out
Ammit- the crocodil/lion/hippo god during the weighing of the heart ceremony that would eat the heart if it was heavier than the feather
Memorial temples- temples that commemorated the achievements of a pharaoh where offerings were given
Cult temples- temples to worship gods on the east bank of the Nile
Coffin texts- texts/prayers written on sarcófagos' to help in the after life
Budget burials- when the afterlife was promised to everyone burials were cheaper for the poor so budget burials were created that were a cheap burial and promise to an after life
Ma'at- when all of the cycles are working perfectly and in harmony so life will continue to be smooth
Art
Aspective View- drawing objects from their most characteristic angle; used in most Egyptian artCanon of Proportion- formula of ratio for Egyptian art; kept all pictures and sculptures to scale despite their size
Hieratic Scaling- more important people were depicted larger
Smiting Posture- a commonly used setting in which the pharaoh was shown ending his enemy
Amarna style- the style of art founded by Akhenaten that used realism
China
Geography
Yellow River- River flowing west to east across North China Plain; called "China's Sorrow" because of destructive floodsYangzi River- River in southern China flowing west to east
Gobi Desert- Desert in northern China
Tokia Makan Desert- Desert in northwestern China
Quinling Mountains- Divide north and south China
Himalayan Mountains- Mountains in southwest China
Middle Kingdom- What ancient Chinese called China
Heartland- where the king has direct control and is the political, religioius, and military leader
Technology
Piece Mold Bronze Working- Clay was used to make a mold and bronze was poured into moldLost Wax Bronze Working- Wax was made into shape of final product, covered with clay, and then replaced with molten bronze
Well Field System- when someone owns a large amount of land and allows others to work on the land on thier own private square, but they must also work on the middle square of the person who owns all of the land and a percentage of everyone's profit is given to the land owner
Collar harness- a harness attached to a horse and a cart to help plow the fileds
Fallow fileds- when you do not farm a plot of land for a few years so the land will become fertile again and alternate between fields
Silk Road- long road where silk and other trade was done
Seed drill- allowed farmers to sow their seeds at the correct depth
seismograph- a device that records the earth's tremors
Culture
Cowry Shells- the currency used until coins were introduced in the warring states periodConfucianism- focus on the relationships between you and others
Legalsim- using the fact that people act of self-interest to your advantage and creating strict law enforcement
Terracotta army- army of terracotta soldiers burried with Shi Huangdi
Civil Service Exams- exams held to determine if you can hold a civil service position
Civil service- government workers where there was a variety in positoin
Nonaction- going with the flow in Daoism and minimalism is the most efficient
Government
Allied Chieftans- A leader of an area surrounding the heart land that follows/works with the king
Estate Holder- Members of the ruling dynasty that ruled smaller areas to assist the king
Persia
Geography
Technology
Canats- underground pipes that brought in fresh water, at Darius' palace at Persepolis
Paradasia- a walled, rectangular, ornament garden, built at palaces, started by Cyrus
Sparabara- archer pairs; improved upon the Assyrian model; 9 archers per 1 shield man
Seige tactics- when you surround a city and cut off its supply of food and water and attack when they are weak or they will give up
Culture
Polygamy- to have multiple wives, this showed a man's wealth in PersiaConcubine- a woman who has a lower status than wife, a mistress of the man of the house
cultural assimilation- taking ideas and technology from cultures of conquered regions
The Great King-owned all the land, and held absolute power, limited only by tradition and any expectations that he consults his nobles
Satraps-the 20 satrapies were each ruled by a satrap of Persian descent with king-like power
Key Officials-worked within each satrapy, reported directly to the Great King, there were military administrative and financial officials,
Nobles-nobles of Persian descent were ranked higher, held highest government positions and served in elite cavalry divisions,
Merchants, Artisans, and skilled Freemen-these skilled workers made up a lower middle class
Unskilled freemen, Serfs, and Slaves- made up the lowest social class,unskilled freemen were payed for their manual labor, while serfs worked to pay off their debts and had low chance of earning their freedom, they were always farmers tied to their land, slaves were personal and born into slavery
Cuneiform- writing system for writing on clay tablets
Darics- coins used and created during Darius' reign
Apadana- a stone tent or audience hall built by Darius
The Kings Peace- peace treaty between Greece and Persia and was issued by Artaxerxes
Religion
Zoroastrianism- mono-theistic; worshiped Ahura-mazda; cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil; individuals must make moral choices; at the end of time good will win out, and all will be judged.
Avesta- scriptures of Zoroastrianism; contained the rules and all the teachings of Zoroaster
Ahuramazda- "the Wise Lord", the single god of Zoroastrianism
Magi- Zoroastrian priests; most orthodox practicers of Zoroastrianism; left dead out for scavengers
Greece:
HellenesAncient Greek.
Hellas
Ancient Greece.
Aegean Sea
Part of the Mediterranean sea by Greece.
Peloponnesus
The mountainous southern peninsula of Greece.
Acropolis
A fortified part of Greece.
Minoans
First advanced civilization of Greece on Crete, named after King Minos.
Knossos
Largest city on Crete with palaces.
Frescoes
Interior wall paintings done on plaster while it it still wet and then later painted on.
Thera Eruption
A large eruption on the island of Crete that weakened the Minoans severely.
Linear A
The first form of writing used by the Minoans found on Crete that we still cannot read.
Linear B
The type of writing used by the Mycenaeans that is similar to linear A and uses more of a Greek syllabi.
Mycenaeans
A civilization on mainland Greece whose main city was Mycenae and were war like/militaristic.
Mycenae
Main city in the Mycenaean civilization on main land Greece.
Heinrich Schlieman
Discovered "Agamemnon's" mask.
Bard
A poet that recites epics.
Geometric Style
Pottery with bands and geometric shapes.
Aristocracy
The highest spot in a social structure
Tyranny
When a tyrant rules over a land.
Tyrant
A ruler who gains power by force.
Lyric Poetry
Poetry accompanied with a lyre and express the poet's thoughts and feelings speaking directly to the audience.
Hoplites
Greek soldiers who fought in phalanx formation with spears, a sword, and a helmet.
Phalanx
Hoplites that stood in tightly packed and dense rows of 8x8.
Battle of Marathon
The battle between Darius form Persia and Greece, and Greece won.
Hellespont
A straight of water connected to the Aegean sea.
Pontoon (Boat) Bridge
Built by Xerxes across the Hellespont using boats.
Battle of Thermopylae
Battle between Persia and the Greeks in a mountain pass, where the Spartan's, led by Leonidas, delay the Persians in return for their lives.
Battle of Salamis
A navel battle at Salamis between Persia and the Greeks, and the Persians lost.
Battle of Plataea
Battle between Persia and Greece, the Persian troops were led by Mardonius, and Persia lost.
Delian League
A political-military alliance designed on the one hand to defend Greece and on the other hand to go on the offensive on Persia.
Polis
Ancient Greek Ionian City state
Commercial Revolution
Magna Graecia
The ancient Greek cities in southern Italy.
Kuros
Very stiff statues looking of men and women that were made after their death and put as a grave marker, the men were always nude but the women were clothed due to the required modesty of women
Ostracism
When popular politicians were banished for 10 years because of the fear of them becoming too popular.
Ostraka
When you wrote who you wanted to be ostracized on a shard of pottery found on the streets.
Laconia
Sparta's region of control.
Perioikoi
Free, but nor citizens that were mainly merchants and artisans that also served in the military and could gain citizenship if they proved themselves militarily.
Helots
Bound to the land, had to hand over half of their produce and it was legal to kill them.
Messenia
One of the peripheral regions of Greece.
Spartiates
Full spartan citizens.
Code of Lycurgus
Transformed Sparta into a military state
Krypteia
"The period of hiding" when males would have to live on their own and kill helots and other enemies.
Ephors
5 total, elected annually and supervised the training and conduct . They also acted as judges in civil disputes and presided over assemblies.
Gerousia
Council of 28 elders and the two kings over the age of 60 and prepared proposals for the Apella
Apella
Assembly of all adult spartiate males who vote yes or no on proposals without debate and elect the Ephors and Gerousia.
Oracle at Delphi
The oracle at Delphi that predicted the outcomes in future events.
Olympic Games
Boule
Council of 500 Athenians who worked on government year-round, giving each individual Athenian a serious hand in Athenian government. Rotated through the Tholos handling immediate daily duties.
Prytany
Small group of members of the boule assuming standing duties, living in the tholos for a month, handling the daily duties.
Chairman
Head or leader of the prytany of the time. A different Chairman each day.
strategos (plural = strategoi)
Military leaders.
metoikoi (metics)
Resident foreigners in Greece.
Archimede's screw
Reverse water pump
Demes
Voting neighborhoods
Liturgy
Boat or play or choir paid for by rich Greeks to gain themselves prestige while also contributing to the government as a sort of super-tax.
Drachma
Athenian silver coin.
Parthenon
Great work of architecture, temple dedicated to Athena.
Pediment
The shallow triangular space left above the end columns created because of the gently sloping roofs on the temples.
Naos
A rectangular room inside of a temple that housed the statue of the god for whom the temple was built. This windwless room opened up onto a porch with columns.
capital (of a column)
The top and (usually) most detailed part of a column that is used to distinguish between the different types of columns.
Doric Column
Columns that are plain and mostly without decoration.
Ionic Column
Columns with ram’s horns patterns.
Corinthian Column
Column with carvings of acanthus leaves as if they were growing out of the capital.
Amphora
A type of storage jar with a long neck and two handles attached to either side of the jar.
Krater
A mixing bowl for water and wine that loks like a plant vse with two small handles on either side of the bowl.
Kylix
A flat bottomed sipping bowl.
City Dionysia
Giant Greek theater competition.
Theatron
Seating area for spectators in a theater.
Chorus
Formation of singing narrators in Greek and Roman theater.
Orchestra
“dancing place” where actors, the chorus, and other performers performed.
Skene
Background for actors shielding dressing quarters and backstage. Acted as scenery as well.
parados (plural = paradoi)
Entrances to the orchestra used by the actors and other performers.
Machina
Machine. Mechanical arm used to depict activities in the sky, such as heroes riding flying horses, or gods descending from Olympus.
deus ex machina
God out of a Machine. Convention in which a God would ccome down from a Machina and solve all the problems of the play that the plawrite could apparently think of no logical means of solving.
Ekkyklema
A moving platform used to show murderer and vicim, since violent acts weren’t acted out.
choregos (plural = choregoi)
The leader of a dramatic chorus.
symposium (plural = symposia)
A drinking party of Greek men.
Agora
The town-center of most Greek city-states. Like a Roman forum.
Gymnasia
Parks where young Greek men exercised naked.
Trireme
A boat with three rows (levels) for oars, used by the Greek navy.
Sophists
Speakers hired to advocate options that were being voted on by the ecclesia. Valued persuasion over truth.
Socratic method
Method of teaching in which the “teacher” would pose a question, then contradict every given answer, forcing the student to think further. (Chair Method.) “A dialogue of questions and answers in which a student puts forward their beliefs and the teacher questions the logic of their assumptions without offering a solution.
Plato's Republic
Plato’s book outlining his ideal state. The social classes were based on intellect rather than wealth or birth, with professions assigned based on ability or merit, with communal marriage and child-birth (to ensure that each child received the same, high-quality care and education.)
Philosopher king (Or Queen, wisest, based only on intellectual merit) àIntellectual Aristocracy (Generally smart, advised the king/queen, not a random democracy, entrust the gov’t to only the wise.)àWarriors (Slight intelligence but mostly brawn). àFarmers and Artisans (Physical work only).
Plato's Academy
Plato’s school at which he taught his beliefs. He taught co-ed classes, and many recorded teachings exist in written dialogue form.
Thirty Tyrants
Small oligarchy installed in Athens by the patrons after the Peloponnesian War.
Demosthenes' Philippics
Speeches by Demosthenes warning the Greeks of Philips impending uprise.
League of Corinth
A confederacy of Greeks to which Philip of Macedonia appointed himself leader after he conquered Greece.
The March of the Ten Thousand (401BCE)
March of 10,000 Greek soldiers out of Persi with no real opposition. Shoed that Persia was inferior and afraid of Greece, and served as a sign to Philip that Persia could be conquered.
Battle of Issus
Alexander vs. Darius III, One of the two battles at which Darius strategically “withdraws” from the battle for his personal safety.
Alexandria
Alexander’s new capital. One of the most spectacular cities of the Ancient World.
Pharos
Lighthouse built by Ptolemy I and II.
Library of Alexandria
Museum
Battle of Gaugamela
The Companions
The Marriage of Susa
Hellenistic
Ptolemaic Kingdom
Seleucid Kingdom
Antigonid Kingdom
Koine
mystery religions
Stoicism
Rome Master Vocab List
AlpsMajor mountain rangei n Italy
Apennines
Major mountain range in Italy
Magna Graecia
"Greater Greece", the Greek colonies
Cincinnatus
Roman man elected emergency dictator in a crisis, saved his army within 15 days and returned home to his farm, renouncing the title of dictator
Mos Maiorum
"Ways of our ancestors" Ideal social/lifestyle characteristics that every Roman strove for.
Paterfamilias
Male head of the Roman family
Family (familia)
Extended Roman families.
Clan
Large group of people united under a common ancestor/family name.
Patrons
Protectors of clients, or newcomers to rome without a family to attach themselves to, influential sponsors.
Clients
Lower-class people or Newcomers to Rome without a family who attached themselves to a family (or patron) in order to gain legal protection or other sponsorship.
Patricians
Noble Romans of high social status and political power.
Plebeians
Low class Romans, commoners.
Tribunes
Representatives of the people. Plebeians or Patricians elected to government in order to represent the general population of the plebs, giving them representation in government. This office also had the power singly veto any legislation.
The Twelve Tables
Laws created by the Plebs to protect themselves from selfish Patricians who would morph unwritten laws to their advantage.
Lex Hortensia (287 bc)
Stated that any law passed by the plebeian assembly held just as much weight as Patrician senate laws and bound the entire population, Patricians included. Represents the Plebeians finally attaining social equity.
Plebiscites
Laws passed by the Plebeian assembly.
Atrium
Main living area of Roman houses
Tabernae
Rooms rented out as shops in the fronts of Roman homes
Triclinium
Roman dining rooms
Peristyle
Elaborate gardens in Roman homes
Pompeii
City burned by volcanic ash from whence we get most of our evidence of Roman houses
Insulae
"Islands", Roman blocks in the grid-structure of the city. May have contained private shops, homes, etc. but often contained large apartment buildings which took up the entire block. Four or five stories high, contained small uncomfortable rooms, with windows and balconies as opposed to atriums. Were dangerous and shoddily built, crappy places to live. Often collapsed or caught fire.
Ostia
Port of Rome from which our evidence of apartment buildings come.
Hypocausts
Central heating systems in insulae
Thermae
Huge public baths which was the supposed compensation of the government for the lack of running water in insulae, which allowed subjects to remain hygienic.
Villa
Country houses. Comfortable villa for the rich outside of the crowded cities where the rich could run farming industries etc. Because they were outside of the city, they could be large, with lots of land, resulting in lavish architecture and amenities, such as pools etc.
Carthage
Prosperous North African trading city which would eventually engage Rome in the Punic wars.
Hannibal
Carthaginian general who would come very close to defeating Rome in the Punic wars.
Battle of Cannae
Battle at which th eentire Roman army was annhialated by the Carthaginians and hannibal.
Fabius Maximus "the Delayer"
Able roman general that countered the Carthaginians while Rome was trying to recover from the Battle of Cannae by tantalizing Hannibal's troops. He would come just near enough to spark fear of attack, but far enough away that he wouldn't have to engage in battle which he would surely lose. Through these tactics he kept Hannibal's army uneasy but preoccupied while Rome tried to regroup.
Scipio "Africanus"
Roman general that eventually drove the Carthaginians out of Rome.
Battle of Zama
Battle where Scipio challenged and defeated Hannibal and the Carthiginians
Consul
Highest Roman authorities (2) with control over all public business, most political administration, and military matters.
Senate
Group of senators from old Roman families that voted on legislation like our senate and house today.
Tiberius Gracchus
Tribune of Rome that proposed the public redistribution of land, was given popular support, but was eventually killed.
Gaius Gracchus
Younger brother of Tiberius, appealed for support of Knights/equestrians. Followed in his brother's footsteps gaining popular support, but was killed.
Equestrians
New social class created by Gaius made of middle-class Roman businessmen. Were the merchants contracted by the senate to carry out new legislature, and therefore emerged as a new, wealthy class that gained its name from the fact that they were those in the military that could afford to buy horses.
Marius
Roman leader who gave new strength to magistrates who commanded Rome's legions
Sulla
constantly attempted to defeat Rome. Was nominated dictator, retracted power of the Tribues, and rebuilt the roman constitution through harsh and bloody means.
Pompey "The Great"
Former alli of Sulla who undermined his new regime. Formed the military leg first Triumvirate with Crassus and Caesar before taking power while Caesar was out at Gaul until finally being defeated by Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus.
Crassus
Wealthy leg of the first triumvirate that assisted Pompey in the defeat of Sulla and the running of Rome before being defeated and kicked out of the first Triumvirate by Pompey.
Cicero
Orator who tried to help the average Roman (plebeians) gain control from Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar, but went unsupported when he suggested that they all join together to resist. Spoke the (second) Philippics, in a reference to the Philippics of Demosthenes.
Julius Caesar
Alli of Crassus and Pompey in the Second Triumvirate. Well liked politician who gained for provincial governorship of Gaul, which he then conquered with his troops while gaining their loyalty before crossing the Rubicon to take control by force from Pompey, which he eventually gained at the Battle of Pharsalus. He then enacted multiple reforms that benefitted the common people, but caused fear in the Patricians and senators that he was becoming too powerful and would soon attempt to become king (a well-founded fear that grew after he declared himself "dictator for life" in 44 bc) resulting in his assasination.
Cato
Spokesman of a small group of extremist conservatives in the senate that convinced Pompey to kick Crassus out of the second triumvirate.
Octavian
Son of Caesar, who gave power back to the Roan government, was revered and loved, called "Augustus/First Citizen" and member of the second Triumvirate who defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium (31 b.c.).
Mark Anthony
Husband of Cleopatra, former member of the 2nd Triumvirate who attempted to overcome Octavian, but lost at the Battle of Actium (31 b.c.) before committing suicide upon learning that Cleopatra had committed suicide because she'd received false information that he'd died in battle.
Battle of Actium (31 b.c.)
Battle at which Octavian defeated Anthony and Cleopatra, thereby gaining control of the entire roman empire.
Augustus
Octavian's second name. "First Citizen"
Princeps
Another term for "First Citizen" - Augustus/Octavian.
The Forum
Open place of Roman activity over what used to be a swamP.
Cloaca Maxima
Central sewer system of Rome that drained the swamp of the Forum into the Tiber.
Capitoline Hill
Hill on which Tarquin built a temple to Jupiter. Was also a citadel (top of hill for defense in case of an attack on the city).
Via Appia
Major Roman roads originated as military roads only that became trade and travel routs as well.
Aqueduct
Water carrying channels throughout Rome. Main plumbing systems.
Bascillae
Public halls which served as courts, offices, and markets.
Subura
The working-class district of Rome.
Via Sacra
Sacred street in Rome, the largest running straight through the city that was used for religious or political processions.
Circus Maximus
Arena at which there were chariot races, games, public fights, military shows, etc.
Quintus Fabius Maximus
5 time Roman Senator, defeated Ligurians. Elected dictator of rome in 217 in the face of the Carthiginian ordeal, the earthquake, and Hannibal. Managed to delay and tantalize Hannibal long enough to prevent an outright defeat of Rome.
Hamilcar Barca
Strong Carthaginian general that invaded Spain around 218. Hannibal's father that intended to defeat Rome, but never lived to succeed.
Hannibal
Hamilcar's son, attacked and gained Saguntum (city with treaty with Rome not to expand into Roman boundaries) sparking fear in the Romans. This served as only a prelude to his eventual, almost successful attempts to take Rome.
Battle of Cannae
Military defeat where Rome was defeated by Hannibal even though they had twice as many troops as he did. (Paullus and Varro vs. Hannibal)
Publius Cornelius Scipio
Roman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama (circa 237-183 BC)
Gaius Marius
Important military reformer that gained political power (consulship 7 times) through the alliegiance of his troops, not because of noble birth. Made multiple military reforms, such as repealing the land-ownership filter on joining the military.
Jugurthine War
War started when Rome stepped in to prevent the slaughter of Italians by the king Jugurtha
Jugurtha
King of Numidia who randomly kills Italians and fights both Marius and Sulla, before eventually being captured by means of Sulla.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
General under Marius who went around him to gain fame for himself by arranging the capture of Jugurtha.
Plium
A javelin with a curved hook.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Rome's greatest public speaker; he argued against dictators and called for a representative government with limited powers
Trial of Roscius
Case in which Cicero represented a man accused of killing his father. Cicero won, against Sulla's (then dictator) wishes and took an extended holiday afterwards to avoid vengeance before returning upon Sulla's death.
Trial of Verres
Trial at which Cicero prosecuted Verres who had been mismanaging and laundering the funds of Sicily. Cicero beat Quintus Hortensius, then seen to be the greatest orator of the time.
Catiline conspiracy
Conspiracy in which a senator named Catiline planned to assasinate Cicero and his fellow consul Antonius, and then take control himself. Cicero exposed him in front of the senate, and Antonius defeated Catiline and his army, killing Catiline in the process. Cicero then had all of Catiline's fellow conspirators strangled to death without trial resulting in his later voluntary exile due to a law that called for the banishment of anyone who brought about the death of a Roman citizen without trial.
2nd Triumvirate
Three-way dictatorship created by Mark Anthony, Octavian, and Lepidus that killed Cicero.
Catiline
Debt-ridden aristocrat known for sketchy dealings that planned to kill Cicero, but failed.
First Triumvirate
The parrtnership of Caesar (the influential politican), Pompey (the able military general), and Crassus (the wealthy financier) that together planned to manipulate the Roman government to gain power for themselves.
Gaul
Region which Caesar was partially governor, the rest which he attempted to conquer while he was governor. On these conquests he proved himself to be an amazing tactician and also physically powerful, with high endurance and he gained the loyalty of his troops, which eventually paid off when he asked them to cross the Rubicon with him, in open defiance of the senate.
Rubicon River
River which Caesar crossed at his point of contingence: crossing the river meant openly defying the senate and a forceful seizure of control.
Battle of Pharsalus
Battle at which Caesar defeated Pompey though outnumbered two to one, making him effectively ruler of Rome.
Ludi Romani
Important Roman religious festival at which the first performances of Greek-based Roman productions were displayed.
Plautus
"Master of Roman Comedy", famous Roman comedian playwright. Was formerly a Greek that became a Roman citizen and worked as a stage-carpenter before beginning to adapt and write comedies of straight jokes and cheap humor.
Terence
"Master of Roman Comedy", famous North African playwright that had formerly been a Roman slave and was then educated and freed, before becoming a playwright who stuck as close to possible to the orginal greek scripts, injecting much less of the easy-laugh comedy that Plautus had implemented in favor of sophisticated plot lines that were aimed at the upper-class, educated Romans.
Aeneas
Founder of the Roman people, supposed ancestor of the Julii clan. Prince of troy who escaped the burning city carrying his aged father on his back, and was supposedly prophesied by the goddess Venus to have founded the Roman civilization.
Imperialism
the practice of outward expansion of a nation.
Lepidus
Member of the 2nd Triumvirate. Important enough threat to Octavian's power for Octavian to approach him to be a member of the 2nd triumvirate, but he was eventually pushed out of the Triumvirate by Octavian and Mark Anthony when they saw that he was of little use or threat to them.
Cato the Elder
Old fashioned Roman orator and eventually censor who fought against Hannibal and believed that Greek influence would eventually be the downfall of Rome. He was extremely austere man who didn't drink while on military campaign and despised any entity that wasn't for a function.
Orations
Grand speeches given by the Romans in imitation of Greek-style political speeches.
Censor
Roman political office which took the census, controlled all public building projects, and "watched over the morals of the people" and could therefore kick anyone out of the senate if guilty of unscrupulous behavior.
Aqueduct
Public, water-carrying structures, like above-ground pipelines throughout Rome.
Tiberius Gracchus
Two-time Roman tribune that bypassed the senate in order to get land reforms passed for the greater benefit of the plebeians. Was clubbed to death when fear sparked that he was becoming so popular with the common people that he would declare himself king.
Gaius Gracchus
Two-time Roman tribune that passed reforms such as grain subsidation to the greater benefit of the plebeians. Was clubbed to death when fear among the senate sparked that he was becoming so popular that he would declare himself king.
The Social War/Italian War
Civil war in which Rome's Italian allies and controlled-nations rebelled against Rome in protest of the fact that they had assisted Rome in gaining all it's territory, and yet they weren't granted the same rights as legitimate Roman citizens. These people created their own capital and currency, and eventually gained citizenship to all free male Italians.
Populares
Political group made up of the common people of Rome. The united force with skilled politicians that would grow to counter the senate, or Optimates (patrician/wealthy Roman) party.
Tiberius
o Augustus' stepson that succeeded him. Was paranoid and therefore reclusive, deprived the plebeian assembly of the right of electing officials.
Praetorian Guard
o Elite guard of 9 cohorts of 5 men established by Augustus for the protection of the emperor and his family.
Sejanus
o Praetorian prefect entrusted with control of the empire by Tiberius while he spent 11 years on an island. Eventually planned to take power, and intimidated the now-purely-for-show senate. Was found out and killed, but caused a renewed paranoia in Tiberius, causing him to usher in a new policy of treason accusing and murder.
Gaius Caligula
o Son of Tiberius who took action to un-do most of his father's work, banishing informants, decreasing taxes, and releasing political prisoners that had been victims of his father's paranoia. Eventually however he lost touch with reality and began referring to himself as a god and suggesting that his horse should become a consul. He spent lavishly, sucking the Roman finances dry, and acted cruelly, causing him to be assassinated 4 years after he gained control.
Agrippina
• Mother to Nero, wife to Claudius, who she killed after convincing to make Nero his successor.
Nero
• Great-Great-Grandson of Augustus. Son of Agrippina, stepson of Claudius. Killed his mother, claudius' biological son, and his wife upon gaining power. He assumed absolute power by the age of 22. He partook in musical competitions and chariot races, and may or may not have started a major fire in Rome in order to clear land for a giant palace that he whished to build. After the fire, Nero organized homeless shelters, launced rebuilding projects, and introduced a new building code to reduce the risk of future fires. He blamed this fire on the Christians, however, and had them all put to death in cruel manners. His luxurious and cruel behavior led to discontent and conspiracies, which led to his paranoia and implementation of mass-treason executions. This caused discontent, and finally the armies of Spain and Gaul marched on Rome, and Nero killed himself to avoid being killed by them.
Seneca
• Nero's philospher tutor, who probably noticed the forboding signs of the maniac that would grow, and therefore encouraged and guided him to l ook in himself for "goodness". And had him write essays about virtue and good qualities.
The Great Fire
• (64 BC) Giant fire that began at the Circus Maximus and burned for 9 days. It destroyed 10 of Rome's 14 districts, conveniently creating prime land for Nero's Golden House. After the fire, Nero organized homeless shelters, launced rebuilding projects, and introduced a new building code to reduce the risk of future fires. He also took the best land and instead of rebuilding for the public, turned it into his own personal palace, or Domus Aureus.
Domus Aurea (Golden House)
o Nero's amazing palace built after a giant fire that burned prime real estate for his palace. This aroused suspicion that Nero himself had it set in order to gain the space in the otherwise crowded Rome.
Year of the Four Emperors
(69 CE)o Year of four-way civil war among Galba, governor of a Spanish province, Otho, commander of another Spanish province, Vitellus, commander of Rhine, and Vespasian, commander of Eastern troops.
o Galba was lynched by the Romans and replaced by Otho, who committed suicide after being defeated by Vitellus, and Vitellus committed himself to "unrestrained gluttony" until dying before Vespasian, after seizing control of Egypt and therefore Italy's grain supply, marched on Rome and took control.
Vespasian
o General who seized Rome after Vitellus, had this power legitimized by the Senate (getting the approval of the senate calmed Roman fear of an absolute tyrant who disregarded the traditional senate). He established a vital mutual relationship with the Senate, and ruled and administered moderately and with wisdom. His policies include "extending citizenship to provincials...granting citizenship to....men who [served in the] auxilia" and entrusting high administrative positions to equestrians and senators as opposed to ex-slaves.
Titus
o Son of Vespasiain who ruled for only 2 years, though he managed to complete the colosseum.
Pompeii
o City buried in ashes by Mt. Vesuvius' eruption.
Domitian
o Vespasian's second son who ruled after Titus. He blatantly disregarded the senate, was highly arrogant, but an efficient administrator nonetheless. He also imposed treason trials and a period of terror, and was assassinated in 96 AD.
Vigiles
o Freedmen responsible for watching the city for crimes or fires. Organized in groups, each groups assigned a region to guard.
bascilla
large roofed buildings used mostly for legal matters
Arch
o Made of semi-circular wooden frames, which were then covered with blocks of stone. The last block that fit the middle and was a slightly different shape than the others was called the "key stone". The frame was then removed. From these came "vaults, domes, and cross-vaults"
Keystone
o The stone in the middle of an arch. It's pressure was essential to the holding together of the arch
Vault
o The result of a number of Arches placed side by side.
Dome
o The result of a number of vaults placed intersecting each other.
Concrete
o A solution of volcanic dust and lime mortar which made up the stones for arches.
Colosseum
o Roman Amphitheatre begun by Vespasian and completed by Titus. Three levels structured primarily of arches, with technical lifts to raise animals to the main level, the ability to flood and drain the arena for naval battles, and a giant awning that was retractable to provide shade for spectators.
Thermae
o Public baths. Designed instricately and lavishly to prevent the commoners from becoming too putout or noticing too deeply the great gap between the high and low classes. Rooms were either codl baths or successively warmer ones, with dressing rooms and a final massage room.
Palasestrae
o Roman exercise courts next to the thermae.
Trajan's Market
o When the original forum became to small, and was expanded upon by successive emperors, eventually Trajan orchestrated the creation of a forum larger than the original and all of the other additions put together. It was 400 sq. ft. with shops up to three stories high. Contains "Trajan's Column", a column made to recout Trajan's campaign in Dacia.
Nerva
The first emperor chosen by the senate, an old, moderate senator. The first distinction at which the senate chose the Empire over the Republic. Also started the trend of adopting one's successor (merit based to ensure an able ruler, also he never had sons)
Five Good Emperors
o The emperors after Nerva who issued in a period of peace and prosperity for Rome.
Trajan
o Adopted successor to Nerva. Spanish.
Trajan's Column
o column commemorating his campaigns in Dacia, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and the Parthia.
Hadrian
o Adopted successor of Trajan. Spent many years touring the provinces to assess the empire in order to make more educated decisions when governing. He also withdrew from Trajan's conquests (above) And built "Hadrian's Wall" in an attempt to clarify define and adhere to Rome's natural boundaries.
Hadrian's Wall
o Wall built in Britain by Hadrian in order to create a definitive boundary.
Marcus Aurelius
o Last of the "Five Good Emperors". During his reign the first "cracks" of Rome began to appear: Boundary issues with barbarians attempting to migrate into the Empire, and Plague.
Commodus
o Inherited the throne from his father, Marcus Aurelius. Appeased the barbarians in order to relax into a lazy and lavish rein. Renamed Rome: Commodiana. Gave powers to advisers as opposed to ruling himself, and threatened treason trials in order to get money from the rich. Was assassinated.
Pertinax
o Commodus' appionted successor, previously Marcus Aurelius' right-hand man. Trid to change too much too fast, causing slight fear and disconent with those affected (the Praetorean Guard), resulting in his assassination.
Didius Julianus
o Old, incapable senator who bought the office of senator before being assassinated and replaced with Septimius Severus.
Septimius Severus
o First African Emperor. Winner of the power vacuum after the assassination of Pertinax. Imposed tax upon Italians and doubled taxes elsewhere in order to pay for extensive, but successful military campaigns.
Caracalla
o Son of Severus, murdered his brother Geta. Increased the pay for the army by 50% and paid barbarians to not invade Rome. He was violent and greedy, and was assassinated by his Praetorian Prefect.
Diocletian
o Restorer of political stability after many random rulers who only lived for a short time. Divided the empire into two. Maximized the importance of the soldiers, making Rome a military state, and the soldiers high class. Attempted to control inflation, and establish a new system of succession, involving the Augusti and their Caesars. The senate was made irrelevant and never issued a decree after 280.
Tetrachy
System instituted by Diocletian as a last-ditch effort to save Rome. Split the empire into East and West, each ruled by an Augustus. Those regions were then split again, and half was ruled by a Caesar, chosen successor of the Augustus. On a map, the spheres of control make the pattern "CACA"
Constantine
o Winner of the power struggle after Diocletian, who slowly re-conquered the entire empire to become sole emperor, believing that Diocletian's division of the empire was a mistake. First emperor to convert to Christianity, and legalize it, ending the Christian persecutions. Used state money to build many churches, held a meeting with all major Christian leaders to firmly define Christianity, and was baptised on his deathbed.
Constantinople
o New capital of Rome, moved because the west had been stripped bare of all it's resources, whereas the east was untapped. By moving the capital Constantine placed himself nearer the clean, untouched resources. This also enabled him to better guard the boundaries at which the barbarians posed the greatest threat.
Romulus Augustulus
o The last emperor of Rome (the West) before he was set aside (not killed) by a Germanic general who made himself emperor.
Latifundia
o Giant farming enterprises of many small farms bought up by one person and turned into one giant farm for the profit of the owner.
Coloni
o Basically share-croppers. Those whose farms were bought and turned into latifundia, and they worked and stayed on the land for a small portion of the harveset.
Forum
o In the center of the city, a marketplace and public-meeting area. There were "colonnades," or covered walkways lined with columns to offer shade or shelter from the weather.
Colonnade
o Covered walkways in the Forum lined with columns to offer shade or shelter from the weather.
Domus
Townhomes in the city for the rich Romans. Guarded by a statue of Hermes, supposedly to prevent evil from entering the home, domi consisted of an ornately decorated and furnished with a large sky-light in the roof, corridors leading to multiple bedrooms, servants' quarters, a study, the kitchen, the dining room, bathrooms, and a garden.
Insulae
Awfully built, crowded, dangerous apartments that the typical Roman lived in (in the cities). The ground floor was small shops and the upper floors (up to 5 stories) contained usually one or two room apartments. These often collapsed upon themselves, crushing residents. There was no running water, so residents had to go to public fountains and carry water up to their apartments. There was also no plumbing or bathrooms, resulting in public bathrooms on the bottom floors of the insulae. These were apparently open, public, and a great place for meetings.
Villa
fancy country estate, elaborately decorated, surrounded by gardens and farms
Farmhouse
small, up to 3 bedrooms, built of stone, wood, or thatch. Dirt floors, sparsely furnished, and a central hearth for cooking and heating.
Aqueduct
Roman water-piping systems carrying water across the countryside or to the city generally from mountain springs
Appian Way (Via Appia)
o The longest road through Italy (366 miles)
Tabernae
o Small shops in a Roman city
Capitolium
o The temple of Jupiter (and Juno and Minerva) at the top of Capitol Hill. It was rebuilt and improved upon many times until it consisted almost entirely fo white marble, with a giant gold and ivory statue of Jupiter, and other statues of Juno and Minerva. There is also a big bronze sculpture of Jupiter riding in a chariot It is supposedly the symbol of the Roman spirit.
Urban Cohorts
o A police-force created by Augustus to counteract the bad people that lurked and committed crimes at night (because there were no streetlights).
Mosaics
o artwork created by the gluing together of many colored tiles.
The Subura
o The poorest and most densely inhabited area of the city of Rome. "The projects"
Atrium
o Entrance hall to a domus with a skylight and basin to catch water that comes in the skyligt. Highly decorated, where the paterfamilias greeted guests.
Lararium
o Shrine to the gods in the typical domus atrium
Imago
o A lifelike mask of a family's most important ancestor that was placed on the lararium and worshiped.
Triclinium
o The Roman dining room.
Peristyle
o Giant garden borrowed from the Greeks in the back of Roman domi.
Hypocaust
o Central heating systems of the ancient Romans.
Tiber River
Main river through the Roman empire.
The Latins
Natives of central Italy
Eutruscans
Natives of Northern Italy
Fasces
Rods with a wooden X carried in front of an important person with Imperium.
Gauls
Germanic tribes to the north of Rome.
Veto
Power of the tribunes to reject.
Proscription
Systematic death list of a political group or candidate's opposition.
Censor
Highest honorable Roman office, conducted census and administrated over paperwork concerning citizenship.
Praetor
Administrator of the judicial system. Rung of the Cursus Honorum above Aedile/Consul, below Consul
Aedile
Administrator in charge of maintenance of public buildings and the putting on of games.
Dictator
Absolute Ruler
Triumph
Title awarded to a general by his troops
Imperator
"Supreme Commander" Title awarded to a victorious general.
Principate
The first half of the Empire. (Augustus-Commodus)
Dominate
Second half of the Empire (Commodus-Augustulus Romulus).
Province
Region ruled by a provincial governor.
Provincial Governor
Ruler of a province, office below Proconsul, often awarded after consulship has ended.
Tax Collectors
Collectors of taxes
Denarius
Coins made during Augustus' rein with his image.
Novus Homo
"New Man", first of a family to hold an elected office.
Optimates
The patrician or higher class political party who believed that the senate should hold most of the power.
Legion
A group consisting of 3-5,000 soldiers.
Legionaries
Soldiers who fought in legions and were armed with short swords and javelins (pilum).
Testudo formation
The turtle like formation soldier fought in to deflect arrows. Soldiers were close together and used their curved shields as cover.
Decimation
When soldiers ran away from battle, they were in groups of ten and pulled straws. The one with the short straw was killed by the other nine who had long straws.
Auxilia
Soldiers that were not citizens and were not as important if they were to be killed. If they served for 24 years, they gained citizenship.
Consilium
The group of 15 senators that sets the agenda for the senate.
Census
The count of citizens in Rome.
1st Jewish Revolt
The revolt during Nerva's reign and that was put down by Titus.
Panthenon
The temple to all of the Roman gods that was a giant dome.
Pontifex Maximus
Chief priest to a state region.
Augurs
Priest who read the augury (the flight pattern of birds).
Sybiline Books
Book of oracles and prophecies.
Stoicism
Philosophy of Greece, where virtue is the most important and one should endure pain.
Huns
The group of people that pushed the Gauls into Rome.
Germanic Tribes
Tribes of Germans who fought against the Romans.
Diocletian Persecution
The persecution of the Christians set up by Diocletian and was the first persecution that was done throughout the empire.
Martyr
A person who is killed because of religious beliefs, i.e. the Christians.
Pax Deorum
The time of peace.
Tetrarch
When the empire was divided in half by Diocleatian and each half was referred to as a tetrarch.
Augusti
The main ruler in charge of each tetrarch.
Caesares
Those who assisted the Augusti as well as ruler over part of the tetrarch.
Edict of Milan
The edict that allows Christianity and was passed by Constantine.
Nicene Creed
The creed by Constantine that summarizes the Christian religion.
Visigoths
The germanic tribe in Spain that attacked rome in 410 CE.
Vandals
The germanic tribe in the south that attacked Rome in 455 CE.
Depose
A testimonial outside of a court.
Byzantine Empire
The final Roman empire in the south that lasts for 1000 years after the fall of the north.
Augury
Interpreting the flight path of birds
Auspices
Interpreting the inards of a sacrificed animal
Conscription
A draft
Coloni
tenant farmers bound to their land
Pilum
Javelin