Classical Civilizations Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is a golden age?
A period of great achievements in many areas such as art, literature, math, and science
GREECE
What was Greece made up of?
Many city-states (or polis) that each had their own government and land
GREECE
What were the two most famous city-states of Greece?
Athens and Sparta
GREECE
What type of society did Sparta have?
A military society where men spent all their life training for warfare
GREECE
What did Spartans have very little of?
Freedom
GREECE
What is Athens most known for?
Having the first democracy in the world
GREECE
Who were some of the philosophers of Athens?
Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato (a famous writer was Homer)
GREECE
Were the people of Greece polytheistic or monotheistic? Who was their main god?
Polytheistic - Zeus was their majn god
GREECE
Who conquered Greece, Egypt, India, and Persia (modern day Iran)?
Alexander the Great
What term is used to desrcibe the mixture of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culture that took place in the areas that Alexander the Great conquered?
Hellenistic culture
ROME
What modern day nation was Rome located on the peninsula of?
Italy
ROME
Rome began as a small city-state but grew to be a large empire by conquering the regions that surrounded which sea?
The Mediterranean
ROME
How were the Romans able to unite the areas of their empire and grow wealthy from trade?
From the roads they built on land and because the Mediterranean Sea connected areas within their empire
ROME
What were the written set of laws known as in Rome and which group did they favor?
The Twelve Tables of Rome favored the wealthy but created stability by being displayed in public for all to see
ROME
What is the phrase that means “Roman Peace” and is known as the golden age of Rome?
Pax Romana
INDIA
During the classical period, what were the two dynasties India was ruled by?
The Maurya Dynasty and the Gupta Dynasty
INDIA
During the Mauryan Dynasty, who wrote the laws of India on tall rock pillars (columns) that were displayed throughout the country?
Asoka
INDIA
What religion did Asoka convert to during his reign in India?
Buddhism
INDIA
Which dynasty is considered the golden age of India and what were their notable achievements?
The Gupta Dynasty - the invention of zero in math, development of Sanskrit writing, and Buddhist paintings
INDIA
What was the social hierarchy of India? Describe it - what were the highest and lowest classes and what religion was it associated with?
The Caste System - it was a very rigid system in which people were born into a class and remained there for the rest of their lives. The top class were known as Brahmins (priests) and the lowest were Untouchables. The Caste System is closely associated with the religion of Hinduism
CHINA
What were the two main dynasties of China during the classical period?
The Ming Dynasty and the Qin Dynasty
CHINA
What philosophy was the government of the Qin Dynasty based upon? Desrcibe it and what system of laws from Mesopotamia was it similar to?
Legalism - believes that humans are evil and harsh punishments are needed to keep order in society. This was similar to the Code of Hammurabi from Mespotamia which emphasized the same beliefs
CHINA
What system did the Chinese use to ensure government positions were given only to qualified people who passed difficult tests?
The Civil Service System
What trade route extended from East China to the Mediterranean Sea?
The Silk Road
