Scales – used on maps as a tool for measuring distance

Equator – imaginary line that divides the earth

nomad – person who regularly moves from place to place in search of food

cuneiform - Sumerian system of writing made up of wedge-shaped markings

Hieroglyphics – system of writing made up of thousands of picture symbols developed by the ancient Egyptians

Pharaoh – all powerful king in ancient Egypt

Torah –first 5 chapters of the Old Testament 

Covenant – agreement

Subcontinent – large landmass that is part of a continent but distinct from it

Sanskrit – written language developed by the Aryans

Caste – social group a person is born into and cannot change

Hinduism – system of religion that grew out of the religion of the Aryans in ancient India

Brahman – in Hinduism, the universal spirit of which all gods and goddesses are different parts

Reincarnation – rebirth of the soul or spirit in different bodies over time

Dharma – in Hinduism, the divine law that requires people to perform the duties of their caste

Karma – in Hinduism, the good or bad energy a person build up based upon whether he or she lives a good or bad life

Buddhism – religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha; taught that the way to find truth was to give up all desires

Nirvana – in Buddhism, a state of wisdom and freedom from the cycle of rebirth

Indus River Valley – river valley that supported Ancient India

Polytheism – belief in many gods and goddesses

concept & symbol for zero

explained infinity (something without end)

invented symbols for 1-9 (we use today) 

invented algorithms (series of steps that solve a problem) 

Two epics still popular in India –Ramayana. Brave warriors & heroic deeds. Bhagavad Gita (Mahabharata) tells that the soul lives on after death

Understood gravity, that the earth was round & revolved around the sun, mapped movements of planets & stars

Believed that the earth was made up of tiny particles (atoms)

Brahmins- priest

Kshatriyas-Warriors and rulers

Vaisyas-Common people

Sudras- Unskilled laborers

 and servants

Pariahs- Untouchables

Aristocrat – noble whose wealth came from land ownership

Pictograph – a character that stands for an object

Ideograph – a character that joins two or more pictographs to represent an idea

Bureaucracy – a group of appointed officials who are responsible for different areas of government

Mandate – formal order

Social class – group of people who share a similar position in society

Confucianism – system of beliefs introduced by the Chinese thinker Confucius; taught that people needed to have a sense of duty to their family and community in order to bring peace to society

Daoism – Chinese philosophy based on the teachings of Laozi; taught that people should turn to nature and give up their worldly concerns

Leagalism-society needs a system of harsh laws and punishments, Strong rulers, founded by Hanfeizi 

Silk Road – large network of trade routes stretching from western China to Mediterranean Sea

Acupuncture – Chinese practice of easing pain by sticking thin needles into patients’ skin

Huang He River Valley- second longest river in China, formerly called the Yellow River, location of the first Chinese civilization 

Agora- an open area that served as both a market and a meeting place

Direct Democracy-Athens government, government by the people, citizens share in running the government, each citizen has 1 vote

Representative Democracy-USA system of government, where citizens choose a smaller group to make laws and decisions for them

Myth - story describing gods, heroes, or natural events

Epic- long poem that tells about legends or heroes

Fable- short tale that teaches a lesson

Drama- story told by actors who pretend to be characters in the story

Comedy-form of drama in which the story has a happy ending

Tragedy- form of drama in which a person struggles to overcome difficulties but meets an unhappy end

Philosopher-thinker who seeks wisdom and ponders questions about life

Socratic Method- a way of teaching that used questions-and-answers to make students to use their reason to see things for themselves

Hellenistic Era- period when Greek language and ideas spread to non-Greek people

Athens- an ancient city-state of Greece that developed democracy

Sparta- ancient city-state of Greece that was military focused

Acropolis- a temple built on a hilltop where people would go take refuge when invaders attacked. Also a place to honor local gods

Oligarchy - Sparta’s government, small group as control, usually a small wealthy group has control over the larger group of citizens 

patrician- wealthy landowner and member of the ruling class in ancient Rome

plebeian- member of the common people of ancient Rome

consul- one of the two top government officials in ancient Rome

veto- to reject

dictator- a person who ruled with complete power

Pax Romana- long era of peace and safety in the Roman Empire

aqueduct- human-made channel built to carry water

gladiator- person who fought animals and other people as public entertainment

inflation- period of rapidly increasing prices

reform- change that tries to bring about an improvement

plague- disease that spreads quickly and kills many people 

Tiber River- the location of ancient Rome and its main source of travel and trade

tribunes- a council that brought plebeian concerns to the government

keystones- wedge-shaped stone of an arch that locks its parts together

vault- curved structure of stone or concrete forming a ceiling or roof