Huanghe (Yellow) River Basin

Site of the development of sedentary agriculture in China

Major urban complexes of Harappan civilization; laid out on planned grid pattern

Global conversion to agriculture over hunter-gatherer lifestyles

Believing in the equality of all peoples

Shamans or priests in Chinese society who foretold the future through interpreting animal bones cracked by heat; inscriptions on bones led to Chinese writing

Global conversion to agriculture over hunter-gatherer lifestyles

Shamans or priests in Chinese society who foretold the future through interpreting animal bones cracked by heat; inscriptions on bones led to Chinese writing

The most important Babylonian ruler; responsible for codification of the law

A form of political organization typical of Mesopotamian civilization; consisted of agricultural hinterlands ruled by an urban-based king

Site of the development of sedentary agriculture in China

In Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.

A Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous punishments.

The end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion.

Founder of the Persian Empire (r. 557-530 B.C.E.); a ruler noted for his conquests, religious tolerance, and political moderation.

Indo-European pastoralists who moved into India about the time of the collapse of the Indus Valley civilization; their role in causing this collapse is still debated by historians.

The system of social organization in India that has evolved over millennia; it is based on an original division of the populace into four inherited classes, with the addition of thousands of social distinctions based on occupation, which became the main cell of social life in India.

Founder of the Persian Empire (r. 557-530 B.C.E.); a ruler noted for his conquests, religious tolerance, and political moderation.

The first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).

An empire of India (320-550 C.E.).

The cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama

A major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.

The Indian social class of warriors and rulers.

Chinese dynasty that restored unity in China softened legalist policies. Begun in 202 B.C. by Liu Bang, the dynasty ruled China for more than 400 years.

In Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.

A secularizing system of scientific and philosophic thought that developed in classical Greece in the period 600 to 300 B.C.E.; it emphasized the power of education and human reason to understand the world in nonreligious terms.

The "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.

The ideological underpinning of Chinese emperors, this was the belief that a ruler held authority by command of divine force as long as he ruled morally and benevolently.

The lowest Indian social class of varna; regarded as servants of their social betters; eventually included peasant farmers

An Indian social class that emerged below the Sudras and whose members performed the most unclean and polluting work.

A prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age.

A major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.

In Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with Brahman.

The prophet/god of Christianity(ca. 4 B.C.E.-ca. 30 C.E.).

A major empire that expanded from the Iranian plateau to incorporate the Middle East from Egypt to India; flourished from around 550 to 330 B.C.E.

A short-lived (221-206 B.C.E.) but highly influential Chinese dynasty that succeeded in reuniting China at the end of the Warring States period.

A major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.

Huge estates operated by slave labor that flourished in parts of the Roman Empire

A Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.

A Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.); student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.

Indian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 B.C.E.

The "Roman peace," a term typically used to denote the stability and prosperity of the early Roman Empire, especially in the first and second centuries C.E.

The ideological underpinning of Chinese emperors, this was the belief that a ruler held authority by command of divine force as long as he ruled morally and benevolently.

The "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief.

A major empire that expanded from the Iranian plateau to incorporate the Middle East from Egypt to India; flourished from around 550 to 330 B.C.E.

The Indian social class of warriors and rulers.

The end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion.

A Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.); student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great.

Indian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 B.C.E.

Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.E.), conqueror of the Persian Empire and part of northwest India.

The cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama

The ideological underpinning of Chinese emperors, this was the belief that a ruler held authority by command of divine force as long as he ruled morally and benevolently.

The earliest religious texts of India, a collection of ancient poems, hymns, and rituals that were transmitted orally before being written down ca. 600 B.C.E.

The first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).

The Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order.

The ideological underpinning of Chinese emperors, this was the belief that a ruler held authority by command of divine force as long as he ruled morally and benevolently.

The cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama

The Indian social class that was originally defined as farmers but eventually comprised merchants.

The founder of Confucianism (551-479 B.C.E.); an aristocrat of northern China who proved to be the greatest influence on Chinese culture in its history.

In Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world.

A major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.

A prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age.

A Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.

Period in China from 403 to 221 B.C.E. that was typified by disorder and political chaos.

on purity of action and fulfillment of duty in the prior existence.

The dependent, semi-enslaved class of ancient Sparta whose social discontent prompted the militarization of Spartan society.

The honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism.

The Indian social class of warriors and rulers.

A Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi.

A major empire (322-185 B.C.E.) that encompassed most of India.

A secularizing system of scientific and philosophic thought that developed in classical Greece in the period 600 to 300 B.C.E.; it emphasized the power of education and human reason to understand the world in nonreligious terms.

A great Hindu epic text, part of the much larger Mahabharata, which affirms the performance of caste duties as a path to religious liberation.

An empire of India (320-550 C.E.).

The founder of Confucianism (551-479 B.C.E.); an aristocrat of northern China who proved to be the greatest influence on Chinese culture in its history.

A word derived from outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions.

A prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age.

Persian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zarathustra.

A very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 460-ca. 370 B.C.E.); regarded as the father of medicine.

The prophet/god of Christianity(ca. 4 B.C.E.-ca. 30 C.E.).

The earliest religious texts of India, a collection of ancient poems, hymns, and rituals that were transmitted orally before being written down ca. 600 B.C.E.

A prominent and influential statesman of ancient Athens (ca. 495-429 B.C.E.); presided over Athens's Golden Age.

The first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 B.C.E.).

In Hinduism, the determining factor of the level at which the individual is reincarnated, based

The earliest religious texts of India, a collection of ancient poems, hymns, and rituals that were transmitted orally before being written down ca. 600 B.C.E.

The system of social organization in India that has evolved over millennia; it is based on an original division of the populace into four inherited classes, with the addition of thousands of social distinctions based on occupation, which became the main cell of social life in India.

An empire of India (320-550 C.E.).

A legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century B.C.E.; regarded as the founder of Daoism.