Ancient History and Japanese Government

Study Notes

Classical Period

Lasted from 500 BC to 500 AD, encompassing the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome

Pax Romana

Period of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire, from 30 BC to 180 AD
Started with the rule of Augustus

Fall of Rome

Occurred in 476 AD, marking the end of the Western Roman Empire

Great Schism

Event in 1054 that led to the split of the Church into Eastern Orthodox and Catholic branches

Byzantine Empire

Fell in 1453, its capital being Constantinople, built on the site of Byzantium
Famous emperors/empresses included Justinian and Theodora

Japan

An island nation in the Pacific, with a population of around 120 million
Homogeneous society, with a size comparable to California

Japanese Terms

Regent: someone who governs a country in the name of an incapacitated ruler
Shogun: Japan's supreme military commander
Samurai: highly trained Japanese warriors, also known as "those who serve"
Bushido: the code of conduct that governed samurai warriors, also known as "the way of the warrior"
Shinto: Japan's traditional religion, often combined with elements of Buddhism

Miscellaneous Terms

Mantra: a sacred word or sound repeated for spiritual growth
Homogeneous: having the same characteristics, as in Japan's society
Heterogeneous: having different characteristics, as in the United States
Polytheism: the worship of multiple gods, as in ancient Greece and Rome
Gladiators: fighters who engaged in combat to the death for public entertainment in ancient Rome

Christianity

New Testament: the body of work added to the Old Testament by Christians
Gospels: the first four books of the New Testament, describing the life and teachings of Jesus from four perspectives
Parables: stories with moral lessons, often used by Jesus to explain teachings
Trinity: the Christian belief in God's three forms: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Rome

Julius Caesar: a Roman leader who fought in a civil war against Pompey and eventually became dictator
Augustus: the first emperor of Rome, who took the name "Dignified One" after Julius Caesar's death
Pax Romana: a period of relative peace and stability during Augustus' rule
Patriarchal society: a society where men hold power, as in ancient Rome
Civil War: a war between groups within the same country, as in ancient Rome and the United States

Greece

Geography: a country with a unique shape, separated by mountains, seas, rivers, and hills, leading to the development of city-states
Hellenistic: Greek-like
Socratic Method: a question-and-answer method of learning and teaching
Hypothesis: a logical guess
Hippocratic Oath: an oath that guides doctors to use their knowledge and skills in ethical ways
Philosophy: the love of wisdom
Oligarchy: a government where a small group of people rule, as in Sparta
Polis: a city-state, each with its own government and traditions
Citizen: a landowning man, merchant, or sometimes tenant farmer, who could participate in the political process
Democracy: a government by the people, where people have the power

Famous Figures

Homer: a blind Greek poet who wrote the Odyssey and Iliad
Virgil: a writer who wrote the Aeneid, a founding story for Rome
Aesop: a Greek slave who was freed for his learning and traveled telling fables
Sophocles: a Greek writer who wrote tragedies such as Antigone and Oedipus Rex
Aristotle: a Greek philosopher who realized the earth is round

Description

This quiz covers important dates and events in ancient history, including the Classical Period, Pax Romana, and the Fall of Rome. It also touches on the concept of a regent and the basics of Japan's geography.