Western Civilization I Final Exam Guide

Western Civilization I - Final Exam Study Guide

• Civilization: Is a society differentiated by levels of wealth, power, military, religious, economic, and political control based in cities.

• Paleolithic Age: Spanned from 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. Witnessed cave paintings, division of labor between men and women, and the discovery of fire.

• Neolithic Revolution: Shift from hunting and gathering to systematic food growing.

• Mesopotamia: One of the first ancient civilizations, emerging in Sumer around 3000 BCE.

• Akkadian Empire: Founded by Sargon the Great, the first empire in Mesopotamia.

• Amorite Kings: Hammurabi, known for developing a significant set of laws, was a notable Amorite king of the Babylonian Empire.

• Cuneiform: Mesopotamian wedge-shaped writing.

• Epic of Gilgamesh: A great literary epic of the Sumerians.

• Nile River: Of paramount importance in developing Egyptian civilization.

• Egyptian History: Divided into three periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. Polytheistic with Re as the chief god. Pharaohs ruled during the New Kingdom. Osiris was the god associated with mummification.

• Hieroglyphics: The primary writing system in ancient Egypt, using symbols representing sounds and objects.

• Egyptian Number System: Based on the number 10.

• Indo-European Language Group: Includes Greek, Latin, Persian, and other similar languages.

• Minoan Civilization: Located on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. Linear script was used for palace and religious writings.

• Mycenaean Language Group: Belonged to the Greek language group. Warrior skills were highly valued.

• Greek Language: Earliest written form used by Mycenaeans was Linear B.

• Hebrew People: Abraham is considered their patriarch. King David founded Jerusalem and is considered their greatest king. Three important aspects of Jewish Tradition—the Covenant, the Law, and the Prophets.

• Destruction of Jerusalem: In 586 BCE, Hebrews were exiled at the hands of the Chaldeans.

• Phoenicians: Developed a simplified alphabet and system of writing.

• Assyrian Military: Known for terror tactics, well-trained armies, and use of iron weapons and horse-drawn chariots. Conquerors of Mesopotamia and Egypt.

• Nebuchadnezzar II: Led important architectural achievements in Babylon, including the Hanging Gardens.

• Archaic Greece: Greeks adopted the alphabet from the Phoenicians. The Iliad, which describes the Trojan War, featuring the wrath of the Greek hero Achilles. City-states or polis. New military formation—the phalanx.

• Democracy in Athens: Involves rule by the people and not on birth or wealth. Solon and Cleisthenes implemented reforms that created Athenian democracy to address the economic problems caused by the poor.

• Achaemenid Empire: Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire, led Athenians to victory at the Battle of Marathon.

• Xerxes (Persian King): Led the Second Invasion of Greece (480-479 BCE)

• Battle of Thermopylae: Heroic delaying action led by King Leonidas.

• Peloponnesian War: Destroyed Greek unity.

• Herodotus: Known as "the Father of History" wrote about the Persian Wars.

• Socrates: Famous Greek philosopher forced to commit suicide.

• Hellenistic Age: Civilizations in the wake of Alexander the Great's conquests.

• Philip II: Defeated Thebans and Athenians, contributing to the conquest of Greece.

• Alexander the Great: Created the largest empire in the ancient world. Known for the diffusion of Hellenistic culture.

• Apollonius of Rhodes: Famous for his epic poem, "The Argonautica".

• Epicureanism: Philosophy founded by Epicurus, often referred to as "Doctrine of pleasure."

• Stoicism: Emphasized the principles of accepting fate and active participation in public life, founded by Zeno.

• Aristarchus of Samos: Proposed the heliocentric view of the universe.

• Eratosthenes: Determined the circumference of the Earth.

• Euclid: Compiled "Elements", a comprehensive geometry textbook.

• Archimedes: Established the value of pi in mathematics.

• Roman Republic: Early Roman civilization influences of Etruscans and Greeks. Consuls were the highest civil and military officials. Struggle of Orders between Patricians and Plebeians resulted in Plebians gaining more power. Laws of the Twelve Tables governed civil and criminal disputers in Roman culture.

• Hannibal: Notable victories in the Second Punic War, including the Battle of Cannae.

• Scipio Africanus: Defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama.

• Punic Wars: Conflicts between Rome and Carthage.

• Julius Caesar: Formed the First Triumvirate and defeated Pompey and Antony.

• Octavian: Defeated Antony and Cleopatra.

• Roman Empire, Late Empire, and Christianity: Reign of Augustus known as a Golden Age for Rome.

• Nero: Julio-Claudian emperor during the Great Fire of Rome and persecution of Christians.

• Antonine Decree: Granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants in 212.

• Bread and Circuses: Roman metaphor for people prioritizing entertainment and food over political engagement.

• Diaspora: Jewish life after the destruction of the Second Temple.

• Jesus: Preached humility, charity, and brother love, eventually crucified, followed by a growing Christian community.

• Paul: Developed the first coherent Christian theology.

• Edict of Milan: Officially tolerated Christianity, allowing Christians to practice their religion freely.

• Theodosius the Great: Declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

• Pope: Line of St. Peter to become the head of the church in the West, established a Petrine Primacy.

• Nicene Creed: First uniform doctrine resulting from the First Council of Nicaea.

• Saint Benedict of Nursia: Created communal monastic life in monasteries focusing on prayer and manual labor.

• Byzantine Empire: Eastern half of the Roman Empire that survived and lasted for another thousand years. Emperor Justinian considered the most important emperor of the 6th century.

• Hagia Sophia: Completed in 537 was the largest Christian cathedral of its times.

• Iconoclasm Controversy: Dispute over the use of religious icons in the 8th and 9th centuries.

• Seljuk Turks: Crushed Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, capturing Emperor Romanos Diogenes.

• Constantinople: Capital city of the Byzantine Empire.

• Muhammad: Last prophet in Islam, united many clans.

• Qur'an: Holy book of Islam.

• Charles Martel: Led Frankish and Burgundian armies at the Battle of Tours, halting the Muslim advance.

• Umayyad Caliphate: First stable Muslim state in Damascus.

• Charlemagne: Important Frankish king of the Carolingian dynasty.

• Carolingian Renaissance: Promoted "rebirth" of interest in Greek and Latin literature.

• Vikings: Germanic people who raided Europe and practiced warfare.

• Feudalism: Social system where Lords granted land in fiefs to vassals in exchange for personal service.

• Crusades: Holy wars to liberate the Holy Land from Muslim control.

• University of Paris: First medieval university.

• Scholastism: A movement in medieval thought that used Aristotle's logic to interpret the Bible.

• Excommunication: A decree prohibiting a sinner from participating in the Sacraments, social contact, and community.

• Investiture Controversy: The first great struggle between church and state over the church officials.

• Innocent III: Medieval Pope considered as the most capable.

• Battle of Hastings: William of Normandy became the king of England after winning the battle.

• Magna Carta: Signed by King John in 1215 and a step toward constitutionalism in England.

• Philip IV the Fair: Established the Estates General during the Reconquista.

• Golden Bull: Most important constitutional document of late medieval German history.

• Reconquista: Kingdoms of Spain reemerged to regain control of territories from the Muslims.

• Black Death: Global epidemic of bubonic plague in Europe and Asia (1347-1351).

• Hundred Years' War: Conflict between England and France.

• Genghis Khan: Mongol leader who united Mongol and Turkic clans.

• Black Plague: Plague that hit Europe in 1347 and 1348 with the help of fleas.

• Renaissance: Rebirth, revival, and rediscovery of Greco-Roman culture.

• Humanism: Focus on philosophical and literary study of what it is to be human.

• Niccolo Machiavelli: "The Prince" is a guide on political power.

• Leonardo da Vinci: Famous Renaissance artists and inventor.

• Donatello: Renaissance artist that exemplified the ideals of human beauty and individualism.

• Raphael: Most celebrated Renaissance artist whose "The School of Athens" epitomizes Renaissance ideals.

• Michelangelo: Greatest Renaissance artist whose "David" and "Sistine Chapel" are masterpieces.

• Christopher Columbus: Sailed West in 1492 to find India, gold, and potential Christians marking the start of new explorations and European dominance.

• Treaty of Tordesillas: 1494 document that divided exploration routes between Spain and Portugal.

• Francisco Pizarro: Conquered the Inca Empire of South America.

• Prince Henry the Navigator: Established a school for navigators helping Portugal lead overseas exploration.

• Hernan Cortes: Conquered the Aztec civilization.

• Columbian Exchange: Exchange of goods and diseases between the Americas and Europe during exploration.

• Smallpox: Deadly disease that caused epidemics among Native Americans.

• Mercantilism: Prevalent economic theory in the 17th century.

• Indulgences: Certificates that reduced time in purgatory, granted for good acts.

• Martin Luther: Published Ninety-Five Theses in 1517 that challenged the sale of indulgences, igniting the Reformation.

• Ninety-Five Theses: 95 arguments and critiques of the sale of indulgences.

• Salvation: Predestination is a core belief that salvation is predetermined by God.

• Henry VIII: Broke with the Catholic Church over the issue of his divorce.

• Ignatius of Loyola: Founded the Jesuit order.

• Jesuits: Religious order that focused on combating Protestantism through education.

• Council of Trent: Reaffirmed Catholic teachings during the Reformation, stating that faith and works were both important to salvation.

• Edict of Nantes: 1598 document granting Huguenots the right to worship.

• Philip II: Known as "The Most Catholic King", ruled Spain from 1556 to 1598.

• Spanish Armada: Defeated in 1588, marking the decline of Spanish dominance in Europe.

• Peace of Westphalia: (1648) Recognized the independence of over 300 states in the Holy Roman Empire.