AP World History content on ancient and classical civilizations prior to c.1200, covering early river-valley societies, classical empires, and belief systems.
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- What river valley civilization developed in North Africa and depended entirely on annual flooding?
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Ancient Egypt, civilization of the Nile River valley.- What two rivers formed the geographic center of Mesopotamian civilizations?
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The Tigris and Euphrates rivers.- What is the Code of Hammurabi?
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A written set of 282 laws issued by the Babylonian king Hammurabi around 1754 BCE, establishing punishment scales and legal precedent.- Which Akkadian king created one of history's first empires by unifying Mesopotamia around 2330 BCE?
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Sargon of Akkad.- What is distinctive about the script of the Indus Valley Civilization?
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It remains undeciphered despite appearing on thousands of seals and artifacts.- Which river valley region gave rise to early Chinese civilization during the Shang dynasty?
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The Yellow River (Huang He) valley.- What religious and philosophical texts form the foundation of Hinduism?
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The Vedas, a collection of hymns and ritual instructions composed in Sanskrit.- When was the Rigveda, the oldest of the Vedas, likely composed?
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Approximately 1500-1200 BCE.- According to Vedic texts, what is the origin of the caste system in India?
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It emerged from ritual specialization described in the Vedas, particularly the Rigveda's Purusha Sukta, which divided society into hierarchical occupational groups.- What are the Upanishads?
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Philosophical texts composed after the Vedas that focus on internal sacrifice, Brahman, and the nature of reality and the soul.- In Hinduism and Buddhism, what does the term 'dharma' mean?
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Dharma refers to cosmic order, religious duty, and ethical law that each person must follow according to their station and stage of life.- What were the main teachings of Confucius?
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He emphasized filial piety, ancestor veneration, ritual propriety, and virtuous leadership to create social harmony.- What is Legalism in ancient Chinese philosophy?
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A philosophy that advocated strict laws, severe punishment, and strong central authority to order society, rejecting Confucian virtue as insufficient.- What does 'wu wei' mean in Daoism?
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Wu wei means non-action or effortless action, the idea of acting in accordance with the natural flow of the Dao without force or resistance.- What is the central concept of Zoroastrianism?
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A cosmic dualism between Ahura Mazda (god of good and light) and Ahriman (god of evil and darkness), with humanity caught between them.
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