Xiongnu
Nomads who terrorized the border and were defeated by Wudi. Lived in the steppes or grasslands north of China. Were the biggest threat to security.
Diplomacy
Negotiation between nations.
Conscription
Compulsory military service.
Monetary Economics
Fine-tuning the economy through regulation of the money supply.
Cosmopolitan
Composed of people from or at home in many parts of the world
Direct democracy
A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives.
Republic
A form of government whose head of state is not a monarch.
Patrician
Belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy.
Plebeian
An ordinary citizen in the ancient Roman republic.
Twelve Tables
The earliest written collection of Roman laws, drawn up by patricians about 450 B.C., that became the foundation of Roman law.
Mandate of Heaven
In Chinese history, the divine approval thought to be the basis of royal authority.
Germania
The tribes who invaded the Empire from the North.
Mahayan Buddhism
Worshipped the Buddha and other enlightened ones as gods.
Theravada Buddhism
A sect of Buddhism focusing on strict spiritual discipline and original teachings of the Buddha.
Greco-Persian Wars
Two major Persian invasions of Greece, 490 and 480 B.C.E., in which the Persians were defeated on both land and sea each time.
Silk Roads
A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia, along which traders carried silk and other trade goods.
Ethical Philosophy
The systematic effort to understand moral concepts and justify moral principles and theories.
Hellenism
The principles and ideals associated with classical Greek civilization.
Syncretism
The union (or attempted fusion) of different systems of thought or belief (especially in religion or philosophy).
Bhagavad gita
The most important work of Indian sacred literature, a dialogue between the great warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna on duty and the fate of the spirit.
Brahman
A single spiritual power that Hindus believe lives in everything.
Atman
The individual soul.
Brahmin
The highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category.
Hinduism
The predominant religion of India.
Buddhism
A religion represented by the many groups (especially in Asia) that profess various forms of the Buddhist doctrine and that venerate Buddha.
Jainism
Religion founded in the 6th century BC as a revolt against Hinduism.
Bhakti Movement
Cult of love and devotion that sought to erase the distinction between Hinduism and Islam.
Upanishads
A group of writings sacred in Hinduism concerning the relations of humans, God, and the universe.
Tragedy Plays
Stories that depicted human suffering and usually ended with disaster.
Pax Romana
The Roman peace.
Confucianism
The teachings of Confucius emphasizing love for humanity.
Filial Piety
In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.
Daoism
Philosophical system developed by of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events.
Daodejing
A collection of Daoist wisdom attributed to Laozi.
Legalism
Strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than its spirit.
Moksha
The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths.
Nirvana
Any place of complete bliss and delight and peace.
Ancestor Worship
Worship of ancestors.
Christianity
A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior.
Epic Poems
A long poem that tells the deeds of a great hero.