agricultural revolution
world's first historically verifiable revolution in agriculture. was the wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of agriculture and settlement which supported an increasingly large population.
aristocracy
a government or state ruled by an aristocracy, elite, or privileged upper class.
barbarian
a person living outside, especially north of, the Roman Empire. (uncivilized)
brahmin
a person usually from an old, respected family who, because of wealth and social position, wields considerable social, economic, and political power.
bureaucracy
government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.
cities
an incorporated municipality, usually governed by a mayor and a board of aldermen or councilmen.
civilizations
an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.
complex institutions
An institution is any structure that is used to govern the behaviour of people around it. A complex institution is one that affects the people in more than one.
currency
something that is used as a medium of exchange; money.
deity
an all-powerful being (ex. god, goddess, etc)
democracy
government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
dharma
law, especially religious law. it's the way things move and reality itself.
diffusion
to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.
diversified food supply
Large selection of foods
domesticated animals
Any of various animals that have been tamed and made fit for a human environment
dynastic cycle
An important political theory in China. Used in chinese civilization when a new power was added.
egalitarian
The belief that all people are created equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities
ethical/legal codes
A system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct
frontier
A border seperating two countries (chinese had a lot of these)
hunters and gatherers/foraging/nomadic
A person who pursues and kills for food is a hunter, one who forges is a gatherer. most people who did this were nomads.
Ice Age
global episode during a past geological period.
intensive cultivation
An agricultural production system characterized by high inputs or labor
irrigation systems
An artificial application of water to the soil
karma
The sum of a persons actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as their deciding fate (indus river valley)
mandate of heaven
A traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rules
monogamy
The practice or state of being married to one person at a time
pagan
A person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world
pastoral
The branch of agriculture concerned with raising of live stock
patriarchy
A system of government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family
polygamy
being involved with multiple people in one relationship
record keeping
documenting various events in order to keep track of them
secular
Denoting attitudes, activities or other things that have no religious basis
sericulture
The production of raw silk
settled populations
Populations of people who stayed in their location
slavery
The state of being a slave
specialization of labor
The learned skill of a specific job
surplus
An amount of something left over when requirements have been met
syncretism
The amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought
textiles
The branch of industry involved in manufacturing of cloth
theocracy
system of government in which preists rule in the name of god