BRCC WORLD CIV MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Indo-Europeans (Aryans) - Answers-Indo-European nomadic pastoralists who replaced
Harappan civilization; militarized society
Vedas - Answers-Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of
Hinduism.
Four Noble Truths - Answers-All life invoves suffering; desire is the cause of suffering;
elimination of desire brings an end to suffering; a disciplined life conducted life brings
the elimination of desire.
Noble Eightfold Path - Answers-Calls for individuals to lead balanced and moderate
lives, rejecting both the devotion to luxury and the regimes of extreme asceticism.
(Buddhist Belief).
Jainism - Answers-a religion founded in India in the sixth century BC, whose members
believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore shouldn't be harmed.
Mahavira founded this religion.
Mauryan Empire - Answers-The first state to unify most of the Indian subcontinent. It
was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 B.C.E. and survived until 184 B.C.E.
From its capital at Pataliputra in the Ganges Valley it grew wealthy from taxes.
Chandragupta Maurya - Answers-founder of the Mauryan Empire
Asoka - Answers-Third ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He
converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the
earliest surviving Indian writing.
God of the Lands - Answers-Greek goddess Gaia
Bantu Migration - Answers-The movement of the Bantu peoples southward throughout
Africa, spreading their language and culture, from around 500 b.c. to around A.D 1000
"Big Men" - Answers-Leaders of the extended household communities that formed
village settlements in African rain forests.
Ceremonies - Answers-planned displays of organizational culture, conducted
specifically for the benefit of an audience
Ch'i - Answers-In traditional Chinese culture, qi or ch'i is believed to be a vital force
forming part of any living entity.
, Minoan Civilization - Answers-An advanced civilization that developed on the island of
Crete around 2500 B.C.E.
Knossos - Answers-an ancient town on Crete where Bronze Age culture flourished from
about 2000 BC to 1400 BC, Minoan capital city
Bull Frescos - Answers-the most completely restored of several stucco panels originally
sited on the upper-story portion of the east wall of the palace at Knossos in Crete
Female snake goddess - Answers-The Snake Goddess was one of the Minoan divinities
associated closely with the snake cult. She is called also Household Goddess due to
her attribute of the snake, which is connected with the welfare of the Minoan household.
Since the snake is also symbol of the underworld deity, the Snake Goddess has some
chthonic aspects as well., Minoan goddess
Dorians - Answers-A Greek-speaking people who migrated into mainland Greece after
the destruction of the Mycenaean civilization.
Peloponnesian Peninsula - Answers-the southern part of mainland Greece that is
connected by a narrow isthmus; It is the home of the Mycenaeans and the eventual
home of the Spartans
Polis - Answers-A city-state in ancient Greece.
acrpolis, agora - Answers-a citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built
on a hill.
Sparta - Answers-A powerful Greek miliary polis that was often at war with Athens. Used
slaves known as helots to provide agricultural labor.
Helots - Answers-Spartan slaves
Oligarchy - Answers-a small group of people having control of a country, organization,
or institution.
Rights of Passage - Answers-ceremonies marking important transitions in life such as
the passage from being single to being married
Sahara Desert - Answers-the largest desert in the world, covering most of northern
Africa
Nubia - Answers-A civilization to the south of Egypt in the Nile Valley, noted for
development of an alphabetic writing system and a major iron working industry by 500
BCE
Apedemak - Answers-Chief Nubian god, lion headed warrior
Indo-Europeans (Aryans) - Answers-Indo-European nomadic pastoralists who replaced
Harappan civilization; militarized society
Vedas - Answers-Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of
Hinduism.
Four Noble Truths - Answers-All life invoves suffering; desire is the cause of suffering;
elimination of desire brings an end to suffering; a disciplined life conducted life brings
the elimination of desire.
Noble Eightfold Path - Answers-Calls for individuals to lead balanced and moderate
lives, rejecting both the devotion to luxury and the regimes of extreme asceticism.
(Buddhist Belief).
Jainism - Answers-a religion founded in India in the sixth century BC, whose members
believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore shouldn't be harmed.
Mahavira founded this religion.
Mauryan Empire - Answers-The first state to unify most of the Indian subcontinent. It
was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 B.C.E. and survived until 184 B.C.E.
From its capital at Pataliputra in the Ganges Valley it grew wealthy from taxes.
Chandragupta Maurya - Answers-founder of the Mauryan Empire
Asoka - Answers-Third ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He
converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the
earliest surviving Indian writing.
God of the Lands - Answers-Greek goddess Gaia
Bantu Migration - Answers-The movement of the Bantu peoples southward throughout
Africa, spreading their language and culture, from around 500 b.c. to around A.D 1000
"Big Men" - Answers-Leaders of the extended household communities that formed
village settlements in African rain forests.
Ceremonies - Answers-planned displays of organizational culture, conducted
specifically for the benefit of an audience
Ch'i - Answers-In traditional Chinese culture, qi or ch'i is believed to be a vital force
forming part of any living entity.
, Minoan Civilization - Answers-An advanced civilization that developed on the island of
Crete around 2500 B.C.E.
Knossos - Answers-an ancient town on Crete where Bronze Age culture flourished from
about 2000 BC to 1400 BC, Minoan capital city
Bull Frescos - Answers-the most completely restored of several stucco panels originally
sited on the upper-story portion of the east wall of the palace at Knossos in Crete
Female snake goddess - Answers-The Snake Goddess was one of the Minoan divinities
associated closely with the snake cult. She is called also Household Goddess due to
her attribute of the snake, which is connected with the welfare of the Minoan household.
Since the snake is also symbol of the underworld deity, the Snake Goddess has some
chthonic aspects as well., Minoan goddess
Dorians - Answers-A Greek-speaking people who migrated into mainland Greece after
the destruction of the Mycenaean civilization.
Peloponnesian Peninsula - Answers-the southern part of mainland Greece that is
connected by a narrow isthmus; It is the home of the Mycenaeans and the eventual
home of the Spartans
Polis - Answers-A city-state in ancient Greece.
acrpolis, agora - Answers-a citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built
on a hill.
Sparta - Answers-A powerful Greek miliary polis that was often at war with Athens. Used
slaves known as helots to provide agricultural labor.
Helots - Answers-Spartan slaves
Oligarchy - Answers-a small group of people having control of a country, organization,
or institution.
Rights of Passage - Answers-ceremonies marking important transitions in life such as
the passage from being single to being married
Sahara Desert - Answers-the largest desert in the world, covering most of northern
Africa
Nubia - Answers-A civilization to the south of Egypt in the Nile Valley, noted for
development of an alphabetic writing system and a major iron working industry by 500
BCE
Apedemak - Answers-Chief Nubian god, lion headed warrior
