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