Critical Vocabulary Unit 2

Oligarchy Government in which power is in the hands of a few people (especially the wealthy and/or powerful).

Autocracy A government in which a dictator has unlimited power.

Democracy A government in which all citizens have an equal say in decisions.

Republic Form of government in which people choose their leaders

Aristocracy A government in which power is held by a hereditary ruling class (nobility).

Dynasty A series of rulers from a single family.

Polis Greek city-state

Christianity Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew. Characteristics: Salvation through faith in Jesus, Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and the New Testament.

Buddhism Religion/philosophy created by Siddhartha Gautama who opposed the Hindu Caste System. Characteristics: Nirvana, all people are equal, Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and Reincarnation.

Confucianism A system of ethics, founded on the teachings of Confucius, that influenced the traditional culture of China. Confucianism places a high value on learning and stresses family relationships.

Mandate of Heaven political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source

Pythagoras Greek philosopher and mathematician best known for creating the Pythagorean Theorem.

Silk Roads A network of trade routes spanning from China to the Mediterranean through which many good/ideas were exchanged over land.