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History & Civilizations

Historical periods, ancient societies, their institutions, inventions and legacies.

72 concepts44 terms

Concepts

Terms

Agoranoun
A public open space in ancient Greek cities used for assemblies, commercial markets, and philosophical dialogue.
Alchemistnoun
A practitioner of alchemy, seeking to transmute base metals into noble elements and discover a universal cure.
amphitheatrenoun
An oval or circular open-air venue with tiered seating used in the Roman world for gladiatorial contests, beast hunts, and public executions.
aqueductnoun
An engineered conduit or bridge designed to convey water from distant freshwater springs into urban centers using gravity flow.
baronnoun
A member of the aristocracy, or an influential magnate exercising commanding power in a specific industry.
bownoun
The front end of a ship or boat, the part that cuts through the water first.
Chitonnoun
A draped garment or tunic worn by men and women in ancient Greece, usually fastened at the shoulders by brooches.
Chivalrynoun
The medieval knightly code of conduct demanding honor, valor, courtesy, loyalty, and Christian devotion.
cinnamonnoun
An aromatic spice obtained from the stripped inner bark of several tree species of the genus Cinnamomum.
declamationnoun
The formal rhetorical exercise of delivering prepared speeches on hypothetical legal cases or historical dilemmas in classical Roman academies.
denariusnoun
A standard silver coin in ancient Roman currency that served as the principal denomination of daily commerce and military pay.
Emporoinoun
Ancient Greek merchants or maritime traders who carried goods between different city-states and overseas ports.
eppur si muoveother
An Italian phrase meaning and yet it moves. It is used to affirm that a fact remains true no matter who denies it.
feudaladjective
Of or relating to a political system in which lords grant land to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. In the article, feudal describes the Japan of the Shogunate period, where rigid class hierarchies, economic exploitation and political suppression defined everyday life.
Flanknoun
The side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip, or the lateral side of any military or structural formation.
grammaticusnoun
A secondary schoolmaster in ancient Rome responsible for teaching classical Greek and Latin literature, grammar, and poetic analysis to adolescent boys.
helmnoun
The wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered. Figuratively, the position of control or leadership.
Himationnoun
An outer garment consisting of a large rectangular mantle draped over the body, worn in ancient Greece.
honestioresnoun
The higher-ranking social class in the high Roman Empire that enjoyed privileged legal treatment, lighter criminal sentences, and exemption from torture.
hullnoun
The main body of a ship, made of its bottom and sides, without the masts, engines and fittings.
humilioresnoun
The lower-ranking free population in imperial Rome subject to severe criminal punishments, investigative torture, and forced labor.
Hydrianoun
An ancient Greek ceramic water vessel featuring three handles, used for carrying and pouring fresh water.
imperatornoun
A title of honor originally bestowed on victorious military commanders in Rome, which later became the formal designation of the reigning emperor.
iustusadjective
A classical Latin concept describing an individual or action that is upright, fair, lawful, and morally sound.

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