TITLE: Can one characterize the category of finite-dimensional vector spaces?
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: Let $K$ be a field. Does the category of finitely generated $K$-modules have a nice characterization, for example as the unique abelian category satisfying a certain simple condition? For example, we know that:

Every short exact sequence is split.
The Euler characteristic of every bounded exact sequence is zero.

Are either of those enough to characterize the category?

REPLY [4 votes]: The answer is no, and an easy counterexample is provided by the category of finite-dimensional modules over a division algebra such as the quaternions. Of course this is not a very good example because you can easily add small modifications to your question to get rid of it. This category is for instance not symmetric monoidal, unlike vector spaces over a field. As Oskar points out, there is an already answered question in MO which gives a positive answer to your question under somewhat different conditions. You'll like to look at it. I warn you that your Euler characteristic condition may be complicated to state in an abstract setting.