Foundations of Civilization
Where did human life begin?
Africa
Which river supported farming in Ancient Egypt?
The Nile River
How was Greece’s government different from earlier river valley civilizations?
Greece developed democracy, where citizens had a say in government, while earlier civilizations were often ruled by kings or pharaohs.
What was the main source of wealth for Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
Controlling and taxing the gold and salt trade
What time period did the Catholic Church have the most power?
The Middle Ages
What do we call early humans who moved from place to place to find food?
Nomads/Hunter-gathers
What was the Silk Road used for?
To trade goods and spread ideas between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe
What is a republic?
A form of government where people elect leaders to represent them and make laws.
To keep gold mine locations secret, what method did West African traders use?
Silent barter
What was the feudal system based on?
Land ownership and loyalty, with kings, lords, knights, and peasants
What was the most important change that allowed early humans to stop being nomads?
The development of farming / agriculture
What type of religion did Ancient Egypt practice?
Polytheism / belief in many gods
What is the key difference between direct and representative democracy?
In direct democracy, citizens vote on every issue themselves. In representative democracy, they elect leaders to vote for them.
How did Mansa Musa’s religion (Islam) connect West Africa to the wider world?
His pilgrimage to Mecca showed other regions how rich and powerful Mali was, and it increased trade and spread of Islam.
The Black Death, signing of the Magna Carta, and rise of feudalism all occurred during which European time period?
The Middle Ages
Having a reliable food supply led directly to what result?
The growth of villages and civilizations
What evidence shows that early civilizations did NOT develop in isolation?
They traded goods, shared ideas, and had cultural similarities
True or False: Rome was the first major colonizer.
True
What was a griot, and why was that role important?
A griot was a storyteller and historian who preserved West African culture by passing down oral histories, traditions, and genealogies.
What new way of thinking did scientists begin using during the Scientific Revolution?
The scientific method / observation and experimentation
Put in order from earliest to latest: farming, nomads, civilizations, cities.
Nomads → farming → cities → civilizations
Why were river valleys the first places where farming and civilization developed?
Rivers provided fertile soil for crops, fresh water, and transportation, which helped people settle and grow food reliably.
How did Greek ideas about government “plant a seed” that influenced Rome?
The Greeks introduced the idea of citizens participating in government. The Romans borrowed that idea and created a republic, where elected officials represented the people.
What made the Hebrews (followers of Judaism) different from their neighbors like the Egyptians and Greeks?
The Hebrews were monotheistic (believed in one God), while their neighbors were polytheistic (believed in many gods).)
How did Enlightenment ideas like natural rights directly influence the American Revolution?
Colonists argued that Britain was violating their natural rights to life, liberty, and property, so they declared independence.