Unit 1
What continent did humans originated from?
What human era did metallurgy begin?
Neolithic Era
Order is maintained with HARSH LAWS o Adopted by Shi Huangdi and the Qin Dynasty
Legalism
Which major Classical Era civilization was decentralized?
Greece
Dynasty that introduced Civil Service Exam (test for govt) o Based on Confucianism o Government officials were given their status based on examinations
Why were Paleolithic societies egalitarian?
Men and women were valued nearly equally because they both provided necessary food for the community.
How did the end of the Ice Ages contribute to the development of farming/agriculture?
The warmer climates created a larger number of environments suitable for farming by humans.
Oldest MONOTHEISTIC religion (ONE GOD) o Influenced JUDAISM/LATER MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS o Religion of Persia
Zoroastrianism
What five major civilizations emerged in the Classical Era?
Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Persian Empire, India – Mauryan & Gupta Empire, China – Qin & Han Dynasties
Which empire did the following:
Math – Decimal System & the concept of ZERO o Promote Religious architecture – Hindu & Buddhist Temples
Gupta
What evidence supports Paleolithic people were complex?
Elaborate burials; cave art; advanced stone tools
What was the major cause of the Agricultural Revolution?
End of the Ice Ages (warmer climate); people had a better understanding of their environments
Emphasizes order in society by rituals & obligations rooted in family relations o Emphasis on education, esp. in govt. o Becomes the basis for the Civil Service Exam in China o Knowledge of Confucianism required to work in government in the Han Dynasty o Main text: Analects o Other main idea: FILIAL PIETY o Devotion/RESPECT to family both living and dead
Confucianism
Extensive trade network across Eurasia that began with pastoralists and connected the Han and Roman Empires. It spread ideas. Buddhism spread TO China FROM India along the this route
Silk Road
What do Constantine and Ashoka have in common?
o They both experienced religious conversions that affected their empires.
What was the major factor that allowed Paleolithic people to migrate out of Africa and into colder climates?
The ability to control fire
Why did humans become sedentary in the Neolithic Era?
Because humans began to FARM, which required them to stay in one place.
No emphasis of gods – Neither polytheistic nor monotheistic
Also believe REINCARNATION (KEY SIMILARITY WITH HINDUISM)
Goal to find Enlightenment/Nirvana (A person’s caste has no effect on one’s chances of attaining Nirvana)
Spread through Trade (Spread FROM India TO CHINA along the SILK ROAD)
Buddhism
Which empire:
o Created large empire o Religious Toleration o Empire organized into provinces (known as Satrapies) ruled with Bureaucracy
Persia
Greatest ruler of Mauryan Empire o Converted to Buddhism and promoted it o Led to it spreading to Sri Lanka & SE Asia
Ashoka
Why were pastoralists significant in the Neolithic era?
Pastoralists (herder-gatherers) stayed NOMADIC and so spread new technologies and ideas.
In what 6 regions did agriculture emerge?
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China – Yellow River, Mesoamerica, Andean Highlands of South America
Includes most of the main beliefs of Judaism o Most important aspect: views on Jesus of Nazareth o Believed to be DIVINE (MAJOR DIFFERENCE WITH JUDAISM) o Disregards Social Classes - large conversion rates from poor & lower classes (KEY SIMILARITY WITH BUDDHISM) o Spread through Trade (Mediterranean)
Christianity
What is the long-term impact of the Mauryan Empire?
Created more unified Indian empire o Buddhism was able to spread outside of India
What were the cause(s) for the fall of the Persian Empire?
Conquered by Alexander the Great