EGYPT
What form of writing was used in Ancient Egypt?
Hieroglyphics
What form of writing was used in ancient Sumeria?
Cuneiform
What are the 5 “Varnas”?
5 Social Strata (eventually part of the Caste System). Brahman (Priest). Kshatriya (Warrior). Vashya (Merchant). Shudra (Servant). Untouchables.
What was the Sinai Covenant and to Whom was it Given?
The covenant that established the 10 commandments, given to Moses.
Who was Nefertiti?
1370 BCE, she was the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, she helped found the "Cult of Aten" a brief monotheistic religion in Ancient Egypt. She participated in Religious Rites, a role normally reserved for men.
What factors led to the prosperity of Ancient Egypt?
Location! They were protected by a desert to the West, the Red Sea to the East, and the Mediterranean Sea to the North. This meant there was no need to levy taxes to raise an army!
What was Sumer?
12 City States, founded approximately 3000 BCE.
What is Samsara?
A never-ending cycle of life and death which all living creatures are part of.
What is Dharma?
The faithful performance of Social Responsibility. Extremely important to Hindu Society.
Who was King Solomon?
The last King over united Ancient Israel. He built the temple which housed the ark of the covenant. His many public works project put a burden on his people that led to strife, civil war, and ultimately the splintering of the nation of Israel into Judah and Samaria.
What Pharoah ruled Egypt at the Height of its Power?
Ramses II (1303-1213 BCE)
How were women treated in Ancient Mesopotamia?
It was a Patriarchal Society, but there were some rights afforded to women (See Code of Hammurabi).
What is Significant about Mohenjo Daro and Harrapa?
Two excavated sites that confirm the existence of the Indus River Valley Civilization.
What is the difference between Buddhism and Jainism?
Jainism is a sect of Hinduism emphasizing the "rejection of material things" as a way of getting to Moksha. Buddhism was founded by Gautama, who found a "middle path" that was less drastic. It teaches altruism as a path to peace and the rejection of desire which leads to suffering.
Who was Queen Hatshepsut?
1508 BCE. One of the earliest significant female rulers in Egyptian History. She was powerful Pharaoh who was often depicted in artwork as a man.
Who built the pyramids?
Not Slaves! They were built by an occupational class.
What were the Characteristics of Ancient Mesopotamia?
The first "literate" people. They developed a lunar calendar, money, and a system of Math based on the number 60.
Who were the Aryans?
Sanskrit-Speaking people who invaded the Indus River Valley civilization. Their legacy is many families of languages which are still spoken today. Aryan is ONLY a linguistic term.
What is the Jewish Diaspora and When did It End?
A period of exile for the Jewish people that lasted for 2000 years and ended with the founding of Israel in 1948.
Who was Hammurabi?
A ruler of Ancient Mesopotamia who established one of the first legal codes in existence, the Code of Hammurabi.
What led to the decline of Egyptian Power?
The Hebrew Exodus.
How were Egyptian Pharaohs and the rulers of Ancient Mesopotamia different?
Pharaohs were seen as "Living Gods" and ruled with absolute power, while the kings of Ancient Mesopotamia were NOT above the law.
Why did Indus River Valley Civilization End?
We don't know, but two possibilities are natural disasters or foreign invasions.
Q: How did Chandragupta establish an empire in India?
A: He adopted military techniques of Alexander the Great.
Q: How did the Zhou rule their vast lands, and why was the system flawed?
A: They adopted feudalism, but in time, lords became strong enough to fight with each other and the king for more power