Paleolithic & Neolithic Ages
How did the people in the Paleolithic Age adapt to survive?
They relied on hunting animals for food and clothing. They lived nomadic lifestyles, as they needed to follow animal herds. Farming was unknown to them.
List 5 characteristics of a civilization
1) Job Specialization 2) Social Classes 3) Cities 4) Well Organized Central Governments 5) Public Works 6) Writing System 7) Arts & Architecture 8) Complex Religions
Explain Ancient Greece's government under Pericles.
Direct Democracy - citizens directly vote on leaders. Females and slaves could not vote.
Why is important to know about the Silk Road when learning about Classical Civilizations?
It connected people from different areas of Asia and Europe, which sparked trading of resources, areas having access to various resources, encouraged people to become merchants, spread ideas, spread religion, sparked much cultural diffusion, spread disease, and eventually sparked the Age of Exploration.
What is cultural diffusion? List 1 geographic feature that encourages cultural diffusion. List 1 geographic factor that discourages cultural diffusion.
Cultural diffusion is the blending of different cultures. This could be through trading resources, sharing ideas, adopting practices and traditions from people from other cultures, etc. Rivers. Rivers encourage trade and movement. Mountains. Mountains prevent trade and movement.
How did people in the Neolithic Age adapt to survive and thrive?
They began farming, located near river valleys and fertile land to allow them to have reliable food sources and establish permanent settlements.
List 4 reasons to why rivers are advantageous for people to live by
1) Fresh Water for Consumption 2) Water to Grow Crops 3) Fishing 4) Transportation 5) Trade 6) Bathing
What is a monarchy?
A government with a king / royal family leading it.
How did geography impact Ancient Greece's development?
Ancient Greece's mountaineous terrain prevented much of it territories from uniting together, as mountains isolate people. As a result, Greece formed many city-states, which each have their own independent governments. (Think of us pledging allegiance to the NY Flag each day rather than the U.S.)
What is Hellenistic Culture? Use Alexander the Great in your answer.
Hellenistic Culture is the blend of Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Indian Culture that occurred when Alexander the Great conquered areas involving these cultures and they diffused (blended together and shared ideas and resources).
List 3 positives of the Neolithic Revolution.
Led to Permanent Settlements, Led to surplus of food, Led to increases in technology, Led to formal governments, Led to increase in human population, led to cities, led to organized societies.
What is important to know about King Hammurabi of the Babylonian Empire?
He created the Code of Hammurabi (1754BCE), which contained 282 written laws. This code was one of the earliest and one of the most complex written laws in human history.
Explain how the mandate of heaven and dynastic cycle ties into the Zhou Dynasty
The Mandate of Heaven was the idea that there could only be 1 ruler of the Zhou Dynasty and that this person had the blessing of the gods. People were generally loyal to this ruler until problems arose. For example, high taxes, natural disasters, foreign invasions, poor treatment of people lack of protection for people are all problems that could cause a revolt and the people overthrowing the ruler, as they believed these problems meant the ruler no longer had the blessing of the gods. Then, a new dynasty would claim the Mandate of Heaven who the people generally trusted. This new ruler from the new dynasty would attempt to build infrastructure, bring peace and stability, and protect the people. Then, once problems arose, the same cycle would go on again. This is the dynastic cycle.
List 2 key technological advancements for each of the following Classical Civilizations: Guptas, Romans, Greeks, and Qin Dynasty
Guptas - Mathematical, Astrology, Architectural, and Medicinal Achievements. Concept of Zero, Pi, Decimal System, Astrology, Solar and Lunar Eclipses, Earth Rotated around the sun, Plastic Surgery, Vaccine Against Smallpox, Stone Temples.
Romans - Perfected Aqueducts, Coliseum, Arches, Roads, the Pantheon.
Greeks - Parthenon, marble statues and temples, Theaters, Aqueducts, alarm clock, water mill, Olympic Games, Pythagorean Theorem.
Qin Dynasty - Great Wall of China, Irrigation Canals, Standardized Measurements, Terracotta Pottery Soldiers, Roads.
How did the Mediterranean Sea help the Roman Empire expand and maintain power?
Mediterranean Sea enabled Rome to trade with other part of their empire, which helped people satisfy their wants and needs, get various and important resources to help Romans continue to thrive.
List 3 negatives of the Neolithic Revolution
Domestication of animals lead to spread of diseases, led to social classes / social hierarchies, led to gender hierarchies in civilizations, contributed to slavery, led to destructing fertile land.
Explain the difference between a society that has a stratified / rigid social class structure compared to a social class structure that is described as socially mobile
A stratified / rigid social class structure has distinct social classes and it is tough, if not impossible, to move up in social classes (Ex. Ancient India Civilizations). In contrast, a socially mobile class structure is one in which people can work their way up to earn better jobs.
What is a republic? Which Classical Civilization introduced a republican form of government?
A government in which citizens vote for representatives to represent their interests
Explain how Shi Huangdi tried to maintain power. Use legalism in your answer.
Shi Huangdi's belief as a leader as to rule by maximizing control over the people in every which way, which is the basis for legalism. He established strict and harsh laws. Heavy consequences, such as public executions, wiping out families were carried out. They burned books and information not from the Qin Dynasty or information that did not support Qin Dynasty.
List 2 government ideas we adopted from these Classical Civilizations
1) Democracy 2) Republic
Explain how the Neolithic Revolution was one of the most significant turning points in human history
For about 95% of human history, people relied on hunting animals to survive and could only survive living nomadic lifestyles. With the advent of farming in the Neolithic Revolution, humans were able to farm much food creating surpluses leading them to be able to establish permanent settlements, increase human population, and create organized societies.
Many Ancient River Valley Civilizations government and social class structure were patriarchal. What does that mean?
Men dominated positions of power while women were viewed as second-class.
List 3 reasons to why the Roman and Han Empire's collapsed.
Foreign invasion, internal corruption in their government, high taxes, over-reliance on slave labor, and expanded too far.
Many Classical Civilizations had stable bureaucracies early on, which allowed them to expand and maintain much power and obedience. Explain how effective bureaucracies allow for an empire to maintain and increase their power.
Bureaucracies are made up of government officials chosen by the ruler to implement laws and rules and policies and give out consequences. They serve pretty much as managers. Having effective government officials who carry out the vision and policies of rulers creates order and may even create unity, which allows for rulers of big empires to maintain power over all of their territories.
List 2 government / gender / social class ideas that go against our country's values and principles.
1) Monarchy 2) Legalism 3) Patriarchy 4) Caste System / Rigid Social Class Structures