Prehistory- Neolithic Age
List two characteristics of the Paleolithic Age
- ability to make and use simple tools
- reliance on hunting and gathering techniques
- mastery of fire for cooking and heating
- bipedalism and migration
The phrase "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," describing a form of justice is attributed to the code of which great king?
Hammurabi
How were the pharaohs of ancient Egypt conceptualized of?
- incarnations of the gods
- favored by the gods
In what modern-day countries was the Indus River Valley civilization located?
India and Pakistan
Who was the ruler who consolidated rule over China at the end of the Warring States Period and is considered to be the first Chinese Emperor?
Qin Shi Huangdi
What development allowed men to settle down?
Ziggurats in Ancient Mesopotamia mainly served as?
Places of worship
What important factor allowed the ancient Egyptians to be very productive in agriculture?
Describe the social stratification of the later Vedic Age
Inverted triange: with Brahmins (the priests) at the top, next there is the kshatriyas (the kings/ rulers), then there is the vaishyas (farmers, merchants and artisans), and at the bottom there are the shudras (or the laborers)
The concept of the Mandate of Heaven provided an explanation for what?
Transferring power from one dynasty to another
The Neolithic Revolution started around 10,000 BCE in this region (known as the)?
The Fertile Cresent
Ancient Mesopotamia can be understood as a __________ for power between the ___________ empire and the __________ empire
Ancient Mesopotamia can be understood as a struggle for power between the Babylonian empire and the Assyrian empire
What was the object or document that greatly helped unlock the meanings of Ancient Egyptian writings?
The Rosetta Stone
Describe the religious changes that took place during the later Vedic age through the lens of 'yajnas' or sacrifices.
During the later Vedic age we see that there was an increase in the number of yajnas taking place. This was probably the result of the growing importance of the Brahmin class and their attempt to maintain supremacy in a changing society.
Briefly explain the main tenents of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism
Confucianism: Filial Piety, respect for elders, tradition, and ancestors, shame and strict moral code
Daoism: focusing only on oneself, eliminating all earthly desires
Legalism: focus on strengthening the state by suppressing individualism and imposing harsh punishments
Describe how the introduction of agriculture significantly affected formerly nomadic societies
An increase in population forced people to settle down in more permanent communities
During the Akkadian empire, Naram-Sin conceived of a grand imperial design to unify his ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse kingdom. This plan was:
Nationalism
The pyramids of Ancient Egypt were built in which kingdom and for which purpose?
They were built during the Old Kingdom and served as tombs or funerary monuments for the kings
Describe one of the two most accepted theories of the disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The Aryan invasion theory
- The climate change theory
Compare and contrast the Chinese Yellow River to that of the Nile River and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Ancient Mesopotamia
The Yellow River, like the Nile, carries rich, nutrient-rich soil that allows for the development of an abundance of agriculture.
Like the Tigris and the Euphrates, the Yellow River floods unexpectedly resulting in the devastation of fields and villages in its path throughout China
List two pros and two cons of living in a settled community
Pros: common culture, mutual protection, near farms, grain and seed storage
Cons: the rapid spread of diseases, grain storage is tempting to raiders, suffering from natural disasters
Describe two of Hammurabi's laws pertaining to women which indicate the conflicting nature of women in Hammurabi's Babylonia
Describe how the term "pharaoh" changed during the New Kingdom to denote a change in the religious beliefs of society
Give one example of evidence that suggests that the Harappans had some form of centralized government
- Standardized sizes in weights and bricks
-Distinct seals used for trading
-Ancient systems of sewerage and drainage
Describe how the geographical location of Ancient China allowed for the development of a unified Chinese culture.
China's natural boundaries limited outside interactions. Thus the developments of Ancient China were more isolated than those of other Eurasian centers of civilizations