Rome/Byzantium/Christianity
What was the phrase "bread and circuses" used to describe?
Free food and public entertainment provided by the government to keep the population content.
What caused the split in Islam? (into two branches)
Sunni/Shia split was caused by a disagreement about who should lead the Muslim community after Muhammad
Which two resources mainly built Mali’s wealth?
Gold and Salt
How did the Aztecs grow crops on a swampy island?
They built floating gardens called chinampas
In the feudal system, who were serfs?
Peasants tied to the land who could not leave without the lord’s permission.
How did Roman infrastructure unintentionally help early Christianity spread?
Roads and Pax Romana allowed missionaries to travel safely and quickly across provinces
Under the Umayyads, what was the status called for Jews and Christians that allowed them protected practice in exchange for a tax?
Dhimmi status
The were considered "people of the book"
Why did West African and Berber traders use “silent” barter?
To trade across language barriers and safely exchange goods without direct contact
Prevented them from giving away location of gold mines
What farming technique did the Inca use on steep Andean slopes and why was it beneficial
Terrace farming; it prevented soil erosion and conserved water for crops
What was a manor?
A large, largely self-sufficient estate with the lord’s house, church, farmland, and village
What main problem caused the Roman Republic to weaken and move toward empire?
Expansion caused social conflict, political corruption, and armies loyal to generals rather than the Republic
Which pillar focuses on caring for the poor and reducing economic inequality?
Zakat -- Almsgiving
What role did griots play in West African history?
Griots preserved oral histories and the legacy of leaders (e.g., Sundiata Keita) when written records were limited
What tools did the Inca use to track agricultural labor and time despite lacking a written language?
Intihuatana (sun stones) and the Quipu; the calendar scheduled labor like the Mita.
What was the main goal of the Crusades called for by Pope Urban II? Did they achieve their goal?
To capture Jerusalem and the Holy Land
No- failed to keep control of Holy Land, but brought back goods and ideas to Europe
How did Julius Caesar’s reforms change Roman government?
They concentrated power in Caesar’s hands and weakened the Senate.
Why did Baghdad become a center of rapid scientific and mathematical progress during the Islamic Golden Age?
Cultural diversity let scholars combine Greek, Indian, Persian knowledge with new ideas
What long-term significance did Timbuktu’s libraries and universities have?
They connected the Islamic world and Sub-Saharan Africa, preserving and advancing knowledge in science, math, and law.
What general conclusion can be drawn about Maya, Aztec, and Inca farming?
They engineered their environments—adapted methods to swamp, mountain, and rainforest—to survive.
How did the Black Death change peasant power?
Labor shortages increased peasants’ bargaining power; they could demand higher wages or move.
Explain one lasting contribution of the Byzantine Empire to Western civilization
It preserved Greco-Roman heritage, e.g., Justinian Code and artistic traditions, and acted as a bridge for Christian influence
How did translations and scholarship in Islamic centers later help Western Europe?
They preserved and transmitted ancient Greek and Roman works, which later helped spark the Renaissance
How did Bantu migration change central and southern Africa?
The spread of ironworking and farming led to permanent villages and population growth
Why were specialized farming systems (chinampas, terraces) crucial to political power in Mesoamerican and Andean states?
They supported dense populations and surplus, enabling large cities, labor systems, and centralized rule
How did the Hundred Years’ War change political loyalty in England and France?
It helped weaken feudal loyalties and fostered national identity and loyalty to the king