Ancient Civilizations
What was a major effect of the Neolithic Revolution?
Development of permanent settlements and complex societies.
What was the polis in ancient Greece?
An independent city-state with its own government.
Which civilization had the greatest influence on early Roman culture?
Greeks.
What event marked Rome’s complete political domination of Greece?
The conquest of Greece in 146 B.C.E.
What economic issue weakened Rome’s economy?
Answer: Reliance on slave labor limited industrialization.
Rome’s system of checks and balances — consuls, Senate, and assemblies — inspired which modern form of government emphasizing divided powers and civic participation?
What is a republic (specifically, the United States government)?
This ancient Mesopotamian religion worshipped many gods connected to nature and city-states, such as Anu (sky) and Enlil (air).
What is polytheism?
Which ancient civilization developed cuneiform, one of the first writing systems?
Sumerians.
Which Greek city-state was known for its military-focused society?
Sparta.
What was the primary cause of the Punic Wars?
Control over Mediterranean trade.
What was the Pax Romana?
A 200-year period of peace and prosperity in Rome.
What factor contributed to both the fall of the Republic and modern democratic crises?
Answer: Growing economic inequality.
In both Greece and Rome, this group performed most of the labor that sustained the economy but was denied political rights and personhood.
Who were the enslaved people?
This early Hebrew leader is considered the founder of monotheism and made a covenant with God, marking the roots of Judaism.
Who is Abraham?
What was the main purpose of Hammurabi’s Code?
To establish legal principles based on social hierarchy.
What form of government was established in Athens during its Golden Age?
Direct democracy.
What was a key characteristic of the Roman Republic?
Elected officials representing citizens.
How did Christianity initially spread in the Roman Empire?
Answer: Through missionaries and trade routes.
How did political corruption contribute to Rome’s decline?
Answer: Senators misused public funds, reducing trust in government.
Unlike Mesopotamian gods, who were often viewed as unpredictable, this civilization’s deities reflected stability and order due to their geography and reliance on the Nile.
What is Ancient Egypt?
This emperor’s conversion to Christianity in the 4th century CE helped transform it from a persecuted faith into Rome’s official religion.
Who is Constantine?
The Israelites contributed what major idea to Western civilization?
The concept of monotheism.
Who was responsible for spreading Greek culture across the Near East?
Alexander the Great.
What social class struggles were common in the Roman Republic?
Patricians (elite landowners) vs. plebeians (commoners).
Why did Emperor Diocletian divide the Roman Empire?
Answer: To make administration more manageable.
What was Julius Caesar’s leadership style best known for?
Answer: Military dominance and swift action.
Modern politicians often promise to rule “for the people,” echoing which Roman philosopher’s claim that “the people’s good is the highest law”?
Who is Cicero?
These three monotheistic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—share a belief in one God, a moral code, and trace their roots to this patriarch.
Who is Abraham?
What legal principle does Hammurabi’s Code reflect?
Retributive justice (punishment matching the crime).
The term "Hellenistic" refers to what?
The blending of Greek culture with other civilizations.
What major legal concept from the Twelve Tables is still used today?
Innocent until proven guilty.
What was a major cause of the fall of the Western Roman Empire?
Answer: Military overexpansion and political corruption.
What modern issue parallels Rome’s struggles before its fall?
Answer: The rise of authoritarian leaders weakening democratic institutions.
Question: What legal and political ideas from Rome continue to influence modern governments?
Answer: Concepts such as republicanism, rule of law, and separation of powers remain fundamental to modern democracies.
Both Christianity and Islam regard this figure as a prophet or messenger of God, while Judaism recognizes him as a teacher but not divine.
Who is Jesus?
From Hammurabi’s Code to Cicero’s Republic, civilizations have wrestled with the balance between justice and power. In your view, which legacy from the ancient world—law, religion, philosophy, or government—most shapes modern society today, and why?
Support your answer with one example from the ancient world and one from today.
Law: Hammurabi’s Code → modern legal systems based on written law and proportional justice.
Government: Roman Republic → democratic institutions with checks and balances.
Philosophy: Greek rationalism → modern scientific and ethical reasoning.
Religion: Egyptian or Judeo-Christian beliefs → enduring moral and cultural frameworks.