Book 1, Chapter 2, Set 3 Flashcards
What period of Indus Valley civilization is thought to have contained the its “peak” and between what two times was this period? (page 58)
The “mature Harappan” period from c. 2600 to c. 1900 BCE.
What civilization appears to be the first to have developed a precise system of weights and measures?
The Indus Valley civilization.
Over what times did the Bronze Age Shang dynasty of China flourish? (page 60)
c. 1600 to c. 1100 BCE.
Who was the last Shang ruler dynasty of China and when and why was he overthrown? (page 61)
Di Xin was considered a tyrant and was overthrown in the 11th century BCE.
What state overthrew Shang China and when and why?
The state of Zhou overthrew the last Shang ruler, Di Xin, because he was a tyrant in the 11th century BCE.
What are the dates of the Egyptian “First Intermediate Period”? (page 64)
c. 2180 to 2040 BCE.
What is an “Intermediate” period in ancient Egyptian history? (page 64)
Egyptian history is divided between periods of relative stability and prosperity under strong centralized rule during its “kingdoms” and intervening “intermediate” periods of chaos and instability under divided factions.
What two factions in Egypt were the primary powers and rivals during the First Intermediate Period? (page 64)
One faction was an alliance of dynasty of kings based at the city of Herakleopolis in central Egypt, while the other faction was the Theban kings to their south.
What event caused the beginning of the Middle Kingdom of Egyptian history? (page 64)
A Theban king by the name of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (c. 2060 to 2010 BCE) defeated the rival dynasty based at Herakleopolis and reunified Upper and Lower Egypt.
What are the dates of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom? (page 64)
c. 2040 to 1730 BCE.
What were some of the major events of Middle Kingdom Egypt? (page 64)
Thebes became a major royal center, (although the government capital remained at Memphis) the country’s defenses were strengthened, new trade routes sprang up, and Nubia was conquered (Nubia would provide gold, copper, and manpower to Egypt).
When was the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt? (page 64)
c. 1730 - 1550 BCE.
Who ruled Lower Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period? Who ruled Upper Egypt? (page 64)
Lower Egypt fell under the control of people called the Hyksos who ruled as pharaohs, while Upper Egypt continued to be ruled by Egyptian dynasties.
When was Egypt’s New Kingdom and what event caused its beginning? (page 64)
The New Kingdom began when Upper Egyptian rulers based in the city of Thebes expelled the Hyksos who ruled Lower Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period. The New Kingdom was from c. 1550 to 1069 BCE.
When did Ramses the Second live and who was he? (pages 64 and 66 - 67)
c. 1279 - 1213 BCE. He was the greatest pharaoh of New Kingdom Egypt (c. 1550 - 1069 BCE). In addition to being a great warrior who fought against the Hittites Empire further to the North, he also was a skilled diplomat, strategist, and propagandist. His rule brought stability and prosperity to Egypt. He also supervised the construction of several of the New Kingdom’s greater monuments, including the four massive statues of himself in his new capital at Per-Ramses near modern-day Cairo, temples for himself and his favorite wife, Nefertari, and most notably the Ramesseum, a palace, religious and political center, and a seat of learning.
When did Akhenaten live and what is he most famous for in Egyptian history? (page 64)
c. 1352 - 1336 BCE. Originally Amenophis II, he enforced the sole worship of the sun-disk (aten) in Egypt and changed his name to Akenhaten to reflect his religion.
Why did the Egyptian New Kingdom collapse? (page 64)
Although the truth remains a mystery, many have speculated that internal rebellions may have arisen or that external threats became impossible to resist.
When was the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt, what was it, and why did it begin? (page 65)
The Third Intermediate Period (c. 1069 - 664 BCE) was a period of foreign control mixed with Egyptian independence. It followed immediately after the relative stability of New Kingdom Egypt. Native pharaohs in Upper Egypt were conquered by Libyans, while Lower Egypt split into many separate regions.
What happened after in Egypt after the Third Intermediate Period? (page 65)
Kushite rulers from Nubia eventually conquered and ruled both Upper and Lower Egypt c. 747 - 716 BCE. After this period, the pharaohs Taharqa and Tantamani (690 - 656 BCE) ruled, but their reigns gave way to nearly a decade of Assyrian occupation. Finally, there was a brief Egyptian renaissance under the Saite Dynasty.
What was Caral and by when was it well established? (page 74)
Caral was one of the first Mesoamerican cities. It was located about 125 miles north of modern Lima, Peru, and was well established by c. 2500 BCE. This city also included pyramid structures built around the same time as the building of pyramids in ancient Egypt.
Who were the Olmecs and when did they reign? (page 74)
The Olmecs were the first notable civilization of Mesoamerica and were dominant from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE.
What was San Lorenzo? (page 74)
San Lorenzo was the first major center for the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica. It was at its height from c. 1200 BCE to 900 BCE, and was probably organized as a chiefdom rather than a city-state.
What are some notable examples of Olmec art and architecture? (page 74)
The Olmecs are well known for their gigantic stone heads, their carved jaguar figurines, their huge sculptures of seated people, their altarlike structures, and their depictions of many animals, especially the jaguar.
What eventually happened to San Lorenzo to cause its decline? (page 74)
Although the cause is unknown, San Lorenzo fell into decline around 900 BCE. The large damage to monuments in the area suggests that San Lorenzo fell prey to environmental destruction, external invasion, or some uprising.
