Chapter 1 - Before 1200 Flashcards
Q: By 1200 BCE, where had humans spread?
A: By 1200 BCE, humans had spread to nearly every major landmass excluding Antarctica.
Q: Compare how Chinese and Indian civilizations structured their societies.
A: Chinese civilization prioritized education and bureaucratic merit, while Indian society was structured by religious status and caste.
Q: How did Christianity develop from Jesus of Nazareth’s teachings?
A: Christianity emerged from Jesus’ teachings about a personal deity, social justice, and spiritual renewal, evolving into a separate religion with a hierarchical church structure.
Q: How did civilizations change social structures and occupations?
A: Civilizations introduced various occupations like scholars, merchants, priests, and officials, with complex social hierarchies.
Q: How did civilizations impact their environments?
A: Intensive agriculture led to environmental changes like deforestation, soil erosion, and irrigation impacts.
Q: How did gender equality change with the rise of civilizations?
A: Gender equality generally worsened as patriarchy became more entrenched.
Q: How did the Agricultural Revolution impact population and settlement?
A: It led to growing populations, settled villages, and a boom in technological innovation.
Q: Name some technological and scientific innovations from early civilizations.
A: Innovations include Chinese bureaucracy, silk products, gunpowder, Islamic advances in mathematics, medicine, and astronomy.
Q: What are pastoral societies, and where were they commonly found?
A: Pastoral societies relied on domesticated animals for food, transport, and warfare, and were commonly found in Asia and parts of Africa.
Q: What are the main beliefs of Hinduism?
A: Hinduism includes beliefs in a vast array of gods, reincarnation, karma, and the ultimate goal of union with Brahman.
Q: What characterized Paleolithic societies?
A: Paleolithic societies were small-scale, mobile, nomadic groups of 25-50 people who depended on wild plants and animals.
Q: What cultural expressions were prominent during the Paleolithic era?
A: Cultural creativity was reflected in cave paintings and sculptures.
Q: What defines a civilization?
A: Civilizations are societies based in cities and governed by states, a product of the Agricultural Revolution.
Q: What does Daoism emphasize?
A: Daoism emphasizes simplicity, nature, and spontaneity, often contrasting with Confucian ideals.
Q: What does the Paleolithic era represent in terms of human history?
A: The Paleolithic era, or Old Stone Age, represents 95% of the time humans have occupied the planet.
Q: What is the difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism?
A: Theravada Buddhism views the Buddha as a wise teacher, while Mahayana Buddhism offers a more accessible spiritual path and emphasizes universal enlightenment.
Q: What marks the beginning of the Agricultural Revolution?
A: The Agricultural Revolution marks the transition to deliberate cultivation of plants and the taming and breeding of animals.
Q: What role did the bhakti movement play in Hinduism?
A: The bhakti movement emphasized devotion to deities like Vishnu and Shiva, and sought salvation through devotion and good deeds. Challenged the caste hierarchy
Q: What was a common conflict between pastoral and agricultural societies?
A: There was often conflict over access to rich farming lands, though there was also peaceful exchange of ideas.
Q: What was Confucianism’s main focus?
A: Confucianism focused on social harmony through respect for unequal relationships, education, and ritual.
Q: What was the typical life expectancy during the Paleolithic era?
A: Life expectancy was around 35 years.
Q: What were the main branches of Islam, and what caused the split?
A: Islam split into Sunni and Shia branches over disagreements about Muhammad’s rightful successor.
Q: What were the Silk Roads, Sea Roads, and Sand Roads?
A: The Silk Roads linked China and the Mediterranean, the Sea Roads connected the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, and the Sand Roads linked North Africa with West Africa.
Q: When did Homo sapiens first emerge, and where?
A: Homo sapiens emerged about 300,000 years ago in Africa.
Q: Where did the earliest civilizations emerge?
A: The earliest civilizations emerged in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and areas of Peru.
Q: Who founded Buddhism and what is its main teaching?
A: Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) founded Buddhism, teaching that suffering results from desire and that enlightenment (nirvana) is achieved by overcoming desire.
Q: What is another name for the Paleolithic era?
The Paleolithic era is also known as the Old Stone Age.
What was the typical size of Paleolithic societies?
Paleolithic societies typically consisted of 25-50 people.
What wes the primary food for Paleolithic people?
Paleolithic people depended on wild plants and animals
What were the characteristics of Paleolithic lifestyle?
Paleolithic people were very mobile and nomadic, constantly moving in search of food.
What was the average life expectancy and growth rate during the Paleolithic era?
Life expectancy during the Paleolithic era was very low, around 35 years. Population growth was slow.
How did Paleolithic people express cultural creativity?
Paleolithic people expressed cultural creativity through cave paintings and sculptures.
Which period followed the Paleolithic Era?
Paleolithic Era was followed by theAgricultural Revolution.
What symbolizes the Agricultural Revolution?
The deliberate cultivation of plants and the taming and breeding of animals.
What were some consequences of the Agricultural Revolution?
Growing populations, settled villages, and technological innovation
What were pastoral societies, and how did they survive?
Nomads/Herders societies that relied on domesticated animals (sheep, goats, horses, camels) for meat, hide, transport, and warfare.
(usually in areas where farming was difficult or impossible)
Where were pastoral societies (nomads/herders) predominantly located?
In areas where farming was difficult or impossible
Central Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Sahara, and parts of eastern and southern Africa
What caused conflict between nomadic herders and farming neighbors?
Pastoral societies were attracted to the wealth of agrarian societies and sought access to their fertile lands.
Besides conflict, what other interaction occurred between nomadic and farming societies?
Peaceful exchange of ideas and products, enriching both societies.
What was a type of society that emerged from the Agricultural Revolution?
Permanently settled farming villages.
Explain chiefdoms
A societal grouping governed by a chief who typically relies on generosity, ritual status or charisma rather than force to win obedience from the people.
Where did the earliest civilizations emerge?
Mesopotamia, Egypt, and areas of Peru.
What defines a civilization?
Societies based in cities and governed by states.
How were civilizations a direct product of the Agricultural Revolution?
Civilizations are a direct product of the Agricultural Revolution, as only highly productive agricultural economy could support a society in which substantial number of people did not produce their own food.
What structures did civilizations lead to?
States—governing structures organized around cities and territories, usually controlled by kings or other ranked officials.
What kinds of occupations did civilizations create?
Scholars, merchants, priests, officials, scribes, soldiers, etc.
