Midterm Dates and Outlines Flashcards
How did women’s rights vary across different civilizations?
In Mesopotamia, young girls were trained to cook, make clothes, and other domestic tasks such as housekeeping. Only women married to royalty or to a man of powerful status could act as an individual. In Egypt, women were considered equal to men under law. They could borrow money, request divorce, appear in court, and even become Pharaoh under special circumstances. Ramses II declared that women could travel alone. Finally, in Greece women held no political rights and were excluded from public life. They were unable to vote or own land.
How did agriculture influence the rise of different civilizations?
In Mesopotamia, nomadic tendencies were finally put to an end (for the most part) with the discovery of agriculture. Early humans could now stay in one place with a sustainable source of food. Small scale irrigation caused an increase in food supply. Animals that flocked to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were killed for food. Additionally, river flooding deposited silt which kept farming land fertile. Next, Herodotus called Egypt “the gift of the Nile”. He is referring to Egypt depending on the river for resources. Annual floods also deposited silt and kept ground fertile. Egyptians were forced to calculate the river’s flooding in order to be effective. Drainage and irrigation projects during the Middle Kingdom produced more arable land. (Land used to grow crops) Egypt also transformed African societies by introducing cultivation. Lastly, is Persia. Agriculture was the economic foundation of the Persian empires. The most common grains were barley and wheat. Under Darius I, irrigation techniques were spread into the areas that they had expanded. Underground water canals (qanāts) were utilized because average rainfall was less than one-third of the world average. The empire was primarily an agricultural economy.
Describe the ways of war for any of the civilizations discussed this semester providing evidence of tactics, arms and armor, and types of troops.
(Greek warfare) Hoplites used their own personal armor which was usually passed down from ancestors. They were equipped with a Hoplon, a shield 3 feet in diameter. Hoplites were heavy foot soldiers who used a 9 feet long spear as their primary weapon. Their main goal was possession of the field. Next, light troops in Greece consisted mainly of sling throwers, peltasts, and archers. They did not wear armor other than a helmet because they needed to move fast. Peltasts are javelin throwers. They carried 3 javelins and were equipped with a crescent moon shield. Light troops protected Hoplites from getting flanked. Lastly, cavalry was not used much in Greek warfare. Some reasons for their scarce use was Greece’s terrain being too mountainous (without enough plains) and because cavalry was just too expensive to maintain.
Describe how Julius Caesar rose to become sole dictator.
Starting off, Julius Caesar was able to escape Sulla’s reign of terror even though he was related to Marius. This happened because of his youth, (not seen as a threat) he was studying in Greece at the time, and because influential family members spoke on his behalf. Next, he returned from Rome and started to rise the ranks and was eventually given generalship of the Gaellic campaign. Later the 1st Triumvirate, a powerful group of 3, was formed. Caesar managed to become governor of Gaul and established himself as powerful figure that the Senate saw as a threat. Finally, Caesar was left as the final member of the 1st Triumvirate after Crassus was killed by the Parthians and Pompey was killed by the Egyptian state following a battle with Caesar. When Caesar returned from Egypt back to Rome, he becomes dictator for life.
Describe Octavian’s rise to become Rome’s first emperor.
Starting off, Octavian gained an army from the Senate after requesting to become an officer in order to fight Antony. (He previously requested to be Consul but was rejected) Next, he gained the support of Julius’ old legions by pitting them against Antony. He meets with them one by one and tells each one that they were Julius’ favorite. He also notes how Antony didn’t kill any of Julius’ assassins. Lastly, he defeats the only person in his way, Antony, (allied with Cleopatra) in the Battle of Actium. Octavian’s close friend, Agrippa, manufactured the tactics that helped Octavian emerge victorious. He returns to Rome and with no one in his way, he is now Rome’s 1st emperor. Winning this battle gave Octavian the title Augustus, meaning “exalted one”.
Date - Egyptian Old Kingdom
2575 B.C.E - 2160 B.C.E
Date - Egyptian New Kingdom
1539 B.C.E - 1075 B.C.E
Date - 1st Persian War
490 B.C.E (Battle of Marathon)
Date - 2nd Persian War
480 B.C.E (Battles of Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea)
Date - Han Dynasty
202 B.C.E - 220 A.D.
Date - Greek Classical Period
480 B.C.E - 323 B.C.E
Date - Peloponnesian War
431 B.C.E - 404 B.C.E
Date - Punic Wars
264 B.C.E - 146 B.C.E
Date - Trojan War
1250 B.C.E
