POD Quiz 1 Flashcards
How do new discoveries in history change our understanding of the past?
Revising Past Assumptions
New discoveries can challenge previous beliefs about how past societies lived, what they believed, and their daily practices.
Filling in Gaps
Each new artifact adds missing pieces to the puzzle, helping historians create a more accurate and complete picture of the past.
Evolving Narratives
As new information is found, it requires historians to rethink and update existing narratives, showing that our understanding of history is always changing and growing.
List and describe characteristics of each of the 5 stages of civilizations?
Early Stage
Small Communities: Civilizations begin with small, close-knit communities, often established near essential resources like water for drinking and farming.
Rise
Agricultural Advancements: The development of better farming techniques allows for surplus food production, supporting population growth and the formation of cities.
Formation of Government: The establishment of leadership and laws provides structure and protection, enabling the community to expand and organize.
Beginning of Trade: Trade begins with neighboring regions, bringing the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices that contribute to the civilization’s growth.
Golden Age
Innovation: New inventions, art, and ideas are created that improve life and make the civilization famous.
Strong Economy: Lots of people have jobs, and the civilization has plenty of money and resources.
Peace and Prosperity: There’s usually less war and more happiness, making it a “Golden” time.
Decline
Less Innovation: Fewer new ideas or inventions
Weaker Leadership: Leaders might make bad decisions that make people unhappy
Resource Shortage: Important stuff like food, water, or money becomes harder to get.
Fall
Disorganization: The government and society become messy and chaotic.
Vulnerable to Attacks: The civilization might lose wars or be taken over by stronger groups.
Breakdown of Community and Traditions: People don’t get along anymore, and what made civilization strong starts to disappear.
Explain reasons why a civilization may collapse.
Environmental Problems
Issues like resource shortages, natural disasters, or climate change can cause food shortages and population decline.
Bad Leadership
Poor decision making, corruption, or bad policies can weaken a civilization’s stability and response to problems.
Economic Struggles
Economic decline due to loss of trade, resources, or heavy taxation.
Social Issues
Internal conflicts, inequality, or unhappiness can wear away at societal unity.
Outside Threats
Invasions, conquests, or external attacks can lead to the collapse of a civilization by overwhelming its defenses.
How did barbarian invasions contribute to the fall of the Western Roman Empire?
Civil War weakened the Roman Empire
The Roman army was withdrawn from the Rhine-Danube frontier in the third century C.E. to fight in civil wars in Italy. This left the border open to attacks.
Raids
Germanic hunters and herders began to raid and take over Roman lands in Greece and Gaul. Their raids weakened the empire’s stability and control over its territories.
Overthrow of Roman Emperor
In C.E. 476, the Germanic general Odovacar overthrew the last Roman emperor and took control of all of Italy. This marked the end of the Western Roman Empire’s rule and the beginning of Germanic control.
Decline in Infrastructure
Roads and bridges were left in disrepair, which hampered communication and travel within the empire.
Economic Impact
Pirates and bandits made travel unsafe leading to trade and business disappearing due to a lack of security, contributing to the decline of cities.
What are some examples in modern-day America that some people may see as a decline in our morals and values?
Online Behavior
A lot of people act really mean online, like trolling or cyberbullying, and that could show a decline in how we treat each other.
Reality TV
Shows where people lie, cheat, or fight could make those things seem normal or okay to do.
Violent Sporting Events
Sports like UFC, MMA, boxing, or even football are really popular but they’re very physical and can be dangerous. Some people think that liking these kinds of sports shows we’re okay with violence as entertainment, like the gladiator fights in ancient Rome.
Violent Video Games, movies, and TV shows
Some people think games and movies that are violent or have a lot of crime in them can make us desensitized to events happening in real life.
Music Lyrics
There are songs that talk about drugs, violence, or treating people badly.
Describe the effects of excessive military spending on a civilization?
Drain on Resources
The constant need to maintain an army takes away from other important things that a government needs to do. In the Roman Empire, this meant less money for public housing, maintaining roads and bridges and other aspects of a civilization’s infrastructure.
Citizens become unhappy
Over time, people got frustrated and didn’t want to join the military. This can lead to compulsory (making people) military service or relying on mercenaries
Economic Strain
To pay for this expensive army, the government might have to raise taxes and this can hurt the economy of a civilization
