Study Guide 1

Question 1

Mesopotamia

Answer 1

-The ‘‘land between the rivers.’’ (Tigris and Euphrates River)
-The world’s 1st great multi-ethnic empire in this region in 2340 B.C. -> Created by Sargon
Control of it went from Sumerians to Akkadians (Sargon) to Hammurabi

Question 2

Mesopotamian Land

Answer 2

• Unpredictable and sometimes catastrophic river flooding
• Irrigation and drainage ditches controlled river flow to produce crops
• Allowed for agriculture expansion and abundant food for emerging civilization

Question 3

City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia

Answer 3

Theocracy - government by a divine authority
->Kingship- derived their power from and were the representatives of the gods
Kings Duties Included:
- Leading armies
-Supervising the building of public works
-Organized workers for irrigation projects
The army, government bureaucracy, and the priests and priestesses aided kings in their rule

Question 4

Sumerians

Answer 4

Origins unknown

• Creators of the first Mesopotamian civilization
• City-States: basic units of Sumerian civilization

Question 5

Sumerian Cities

Answer 5

Surrounded by walls
Invented the arch and dome
Temples built on ziggurat dedicated to gods
States were a theocracy ->Kingship
Economy primarily agricultural (commerce and industry too)
Established many indep, cities in S. Mesopot by 3000 B.C.(Eridu.Ur,Uruk,Umma,Lagash)

Question 6

Sumerian Four Social Groups

Answer 6

Elites- royal & priestly officials + their families
Dependent Commoners- elites’ clients who worked for the palace and temple estates
Free Commoners- Farmers, merchants, fishers, scribes and craftspeople
Slaves by…for…:
-Palace officials: building projects
-Temple officials: weave cloth & grind grain
-Rich landowners: agricultural & domestic work

Question 7

Sargon

Answer 7

Leader of the Akkadians
His power was based on the military
Used former rulers of conquered city-states as his governors
Akkadian empire fell due to attacks from neighboring hill peoples

Question 8

Who is this quote referring to?

“had no rival or equal, spread his splendor over all the lands, and crossed the sea in the east.”

Answer 8

Sargon

Question 9

Hammurabi

Answer 9

The man of war and a man of peace
Ruled over Amorites or Old Babylonians
Created a new Mesopotamian kingdom ->with Babylonia as its capital
Brought an economic revival to Mesopotamia
->Built temples, defense walls,irrigation canals, encourage trade

Question 10

Hammurabi’s Gain of Control of Mesopotamia

Answer 10

Led well-disciplined army of foot soldiers who carried axes, spears, and daggers
Tactics: Divide opponents and conquer 1 by 1
The man of war but also a man of peace
After his death weak kings were unable to keep the empire he’d built united and it fell to invaders

Question 11

The Code of Hammurabi

Answer 11

Collection of 282 law codes which reveal a society with a system of strict justice
Fundamental Principle: “An eye for an eye”
Largest category focused on Marriage and Family
Punishments raised in severity if offense was from a lower class citizen made on an upper class citizen

Question 12

Mesopotamian Culture

Answer 12

Polytheism
Divination -> sacrifice animals and inspect their organs for a “sign” from the gods
Cuneiform
Charted constellations

Question 13

The Nile

Answer 13

“Miracle” annual flooding created “Black Land” or fertile land great for producing abundant harvests
River splits forming the delta, Lower Egypt
->physically unites upper and lower Egypt
At the apex of the delta is where Egypt’s most important cities developed
Important in trade, acted as a “highway”

Question 14

The Nile River vs Mesopotamian Rivers

Answer 14

Nile: Seen as life-enhancing, predictable/gradual flooding, small villages needed no state help for irrigation, was the “highway.”
-Had natural barriers against invasions

Tiber: Seen as life-threatening, catastrophic flooding, state intervention needed for irrigation.
-Subject to constant invasions

Question 15

Egypt’s Natural Barriers

Answer 15

West and East: deserts
South: rapids in river
North: Mediterranean Sea
These barriers were only effective when combined with Egyptian forces and strategic locations

Question 16

Menes (King) 3100 B.C.

“The Old Kingdom”

Answer 16

The first Pharaoh (king)
“King of Upper and Lower Egypt”- served to unite the two areas politically
The Double Crown was created
Ruler of the first Egyptian royal dynasty, which united Upper and Lower Egypt into a single kingdom

Question 17

Khufu (King)

Answer 17

Built the largest and most magnificent of all pyramids, located in Giza
Pyramids were tombs for the mummified bodies of the pharaohs.
The Great Pyramid was also an important symbol of royal power.

Question 18

Hyksos

Answer 18

People of western Asia who invaded Egypt, ending the Middle Kingdom (1650 B.C.)
Used horse drawn war chariots
Egyptians learned from them:
-how to use bronze in farming tools and weapons
-mastered military skills of the Hyksos, especially the use of horse drawn war chariots

Question 19

Hatshepsut (Queen)
New Kingdom
(1503-1480 B.C.)
“His Majesty”

Answer 19

One of the first women to become Pharaoh in her own right
Built the great temple at Deir al Bahri near Thebes
Sent out military expeditions
Encouraged mining & agriculture
Sent a trading expedition up the Nile
Succeeded by her nephew Tuthmosis III.

Question 20

Amenhotep IV

Changed his name to Akhenaten “servant of Aten”

Answer 20

Attempted religious change
->believed in 1 god, Aten (sun disk)
->closed temples of all other gods
Replaced capital Thebes with new capital “Akhetaten,” a new city
Change would diminish Thebe’s priests’ power and influence -> opposed religious change
He ignored foreign affairs and lost Syria and Cannan(Palestine)

Question 21

Nubia

Answer 21

Became an Egyptian tribituary

Profited from the disintegration of the Egyptian New Kingdom to become the independent state of Kush

Question 22

Kush

Answer 22

Kushite monarchs took control of Egypt and formed the 25th dynasty of Egyptian rulers
Developed into a major trading state in Africa that endured for hundreds of years

Question 23

Indo-Europeans

Answer 23

Among the most important Nomadic people
Indo-Euro Languages: Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit and Germanic and Slavic tongues
Migration to other lands was made possible by Mesopotamian influence
->domestication of horses and importation of the wheel and wagon

Question 24

Hitties

Answer 24

Group of Indo-Euro’s who moved into Asia Minor and Anatolia around 1750 B.C. and united with native people forming the Hittite kingdom
It’s capital was Hattusha
Formed their own empire which threatened Egyptian power
Was one of the great powers in western Asia
One of first Indo-Euro’s to make use of iron, produced stronger and cheaper weapons

Question 25

Hittites Were Influenced

Answer 25

Demonstrated ability to assimilate other cultures into their own
Adopted language, literature, art, law and religion from Mesopotamia as well as from the native people

Question 26

Phonecians

Answer 26

City-state in Canaan emerge after the destruction of Hittite
They expanded trade- chief cities were on ports on eastern Mediterranean
->improved ships and became great international sea traders (Purple dye, glass, wine & lumber)
Transmitters (22 diff signs representing sounds of speech) passed to Greece then Rome
Fell subject to Assyrians and Persians

Question 27

Assyrian Empire

Answer 27

1st empire on upper Tigris River.
Semantic speaking, used iron in weapons
Babylonians resented them and rebelled against
Developed system of communication-> a network of staging posts ->allowed governors to ask q’s to king and get response in a week
Army was well organized and disciplined with huge numbers -> infantry, cavalry, war chariots
->gorilla warfare and use of terror (committed atrocities on their captives)

Question 28

Nubia

Answer 28

Kingdom in Africa 2300 B.C.
Became part of Egypt in New Kingdom Period
Major source of gold for the Eqyptians

Question 29

Harkhuf

Answer 29

Governor of S Upper Egypt who traveled extensively throughout Nubia

Question 30

Tuthmosis III.

Answer 30

Nephew of Hatshepsut

Led 17 military campaigns into Syria and Palestine and reached Euphrates River

Question 31

Minoans

2000 B.C. - 1600 B.C.

Answer 31

1st civilization to develop in Greece
Arose on the island of Crete
Based survival and prosperity off trade, part of a complex long distance trade system [like the Greeks but they weren’t Greeks: did not have the same religion or culture and did not speak Greek]
Taught the Mycenaean important parts of civilization: Trade, read/write, art, architecture
Suddenly disappeared in 1400 B.C.
=>A Bronze Age civilization that used metals, especially bronze, in making weapons

Question 32

Mycenaean

1600 B.C.-1100 B.C.

Answer 32

Were the first GREEKS! [spoke Greek, had Greek culture and religion] –> Indo-Europeans
Now they dominated Greece with Minoans gone
Engaged in trade to support civilization
They were not politically unified ->Spent much time fighting with each other, they were divided into independent city states-> Mycenae = largest
Suddenly disappeared in 1100 B.C.
=>Built on hills with gigantic stone walls
=>Warriors pride self on heroic deeds in battle
=>Mycenae was torched 1190 B.C.

Question 33

Dark Age

1100-800 B.C

Answer 33

A period after Mycenaean cities were destroyed and most were never repopulated
->food prod & population rates drastically fell.
Many mainland Greeks left -> some to Ionia
**ATHENS SURVIVED

Question 34

Homer

Answer 34

Wrote:
Iliad - epic poem of the Trojan War
Odyssey - epic romance of how Greek
hero Odysseus reunites with wife Penelope
->Greeks regard as authentic history
“The values Homer inculcated were essentially the aristocratic values of courage and honor”
arete => excellence befitting a hero
According to a Homeric view, Greece was a society based on agriculture in which a landed warrior aristocracy controlled much wealth and exercised considerable power. To later generations of Greeks, these heroic values formed the core of aristocratic virtue, a fact that explains the tremendous popularity of homer as an educational tool.

Question 35

Hoplite

Answer 35

Greek foot soldier who wore a helmet, breast plate, shin guards and carried a round shield and spear —->ALL ARMOR MADE OF IRON
If you served in the army, you had political power
When armor was of Bronze, not many could afford it thus armies were small
W/ Iron, Greek armies and battlesgot a lot bigger

Question 36

Polis

Answer 36

Greek City state approx 1000 by end of arch age
Each polis governed by an assembly of citizens
Citizen: someone w/ political power (in army)
World’s 1st example of Democracy
Athens->capital is where assembly held->had to go to cast vote
*If moved to new polis, you’d NEVER be or have citizens rights

Question 37

Sparta

Answer 37

Rose to dominant military land-power in Greece
Men -> soldiers of Ancient Greece
Women -> enjoyed more freedom and were more educated than other Greek women in that era
Controlled Peloponnesian League [opposition of the Delian League led by Athens]

Question 38

Helots

Answer 38

Serfs [intermediate status b/w slave and citizens
Those permanently bound to the land they worked on for their Spartan master
[captured from Messenia and Laconia]

Question 39

Oligarchy

Answer 39

Rule by the few.
A system of government in which power is divided among a few people as opposed to a monarchy, where there is one absolute ruler.
The most famous & common example => Sparta
Flourished in all military aspects

Question 40

Athens

Answer 40

Had established a unified polis => the most famous and common example of a democracy
Flourished in arts and philosophy
Controlled the Delian League which was later opposed by the Peloponnesian League [Sparta]

Question 41

Solon

Answer 41

A reform-minded aristocrat appointed as sole archon to alleviate economic problems of Athens.
==> cancelled all land debts, outlawed new loans based on humans as collateral, and freed people who had fallen into slavery for debts.

Question 42

Democracy

EX: Athens

Answer 42

Power is in the hands of the people and not a minority.
All male citizens regardless of wealth had political rights, which meant if you were too poor to serve in army you would row boats for the Navy
[aliens, strangers, and women were excluded meaning only 20% of Athens had political power]
-People were willing to fight to the death for their polis because they were fighting for their own political power [incentive]

Question 43

Cyrus II

Answer 43

Won independence for Persia [not subjects]
Lead Persia on a series of conquests in such a short amount of time => typical of great leaders
Persians were tiny majority of empire, most were conquered subjects
*Ionia was one of his conquered subjects

Question 44

Persian Kings Demanded only 2 things of conquered subjects

Answer 44

1. All subjects pay taxes
2. Subjects serve in the Persian military when called up

As long as you filled these 2 demands you were left along [could keep own gods, culture, etc]

Question 45

Darius I

Answer 45

Persian king during the Ionian Revolt -> Plans retaliation on Athens for aiding in failed revolt
Battle of Marathon vs. Athens –> Persians lose

Question 46

Ionian Revolt

Answer 46

Ionian Greeks rebel against Persia, Send message to fellow Greeks asking for help. Athens are the only ones who send help, but only for the hopes of winning and plundering. Athens sends 25 ships [NOT A LOT..]

Question 47

Battle of Marathon

20,000 Persians vs 10,000 Hoplites

Answer 47

Reasons for Greek Victory:
-Hoplite Armor
-Home field Advantage
-Fighting to protect their home, families, and most importantly their POLITICAL POWER
Reason for Persian Defeat:
-Wicker shields and no armor
-Most of army are subjects, wont fight til the death
Darius upset.embarrassed and vows revenge on ALL of Greece now, not just Athens

Question 48

Persian War

Answer 48

A series of conflicts in which the Persians invaded Greece. There were four battles:

1. Battle of Marathon
2. Battle of Thermopylae
3. Battle of Salamis
4. Battle of Platea.

Question 49

Xerxes

Answer 49

Son of Darius I who leads the 2nd invasion of Greece since his father died.
Xerxes isn’t as good of a military leader as his father.

Question 50

Battle of Platea

Answer 50

Greek Advantages:

• Homefield Advantage
• Hoplite armor
• -Persians tried to attack uphill [mistake]

Significance:

• Marked end of Persian wars
• Allowed Greece to continue to develop into a unique and independent civilization
• Marked beginning of Classical Greece
• -> provided inspiration for Classical Age
• May not have heard of Democracy if didn’t win

Question 51

Euripides

Answer 51

was an Athenian playwright with a great interest in everyday life; he was controversial because he “questioned traditional moral and religious values. For example, he was critical of the traditional view that war was glorious. Instead he portrayed war as brutal and barbaric.”(p105 WH)

Question 52

Aristophanes

Answer 52

was a Greek comic who used both grotesque masks and obscene jokes to entertain the Athenian audience. He used satire to show his disapproval of the war.

Question 53

Socrates

Answer 53

A Greek philosopher from 470 B.C. to 399 B.C. who believed in democracy and is considered a founder of Western philosophy.
believed the goal of education was to improve the individual. His approach, the Socratic Method, employs question-answer technique to lead pupils to see things for themselves using their own reason. Sentenced to death for “corrupting they Athenian youth by is teaching”

Question 54

Cicero

Answer 54

Wrote “On the Laws”
Difference between civil law and supreme law
- civil was man made, written into laws
- supreme/nature, laws passed down from the gods based on reason.

Question 55

M. Aemilius Lepidus

Answer 55

formed the 2nd Triumvirate with Octavius and Antonius