unit 1 world history Flashcards
What are the Paleolithic?
Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age): Societies were hunter-gatherers, Nomadic lifestyle, Use of simple stone tools
What is the Neolithic Eras?
Neolithic Era (New Stone Age): The start of agriculture, Development of settled communities, and More advanced stone tools, Marks the beginning of the “Neolithic Revolution”
What happens during the Neolithic? What is this event called?
The Neolithic Revolution
1. Domestication of plants and animals
2. Development of agriculture
3. Shift from nomadic to settled lifestyle Profound effects on human societies
What is discovered during the Neolithic? What were the benefits?
- Agriculture 2. Animal domestication Benefits: Food production through farming Ability to support larger populations, Development of settled communities, Establishment of first villages and towns, More time for specialization in crafts and trade
What is the difference between polytheistic and monotheistic religions?
Polytheistic Religions:
Worship multiple deities
Each god/goddess associated with specific aspects of life or nature
Examples: Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian religions
Monotheistic Religions:
Worship a single deity
Believe in the existence of only one God
Examples: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
What are the 3 Abrahamic religions?
- Judaism
- Christianity
- Islam
What were the two main cities of the Indus River Valley Civilization?
- Harappa:
Discovered in the 1920s
Well-planned city with grid-like streets
Advanced drainage and water systems - Mohenjo-daro:
Largest known Indus Valley city
Sophisticated architecture, including the Great Bath
Evidence of social organization and trade
Can we read Mesopotamian cuneiform?
Mesopotamian Cuneiform:
Can be read and understood
Deciphered in the 19th century
Provides insight into Mesopotamian culture and history
What about the Indus Valley writing system?
Indus Valley Writing System:
Not yet deciphered
Challenges in interpretation due to short inscriptions
Ongoing debate about its nature (language or symbol system)
How do we know most information about the Persians? What might be important about that detail?
an outsider writing about them named Herodotus
What are some accomplishments of Darius I?
extended persons controll to the east- the Indus valley and west-Egypt
Who fought in the Persian wars? What was the significance of that War?
the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire
and important for the rise of democracy
Who were some of the most important Persian Kings?
Cyrus I, Darius I, and Xerxes I were its most important emperors
What was the capital city of the Persian Empire?
Persepolis
What religion did the Persian Empire primarily follow? Was it monotheistic or polytheistic?
they were Zoroastrianism
Explain the caste system and how it influenced Indian society for centuries.
dividing people into distinct social groups with predetermined roles and restrictions, where one’s caste determined their occupation, social standing, and access to opportunities, essentially shaping their lives from birth and influencing social interactions for centuries
Who was Ashoka and what role did he have in developing Buddhism outside of India?
promotion of Buddhism
According to the video, the “doer of good becomes good, the doer of evil becomes evil”. What Hindu concept does that describe best and how?
Karma
List two of the scientific and mathematical advancements made in India under the Guptas.
the invention of the concept of zero and the development of the decimal system
What period of Chinese history did the Qin Dynasty rise from?
2000 BCE - 600 CE
What philosophies were considered as answers to the problems of this period of Chinese history?
Legalism and Confucianism were both considered as solutions to the disorder of the Warring States period
Who was the first emperor of the Qin dynasty? How long did he rule? Was he a kind or cruel leader?
Qin Shihuangdi ruled for 221–210 bce and he was a crul ruler
Describe the tomb complex of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi. What shape is it? What famous discovery was buried alongside him?
its a a truncated pyramid that lies within an inner wall and beneath a four-sided pyramid mound that was originally landscaped to appear as a low, wooded mountain.
What philosophy did the Han Dynasty adopt?
Confucianism
How did Emperor Han Wudi choose qualified people to work for the elaborate political bureaucracy holding the Han Empire together?
he created his own goverment schools then selected what he though to be supperior intellegent people
How long did the Chinese emperors use this selection process to find qualified people to work for the government?
nearly a millennium
What were the three reasons the Han Dynasty collapsed?
The Han Dynasty suffered from in-fighting, political intrigue, natural disasters, and many rebellions and revolts
List two facts about the Nile River. What is its nickname?
It’s the longest river on Earth.
There’s more than one Nile
the father of African rivers
What was Osiris the god of?
fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, life, and vegetation
Who was Nephthys’s son with Osiris? What was he the god of?
the jackal-headed god Anubis.
Who brought Osiris back to life?
Isis
List the names of the three Pyramids of Giza.
Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure
How did Osiris judge the dead for whether they were good or bad in life?
weighing their heart against the feather of Ma’at
What organ was left in the mummified body of the dead?
the heart
Describe the government of Athens:
a direct democracy,
Who was the last pharaoh of Egypt?
Cleopatra
What is the Greek word for city-state?
polis
Describe the government of Sparta:
a constitutional diarchy
Which Greek god or goddess is the Parthenon dedicated to? What city is the Parthenon located in?
Athena Parthenos in athens
Which Emperor expanded Rome to its largest size?
Trajan
What were the two social classes in Ancient Rome?
Patricians (upper class) and Plebeians (common people)
What did aqueducts do for Romans?
bring water from outside sources into cities and towns
What was the Colosseum?
Entertainment: The Colosseum was used to host public spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal hunts, and mock naval battles.
Before it was an empire, what kind of government did the Romans have?
Republic
Name the engineering marvel that brought water into Roman cities.
Aqueducts
Who was the first Roman Emperor?
Augustus
- What were the two main social classes in ancient Rome?
the Patricians (upper class) and the Plebeians (common people)
What was the significance of the Roman road system.
military transportation
- Who was allowed to participate in Athens’ democracy?
male citizens
What was the primary focus of Spartan society?
military excellence
- Which war united Athens and Sparta against a common enemy?
second persian war
- What temple was on the Acropolis in Athens?
Parthenon or Temple of Athena Parthenos
What was the role of a satrap in the Persian Empire?
collected taxes and was the supreme judicial authority
Who built the city of Persepolis?
King Darius the Great
- Name the primary religion that originated in ancient Persia.
Zoroastrianism
What common practice in the ancient world was rare in the Persian empire because their Zoroastrian faith prohibited it?
human sacrifice
What philosophy did the Qin Dynasty adopt to maintain order?
Legalism
What was the Terra Cotta Army?
he Terracotta Army refers to the thousands of life-size clay models of soldiers, horses, and chariots which were deposited around the grand mausoleum of Shi Huangdi
- After seeing the problems that the Qin Dynasty had, what philosophy did the Han Dynasty adopt to maintain order?
Confucianism
What was the civil service system in Han Dynasty China?
a meritocracy that selected government officials based on their ability and knowledge, rather than their social status
Who was the most famous ruler of the Mauryan Empire?
Ashoka
What social structure did Hindus in the Gupta Empire adhere to?
caste system
- What important mathematical discovery was made under Gupta rule?
the development of the decimal system
Which two empires worshiped the same gods and goddesses, but used different names for?
Greek and Roman
Name the two religions most practiced in the Maurya and Gupta Empires?
Hinduism and Buddhism
- Which dynasty built the Great Wall of China?
Qin, Han, Ming, and Qing dynasties
What god was the Parthenon dedicated to?
to honor the Greek goddess Athena, the patron deity of Athens
- Name one of the major architectural achievements of ancient Egypt.
the Great Pyramid of Giza
- Who was the Egyptian god of mummification?
Anubis
What were the primary food sources for Paleolithic humans?
meat
What major technological advancement did Paleolithic humans utilize for hunting and protection against predators?
The control of fire
How did human migration patterns during the Paleolithic era shape cultural diversity?
dispersing small groups of early humans across vastly different geographical regions
Describe the role of kinship groups in Paleolithic societies.
served as the primary social structure, providing a foundation for cooperation, resource sharing, decision-making, and overall community stability
Name two regions where agriculture first emerged during the Neolithic Revolution.
the Fertile Crescent (11,000 BP), the Yangtze and Yellow River basins
Explain how the development of agriculture influenced social structures in Neolithic communities.
people began to settle in one place and cultivate crops
How did the Agricultural Revolution lead to the specialization of labor?
enabling the production of food surpluses
What is the key difference between agriculture and hunting-gathering?
how they get the food
What were the environmental impacts of the Agricultural Revolution?
Land transformation, Carbon dioxide release, Water quality issues, Marine pollution, Greenhouse gas emissions
Identify two technological innovations from the Agricultural Revolution that improved farming practices.
The seed drill and Mechanical Reaper
How did the Agricultural Revolution contribute to population growth?
it led to an increase in food production
What is a ziggurat, and what purpose did it serve in Mesopotamian society?
a temple dedicated to a city’s patron god
How did Mesopotamians get water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to their fields?
a system of canals dug from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to transport water to their fields,
Identify two major city-states in ancient Mesopotamia.
Babylon and Assyria
What was the Code of Hammurabi, and why was it important?
It established family law, criminal law, economic law, and laws regulating certain professions
Describe the significance of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for Mesopotamian civilization.
provide drinking water, agricultural irrigation, and major transportation routes.
What artifacts from the Indus River Valley civilization suggests they had a robust trade network?
standardized clay seals
What features of urban planning were evident in the Indus River Valley civilization?
Grid system, Drainage and sanitation, Water supply
Explain how trade networks influenced the growth of the Indus River Valley civilization.
facilitating the exchange of raw materials from distant regions, allowing them to produce a diverse range of goods, develop specialized crafts, and foster economic prosperity
What are pastoralists?
a farmer who breeds and takes care of animals,
How were Paleolithic hunter-gatherers egalitarian?
relied on foraging for food, which required mobility and sharing of resources
What happened when human diets shifted from a diverse hunter-gatherer diet to a carbohydrate-rich diet as agriculturalists?
increased risk of dental problems like cavities and potential health issues related to a less varied nutrient profile, while also contributing to population growth due to a more reliable food source
What was the Mesopotamian writing system called?
Cuneiform
