World History and Geography One Review, Activity Sheet and Parent Signature

Ÿ         Early human societies met their needs through hunting and gathering.

Ÿ         As nomads, clans of early man migrated with herds of animals according to seasons.

Ÿ         Human ancestors walked upright in eastern Africa about 3-4 million years ago.

Ÿ         Homo sapiens emerged in Africa between 100,000 - 400, 00 years ago.

Ÿ         Prehistory - the story humankind really begins in the time before people developed writing.

Ÿ         Homo sapiens migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas.

Ÿ         Early humans adapted to their environment by devising new clothing and shaping simple tools for hunting and gathering.

Ÿ         Hominids - early humans

Ÿ         Australopithecus-southern ape (4.4 million years ago) 3.5 to 5.0 feet tall and walked on two legs.

Ÿ         Homo habilis-person with ability (lived about 1.5 million years ago)

Ÿ         Homo erectus - person who walks upright

Ÿ         Homo sapien - person who thinks (100,000 and 200,00 years ago)

Ÿ         Early homo sapiens - Neanderthals from the Neander Valley in Germany (200,000 years ago) Neanderthals were nomadic hunter-gathers who used fire for warmth and for cooking their food, but their tool making ability was more sophisticated than that of homo erectus. Neanderthals skillfully crafted stone knives, spear points and bone tools.

Ÿ         Cro-Magnons - the earliest Homo sapiens were found in Europe after the rock shelter in France. The Cro-Magnons used bone, antler, and ivory to make new kinds of tools- hammers, hoes, and pincers. Soon they were fishing with bone fishhooks and using bone needles to sew fitted leather clothes.

Ÿ         Cro-Magnons invented the stone ax. The stone ax was used to chop down trees and shape them into canoes.

Ÿ         Scientists that traced the early origin of early humans are as follows: Physical anthropologist, Paleontologist, and Archaeologists.

Ÿ         Artifacts included any objects that were shaped by human hands-tools, pots, and beads-as well as other remains of human life, such as bits of charcoal.

Ÿ         Technology for dating the age of early humans and artifacts is called radio carbon dating and collection of DNA.

Ÿ         Nomadic  peoples followed herds of animals and/or migrated in search of water, food, and shelter.

Ÿ         Hunter-gatherers lived in clans searching for seeds, nuts, and meat.

Ÿ         Early humans developed oral language.

Ÿ         Early humans invented tools and mastered the use of fire to control aspects of their environment.

Ÿ         Three stone eras - Paleolithic - oldest stone era, Mesolithic - middle stone era, and Neolithic- newest stone era

Ÿ         Old Stone Age - Oral language, invention of clothing, cave art discovered, invention of fire and invention of simple weapons

Ÿ         New Stone Age- Invention and discovery of the following: Domesticated animals, weaving of fabric and cloth, settled farming/seed culture, advanced tools, and pottery.

Ÿ         Location of ancient river valley civilizations between 5000- 1500 BC or bce

Ÿ         Egypt was located in Africa on a narrow strip of land along the Nile River.

Ÿ         Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates River - Sumer, Ur, Babylon, Urba, etc. (modern day Iraq)

Ÿ         India (Harappa or Mohenjo-daro) was located in South Asia along the Indus and Ganges Rivers between modern day Pakistan and borders India.

Ÿ         China was located on the Hwang Ho River in Northern China (The Shang Dynasty)

Ÿ         Physical features that provided natural defense against migratory peoples surrounded each civilization

Ÿ         Soils were rich for farming

Ÿ         Water was available for irrigation

Ÿ         Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia), located along the Mediterranean Coast connecting Mesopotamia and Nile regions was settled between 2000-1000 B.C. or bce.

1.      Hebrews settled in Palestine

2.      Phoenicians settled the coast. (near modern day Israel)

Ÿ         Persians dominated the Plateau of Iran around 500 B.C. or bce

 

Ancient river valley civilizations and trade empires were characterized by settled agriculture, city-states, trade in products and ideas, central governments with written laws, written languages, specialized labor, social hierarchies, and religious institutions.

 

1.      Agriculture - settled farming resulted from domesticating animals and plants, irrigation, and seed cultivation.

2.      Economy - surplus food promoted trade along  rivers and on seas (Phoenicians), storage of food, accounting systems, and city development. Government controlled economic life.

3.      Government - centralized government is often related to religion. Written codes and laws provided justice (the Ten Commandments - the Hebrews or Jews people or the religion of Judaism) (The Law Codes of Hammurabi from Babylon of Mesopotamia)

4.      Religion - Ancient peoples practiced polytheism except (excluding) for the Hebrews (Jews or Judaism) who practiced monotheism. Monotheism is the worship of one God.

5.      Language - Written language (cuneiform - Sumer or Mesopotamia, hieroglyphics -Egypt or hieratic the common language of Egypt and Pictograms - Indus Valley) developed from pictures. latter, the Phoenicians developed the alphabet with 22 letters.

6.      Technology - Ancient river valley civilizations' artisans worked copper metals, developed chariots for warfare, and used plows.

7.      Mathematics - Ancient civilizations developed mathematics for building. Egypt develops the concept of ___________ to build the pyramids.

Ÿ         Ancient Greece from 2000 to 300 B.C. or bce.

8.      Mountainous terrain and its location between the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas define the physical geography of Greece.

9.      The location of Greece facilitated trade and cultural exchange throughout the Mediterranean basin.

10.  Ancient Greece was located on a peninsula between the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, within easy sailing distance of the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia) and Egypt. This location promoted contacts for trade and ideas.

11.  Mountainous terrain resulted in isolated development of city states rather than a central government, poor farmland that pushed people to colonize land outside Greece, and dependence on trade.

12.  Good harbors supported merchants and traders whose contacts brought cultural changes and technology.

13.  Mild climate promoted public life outdoors, where people knew each other and discussed issues and news, resulting in an increase in civic life.

14.  Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion (belief in more than one god or deity) that was integral to the culture, politics, and art in ancient Greece.

15.  Many of modern Western civilization’s idealized images, literary and political symbols, and political vocabulary come from ancient Greek mythology.

16.  Mythology: A rich collection of stories/ myths about Greek gods/goddesses explaining the mysteries of nature and human life

17.  Greek gods: Representations of essential human qualities which have continued as symbols and images in modern Western literature and art

18.  Religion: Polytheism- many gods including Zeus, Hera, Athena, Dionysus, Hestia, Poseidon, Aphrodite: gods considered a part of public life.

19.  With limited agricultural land, the Greeks migrated to new locations outside Greece, colonizing the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

20.   Greek colonies were established to ease overcrowding in mainland Greece.

21.  Wine and olive products were exchanged for grain to support home cities.

22.   Commercial expansion brought farmers from villages to the cities as skilled craftsmen.

Ÿ         Trade between Greek city-states and Greek colonies produced a commercial revolution in the area. Contact with the Fertile Crescent expanded culture and trade.

Ÿ         Greek merchants traded throughout the Mediterranean area replacing barter with a money economy.

Ÿ          Trade advanced Greek culture and influence in the Mediterranean region.

23.  Participation by male citizens in the affairs of Athens was an accepted part of daily life. These rights and responsibilities evolved into an organized system of government that is the foundation of modern democracies.

Ÿ         The Polis (city-state), center of Greek identity, commanded intense loyalty-a citizen was first member of the polis. There were three groups of inhabitants:

24.  Citizens-adult males who typically operated businesses in the agora (open marketplace)

25.  Free people with no political rights-women who cared for the household

26.  Noncitizens -slaves who had no rights

Ÿ         Citizenship was based on the belief that human beings are rational individuals

Ÿ         Democratic government developed in stages as Greeks struggled to meet the challenges of the time.

27.  Civic decisions were made in open debate. Men were expected to participate in public life.

28.  Athens was the primary city-state in Greece after 750 B.C. or bce., and its government passed through four distinct stages:

Ÿ         Monarchy: rule by one person inheriting power by family succession

Ÿ         Aristocracy: rule by a small group of nobles

Ÿ         Tyranny: rule by one person, the tyrant, who seized power

Ÿ         Democracy: rule by an assembly in which citizens could vote

 

The struggle for power was often influenced by the plight of farmers.

 

Two aristocrats worked for reforms that led to democracy:

1.      Draco created written laws with severe punishments.

2.      Solon improved the legal system and expanded participation in the Assembly.

 

By successfully repelling the mighty invasions of Persia, the Greeks preserved their political independence and individual freedom.

 

1.       Persian wars united the Greeks against an external enemy. Victories at Marathon and Salamis left Greeks in control of the Aegean area.

 

With the threat of external invasion removed, the Greeks, particularly the Athenians, developed a Golden Age of Greece  in which Greek art, philosophy, and culture flourished.

 

Competition between Sparta and Athens for control of Greece culminated in the catastrophic Peloponnesian War.

 

Ÿ         Causes of the Peloponnesian War

1.       Athenian dominance of Greek city-states in the Delian League

2.      Sparta’s competition with Athena for control

 

Ÿ         Effects of the Peloponnesian War

1.      Hellenistic Period ended

2.      Greece left vulnerable to invasion

3.      Cultural development arrested

 

Pericles so dominated life in Athens that his years of leadership were called the Golden Age. Hellenic culture reached its height during the Age of Pericles.

 

1.       Pericles developed a democracy where all adult male citizens had an equal voice in government.

2.      Pericles rebuilt Athens after its destruction in the Persian Wars-- the Parthenon is an example of this reconstruction/

3.       Athens, under Pericles, created the Delian League, and alliance of Greek city-states, as a defense against external enemies.

4.      During the Golden Age of Greece or Periclean Era; art, drama, philosophy, science, mathematics, and architecture flourished in Athens.

Ÿ         Contributions of the Ancient Greeks

Ÿ         Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

Ÿ         Drama: Aeschylus and Euripides

Ÿ         Poetry: Homer (bard)

Ÿ         History: Herodotus

Ÿ         Sculpture: Phidias

Ÿ         Architecture: Parthenon and columns (Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian)

Ÿ         Science: Archimedes and Hippocrates

Ÿ         Mathematics: Euclid and Pythagoras

 

The Macedonia conquest of Greece followed the weakening of Greek defense during the Peloponnesian War.

 

Alexander the Great adopted Greek culture, spreading Hellenistic thought throughout his vast empire.

 

1.       Phillip II conquered most of Greece, and his son, Alexander the Great, conquered the Persian Empire, extending his influence from Macedonia/Greece to the Indus River Valley.

 

Alexander carried Greek culture to conquered territories.

 

Ÿ          Conquered people combined Greek culture with their own

Ÿ         Greek was spoken by leaders throughout Mesopotamia and Egypt (Cultural Exchange)

Ÿ         The Hellenistic Age lasted until the rise of the Roman Empire

 

The geography of Rome was defined by its location on the Italian Peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea.

Ÿ         Location on the Italian peninsula created a natural crossroads for trade, cultural exchange, and conquest in the Mediterranean basin. (Rome, Italy is centrally located in the Mediterranean Region.)

Ÿ         The Alps provided Italy protection from invading forces, as did the seas surrounding the Italian peninsula.

 

Roman mythology was based upon a polytheistic religion that was integral to Ancient Rome’s culture, politics, and art.

1.      Roman mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was integral to Ancient Rome’s culture, politics, and art.

 

Many idealized images, literary and political symbols, and political vocabulary in modern Western culture are derived from Ancient Roman mythology.

 

Roman gods and goddess were based on Greek Mythology.

Ÿ          Roman gods and goddesses

Ÿ         Jupiter

Ÿ         Juno

Ÿ         Neptune

Ÿ         Apollo

Ÿ         Mars

Ÿ         Venus

 

The Roman Republic contained three classes:

 

Patricians - nobility (few in number)

Plebeians -  majority of population consisting of landowners,  townspeople, merchants, and small farmers

 slaves -  people forced into servant classes by conquest

 

Roman citizens held rights and responsibilities not available to slaves and non-Romans living in the Republic.

 

Citizenship was held by all patricians and plebeians and extended to a few aliens as a privilege. All citizens could vote but had the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the military.

 

Two consuls were elected by the Assembly to serve Rome for one year. They could veto decisions made by the Assembly.

 

Representation: Patricians served in the Senate and Assembly. Plebeians served as tribunes, later gaining right to make the laws of Rome. The laws of Rome were codified as the Twelve Tables.

 

Three Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage (modern day Tunisia, North Africa) with Hannibal invading Rome at one point. The wars led to development of a powerful Roman navy and the destruction of Carthage.

 

With the defeat of Carthage, Rome was unchallenged in the Western Mediterranean Sea leading to the conquest of Western Europe.

 

Conquest of lands around the Eastern Mediterranean spread Greco-Roman culture, expanded trade, changed the character of the Roman army, and created great wealth.

 

Julius Caesar led Rome in the conquest of Gaul (modern day France) and the British Isles (modern day Great Britain). Civil war between Caesar and the Senate made Julius Caesar dictator for life.

 

Causes for the decline of the Roman Republic

Ÿ         Spread of slavery in the agricultural system

Ÿ         Migration of small farmers into cities and unemployment

Ÿ         Civil war over the power of  Julius Caesar

Ÿ         Devaluation of Roman currency inflation

Augustus Caesar became the first emperor of Rome after he defeated Mark Anthony.

 

Reasons for the rise of Imperial Rome

Ÿ          Civil war, giving rise to Augustus Caesar

Ÿ         Failure to provide for the succession of emperors

 

Both Caesars enlarged the Roman Empire and used the army as a basis for power.

 

Economic life in Rome remained prosperous even though the emphasis of trade shifted to the Mediterranean basin. Inflation resulting from military conquests and defense continued to plague the economy.

 

Social life was disturbed by civil wars.

 

Economic Impact of the Roman Empire

 

Ÿ          Established uniform system of money, enhancing trade

Ÿ         Guaranteed safe travels and trade on Roman roads

Ÿ         Promoted prosperity and stability

 

Social impact

Ÿ          Returned stability to social classes

Ÿ         Increased emphasis on the family

 

Political Impact

 

Ÿ          Created a civil service

Ÿ         Developed a uniform rule of law

 

The uniform applications of law provided a foundation for law in nations that developed in Western Europe.

 

Christian beliefs

Ÿ         One God

Ÿ         Jesus as Son of God

Ÿ         Life after death

Ÿ         Church recognition of all that believe

Ÿ         All people equal before God

 

Christianity established by

 

Ÿ         Monotheism was in conflict with polytheism

Ÿ         Persistence of early Christian

Ÿ         le to persecution (Nero)

Ÿ         Constantine converted to Christianity and ended persecution

Ÿ         Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire

 

Judaism

Ÿ         One God

Ÿ         God’s covenant with the Hebrews as the Chosen People

Ÿ         Ten Commandments regarded as the moral and religious laws of conduct

 

Important people of Judaism

Ÿ         Abraham

Ÿ         Moses

 

Contributions of Judaism to modern Western civilization

Ÿ         Monotheism

Ÿ         Ten Commandments

Ÿ         Old Testament

Ÿ         All people equal before the law

 

Organization of the Roman Catholic Church

Ÿ          Bishop of Rome (Pope) was leader of the church

Ÿ         Bishops directed the church in religious districts

Ÿ         Priests served the church in the parish

 

As civil authority declined in the Roman Empire, the church sustained public life through its moral authority. Gradually, people gave their first loyalty to the church rather than to Rome.

 

Rome adopted and extended Greek achievements in religion, philosophy, architecture, arts, and science.

 

Contributions of Rome

Ÿ         Art/Architecture: Pantheon, Coliseum, and Forum

Ÿ         Technology: roads, aqueducts

Ÿ         Science: Ptolemy

Ÿ         Language: Latin, Romance languages

Ÿ         Literature: Virgil’s Aeneid

Ÿ         Religion: Roman mythology

Ÿ         Law: Twelve Tables, “innocent until proven guilty”

 

Roman architecture has been reproduced in Western building. Roman mythology has provided imagery in Western art and literature.

 

Causes for the decline of the Roman Empire

Ÿ         Economy: the cost of defense and devaluation of Roman coin

Ÿ         Military: changes in army membership and discipline

Ÿ         Moral decay: people’s loss of faith in Rome and the family

Ÿ         Political problems: imperial succession and civil conflict

Ÿ         Invasion: barbarian attacks

 

Divided empire

Diocletian divided the Empire into the eastern and western regions.

 

Constantine sought to reform the Empire, building a great capital at Byzantium and renaming it Constantinople.

 

Rome ceased to have a Roman emperor in 476 A.D.

Leadership in  the Roman Empire under Diocletian and Constantine contributed to the strength of Constantinople while it weakened Rome.

 

Advantages of the imperial capital at Constantinople over Rome

Ÿ         Proximity to trade with the Near and Far East (Silk Road)

Ÿ         Stronger military in the East

Ÿ         Constantinople easier to defend from external enemies

Ÿ         Constantinople heavily fortified

Ÿ         Eastern empire more prosperous (Byzantine empire)

Ÿ         Important Byzantine leaders:

1.      Justinian: directed the codification of Roman law that serves most European countries today (the code of Justinian); tried to expand the Empire through warfare

2.      The Code of Justinian  provided justice for diverse peoples governed by the Empire

3.      Justinian’s Code became the basis for European law codes

4.      Stoicism and Epicureanism were adopted from Greek and Roman philosophies

5.      Greek language divided Byzantium from the Latin-speaking peoples of the West.

6.      Constantinople became the center of Christian orthodoxy in competition with the church of Rome.

7.      The growth of differences

8.      Patriarch of Constantinople refused to accept the primacy of the Pope in Rome.

9.      Icons  were opposed in Byzantium while supported in Rome.

10.  Celibacy of priests was required in Rome but not in Byzantium

11.  Roman Catholic services were conducted in Latin; Greek was used in Constantinople.

12.  Icons represented the holiness of the subject

13.  Mosaics, adopted from the Muslim world, were used to decorate public and religious structures.

14.  Domed structures were built on rectangular walls; Hagia (Saint) Sophia in Istanbul is an example. The Hagia Sophia; a Christian church, is now an Islamic mosque.

Ÿ         Saint Cyril converted the Slavic people to Christianity

Ÿ         Saint Cyril adapted the Greek alphabet (Cyrillic alphabet) to create a written Slavic language that is still in use in Russia, Bulgaria, and parts of eastern Europe.

Ÿ         Conversion of the Slavs and Russians brought these people into contact with Byzantine culture, visible in Russian architecture.

 

 

Ÿ          

Location

 

Ÿ         Nomadic life of Bedouin peoples in Saudi Arabia (Arabian Peninsula)

Ÿ         Religious belief - Islam

Ÿ         Monotheistic faith - belief in one god

Ÿ         Acceptance of earlier prophets and revelations

1.      Abraham

2.      Moses

3.      Jesus

Ÿ         Qu’ran (Koran) as God’s word to Mohammed

Ÿ         Muhammad, the last prophet

Ÿ         All people equal before God

 

Religious practices (The five  Pillars of Faith)

Ÿ         Creed- there is one God

Ÿ         Alms- giving money to the poor (2.5%)

Ÿ         Daily prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca or Mekkah

Ÿ         Pilgrimage to Mecca

 

Among Muslim  (Islam) religious practices was religious tolerance for Christians (Christianity) and Jews (Judaism).

 

Great capitals were built in Mesopotamia, in Damascus, and in Baghdad. The Muslim Empire preserved and extended ancient Greek learning making contributions in mathematics, science, banking, and literature

 

Sects or divisions within Islam:

Shiite less than 10%

Sunni about 89%

Mystic sect - Sufis

 

Jewish (Judaism) beliefs        Christian (Christianity) beliefs                      Islamic beliefs

one God                                   one God                                               one God

Jesus is a person                       Jesus is the son of God             Jesus is a prophet

Sacred text                               Sacred text                                           Sacred

Torah, Talmud                          Old and New Testaments                     Qu'ran (Koran)

and Hebrew Bible                    

 

Salvation through just                Salvation by following teachings            Salvation by following

and moral life                            of Jesus                                                Five Pillars and living

                                                                                                            a just life

Moral code of behavior            Moral code of behavior                        Moral code of

                                                                                                            behavior

 

 

Islamic (Moslem)s