Global History and Geography Regents Review

Global History and Geography I

Introduction to Global History and Geography

• Social scientists: historians, geographers, economists, and anthropologists study the world and its inhabitants.
• Historians study written records of past events.
• Geographers study the Earth's surface and its impact on humans, including topography, climate, human migrations, and adaptation to environments.
• Economists study how societies use available resources, focusing on goods and services production, distribution, and consumption.
• Anthropologists study past and present human cultures, including archaeologists who analyze physical remains.

Historical Sources

• Primary sources: firsthand records of historical events created by eyewitnesses (e.g., diaries, photographs, artifacts, autobiographies).
• Secondary sources: secondhand records of historical events created by people who did not experience the event (e.g., textbooks, encyclopedias, biographies).

The Neolithic Age (Neolithic Revolution)

• Period: 8000-3000 BC
• Key developments: agriculture, domestication of animals, settled farming, food surplus, and the eventual formation of civilizations.
• Impact: significant change in human society, leading to the development of civilizations.

Ancient Civilizations

• Definition: a complex and highly organized society with a government, social classes, job specialization, a food surplus, writing, and religious beliefs.
• Characteristics: developed in river valleys, polytheistic, traditional economic systems with barter, subsistence agriculture, and hereditary occupations.

Ancient River Valley Civilizations

• Egypt: developed hieroglyphics, constructed pyramids, and had a polytheistic religion.
• Mesopotamia (Sumer): developed cuneiform, created the Code of Hammurabi, and had a polytheistic religion.
• Harappan Civilization: had well-planned urban areas, was affected by seasonal monsoons, and had a polytheistic religion.
• China: had isolated societies, developed writing, and had a polytheistic religion.

Classical Civilizations

• Definition: more advanced and recent than ancient civilizations, often with a Golden Age of achievements.
• Greece: had a direct democracy, focused on culture, and was polytheistic.
• Rome: developed trade and transportation networks, created the Twelve Tables of Rome, and had a Pax Romana (Roman Peace).
• India: had a caste system, was ruled by the Maurya and Gupta Dynasties, and had a Golden Age of achievements.

Key Figures and Events

• Alexander the Great: conquered Greece, Egypt, Persia, and India, spreading Greek culture.
• Asoka: ruled India, converted to Buddhism, and wrote laws on rock pillars.
• Justinian: created the Justinian Code, a written set of laws.### Indian Caste System
• The Indian caste system is closely associated with the Hindu religion.
• The social class that a person is born into is based on the karma they developed in a previous life.

China

• During the classical period, China was ruled by two main dynasties: Qin and Han.
• Qin Dynasty (15 years):
  • Rulers based their government on the philosophy of Legalism.
  • Legalism believes that humans are evil and that harsh punishments are needed to keep order in society.
  • Similar to the Code of Hammurabi in ancient Mesopotamia.
• Han Dynasty (400 years):
  • Key features and achievements:
    • Trade and transportation networks developed, leading to wealth and growth.
    • Civil service system was established, where government positions were given to skilled people who passed difficult exams.

Silk Road

• The Silk Road was a long trade route that extended about 4,000 miles from China to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Cultural diffusion occurred along the Silk Road, leading to the exchange of goods and ideas between civilizations.

Monotheistic Religions

• Monotheistic religions believe in only one God.
• The three main monotheistic religions are Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
• Each religion has a code of behavior:
  • Ten Commandments for Jews and Christians.
  • Five Pillars for Muslims.

Religions and Philosophies of India

• Hinduism:
  • Believes in reincarnation, where the soul is reborn into another body.
  • Karma refers to the good and bad deeds done during a lifetime.
  • The goal of Hindus is to achieve Moksha, ending reincarnation and stopping the cycle of death and rebirth.
• Buddhism:
  • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).
  • Similar to Hinduism, believes in reincarnation and karma.
  • The goal of Buddhists is to achieve Nirvana, ending reincarnation and stopping the cycle of death and rebirth.

Philosophies of China

• Legalism:
  • Philosophy based on the idea that humans are evil and harsh punishments are needed to prevent crime and maintain order.
• Confucianism:
  • Major philosophy of China.
  • Key teachings include:
    • The Five Relationships, where every person has specific roles and obligations to maintain order and stability.
    • Filial Piety, where people must honor and respect their elders.

Nature Religions

• Believes that both living and non-living things in nature have a spirit.
• Two common nature religions are Shinto (practiced in Japan) and Animism (practiced in Africa).

Byzantine Empire

• Lasted from 500-1453 AD.
• Key features and achievements:
  • The people of the Byzantine Empire were mainly Greek in language and culture.
  • Constantinople was the capital city, a great location for trade.
  • Eastern Orthodox Religion was practiced.
  • Justinian Code, a written system of laws created by Emperor Justinian.

Legal Systems of the Ancient and Classical Worlds

• Code of Hammurabi:
  • Written set of laws used in ancient Mesopotamia.
  • Known for its harsh punishment of crimes.
• Twelve Tables of Rome:
  • Written set of laws used in the Roman Empire.
  • Favored the wealthy.
• Justinian Code:
  • Written set of laws used in the Byzantine Empire.
  • Based on old Roman laws and was later adopted by many countries in Europe.

The Golden Age of Islam

• Lasted from 700-1200 AD.
• Key achievements:
  • Amazing achievements in math, science, medicine, philosophy, and art.
  • Creation of medical encyclopedias.
  • Improvements in math, especially algebra.
  • Artwork, including calligraphy, woolen carpets, and textiles.

The Middle Ages

• Lasted from 400-1400 AD.
• Feudalism:
  • Political system where kings gave land away to nobles in return for loyalty and military service.
  • Nobles had to serve as knights and fight when necessary.
  • Feudalism brought social stability, order, and structure to the Middle Ages.
• Manorialism:
  • Most people lived on manors, areas of land owned by a noble.
  • Each manor had homes, farmland, artisans, water, and serfs.
  • Since each manor was self-sufficient, trade decreased during the Middle Ages.
• Crusades:
  • Religious wars where Christians fought to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslims.
  • Causes:
    • European Christians believed they would be forgiven for their sins if they fought for God.
    • European Christians believed the Holy Land should not be controlled by Muslims.
  • Effects:
    • After years of fighting, trade between Europe and the Middle East increased.
    • Europeans learned about the achievements of Muslims during their Golden Age.

The Golden Age of China

• Lasted from the 600s-1200s.
• Key achievements:
  • Invention of gunpowder.
  • Invention of the compass.
  • Invention of block printing.
  • Creation of works of art using porcelain.
• Cultural diffusion:
  • Buddhism became popular in China during this period.
  • The Chinese conducted long-distance trade with other civilizations.

Early Japanese History

• Geography:
  • Japan is an archipelago, a country made up of a group of islands.
  • Japan has a long and irregular coastline.
  • Japan is made up mostly of mountains, which has made farming difficult.
• Religion:
  • Shinto is the religion of Japan.
  • Shinto believes all living and non-living things in nature have a spirit.
  • Later, Buddhism also became popular in Japan.
• Influence of China on Japan:
  • Cultural diffusion:
    • Japan received many important things from China, including writing, Buddhism, and tea.
  • Japanese feudalism:
    • Similar to European feudalism.
    • Emperor and Shogun (military general) were the rulers of Japan.
    • Daimyo (wealthy nobles) were given land by the emperor and Shogun in return for loyalty and military service.
    • Samurai were the warriors of Japanese society.

African Civilizations

• Introduction to Africa:
  • Geography:
    • Africa has a very diverse geography.
    • Due to its many geographic features, Africa is a very diverse continent with many different cultures.
  • Religion:
    • Animism is the traditional religion that is native to Africa.
    • Animism believes all living and non-living things in nature have a spirit.
• Bantu Migrations:
  • One of the largest migrations of people in history.
  • The Bantu people scattered throughout southern Africa over the course of 2,000 years.
  • Major effects:
    • The Bantu language spread throughout southern Africa.
    • Iron technology and agricultural techniques spread throughout southern Africa.

West African Civilizations

• Three major civilizations developed in West Africa:
  • Ghana
  • Mali
  • Songhai
• Mansa Musa:
  • The most famous ruler of Mali.
  • He was a devoted Muslim who helped spread Islam in West Africa.
  • He made a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
  • He turned the city of Timbuktu into a center of trade and Islamic learning.

The Mongols

• The Mongol people originated on the steppes of Central Asia.
• The Mongols lived in a harsh physical environment and survived as nomadic pastoralists.
• Empire:
  • The Mongols conquered a vast amount of land and established the largest empire in history.
  • At its height, the Mongol empire included China, Central Asia, Russia, and much of the Middle East.
• Marco Polo:
  • An Italian merchant who visited the Mongols in China.
  • He remained in China for almost 20 years.
  • After returning to Italy, he wrote down extensive information about his experiences in China with the Mongols.### The Mongols and Marco Polo
• The Mongols were important for several reasons:
  • They increased trade and travel between Europe and Asia, keeping peace and preventing violence along trade routes like the Silk Road.
  • They influenced Russia, keeping it isolated from Western Europe and teaching them how to have a centralized government.
  • They were the first foreign group to completely conquer China.
  • They developed a tribute system, where areas taken over by the Mongols had to give them money each year.
• Marco Polo's writings are valuable primary sources that teach us about China during this period and increased the desire of Europeans to trade with China to obtain valuable goods.

The Transformation of Western Europe

The Black Death (1347-1351)

• The Black Death was a major disease (bubonic plague) that killed 25 million people in Europe, almost 1/3 of the population.
• The disease started in East Asia and spread to Europe over trade routes like the Silk Road.
• Major effects of the Black Death:
  • Depopulation: the population of Europe decreased from 85 million to 60 million.
  • The decline of feudalism, as serfs fled from manors for better opportunities.
  • Trade temporarily decreased.

The Renaissance (1400-1600)

• The Renaissance was the Golden Age of Western Europe, characterized by amazing achievements in the arts, literature, and science.
• Key characteristics:
  • Scholars studied art and books from ancient Greece and Rome.
  • Humanism, a focus on humans and life on earth instead of on God and Heaven.
• Famous artists of the Renaissance include Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
• Niccolo Machiavelli wrote "The Prince", a guide for government leaders, emphasizing the importance of absolute power and the ends justifying the means.

The Protestant Reformation (1500s)

• The Protestant Reformation was a religious revolution that challenged the Catholic Church and led to the division of Christianity.
• Causes of the Protestant Reformation:
  • Europeans were angry that the Catholic Church was too concerned with worldly issues (money and power).
  • They were angry about indulgences, reductions in punishment sold by the Catholic Church.
• Key leaders of the Protestant Reformation:
  • Martin Luther, a German monk who created the 95 Theses, arguing against the sale of indulgences.
  • Henry VIII, King of England, who separated from the Catholic Church due to a desire for a divorce.
  • John Calvin, a Swiss reformer who believed in predestination, the idea that God already knows who will be punished and who will be saved.
• Effects of the Protestant Reformation:
  • The power of the Catholic Church decreased.
  • The power of monarchs (kings) increased.
  • Religious unity in Europe came to an end.

Pre-Columbian Civilizations of the Americas

The Maya, Aztec, and Inca

• The pre-Columbian civilizations are societies that developed in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans.
• The three main pre-Columbian societies were the Maya, Aztec, and Inca.
• Each civilization was organized, developed, and advanced:
  • The Maya developed a calendar and writing system, and invented the use of zero in math.
  • The Aztec built a large empire, developed a calendar and writing system, and built "floating gardens" to farm in lakes.
  • The Inca developed a vast network of roads and footbridges in the Andes Mountains, and used terrace farming to adapt to their geography.

The Age of Exploration and Encounter

The Age of Exploration (1400s-1600s)

• The Age of Exploration and Encounter was the period when Europeans began sea voyages of exploration and colonization.
• Causes of the Age of Exploration:
  • Europeans wanted greater access to the spices and other products of Asia.
  • Europeans wanted to find sea routes to Asia since land routes were controlled by Muslims.
  • Improvements in navigational technology made long sea voyages possible.
• Key explorers:
  • Bartholomeu Dias, who rounded the Cape of Good Hope.
  • Vasco da Gama, who reached India by sailing around Africa.
  • Christopher Columbus, who reached the Americas.
  • Ferdinand Magellan, who circumnavigated the globe.
• Effects of the Age of Exploration:
  • The Americas were colonized by Europeans.
  • Encomienda System: Native Americans were forced to work on Spanish farming plantations and in Spanish mines.
  • Millions of Native Americans died due to diseases brought by Europeans.
  • Triangular Trade: Europeans traded goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
  • Columbian Exchange: the exchange of people, plants, animals, and ideas between the "Old World" and the "New World".