Key Social Science Terms and Post-Neolithic Developments

Study Notes

Political: Pertains to governance and the administration of society.
Society: Encompasses economic class structures, gender roles, and social stratification.
Cultural: Involves characteristics such as religion, language, and arts that define local identities.
Economic: Relates to systems of trade and the exchange of goods and services.

Post-Neolithic Era Developments

Population Growth: Led to the need for organized city coordination.
Patriarchal Monarchies: Developed based on the physical demands of labor and warfare, with monarchs ruling by divine right.

Elites: Consist of priests, officials, and rulers who hold power.
Lower Classes: Comprise workers, slaves, and laborers within the societal structure.

Successful River Valley Civilizations

Mesopotamia: Centered around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Indus Valley: Notable for civilizations like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro along the Indus River.
China: Developed around the Yellow River.
Egypt: Flourished along the Nile River.
Expansion: Civilizations often grew through military conquest or diplomatic means.

Cultural and Societal Influence

Cultural Absorption: Dominant cultures frequently incorporated elements from conquered societies.
Monument Construction: Grand structures such as the Egyptian pyramids and Mesopotamian ziggurats were built using forced labor or enslaved individuals.

Early Writing and Laws

Writing Systems: Cuneiform originated from the Sumerians; Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Phoenician alphabet were also significant.
Legal Codes: Ur-Nammu’s Code (2100 BCE) and Hammurabi’s Code (1754 BCE) were enacted, favoring elite classes.

Divine Monarchy

Leadership Claim: Monarchs often presented themselves as divine beings or intermediaries of gods.
China’s Mandate of Heaven: Rulers believed to have received divine endorsement for their authority.

Bronze Age (3300–1200 BCE)

Metallurgy: Represented significant advancements in metalworking.
Prominent Empires: Egypt and Mesopotamia were key powers of the era.
Invasions: The ‘Sea Peoples’ contributed to the collapse of several Bronze Age civilizations.

Mesopotamian Empires

Akkadian Empire: Established as the first effective empire under Sargon of Akkad.
Hittites: Introduced new technologies including iron, horses, and chariots, heralding the Iron Age (1200–550 BCE).
Assyrians and Babylonians: Recognized as dominant powers in later periods.

Persian Achaemenid Empire (6th Century BCE)

Cyrus the Great: Expanded Persia into a vast multi-ethnic empire.
Central Administration: Implemented a bureaucratic system aided by local governors known as satraps.
Cultural Toleration: Promoted freedom of religion and culture, minimizing rebellions.

Greek Civilization

City-States: Featured Athens with a democratic system and Sparta as a militaristic monarchy.
Cultural Achievements: Significant contributions were made in fields like medicine, philosophy, and science.
Alexander the Great: United Greece, conquered Persia, and propagated Greek culture throughout Asia.

Roman Empire

Military Expansion: Successfully defeated Carthage in the Punic Wars and conquered Macedonia.
Julius Caesar: Rose to power, granting land and citizenship to supporters.
Fall of Rome: The Western Roman Empire collapsed in 485 CE due to Germanic invasions; the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) persisted.

India and Hinduism

Caste System: A rigid social hierarchical structure based on dharma (duty).
Buddhism: Emerged as a response to Hindu teachings, advocating for the cessation of suffering through achieving nirvana.
Mauryan and Gupta Empires: Key in propagating Buddhism and fostering a Golden Age in science, mathematics, and art.

Chinese Dynasties

Qin Dynasty (221 BCE): Known for Legalism, centralized bureaucracy, and extensive infrastructure development.
Confucianism: Emphasized moral integrity and familial loyalty.
Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE): Expanded trade and culture, laying the groundwork for the Silk Roads.

Zoroastrianism

Monotheistic Belief: Worshipped Ahura Mazda as the supreme deity.
Influence: Introduced moral dualism impacting later religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism and Christianity

Second-Temple Judaism: Focused on monotheism with the anticipation of a Messiah.
Emergence of Christianity: Founded by Jesus of Nazareth, spread within the Roman Empire and was formally recognized by Constantine through the Edict of Milan in 313 CE.

Key Terms and Concepts

Patriarchal Monarchy: Kings claiming divine authority to justify their rule.
Empire: A large political structure governed by a single monarch over diverse territories.
Caste System: Strict social stratification in Indian culture.
Satrap: Local governance role in the Persian Empire.

Description

Explore essential social science terms that define political, cultural, and economic aspects of society. This quiz also delves into significant developments following the Neolithic era, including population growth and the emergence of patriarchal monarchies. Test your knowledge on how these factors shape our modern understanding of society.