Review for Semester Exam, Fall 24 PDF

Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 Foundations, Units I & II: Part I: Neolithic (Agricultural) Revolution 1. How did Neolithic humans survive before the practice of agriculture? a. They were Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers, which meant they moved around frequently and hunted for th...

Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 Foundations, Units I & II: Part I: Neolithic (Agricultural) Revolution 1. How did Neolithic humans survive before the practice of agriculture? a. They were Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers, which meant they moved around frequently and hunted for their food. 2. What were the economic changes that took place due to the development of agriculture? What were some of the social changes? a. Economic: Irrigation was put to use, mass food was produced, fewer farmers were needed, and new skills were developed. b. Social: Specialized workers emerged, leading to a shift in the social hierarchy. Religion focused on weather and alleviating fear. The state replaced kinship as the basic organizing principle of society, and the development of the wheel and sail increased trade. 3. What are the five characteristics of civilization? a. Advanced cities, Specialized workers, Complex infrastructure, Record keeping, Advanced technology (Bronze Age) 4. What is cultural diffusion? a. The trade of goods and ideas between different cultures. Part II: Egyptian Old & Middle Kingdoms & Early China 5. What about Egyptian culture made it possible for them to build such massive structures? a. They had stone tools, unlimited human power, and efficient rulers, as well as a well-functioning society. 6. What were some of the innovations and inventions made by the Egyptian people? a. Hieroglyphics and papyrus (paper), advances in chemistry and human anatomy from mummification, and a calendar based on the star Sirius, only 6 hours off from the solar year. 7. How did the early Chinese civilizations practice their religion? a. They worshiped many gods but primarily focused on honoring male ancestors. 8. How did the Chinese emperors legitimize their claim to rule? a. By using the Mandate of Heaven, introduced by the Zhou dynasty. Part III: The Early Indus Valley 9. What event caused people to start asking questions about the place of god and man? a. The violent war of the kingdom of Magadha. 10. Why was reincarnation needed in Hinduism? a. Because an individual is reborn until moksha is achieved. 11. How was reincarnation, the caste system, and karma all connected within society? a. After you die, your karma determines if you are reincarnated lower or higher in society. 12. What is Nirvana? Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 a. The release from selfishness and suffering, an end to samsara Part IV: Israel 13. Where do we get most of our information about the early Hebrews? a. Through archaeological excavations, Egyptian and Assyrian writings, but mostly from the Torah of the Hebrew Bible (begins around 200 BCE). 14. How was Yahweh different from other gods? a. Yahweh was not human-like and not only cared about worship but also how people treated others. 15. What is ethical monotheism? a. The emphasis on right conduct and the worship of only one god. 16. What were David's accomplishments as King of Israel? a. David unified the tribes, captured Jerusalem and made it the capital, collected taxes, created an army, and expanded Israel's borders. 17. How did the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel fall? a. The northern kingdom fell to Assyrians in Samaria; the southern fell to Babylonians that defeated Judah, leading to Exile. 18. What was the Babylonian Captivity? a. The Babylonian Captivity occurred when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon's Temple and took survivors to Babylon. Part V, Archaic Greece, The Golden Age, & Hellenism 19. What are the major geographic features of Greece? a. Mostly mountainous with 1,400 islands, only 20% arable land, poor resources, many harbors. 20. What major developments came to Greece during the early Archaic Age? a. The Phoenicians introduced the alphabet and trade knowledge around 800 BCE. Better farming and imported resources increased population, this increase led to Mediterranean colonies. 21. Why did the ancient Greeks write their mythologies? a. To help understand nature and human behavior, gods were given human traits and were central figures alongside great heroes. 22. What were some of the main themes that the Greeks developed (concerning humanity) during the Archaic Age? a. Individualism and humanism, emphasizing the value of individual talents, uniqueness, and rights, which became crucial parts of Western civilization. 23. Why did the Golden Age of Greece occur? a. After defeating the Persian Empire in the Greco-Persian Wars, a period of celebration and creativity emerged. 24. How and why did Socrates "search for truth?" a. Socrates sought truth by urging Greeks to question their morals, aiming to find meaning in life and guide them to true happiness. 25. What is the most important cultural impact of Alexander the Great's empire? Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 a. The spread of Hellenistic culture, which lasted for a thousand years and greatly influenced Rome. Part VI: The Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire 26. What were the characteristics of the geography around Rome? a. Central location on the Italian Peninsula. Tiber River for water. Many natural resources. Long growing season for crops. Plenty of arable land. 27. Why did Rome create its republic? What was the basic structure of Rome's republic? a. To create a balanced government: a combination of 2 consuls (Monarchy), the Senate (Aristocracy), and the assemblies (Democracy). 28. Who fought in the Punic Wars? What was the reason for the conflict? a. Rome and Carthage both sought control of the Mediterranean. 29. What problems were caused by the success of the latifundia? a. Caused the gap between the rich & poor to widen to the point it left people homeless/jobless. b. Led to a Civil War between the government and its citizens. 30. How did Caesar become a dictator? What changes did he make to improve Rome? a. He removed his rivals Crassus and Pompey and was chosen by the people of Rome to be dictator. b. He made reforms, created jobs for the poor, and established colonies for landless individuals. 31. What economic and military troubles did Rome suffer from? a. Pirates disrupted trade; less expansion led to fewer precious metals. Overworked soil caused harvest issues, leading to inflation, famine, and disease. Army discipline and loyalty collapsed, mercenaries showed no loyalty, local officials and tax collectors quit their posts, and municipal aristocracy disappeared. 32. What are some of the ideas passed from Rome to us today? a. Greco-Roman culture, Latin and modern Romance languages and qualities from Roman law such as equal treatment for all under the law, innocence until proven guilty, burden of proof on the accuser and punishment for actions not thoughts. Part VII: The Rise of Christianity 33. What situation existed (between the Jews and the Romans) in Judea at the time of Jesus's public ministry? a. The Romans oppressed the Jews, insisting on a state religion honoring the emperor as a god. This divided the Jews into two groups: Zealots who wanted to get rid of the Roman military, and others who believed a Messiah would save them. 34. What were the major themes of Jesus's teachings and how did the Romans and the Jewish leadership react to those teachings? a. He stressed a personal relationship with God and the importance of love for God, your neighbors, and even your enemies. He also spoke out against the selfishness of Jewish religion and politics. Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 b. The Roman leaders feared his rising popularity, and the Jewish leaders rejected him as the Messiah. They arrested and crucified him. 35. Why is the death, resurrection, and ascendancy of Jesus so critical for Christianity? a. His resurrection and ascendancy after death proved to the Jews he was the Messiah. 36. Why did the Romans persecute Christians? What role did the martyrs play? a. They saw the religion as immoral and indecent, and thought the Eucharist was a ritual of cannibalism. b. Martyrs died for their beliefs and inspired others to become Christian. 37. What were some of the reasons why Christianity spread the way it did? a. It embraced all people, gave hope to the powerless, offered a personal relationship with a loving god, and promised eternal life after death. 38. What leaders played a part in making Rome a safe place for Christians? a. Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity in Rome; Theodosius made it the official state religion Part VIII: The Middle Ages 39. What event ushered in the Middle Ages? What were the major setbacks that occurred after Rome fell? a. The fall of Rome. b. Cities shrank as people moved to rural areas, roads fell into disrepair, and bartering replaced coins in many places. With Germanic tribes in control, education declined, trade slowed, and Western Europe became self-sufficient. 40. How did the actions of the Vikings and other invaders lead to feudalism? a. People sought protection from wealthy landowners, who then hired them to work the land, similar to slavery in trade for protection. 41. What were the major characteristics of the manorial system? a. Military protection for peasants and serfs is provided if they help work the land, leading to little individual advancement and benefiting nobles and creating a self-sufficient system. 42. What is canon law, and why is it so important to the Catholic Church? What could the pope do to someone who broke cannon law? a. Canon law is when the Pope or a patriarch calls a council of bishops to decide if a belief is true or false. It is important for the mission of the Church. b. The Pope could excommunicate or interdict those who broke canon law. 43. What factors lead to the explosive growth of population and trade between 1000 and 1200? a. Technological improvements, agricultural technologies, warmer climate, three-field system, & a harness that fit horses as well as fairs for people to meet their daily needs, and the Jews becoming tax collectors and moneylenders. 44. Why did people begin to move back into towns and cities during this period? What effect did this have on the manorial system? a. People returned to towns and cities due to revival of trade, food surpluses, and technological advances. Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 b. Led to the end of the manorial system. Unit 1: Part I: Medieval Japan 45. What are some of the geographical features of Japan? a. Japan consists of 4,000 islands, with Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu being the main ones. Only 15% of its land can be farmed, and natural resources are scarce. 46. What was the early Japanese religion? What were the basic beliefs? a. The early Japanese religion was Shinto. b. They worshiped nature spirits called kami. 47. Who were the Yamato family and why were they so important to the history of Japan? How did they legitimize their role as imperial family? a. The Yamato family was the main clan claiming descent from Amaterasu, the sun goddess. They were the first and only dynasty in Japan, establishing imperialism and legitimizing their status as the imperial family. 48. What traditions of Chinese civilization were borrowed by the Japanese? Which traditions were left out? a. The Japanese borrowed Buddhism, Confucianism, and many principles of Chinese government and law. They left out the Mandate of Heaven. 49. Why did feudalism develop in Japan? a. Feudalism in Japan emerged as farmers traded land to warlords for protection due to dangers in the countryside. 50. What characteristics or values were most important to the samurai? a. Samurai valued complete obedience to lords, protecting the weak, and preserving their honor. 51. What role did the shogun play in Japanese history? a. The shogun was the military leader and made the emperor into their puppet due to his power. 52. What led to the Period of the Warring States in Japan? a. The Warring States period in Japan occurred because the shogun let local lords manage their provinces freely, resulting in greed for land and conflicts between provinces. 53. How did the Tokugawa Shogunate come to power? a. The Tokugawa Shogunate gained power when Leyasu won against his rivals at the Battle of Sekigahara. This was after Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Leyasu united to defeat non-joining daimyo. 54. Who were the first Europeans to appear in Japan? What goods and ideas did they bring with them? a. The first Europeans in Japan were Portuguese merchants. They sold firearms, changing the samurai's perspective, and Christian missionaries also converted some Japanese people. Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 55. What reaction did the Shogun have to the peasant uprising in 1637? a. The Shogun blamed the rebellion on Christians, banned and persecuted Christians, and forced conversion to Buddhism on others. Part II: The Southern Song and the Yuan Dynasty 56. How did domination by the Jin Dynasty lead to positive economic change for the Song? a. The Song paid tribute to the Jin, who used the money to buy southern goods, supporting China's commercial revolution. 57. What agricultural discovery was the catalyst for the Commercial Revolution? How did it change the economy and how did it affect the lives of the Chinese people? a. The discovery of Champa rice started the Commercial Revolution by enabling food surpluses due to its fast growth. This change provided Chinese people with opportunities to grow cash crops, gain new skills, start businesses, and depend on the marketplace. 58. How did things both improve and worsen for women in China during this time? a. Things improved for women in China during this time as they gained access to education, and in some areas, managing household finances became more valued than beauty. However, they faced challenges like having many children and the practice of foot binding. 59. What discoveries helped to improve literacy rates in China? How did these improvements affect their education system? a. The discovery of woodblock printing, and then movable type in the 10th century, helped to improve literacy rates in China. These improvements affected their education system by allowing people to take more civil service exams, which led to a meritocracy where 90% of government officials earned their position through testing. 60. Why would a nomadic group stop trading with settled towns and cities? a. A nomadic group would choose to rob and kill citizens instead of trading with settled towns and cities. 61. How was the Yuan Dynasty created? a. The Yuan Dynasty was created after Kubilai (Khan) conquered the Southern Song. 62. What were some of the beneficial ideas and goods that were traded throughout the Mongol Empire? a. Beneficial goods traded in the Mongol Empire included silk, gunpowder, pharmacology methods, and engineering techniques(thanks to the post relay system). 63. What were some of the economic problems caused by the Khanates in Eurasia? How did the Mongols see merchants in their society? a. Economic issues caused by the khanates in Eurasia included tax farming, where local governors over-taxed for personal gain, harming the economies of other civilizations. Mongols valued merchants, raising their status in society. 64. What situations led to a greatly weakened Yuan Dynasty? Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 a. The Yuan Dynasty weakened due to tax farming that impoverished farmers, declining crop production, neglected dams, and destructive floods. People fled south to escape floods,Mongol princes sparked civil wars, and the Black Death caused a 40% population drop. Part III: The Rise of Islamic Civilization 65. Who did Muhammad believe he heard while meditating? What were the main themes of the messages he claimed to have received? a. Muhammad believed he heard Gabriel (an angel) while meditating. His 4 main messages included that he was the last prophet, Allah is the only god, good and evil exist, and everyone will stand before Allah on Judgement Day. 66. What were the five pillars of Islam? a. Faith, Prayer, Alms, Fasting, and Pilgrimage. 67. What was the main holy book of Islam? a. The main holy book of Islam is the Quran. 68. What beliefs separated the Sunnis & the Shi’ites? a. The Sunnis supported the Umayyads, while the Shi’ites disagreed, believing only Muhammad's descendants should be caliphs. Sunnis had more followers than Shi’ites. 69. What were the main differences in the way the Umayyads ruled compared to those who came before? How were the Abbasids different in their ruling style from the Umayyads? a. The main difference was that the Umayyads lived lives of luxury. The Abbasids were different as they focused on education, theology, and law when they ruled. 70. Why was the time in which the Abbasids ruled called the Golden Age of Islam? a. The time Abbasids ruled is known as the Golden Age of Islam due to the major developments in law, urbanization, conversion, and social structure. 71. What is hadith? How did gaps in Shari'a law lead to collections of the hadith? a. The hadith is a collection of Muhammad's words. Gaps in Shari'a law led to the hadith becoming the basis for Islamic law. 72. What were the reasons for the increase in urbanization during Abbasid rule? a. The reasons included conversion (new converts needed to live near Muslims for guidance) and cities gained tax revenues, boosting economic opportunities. Part IV: The Silk Roads, Indian Ocean Trade, and Trans-Saharan Trade 73. What were the two major time periods of use concerning the Silk Roads? a. 100 BCE to 907 BCE when the Tang empire Collapsed b. 13th to 17th centuries CE 74. What military techniques were spread by the Silk Roads? Which religions? a. Chariot warfare, mounted bowmen, and stirrups. b. Christian, Hinduism, and Buddhism. 75. What impact did diseases have on cities along the Silk Roads? a. Infection and contagious disease like measles, smallpox and the Black death weakened many classical societies causing political, social and economic chaos Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 76. How did the Silk Roads affect the way people from different societies treated each other? a. The views on outsider nomads changed because they helped trade between empires. Warfare was rare along the road to protect trade, and eastern and western empires merged various cultures into a larger economy. 77. What was the significance of the ports along the Indian Ocean routes? How did marriage in these ports affect society during this period? a. The ports promoted communication and exchange, and it also created economic and social ties between East Africa, Southern Arabia, the Persian Gulf, India, Southeast Asia and Southern China. Marriage created Bilingual and Bicultural families 78. How did the fall of Rome affect north Africa and trade across the Sahara? a. There was less emphasis on mediterranean trade, abandonment of Roman settlements, an increase in nomadism, conflict between Islam & Christianity disrupted maritime trade, and a shift of trade to the Middle East. 79. What were the major trade goods that passed through the Kingdom of Ghana? a. Ghana traded gold, ivory, and slaves for horses, cloth, and salt. Unit 2: Part I, Gunpowder Empires: 80. What were some characteristics that the Gunpowder Empires had in common? a. All Muslim empires descended from Turkic nomadic groups, spoke Turkic languages, took over old Mongol Khanates and used gunpowder weapons to defeat their enemies. 81. What was the practice of devshirme and why was it used? Who were the Janissaries, and what were their roles? a. Ottoman sultans took Christian children from conquered areas for military service to secure loyalty to the empire instead of local rulers. Janissaries, known as "the Slaves of State," were Christian children converted to Islam. They eventually became governors and made money through tax farming, hurting the empire's economy. 82. What was the main reason for the ongoing conflicts between the Ottomans and the Safavids? a. The Safavid Empire used Shi'a Islam and fought against the Ottomans who were stronghold of Sunni Islam. 83. What characteristics made Akbar a great leader to his people? a. Akbar accepted all religions, allowed Hindus to be zamindars, promoted education and art, and tried to stop child marriage and sati. He tried to convert people to Din-i Ilahi, a religion blending Hinduism and Islam, to reduce conflict but failed. 84. Why did these empires build monumental architectural structures? What are some examples of these structures? Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 a. To gain respect and awe, Empires built impressive structures like the Ottomans' Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, the restoration of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, the Safavids' Shah Mosque, and the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife Part II, Later Middle Ages & Renaissance: 85. What changes resulted from the Black Death, Great Schism, and Hundred Years' War? Why do historians often say the Middle Ages ended in 1453? a. The Age of Faith ended due to the damage caused by the Great Schism and the Black Death. The Age of Chivalry died due to the use of the English longbow in the Hundred Years' War. b. These events led people to question the Church's teachings on enduring suffering for heaven and medieval society not allowing for social advancement, resulting in the Renaissance. 86. Why did the Renaissance take place in Italy? a. Northern Italy had thriving cities, wealthy merchants, and a classical Greek and Roman heritage.Trade routes from the Crusades created wealthy city-states, forming the urban society. 87. How did the main themes of humanism fit the anti-medieval attitude of the Renaissance? a. Humanism focused on human potential and achievement, unlike the medieval view of humans having flaws. 88. How did attitudes toward nobility change during the Renaissance? What inspired a renewed interest in classical scholars? a. Attitudes toward nobility shifted as the idea of individual merit gained popularity. Renaissance scholars wanted to return to ancient Greek and Roman knowledge. Part III, The Reformation: 89. How did the development of the printing press change Western Europe? a. The printing press allowed for cheap book production, increased reading, promoted use of the vernacular, and led people to criticize priests and demand religious reform. 90. What practice caused Luther to write his "95 Theses?" What was the reaction of the religious and secular authorities of the time? a. A friar named Johann Tetzel selling false indulgences b. Luther was excommunicated for refusing to recant his statements and declared an outlaw and a heretic by Emperor Charles V 91. Why did Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church? How did Parliament help him? a. Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church to legalize his divorce from Catherine. Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, making Henry head of the Church of England and enabling his divorce. 92. What was the legacy of the Reformation concerning western culture? Review for Semester Exam, Fall '24 a. The reformer’s rejection of Catholic authority eventually caused secular powers in the West to question Christian beliefs, leading people to seek answers from science, logic, and reason. Part IV, Scientific Revolution & the Enlightenment: 93. Why was the scientific method so revolutionary during this period? a. It changed how people sought answers, urging them to observe the world instead of relying on classical knowledge. 94. What was the main theme of the Enlightenment? How was it so different from the attitudes of previous centuries in Europe? a. The belief that reason could explain nature, the universe, human nature, and society differed from earlier European attitudes by relying on reason instead of religious beliefs for answers. Part V, The Maritime Revolution: 95. What technologies made these long sea voyages possible during this period? a. Europeans designed the sturdy caravel and used triangular sails to sail against the wind, along with the magnetic compass, astrolabe, and shipboard cannons. 96. What steps were taken by Portuguese and Spanish sailors to reach the East? a. The Portuguese took several steps to reach the East: Prince Henry founded a navigation school, created trading posts from Africa to Sierra Leone, Bartolomeu Dias reached Africa’s southern tip in 1488, and Vasco de Gama arrived in Calicut, India in 1498. The Spanish financed Christopher Columbus in 1492 to find Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. 97. How did Cortes and Pizzaro interact with the native populations of Central Mexico and South America? a. Cortes and Pizzaro forced native populations in Central Mexico and South America to work for goods like gold, capturing cities with the aid of diseases. 98. What was the encomienda system? How was it abolished? How did the end of this system help lead to the enslavement of Africans by Europeans? a. The encomienda system made natives work for Spanish landlords, often to death.It ended after complaints from priests and led to African enslavement as a new labor source.