1 Semester Study Guide World History PDF

Unit 1: Origins of Civilization and Empire 1. How is pre-history distinguished from history? ○ Pre-history was the time before written records were kept. History starts when people began recording events through writing,like in the form of inscriptions, documents,...

Unit 1: Origins of Civilization and Empire 1. How is pre-history distinguished from history? ○ Pre-history was the time before written records were kept. History starts when people began recording events through writing,like in the form of inscriptions, documents, or books. 2. What were the causes and effects of the Agricultural Revolution? ○ Causes: Climate change (when the ice age ended) and the need for more stable food sources. ○ Effects: permanent civilizations, growth in population, specialization of labor (craftsmen, priests), social hierarchies, and the development of cities. 3. How did the domestication of plants and animals change the way people lived? ○ It allowed people to settle in one place, creating agricultural societies. This led to surplus food production, population growth, and the rise of cities and complex societies. 4. Explain and use for analysis the five characteristics of civilization. ○ Advanced Cities: Urban centers where trade and culture flourished. ○ Specialized Workers: Different roles in society like farmers, artisans, and priests. ○ Complex Institutions: Systems like government, religion, and economy. ○ Record Keeping: Writing systems (e.x cuneiform in Mesopotamia). ○ Advanced Technology: Tools and innovations like the wheel and irrigation. 5. How did geography impact the development of early civilizations? ○ Civilizations developed near rivers (like the Tigris-Euphrates and Nile) for fertile land, water, and transportation. Geography also influenced trade routes and interactions with neighboring cultures and cites. 6. What conditions led to the development of civilization in Mesopotamia? ○ The fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided the resources needed for farming and trade. Mesopotamians created irrigation systems to control flooding ○ a. Adaptations to the environment: Building canals, constructing city walls. ○ Changes to the environment: Deforestation and irrigation, which altered natural landscapes. 7. Explain the impact of the technological innovations of Mesopotamian civilization. ○ Innovations like the wheel, the plow, and cuneiform writing significantly impacted transportation, agriculture, communication, and record-keeping. 8. Why was Hammurabi’s Code a significant accomplishment of early civilization? ○ It was one of the earliest written legal codes, offering a standardized set of laws and justice, providing social order in Babylonian society. 9. Compare and contrast the Chinese Schools of Thought and apply them to various dynasties during China’s history.  ○ Confucianism: Emphasized social harmony, hierarchy, and respect (used by Han dynasty). ○ Daoism: Advocated for living in harmony with nature, minimal government interference (Tang Dynasty) ○ Legalism: Focused on strict laws and harsh punishments ( during the Qin dynasty). 10. What was the impact of the Mandate of Heaven on Chinese dynastic cycles? ○ It created the idea of the emperor's rule by “divine right”. When a dynasty became corrupt, it was believed to lose the Mandate, leading to rebellion and the start of a new dynasty. 11. What impact has Confucianism had on Chinese society? ○ Confucianism has shaped Chinese values, promoting respect for authority, filial piety, and the importance of education and family. 12. What influence did Chinese culture have on neighboring peoples? ○ Chinese inventions like paper, gunpowder, and silk, along with Confucian ideas, spread along the Silk Road to Europe. 13. How did the Silk Road impact trade, governance, and society in East Asia? ○ The Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange, spreading goods, ideas, and technologies, influencing governance and society in regions such as Central Asia, the Middle East, and China. Unit 2: Ancient Greece and the Persian Wars 1. Compare and contrast the governing styles of different Persian rulers. ○ Cyrus the Great: Tolerant, allowing conquered peoples to keep their customs. ○ Darius I: Reformed the empire, standardized laws and coinage, built the Royal Road. ○ Xerxes: Authoritarian, known for his failed invasions of Greece. 2. How did geography affect the formation of Greek city-states? ○ The mountainous terrain and islands led to the formation of independent city-states, where each had its own government and culture. 3. Evaluate how the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta were alike and different. ○ Athens: Democracy, focus on arts, education, and philosophy. ○ Sparta: Oligarchy, militaristic society with emphasis on discipline and strength. ○ Social Class: Athens had foreign slaves, while Sparta had state-owned slaves. ○ Gender roles: Women in Sparta had more freedom- they would practice athletics to make their body stronger for childbirth- compared to women in Athens who would stay home all day. 4. Contrast tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy in Greek governance. ○ Tyranny: Rule by an individual who seized power. ○ Oligarchy: Rule by a small group of elite citizens. ○ Democracy: Rule by the people (like in Athens, where citizens voted on decisions).  5. Describe Spartan and Athenian military strategy and its relevance in the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. ○ Spartan strategy: Focused on land warfare and soldiers. ○ Athenian strategy: Used naval power, since Athens was surrounded by water. 6. Explain the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Persian Wars. ○ Causes: Persian expansion into Greek territories. ○ Conduct: Battles like Marathon and Thermopylae ○ Consequences: Greek victory, decline of Persian influence, and the rise of Athens. 7. Explain the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Peloponnesian Wars. ○ Causes: Rivalry between Athens and Sparta. ○ Conduct: A series of conflicts lasting over 25 years, with the Spartans eventually winning. ○ Consequences: Weakening of Greek city-states and paving the way for invasion of surrounding lands. 8. List and evaluate the reforms of the Age of Pericles. ○ Expanded democracy, paid public officials, increased public works, and promoted culture. 9. Describe the contributions of major Greek historians, poets, philosophers, and mathematicians. ○ Historians: Herodotus (Father of History), Thucydides (Realist approach). ○ Philosophers: Socrates (Socratic method), Plato (Theory of Forms), Aristotle (logic and ethics). ○ Mathematicians: Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes. 10. Explain the rise of Alexander the Great and his various conquests. ○ Alexander united Greece, conquered the Persian Empire, Egypt, and parts of India, spreading Greek culture and ideas (Hellenism). 11. What are the components of Hellenistic culture and how did it spread? ○ A blend of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian cultures, spread through Alexander's empire. Unit 3: Han China and Ancient Rome Comparison 1. What methods did Qin Shi Huangdi use to unify Chinese society? ○ He standardized currency, weights, measures, and writing; built the Great Wall; and established a centralized bureaucracy. 2. Explain how Rome was founded, including Greek, Latin, and Etruscan influences. ○ Rome was founded by Latin-speaking Romans, influenced by Greek culture (art, philosophy) and Etruscan political and religious practices. 3. Describe the governing structures of the Roman Republic, including consuls, the Senate, and tribunes. ○ Consuls: Two elected officials with executive power.  ○ Senate: A group of aristocrats who advised and passed laws. ○ Tribunes: Representatives of the plebeians, with veto power. 4. Contrast the living conditions and political disparities between the Roman patricians and plebeians. ○ Patricians: Wealthy, land-owning elites with political power. ○ Plebeians: Commoners who had limited political rights but gained more power through reforms. 5. Explain the causes, conduct, and consequences of each of the three Punic Wars. ○ First Punic War: Rome fought Carthage over control of Sicily (Rome won). ○ Second Punic War: Carthage, led by Hannibal, invaded Italy but was defeated by Rome. ○ Third Punic War: Rome destroyed Carthage, ensuring dominance over the western Mediterranean. 6. Describe the rise of Julius Caesar alongside the fall of the Roman Republic. ○ Caesar’s military conquests and political alliances led to his dictatorship, weakening the Republic and leading to its eventual collapse. 7. Explain how Rome evolved from a republic to an empire. ○ Following Caesar’s assassination, Augustus became the first emperor, consolidating power and marking the end of the Republic. 8. List and describe the achievements of Augustus leading to the Pax Romana. ○ Reformed government, stabilized borders, and promoted arts and culture, bringing peace and prosperity to the empire. 9. Explain the contributions of the Romans to the fields of art, architecture, law, and science. ○ Architecture: Aqueducts, roads, and the Colosseum. ○ Law: The Twelve Tables and Roman legal principles. ○ Science: Advances in medicine, astronomy, and engineering. 10. List and describe the causes of the fall of Rome, and attempts to circumvent its demise. ○ Causes: Political instability, economic troubles, invasions, and military decline. ○ Attempts to fix: Reforms by Diocletian (division of empire) and Constantine (conversion to Christianity). 11. Explain the rise of Christianity, the means of its spread, and its greater impact. ○ Christianity spread through the Roman Empire via apostles like Paul. It ultimately became the state religion and deeply influenced Western culture. Unit 4: The Islamic World and the Middle Ages 1. Describe the rise and spread of Islam. ○ Rise: Islam began in the 7th century CE with the prophet Muhammad in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muhammad’s teachings, recorded in the Qur’an, spread rapidly  through the Arabian Peninsula. Islam emphasizes monotheism and submission to Allah. ○ Spread: Islam spread through military conquest, trade, and missionaries, all the way to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe.. 2. Connect Islam to its impact on art, knowledge, and philosophy in the region. ○ Art: Islamic art includes geometric patterns, calligraphy, and arabesques, avoiding depictions of human figures. ○ Knowledge:promoted intellectual curiosity, establishing centers of learning, translating and preserving ancient texts. ○ Philosophy: Islamic scholars blended Greek philosophy with Islamic thought, influencing both the Muslims and, later, Europeans. 3. Trace the causes and effects of the divisions within Islam. ○ Causes: Disagreements over the rightful successor to Muhammad led to the split between Sunni (believed the community should choose the leader) and Shiite (believed leadership should stay within Muhammad’s family) branches. ○ Effects: The division created lasting political and religious arguments within the Muslim world, influencing the government of Islamic empires and shaping Muslim society. 4. Compare and contrast the three major world religions that developed in the Middle East. ○ Judaism: Monotheistic, believes in one God, the covenant between God and the people of Israel. ○ Christianity: Monotheistic, believes in one God, but also in the divinity of Jesus Christ as the son of God and the savior. ○ Islam: Monotheistic, believes in one God (Allah), and Muhammad is the final prophet. Shares some similarities with Judaism and Christianity, like the belief in prophets and the afterlife. 5. Identify and describe the language of feudal relationships, including lord, knight, vassal, fief, and serf. ○ Lord: A noble who granted land (a fief) to a vassal in exchange for military service. ○ Knight: A mounted warrior who served a lord, often with a code of chivalry. ○ Vassal: A person who received land (fief) from a lord in exchange for loyalty and military service. ○ Fief: Land granted to a vassal in exchange for services. ○ Serf: Peasants who worked the land and were bound to the manor, and were unable to leave without the lord's permission. 6. Explain the power of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. ○ The Catholic Church was a central institution in medieval Europe, holding spiritual and political power. It had influence over kings, nobles, and common people, and controlled education, law, and morality. The Pope wielded significant authority, and the Church also played a role in the choosing of monarchs. 7. Explain the causes, consequences, and conduct of each of the four Crusades.  ○ First Crusade: Initiated by Pope Urban II to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. It resulted in the capture of Jerusalem and the establishment of Christian states in the Holy Land. ○ Second Crusade (1147–1149): A failed attempt to recapture the city of Edessa from the Muslims. ○ Third Crusade (1189–1192): Led by European monarchs like Richard the Lionheart, this was an attempt to reclaim Jerusalem, but it ended in a truce with Saladin allowing Christian pilgrims access to the city. ○ Fourth Crusade (1202–1204): Diverted from the Holy Land and instead led to the sack of Constantinople, weakening the Byzantine Empire. 8. Connect Rome’s fall to the rise of the Byzantine Empire. ○ After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) continued to thrive with its capital in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). The Byzantines preserved Roman law, culture, and governance. 9. Describe the rule of Justinian in respect to military, building, and religion. ○ Military: Justinian sought to reconquer the lost western territories, achieving temporary success in Italy and North Africa. ○ Building: He oversaw the construction of the Hagia Sophia, an example Byzantine architectural work ○ Religion: Justinian worked closely with the Church and defined Christian doctrine through the Justinian Code and the Council of Chalcedon. 10. Explain the decline of the Byzantine Empire and its fall to the Ottoman Empire. The Byzantine Empire weakened due to internal strife, economic decline, and pressure from external forces, including the Crusades and the rise of the Ottoman Turks. In 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. 11. Describe the spread and consequences of the Black Death on society, trade, and religion in Europe. The Black Death, a plague that spread through Europe in the 14th century, killed an estimated one-third of the population. It disrupted trade, led to labor shortages, and caused widespread social and economic unrest. It also led to a decline in religious faith for some, while others turned to the Church to help end the plague. 12. Explain the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Hundred Years’ War. Causes: Disputes over territorial claims between England and France, especially over the French throne. Conduct: Major battles like Agincourt and the involvement of iconic figures like Joan of Arc. The war saw shifts in military technology, like the longbow. Consequences: The war led to the decline of feudalism, the rise of nationalism, and the strengthening of monarchies in both England and France. 13. Evaluate the Black Death and Hundred Years’ War as crises of the Fourteenth century in Europe. Both events contributed to a breakdown in social order and a shift in the European economy. The Black Death caused labor shortages, while the Hundred Years’ War exhausted resources and destabilized political structures.  14. What were the goals and the consequences of the Crusades? Goals: To reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control, protect Christian pilgrims, and expand Christian influence. Consequences: Although the Crusades failed to permanently reclaim Jerusalem, they led to increased trade, cultural exchange, and the weakening of feudalism. They also deepened divisions between Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Unit 5: Pre-European Contact in Africa and the Americas 1. What impact did the Gold-Salt Trade have on West African civilizations? ○ The Gold-Salt Trade facilitated the rise of powerful empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, which controlled these resources. Trade brought wealth, cultural exchange, and the spread of Islam to the region. 2. What impact did Islam have on the development of West African kingdoms? ○ Islam influenced the culture, governance, and education systems of West African kingdoms. It promoted trade and intellectual exchange, especially through centers like Timbuktu. 3. What was the global impact of Mansa Musa’s hajj? ○ Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 highlighted the wealth of Mali and promoted trade, leading to increased contact with the Islamic world. His generosity also led to the spread of Islam and increased recognition of West African kingdoms. 4. What provided the basis for life in early American civilizations? ○ Agriculture, particularly the cultivation of maize, beans, and squash, was the foundation of early American civilizations such as the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. 5. Compare and contrast the American civilizations of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. ○ Mayans: Known for their advanced writing, astronomy, and calendar systems. They had a decentralized city-state structure. ○ Aztecs: Known for their military conquests, large empire, and religious practices, including human sacrifice. They had a centralized government. ○ Incas: Known for their engineering feats, such as roads and terraces, and their centralized government based in Peru.