AP World History Before 1200 Test Review

When did agriculture start?

Also known as the Neolithic Revolution, this is the transformation of human (and world) existence caused by the deliberate cultivation of particular plants and the deliberate taming and breeding of particular animals. The Neolithic Revolution started around 8,000 B.C. in the Fertile Crescent, a boomerang-shaped region of the Middle East where humans first took up farming

Describe the changes in civilization as a result of agriculture

The development of agriculture most
clearly moved humans toward a more
sophisticated social and cultural
patterns
▪ Major developments:
▪ Invention of agriculture (reliable food supply)
▪ Increased population growth
▪ Creation of cities, classes, and
specialization of labor)
• Humans deliberately planned to harvest plants, grains and vegetables for later harvest.
• People began domesticating (raising for food) animals (pigs, sheep, goats, cattle).
• Metal tools were developed for planting and harvesting; communities had to work collaboratively

Who was Ashoka and what was his impact on India?

Emperor Ashoka the Great (sometimes spelt Aśoka) lived from 304 to 232 BCE and was the third ruler of the Indian Mauryan Empire. He ruled form 268 BCE to 232 BCE and became a model of kingship in the Buddhist tradition because he helped Buddhism spread across India.

Who was Constantine?briefly describe his philosophy

The Roman Emperor Constantine (c 280 - 337 A.D.) was one of the most influential personages in ancient history. By adopting Christianity as the religion of the vast Roman Empire, he elevated a once illegal cult to the law of the land. At the Council of Nicea, Constantine the Great settled Christian doctrine for the ages. And by establishing a capital at Byzantium, which became Constantinople and then Istanbul, he set into motion events that would break the empire, split the Christian church, and influence European history for a millennium.

What was the long-term impact of Confucius' teachings in China

He enforced through his philosophy, and turned Ancient China into a structured society. This structured society was based on work/effort given by the social class. Confucius made another impact on society by creating a school. The school educated young boys in the way of Confucianism and also taught them Calligraphy so many of the boys went on to becoming scholars. The beliefs of Confucianism made woman subordinate throughout the religion. This re-affirmed the claim that woman were not as powerful or wise as men. This impacted how woman were viewed as in society causing many woman to try and claim social status with gruesome practices such as Foot-Binding.

What concept was introduced by the Zhou Dynasty to justify the overthrow of the Shang in China

In 1046 BCE, the Shang Dynasty was overthrown at the Battle of Muye, and the Zhou Dynasty was established. The Zhou created the Mandate of Heaven: the idea that there could be only one legitimate ruler of China at a time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods.

What crops were primarily domesticated in the Americas?

Maize and potatoes

What is pre-history?

the period of time before written records

What is the "out of Africa" theory?

Humans gradually migrated from their origins in East Africa to Eurasia, Oceania, and the Americas.
Humans adapted to each new area, but had limited contact with groups, even in their same area

What facilitated human migration across the globe?

Where for some groups a change in climate may have pushed them to seek more hospitable lands, others may have been looking for better food sources, avoiding hostile or competing neighbours, or may have simply been curious risk-takers wanting a change of scenery.

Identify the location of the four major river valley civilizations discussed in class and the major river associated with each.

1. Indus River Valley Civilization- Indus River
2. Ancient Egypt- the Nile river
3. Mesopotamia- Tigris and Euphrates River
4. Huang He River Valley Civilization- Yellow or Huang he River

What was the purpose of a ziggurat?

The ziggurat itself is the base on which the White temple is set. It's purpose is to get the temple closer to the heavens and provide access from the ground to it via steps

What was the purpose of writing systems?

Writing was used for record keeping to correctly count agricultural products, for keeping the calendar to plant crops at the correct time. And writing was used for religious purpose (divination and communicating with the supernatural world) and socio-political functions (reinforcing the power of the ruling elite).

Burial of the dead in early civilizations is often considered a sign of what?

Graves were cut into the ground in the expectation that the soul of the individual so buried would more easily reach the afterlife which was thought to exist underground

What was the significance of the Code of Hammurabi

It was the first major collection of laws in history . The Hammurabi code of laws, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi's Code was carved onto a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders and finally rediscovered in 1901.

What was the political organization of Mesopotamia?

The early kings ruled over only their own city-states. Lacking a centralized government and leader, the ancient region was prone to internal fighting among the kings for land and resources.

What was the significance of the pharaoh in Egypt?

As 'Lord of the Two Lands' the pharaoh was the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt. He owned all of the land, made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt against foreigners. As 'High Priest of Every Temple', the pharaoh represented the gods on Earth. He performed rituals and built temples to honour the gods.

What are some similarities between the political structures of Egypt and Mesopotamia?

Politically, both Egypt and Mesopotamia had a government with one main ruler, but Egypt had a centralized government with a pharaoh, while Mesopotamia had a decentralized government with a king.

What is bureaucracy in government?

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

What is patriarchy? Why did patriarchy develop in agrarian societies?

a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.
There was more intensive agriculture with animal drawn plows and large dairy herds which favored male labor over female.
Association of women with nature because of their role in reproduction
Warfare
Private property and commerce

Who developed a 22-letter phonic alphabet to facilitate trade?

Phoenicians

What were the major ideas introduced by Zoroastrianism?

Influence in 21st century:
Redemption
Final judgement
Life after death
Satan as God's enemy
Resurrection
Soul
Heaven & hell

What are the cornerstone beliefs of Judaism?

The main teachings of Judaism about God are that there is a God and there is only one God and that god is Yahweh. Only God created the universe and only He controls it. Judaism also teaches that God is spiritual and not physical. Jews believe that God is one - a unity: He is one whole, complete being.

What were the key teachings of Socrates?

(470-399 BCE): Teacher (Socratic
method) questioned Athenian values,
religion, customs and laws, put to death

What were the key ideas of Aristotle?

(384-322 BCE)- attended the
Academy, taught Alexander the Great;
constructs arguments through use of logic;
women inferior; studied 158 government

What ideas did Hinduism introduce to India?

Hinduism reinforced a strict social hierarchy called a caste system that made it nearly impossible for people to move outside of their social station.

What was the purpose of the caste system?

According to one long-held theory about the origins of South Asia's caste system, Aryans from central Asia invaded South Asia and introduced the caste system as a means of controlling the local populations. The Aryans defined key roles in society, then assigned groups of people to them.

What are the cornerstone beliefs of Christianity?

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. Jesus lived on earth, was crucified, was resurrected, and walked again on the earth before rising into heaven. Eternal life in heaven is only possible through a personal relationship with Jesus. We believe that with this personal relationship, we will one day spend eternity with God.

What are the cornerstone beliefs of Buddhism?

The basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to all Buddhism, include the four noble truths : existence is suffering ( dukhka ); suffering has a cause, namely craving and attachment ( trishna ); there is a cessation of suffering, which is nirvana ; and there is a path to the cessation of suffering, the eightfold path of right views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Buddhism characteristically describes reality in terms of process and relation rather than entity or substance.

What are the key differences between Confucianism, taoism and legalism?

Confucianism was started by Confucius. He felt that if rulers were honest and children respected their parents, everything would fall into place. In Confucianism, each person has a role that they must follow. In the family, the father has the most say, with the eldest son next in line. A ruler has to be everything he wants his people to be: intelligent, patient, graceful. Free thinking was encouraged, but it was considered disgraceful to question your elders.
Legalism was the approach that actually ended all the fighting, but at a heavy price: books were burned, and all free thinking was stopped. People were not inspired by their leaders, but scared. Almost all crimes had similar, harsh punishments. It didn't matter if you stole a loaf of bread or murdered a person - you were still a criminal. There was a strict punishment-reward system. Eventually, the people of Ancient China revolted and Legalism ended.
Daoism was much less focused on politics. The idea behind it is that humans need to be connected with "the dao" or "the way of nature." It's all about the balance of good and bad in the world: the yin and the yang. According to Daoism, having money and power does not matter. Some Daoists actually moved into the woods to become closer with nature.

What was the impact of Alexander the great's empire

Alexander the Great ruled after his father, Philip II. He conquered various areas including Greece, India, Egypt, and Persia. The Greek Empire covered a great deal of land. Alexander the Great impacted western civilization: as he conquered different places, he spread Greek ways of living and thinking.

What were the contributions of the Romans on government

In Roman society, the aristocrats were known as patricians. The highest positions in the government were held by two consuls, or leaders, who ruled the Roman Republic. A senate composed of patricians elected these consuls. At this time, lower-class citizens, or plebeians, had virtually no say in the government.

What are some similarities between Persian and Roman Empire

The Persian and Roman empires shared many similarities in religion, governments and architecture. The people of the Persian empire initially believed in more than one god. However, in the sixth century B.C. the Persians were introduced to one God and they practiced the world's first monotheistic religion known as Zuroastrianism. Likewise, the Romans initially believed in many gods until Christianity became the state church of the Roman empire in the fourth century B.C.
The Persian empire consisted of 20 provinces ruled by one king and the king appointed one satrap, or governor, to represent each providence. The Roman empire was initially ruled by a king until the sixth century B.C. when a republic was formed with senators, magistrates, consuls and a variety of other public positions representing the people of Rome. •••Both empires were ruled by officials representing all geographic regions.•••
Persian architecture displayed grandiose details on the exterior of buildings whereas Roman architecture experimented with interior design such as arches and vaulting. ••••Both styles of architecture employed intricate details expressing the people and their culture••••

What philosophy was embraced by Shi Huangdi

Legalism

Why did Confucian and Daoist scholars object to this philosophy

Legalism and Chinese Philosophy. In contrast to Taoism's intuitive anarchy, and Confucianism's benevolence, Legalism is a Classical Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the need for order above all other human concerns. The political doctrine developed during the brutal years of the Fourth Century BCE (Schafer 83).

What was the effect of this policy after the death of Qin Shi Huangdi

Upon the First Emperor's death, China plunged into civil war, exacerbated by floods and droughts. In 207 BCE, Qin Shi Huang's son was killed, and the dynasty collapsed entirely. Chaos reigned until 202 BCE, when Gaozu, a petty official, became a general and reunited China under the Han Dynasty.

What was the significance of the Silk Road

It went along the northern borders of China, India, and Persia and ended up in Eastern Europe near today's Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea. The Silk Road was important because it helped to generate trade and commerce between a number of different kingdoms and empires.

What was the significance of Indian Ocean trade

Cultural communication, growth of coastal cities, involved Africa to become a trading port.

Describe government in Ancient Greece

There were three main types of government:
Democracy - A government ruled by the people, or assembly. Officials and leaders were elected and all citizens had a say.
Monarchy - A single ruler like a king. In Athens this ruler was called a Tyrant.
Oligarchy - When the government is ruled by a small group.

What were the major accomplishments of Cyrus the great in Persia?

He changed the small country of Persia to a powerful empire in a vast territory. No other government had reached this level of authority in the world till then.
His ethical values had made him a well-behaved emperor with humble policies and favorable method by which he treated the conquered nations.