Humanities Midterm

Features of Early Cultures

Early civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley developed agriculture, writing, and organized religion as foundations of culture.

Babylonian Creation Story

The Enuma Elish describes gods creating order from chaos, emphasizing divine control and the importance of humans serving the gods.

Early Signs of Civilization

Key indicators include urban development, record keeping, complex institutions, specialized labor, and technological innovation.

Cultural Themes of Chapter One

Themes include religion, mythology, art as storytelling, and the relationship between humans and the divine.

Religious Systems of Early Civilizations

Polytheistic beliefs dominated; rituals and temples expressed gratitude and dependence on natural and cosmic forces.

Classical Greek Culture

Valued human reason, balance, and proportion; art and philosophy reflected ideals of beauty, harmony, and rationality.

Aesthetic Principles of the Greek Classical Style

Focused on idealized human form, symmetry, and proportion inspired by mathematical order and reason.

Hellenistic Visual Art

More emotional and dramatic than Classical art, showing movement and realism influenced by Alexander’s cultural expansion.

Hellenistic Schools of Thought

Included Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism, each focusing on personal ethics and coping with uncertainty.

Aristotle: History and Philosophy

Emphasized logic, empirical observation, and the “Golden Mean” of moderation in all things.

Pre

Greek & Early Greek Timeline Events

Juvenal: History and Writing

Roman satirist who critiqued moral decay and corruption in Roman society through sharp, humorous commentary.

Roman Visual Art Forms

Included frescoes, mosaics, and sculptures emphasizing realism and daily life; architecture used arches and concrete.

Roman Epic Poems

Works like Virgil’s “Aeneid” celebrated Rome’s destiny, values, and connection to divine order.

Cultural Themes of Chapter Three

Reflected order, duty, and power in politics and art, showing Rome’s emphasis on civic responsibility and empire.

Roman Republic Governing Structure

Featured a Senate, consuls, and assemblies balancing power between patricians and plebeians.

Historical Roman Time Periods

Included Monarchy, Republic, and Empire phases shaping political and cultural evolution.

Sacred Spaces Affiliated with the Five World Religions

Temples, churches, mosques, synagogues, and stupas serve as centers of worship and community.

Central Themes of the Three World Religions

Emphasize faith, moral duty, and salvation through devotion to divine teachings.

Central Beliefs of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, & Hinduism

Each teaches distinct paths to enlightenment or salvation through faith, practice, and ethics.

Five Distinct Cultures of Early Medieval Europe

Celtic, Byzantine, Islamic, Carolingian, and Germanic cultures blending Roman and Christian traditions.

History of the Carolingian Renaissance

A revival of learning and art under Charlemagne emphasizing education and classical preservation.

Germanic Culture, Visual Artifacts, & Literary Traditions

Featured metalwork, epic poetry like “Beowulf,” and warrior ethics blended with Christian ideals.

Social Structure of Medieval Feudalism

Hierarchical system of lords, vassals, and serfs bound by land, loyalty, and service.

Feudal

Age Literature

History of the Christian Crusades

Religious wars between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land reflecting zeal and cultural exchange.

Features of Medieval Romance & the Code of Courtly Love

Centered on chivalric ideals, devotion, and moral testing within romantic adventures.

Transitional Developments from Feudalism to the Late Middle Ages

Economic growth, urbanization, and the rise of guilds weakened feudal bonds.

Forms of Religious Conformity within the Roman Catholic Church

Included sacraments, monastic life, and papal authority guiding spiritual life.

Romanesque Churches and Visual Features

Thick walls, round arches, and small windows symbolized stability and devotion.

Gothic Cathedrals and Visual Features

Tall spires, pointed arches, and stained glass symbolized divine light and upward spiritual movement.

Medieval Beliefs about Salvation & the Afterlife

Focused on repentance, divine judgment, and the hope of heaven through faith and deeds.

Medieval Visual Artwork

Expressed religious devotion through icons, frescoes, and illuminated manuscripts.

Transitional Developments from the Late Medieval Age to the Modern Period

Humanism and secular learning emerged as Europe moved toward the Renaissance.

Renaissance Humanism

Celebrated human reason, classical learning, and individual achievement as reflections of divine potential.

Renaissance Neoplatonism

Combined Christian thought with Plato’s philosophy, emphasizing spiritual beauty and unity of all existence.

Landmark Artists & their Major Works

Included da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael; works like “The Last Supper” and “Sistine Chapel” defined artistic mastery.

Early and High Renaissance Artistic Techniques

Used perspective, chiaroscuro, and anatomical realism to depict idealized yet natural figures.

Baldassare Castiglione: History and Writing

Wrote “The Book of the Courtier,” outlining ideals of refined, educated, and moral Renaissance nobility.

Central Themes of the Italian Southern Renaissance

Focused on humanism, religious harmony, and artistic perfection reflecting divine order.