Chapter 1 - ways of the world

AP world (8.24.25)

When did Homo sapiens emerge?

About 300,000 years ago in regions of Africa.

What percentage of human history is represented by the Paleolithic era?

95 percent.

What was the typical size of Paleolithic societies?

25-50 people.

What lifestyle did Paleolithic people lead?

They were mobile and nomadic, depending on wild plants and animals.

What was the average life expectancy during the Paleolithic era?

35 years.

What forms of cultural creativity were present in the Paleolithic era?

Cave paintings and sculptures.

What significant change followed the Paleolithic era?

The Agricultural Revolution.

What characterized the Agricultural Revolution?

Deliberate cultivation of plants and taming and breeding of animals.

What were the consequences of the Agricultural Revolution?

Growing populations, settled villages, and a boom of technological innovation.

What type of societies relied on domesticated animals during the Agricultural Revolution?

Pastoral societies.

In which regions were pastoral societies predominantly found?

Asia and parts of Africa.

What conflicts arose between nomadic herders and farming neighbors?

Nomadic herders sought access to the wealth of agrarian societies and their rich farming lands.

What was one positive outcome of the interactions between pastoral societies and agricultural societies?

A peaceful exchange of ideas that enriched both societies.

What type of societies emerged from the Agricultural Revolution?

Permanently settled farming villages.

How were some agricultural village societies organized politically?

As chiefdoms, where positions of power were inherited.

Where did the earliest civilizations emerge?

Mesopotamia, Egypt, and areas of Peru.

By 1200, what was the demographic situation regarding civilizations?

A considerable majority of humankind lived in one or another of the civilizations.

What defines a civilization?

Societies based in cities and governed by states.

How were civilizations a product of the Agricultural Revolution?

Only a productive agricultural economy could support a society where many people did not produce their own food.

What types of occupations were created by civilizations?

Scholars, merchants, priests, officials, scribes, soldiers, etc.

How did gender equality change with the rise of patriarchy?

Gender equality worsened as patriarchy took hold and ideas of male superiority spread in civilizations.

What were some examples of innovations associated with civilizations?

Chinese bureaucracy and silk products, gunpowder; Islamic advances in mathematics, medicine, and astronomy.

How do civilizations relate to their environment?

Civilizations are shaped by their environment, with larger populations leading to intensive agriculture that impacts the landscape.

What environmental changes occurred in southern Mesopotamia by 2000 BCE?

Rigorous irrigation led to the creation of white soil.

What are some global environmental impacts of civilizations?

Extensive deforestation and soil erosion occurred as civilizations developed.

How did social structures differ between Chinese and Indian civilizations?

Chinese civilization prioritized an elite bureaucracy selected by examinations, while India's social system prioritized religious status and forbade caste mixing.

What was the common social hierarchy in civilizations?

Slaves were generally at the bottom of all social hierarchies.

How did patriarchy vary in different civilizations?

Patriarchy was a common component but varied, as seen in the differences between Athens and Sparta.

What role did cultural traditions play in civilizations?

Cultural traditions provided a common identity and legitimized inequalities, while also inspiring movements against those in power.

How did religion impact the lives of people in civilizations?

Religion helped justify suffering and provided meaning to difficult lives.

What is the significance of Hinduism in South Asian culture?

Hinduism is the oldest and most prominent religion in India, developing as part of Indian civilization without a single founder.

How does Hinduism differ from Christianity and Islam in terms of conversion?

Hinduism did not seek converts and was associated with a particular people and territory.

What are the Upanishads?

The Upanishads are texts written between 800 and 400 BCE that summarize a unified understanding of reality from the perspective of Hinduism.

What is the fundamental goal of Hindu philosophy?

The chief goal is to achieve union with Brahman, the ultimate reality.

How does the law of karma function in Hinduism?

The law of karma states that actions in one lifetime determine the station of life in the next.

Who founded Buddhism and what was his background?

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince from a small kingdom in north India.

What prompted Siddhartha Gautama to seek enlightenment?

An encounter with human suffering led him to embark on a quest for enlightenment.

What does the term 'Buddha' signify?

Buddha means 'the man who had awakened'.

What is the relationship between suffering and desire according to Buddhist beliefs?

Suffering is a direct result of desire, and to live peacefully, one must renounce human weakness and desire to reach nirvana.

How did Buddhist teaching challenge Hindu traditions?

Buddhism challenged the idea of God and the Hindu caste system while reflecting some concepts like karma and rebirth.

How is the Buddha portrayed in Theravada Buddhism?

The Buddha is seen as a wise teacher but not divine.

What is a key characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism compared to original Buddhism?

Mahayana Buddhism offers greater accessibility to a spiritual path and believes enlightenment is available to everyone.

Where did Mahayana Buddhism spread?

It took root in Central Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and became the first major tradition to spread widely outside its homeland.

What unique authority do Lamas have in Tibetan Buddhism?

Lamas are given special authority and emphasize awareness and preparation for death.

What happened to Buddhism in India by 1200 CE?

Buddhism had almost vanished from India but was expanding in other parts of Asia.

What was the bhakti movement in India?

The bhakti movement involved devotion to several gods and goddesses, promoting salvation through good deeds, simple living, and rituals of devotion.

Who was Confucius and what did he believe was necessary for social harmony?

Confucius was a learned aristocrat who believed respect must be applied to unequal relationships to achieve social and political harmony.

What role did education play in Confucianism?

Education in language, literature, philosophy, and ethics was seen as key to achieving harmony.

How did Confucianism influence the Chinese state during the Han dynasty?

Confucianism became the official ideology, establishing expectations for rulers to keep taxes low and provide for the people.

What did Confucius teach about family and state rituals?

He taught that rituals should be conducted as if the spirits were watching, acknowledging the reality of gods and spirits.

What does Daoism advocate in contrast to Confucianism?

Daoism urges withdrawal into nature and promotes spontaneous, individualistic behavior, emphasizing simplicity and limited government.

How did elite Chinese view the relationship between Confucianism and Daoism?

They believed Daoism complemented Confucianism, allowing for a blend of both practices.

What are the Abrahamic Faiths?

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are known as Abrahamic Faiths because they all trace their origins to the biblical character Abraham.

What is a key belief shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

All three faiths affirm monotheism, believing in a supreme deity.

What was the nature of God in Judaism?

Judaism describes God as a powerful and jealous deity who demands exclusive loyalty.

Who were some significant prophets in Judaism?

Significant prophets include Isaiah, Amos, and Jeremiah.

What was the significance of Jesus of Nazareth in Christianity?

Jesus began a career of teaching and healing, which led to his execution and became the foundation of Christianity.

How did Jesus' story begin in historical records?

His story was initially barely noted in historical records before becoming the basis of the world's most widely practiced religion.

What was Jesus' relationship with God according to his Jewish tradition?

Jesus had an intentional devotion to a single personal deity, referring to him as father.

What social issues did Jesus address in his teachings?

He spoke on behalf of the poor and oppressed and criticized the powerful.

What was Jesus' intention regarding the establishment of a new religion?

He did not intend to establish a new religion but to revitalize Jewish tradition.

How did Christianity develop after Jesus' time?

Christianity spread within the Roman Empire, developing an elaborate hierarchical organization with patriarchs, bishops, and priests.

Who emerged as the dominant leader of the Christian church?

The Bishop of Rome gradually emerged as the dominant leader, known as the pope.

By 600 CE, how was the Christian world characterized?

It was geographically extensive and politically and theologically diverse.

What cultural traditions influenced the emergence of Islam?

Islam emerged from the land of pastoral people and settled agricultural communities.

Who was Muhammad Ibn Abdullah and what was his role in Islam?

He was a trader from Mecca who became convinced he was Allah's messenger to the Arabs after a powerful religious experience.

Which earlier prophets did Muhammad see himself as a successor to?

He saw himself as the last of a line of earlier prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

What is the umma in Islam?

The umma is the just and moral society of Islam that replaced tribal identities, honoring women as spiritually equal.

What major split occurred in Islam after Muhammad's death?

Islam split into Sunni and Shia branches over a disagreement about who should succeed Muhammad.

What was the Sunni belief regarding the Caliph's selection?

Sunnis believed the Caliph should be chosen through a decision by the community.

What was the Shia belief regarding the Caliph's selection?

Shias believed the Caliph should be someone related to Muhammad.

How did Shia Muslims view their position in history?

They saw themselves as a minority and felt that history had taken a wrong turn.

What happened to political unity in Islamic civilization after 900 CE?

Any political unity that Islamic civilization had vanished.

What was the role of the ulama in Islam?

The ulama were responsible for transmitting the beliefs and practices of Islam, including the Quran and various fields of knowledge.

What did Sufis believe about Islamic civilization?

Sufis viewed the success of Islamic civilization as a distraction from the spirituality of Muhammad's time.

What did Sufism seek to achieve?

Sufism pursued an interior life to tame the ego and achieve spiritual union with Allah.

How did Sufis view the ulama?

Sufis felt the ulama was compromised and challenged their religious authority.