social studies final

What does global studies focus on?

The history of mankind, homo sapiens.

When did writing begin?

About 6000 years ago.

What is pre-history based on?

Artifacts and things that are dug up.

Who are the people that dig up artifacts?

Archaeologists.

What do anthropologists study?

The human past through life and culture.

What is one method of dating artifacts?

Radiocarbon dating, accurate to about 50,000 years.

What era lasted from 250,000 BC to 10,000 BC?

The Paleolithic Era.

How did humans obtain food during the Paleolithic?

By hunting and gathering.

What was the only domesticated animal during the Paleolithic?

The dog.

What significant change occurred about 10,000 years ago?

The Neolithic Revolution, marking the start of farming.

What is farming defined as?

The domestication of plants and animals for food.

Where did the Neolithic Revolution first take place?

In the fertile crescent of the Middle East.

What are civilizations characterized by?

Cultures that produce cities.

What was the first civilization in Mesopotamia?

Sumer or Sumeria.

What type of government was the earliest political organization on Earth?

The city-state governed by kings.

What was the Sumerian writing system called?

Cuneiform.

What is Hammurabi's Code known for?

Being the first legal code, where penalties were harsh and not equal.

Who was the founder of Hinduism?

No one; it has no single founder.

What is the final goal in Hinduism?

Reincarnation and oneness with Brahman.

What is the symbol of Hinduism?

Om.

Who founded Daoism?

Lao Zi.

What is the main focus of Daoism?

Living in harmony with nature.

What was the first civilization in India?

The Indus Valley civilization.

What were the three traditional parts of the caste system brought by the Aryans?

Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors and kings), Vaishyas (farmers and merchants).

What unique characteristic did the Indus Valley civilization have?

It is the only original civilization to make it to the modern world largely unchanged.

What geographical feature influenced the development of Ancient Greece?

The mountainous terrain led to scattered settlements and the formation of independent city-states.

What are the four main forms of government in Greek city-states?

Monarchy, Aristocracy, Tyranny, and Direct Democracy.

Who is considered the founder of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Guatama.

What are the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?

They outline the nature of suffering and the path to liberation from it.

What is the significance of the Wheel of Life in Buddhism?

It symbolizes the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth (reincarnation).

Who was Alexander the Great?

The son of Philip II of Macedonia, he led the Greeks against the Persian Empire and never lost a battle.

What was the outcome of Alexander the Great's conquests?

They initiated the Hellenistic Age, spreading Greek culture beyond Greece.

What method did Socrates use to explore philosophical questions?

The Socratic method, which involves asking a series of questions to stimulate critical thinking.

What is Plato known for in philosophy?

He wrote down Socratic dialogues and developed the theory of Forms.

What contributions did Aristotle make to philosophy?

He categorized nature, wrote about ethics and logic, and founded the Lyceum.

What significant event occurred in 100 BC related to Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar was born.

What was Julius Caesar's role in Gaul?

He waged war from 58 to 51 BC, resulting in over 1 million deaths and enslavements.

What was the outcome of the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey Magnus?

It led to the Roman Civil War, with Pompey being defeated in 48 BC.

What was the Byzantine Empire's relationship to the Roman Empire?

It began as the Eastern Roman Empire and preserved Roman law and culture.

What was Justinian's Code?

A compilation and organization of Roman law by Byzantine Emperor Justinian.

What was the significance of the Great Schism in 1054?

It marked the split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Where did the ancient Maya civilization develop?

In the Yucatan Peninsula.

What were key features of Maya culture?

Corn as a staple crop, a complex religion, an accurate calendar, and political organization into city-states.

What was Nubia's relationship with ancient Egypt?

Nubia was influenced by Egypt and later conquered it, creating the 25th Egyptian dynasty.

What is a distinctive architectural feature of Nubia?

Isosceles pyramids.

What was Charlemagne's contribution to education?

He established monasteries that preserved Greek and Roman writings.

What is the Carolingian Renaissance?

A revival of learning and culture initiated by Charlemagne's dynasty.

What was the cultural combination initiated by Charlemagne?

The merging of Greco-Roman, Christian, and Germanic cultures.

What was the impact of the Byzantine Empire on Europe?

It helped preserve Christianity and classical culture, allowing them to grow strong.

What was the role of the Agora in Ancient Greece?

It served as a public space for discussions and the exchange of ideas.

What is the significance of the term 'Hellenism'?

It refers to the spread of Greek culture and influence during and after Alexander the Great's conquests.

What regions did the Vikings originate from?

Scandinavia, which includes Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland.

What type of ships did Vikings use for raiding?

Long ships.

What were common targets for Viking raids?

Coastal settlements, especially monasteries.

Where did Vikings settle outside of Scandinavia?

Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, eastern England, and Normandy, France.

What was the impact of Viking settlement on local leaders?

Local leaders encouraged Viking settlement to stop raiding.

How did the Vikings contribute to European civilization?

They were Christianized and incorporated into European civilization.

What royal lines did Viking rulers found?

Royal lines in Russia and England.

What were the Crusades?

Military expeditions to retake the Holy Land, especially Jerusalem.

Who called for the First Crusade and when?

Pope Urban II in 1095.

What were some results of the Crusades?

The Holy Land remained largely Muslim, increased interest in spices and silk, and weakened Constantinople.

What is Japan's native religion?

Shinto, which involves worshipping spirits in nature.

Who ruled Japan early in its history?

An emperor from a single dynasty.

What class ruled Japan later and what was their code?

Shoguns, guided by the bushido code emphasizing honor.

What influence did Zen Buddhism have in Japan?

It began among the samurai and influenced Japanese art, such as Zen gardens.

What was the Pax Mongolia?

A large area across Asia where travel was safe, established by the Mongols.

Who was the first to circumnavigate the globe?

Ferdinand Magellan between 1519-1520.

What was the impact of the printing press during the Reformation?

It allowed reformers' ideas to spread quickly and increased Bible reading.

What did Martin Luther criticize in his 95 Theses?

Indulgences and called for reform of the church.

What was the key effect of the Protestant Reformation?

A decline in religious unity in Western Europe.

What was the significance of the Spanish conquistadors?

They conquered the Aztecs and Incas using superior weapons.

What was the impact of diseases like smallpox on Native Americans?

Killed large numbers of natives, up to 75% or more.

What economic system did Spain use in their colonies?

Mercantilism, which made colonial powers wealthy at the expense of the colonies.

What was the Middle Passage?

The route taken by slaves from Africa to the New World.

How did slavery affect demographics in the New World?

It changed the demographics of some regions significantly.

When did the African slave trade finally end?

In the 19th century when the British stopped both Europeans and Arabs from taking slaves.