HIST 1110 - Survey of World History Ch 5 "Worlds Together Worlds Apart" Final Exam

HIST 1110 - Survey of World History Ch 5 "Worlds Together Worlds Apart" Final Exam

Why was this time an "Axial Age"?

After the destruction of the first empires, second generation societies were forming, and new ideas were taking shape. New thoughts and ideas propelled society forward.

Iron became widespread in Zhou China, and there was a big famine, causing the Spring and Autumn periods, and the Warring States period. What were the causes and what happened?

People fought each with iron other over resources due to overfarming and famine. Each state began accumulating power by giving peasants land and the ability to move up in class. The Qin took over as the new leaders of China. They won due to their access to a resource-heavy area and Lord Shang gave the poor some rights, the ability to move up, and some land. Status changes became rewards. Coins began circulation at this time.

Who were the main Chinese thinkers and what did they believe in?

Confucius (Confucianism) believed in loyalty and that humans were good people, while Master Lao (Daoism) believed that people should let the universe run its courses, and not get involved (wuwei).

Xunzi (Legalism) believed that humans were bad, and that strict control was neccessary.

Hun Fei (Legalism) thought that once strict rules were in place, one should leave it alone, combining Legalism and Daoism.

What were the effects of Vedic Migrations at this time in South Asia?

The population grew and specific areas were governed either by monarchies or by oligarchies. Social growth meant that the "outdated" varna system had to be updated with new "jatis" or hierarchies within occupations. Coins formed during this time.

Why were the Brahmans so upset with the new innovations in South Asia?

Now, they were no longer the highest power because knowledge was now accessible to the lower class people, and they could move up in rank. They claimed that they should have the highest power, and not the kings, because the kings were appointed by the gods THROUGH priests. The second highest class then got upset with the highest class.

Vardhamana Mahavira created Jainism, after an enlightenment journey, but why was it a city religion?

This belief system was based on never killing anything, not even a tiny fly. Peasants were working in fields, killing pests all the time. This ideology was not popular with them. It was appealing to those that did not have to accidentally kill things all the time.

Why was Siddhartha Gautama's Buddhism, founded through an enlightenment journey, so different from Brahman's religion?

This religion was based on the individual and how they lived their own lives. The opposition wanted to keep religion based on themselves (middlemen), and did not like how it was independent of them. This religion was transmitted through Sanskrit, making it more accessible to the poor.

What happened to the Mediterranean after it was "freed" from the Assyrians and Persians?

This place developed many independent city-states that fought all the time. Instead of kings or semidivines, these people elected fellow citizens as their leaders. Because of all the fighting, new weapons developed. Trade and free markets were also common throughout the city states.

What groups of people invaded the Greek city-states? Why?

The Celts, Gauls, Germans, and Scythians all wanted resources. Unfortunately, they were just sold into slavery.

What defined the Greek philosophers, and who were the main ones?

These people focused on humans and their place in society. Socrates wanted people to be moral and with integrity. His student, Plato, believed that human observation was always flawed, and that a wise man should be the king. Plato's student, Aristotle, believed that the more information one had about a subject, the more one could understand it.

While second-generation societies were happening in many parts of the world, what was happening in the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa?

At this time, they were developing into urban communities for the first time. They were not as complex though.

What characterized the Chavin people of South America?

The land was good for farming and animals, but did not move much, asl lamas did not carry humans very well. They still traded much, and were united through their religion.

What characterized the Olmecs of Mesoamerica?

These people lived in decentrallized villages, but were still united in culture and language. City centers were hubs for rainfall-based religion and secular life. Their hierarchy was complicated, as it was traditional mixed with aspects of tribal living. For some reason these collapsed and their cities were abandoned.

Sub-Saharan Africa was drying up, and Africa can be divided into 4 sections. What were these sections and what were there characteristics.

Sahara: was mostly empty, but there were still nomads living there. Sahel: South of the Sahara
Sudanic Savanna: grasslands without the tseste fly.
Western/Central Africa: rainforests

How was agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa different from other places? Why was herding impossible in some areas?

Instead of plows, these people used hoes. Lands were communal and there were not enough workers to farm the millet, sorghum, and yams. Herding was impossible in some places due to the tseste fly.

How were many of the Sudanic tribes similar?

All had religion based on a supreme god, they had kings that were buried with their servants.

Why was Egypt so keen on taking over Nubia? What Egyptian practices did they adopt?

This place had many people and the culture north of it wanted more workers/slaves. Kush adopted Egyptian culture, but thir capital kept having to be moved due to Egyptian pressure. Meroe also had culture based on Egypt, except their pharoahs were chosen by merit. Eventually, they wanted to distance themselves from Egypt.

What was different about the West African Nok (known for terracotta figures) from other societies working with tools?

This culture went straight from using stone to using iron.

Before becoming influential, what were the Bantu people doing?

These people were migrating southward (due to climate change) and clearing forests to farm.