Honors 2nd Semester Exam Review: Ancient India, China, Rome, and Medieval Societies

Comprehensive practice questions covering world history from ancient Indian and Chinese civilizations through the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages.

To what concepts are the Indian caste system uniquely tied?

___Purity___ and religion.

When is the only time a person can change their caste in the Indian system?

In between lives, when their Karma determines their next reincarnation or rebirth.

Identify the '3 B’s' in the context of Indian religion.

Brahman (the ultimate reality - ”heaven”), Brahma (the creator god), and Brahmin (priests).

Who are the three chief gods in Hinduism and what are their roles?

Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer.

Why did Siddhartha Gautama leave his life of privilege and what did he search for?

He experienced death, pain, and suffering; he searched for freedom from the pain caused by the infinite cycle of sickness, death, and old age.

How do Buddhists differ from Hindus regarding the caste system and reaching Nirvana?

Buddhists believe that anyone, regardless of caste, can jump caste levels to achieve Nirvana by following the $4$ Noble Truths.

What are the $4$ Noble Truths of Buddhism?

Ordinary life is full of suffering; suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves; the way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals and see others as extensions of ourselves; the way to end desire is to follow the middle path.

What tells Buddhist followers how to live their lives?

The Middle Path or $8$-fold path.

How was ancient China physically and culturally isolated?

By mountains, deserts, and the ocean.

Who was China’s first Emperor and what descriptive names was he given?

Qin Shihuangdi; he was described as having the “Chest of a bird of prey”, the “Voice of a Jackal”, and the “heart of a tiger”.

What was the purpose of the Terra cotta Army?

Qin Shihuangdi believed he could take the thousands of terracotta soldiers, horses, and weapons with him into the afterlife.

Who were the Xiongnu and what defensive project did Qin Shihuangdi begin to stop them?

Northern Nomad warriors on horseback; he began building and connecting defensive walls known as The Great Wall of China.

Under the Qin dynasty, who was responsible for ensuring government workers were doing their jobs?

Consulates.

What are the core philosophies of Legalism and Daoism as described in the notes?

Legalism believes rulers should be strong and laws harsh and impersonal; Daoism's central principle is inaction or 'going with the flow'.

What were the major achievements of the Han dynasty?

They embraced Confucianism, were the first to use paper, and used the Civil Service exam to identify qualified government workers.

What are the three parts of the Roman Republic?

The magistrate, the Assemblies, and the Senate.

On what date and in what manner did Julius Caesar die?

He was stabbed $23$ times on the Senate floor by Senators (including his friends and stepson) on the Ides of March (March $15^{th}$, $44\,BC$).

According to myth, who saved Remus and Romulus after they were thrown into a river?

A She-wolf and later a farmer.

In the Roman Republic, what was the role and time limit of a Dictator?

They were called to rule during a crisis for up to $6$ months.

Distinguish between Patricians and Plebeians.

Patricians were the upper class; Plebeians were the lower class of citizens.

Why were the two Consuls in Rome forced to work together?

Because they could veto the other’s decisions.

Identify the locations of the three Punic Wars.

1st: Mediterranean Sea; 2nd: Northern Italy; 3rd: Carthage.

What action did the Romans take to ensure there was no 4th Punic War?

They destroyed everything in Carthage and salted the land.

Match the Roman venue to its intended entertainment: Chariot races and Gladiator fights.

Chariot races: Hippodrome; Gladiator fights: Coloseum.

Identify the Roman gods for Wisdom, War, and the Underworld.

Wisdom: Minerva; War: Mars; Underworld: Pluto.

Who sacked Rome in 410 AD, and who finally defeated Rome in 476 AD?

$410\,AD$: Aleric, King of the Visigoths; $476\,AD$: The Vandals led by Odoacer.

What was the Pax Romana?

A $200$ year time of peace in the Roman Empire.

What was 'Bread and Circuses'?

The provision of food and entertainment by Emperors to the people when unemployment was high.

What was the significance of the Edict of Milan and who issued it?

Constantine declared freedom of religion for all religious groups.

Who declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire?

Theodocius.

What was the purpose of Diocletian's Edict of Prices?

To control inflation.

Identify the roles of Peter and Paul (Saul) in the early church.

Peter founded the first Christian church in Rome; Paul was a disciple who originally persecuted Christians as Saul.

How did the Eastern and Western Christian Churches differ regarding marriage and the Pope?

The Western church (Roman Catholic) prohibited priests from marrying and the Pope claimed authority over Kings; the Eastern part (Byzantine) allowed priests to marry and the Emperor claimed authority over the Patriarch.

What caused the Great Schism in the Christian Empire?

Conflict over whether the power of the Pope was above or below the Monarchs.

What are the three names the capital of the Byzantine Empire has held?

Byzantium, Constantinople, and Istanbul.

What is Greek Fire?

A naval weapon that shoots lit oil that cannot be put out with water.

What happened during the 4th Crusade that led to the Byzantine Empire's decline?

Crusaders on their way to Egypt decided to sack Zara and Constantinople instead.

Why are Muslims, Jews, and Christians referred to as the 'Peoples of the Books'?

Islam shares the belief in the same monotheistic God and they believe parts of the same holy books (the Torah and the New Testament).

List the Five Pillars of Islam.

Declaration of Faith, Daily Prayer, Giving alms to the poor, Fasting during Ramadan, and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Where did 'Arabic numbers' actually originate?

They were created by the Indo Aryans in India.

Who was Charlemagne and how did he unify three empires?

He was a Frankish King who was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope.

What is the difference between Peasants and Serfs in feudalism?

Peasants were free to leave the manor; Serfs were tied to the land and could not move.

What was the significance of the Magna Carta?

It declared that everyone, including the kings, had to follow the laws of the land.

What weapons made castles and knights obsolete?

Cannons and the longbow.