Western Civilization Midterm Review

Why is writing important for historians?

Writing helps historians learn about past societies and their culture.

What are the 5 factors that define a civilization?

Urbanization, specialized jobs, complex economies, institutions, and record-keeping.

What does urbanization refer to?

Cities and tech advancements create surplus goods.

What is specialized labor?

People having different jobs and skills.

What defines complex economies?

A system with agreed value (currency).

What are complex institutions?

Organized structures like government or religion.

What is record keeping?

Writing systems for records, stories, and symbols.

Why is geography important for ancient civilizations?

Geography affects farming, water, and food supply.

What role did rivers play in ancient civilizations?

Rivers provided water for farming and daily life.

Where is Mesopotamia located?

Modern Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

What challenges did the two rivers in Mesopotamia present?

Unpredictable floods, believed to be a curse from gods.

What is Sumerian writing known for?

The oldest written language.

What is cuneiform?

Akkadian script using wedge-shaped symbols.

Why was cuneiform important for communication?

Communication was key to governing cities.

What is the Epic of Gilgamesh?

Oldest piece of literature, not religious, just a story.

What was Hammurabi’s Code of Law?

Laws covering religion, marriage, crime, economy.

What did the preamble of Hammurabi's Code state?

Gods rule over people, punish lawbreakers eternally.

True or False: Each city worshiped the same gods.

False.

Who were the three common gods in Mesopotamia?

An, Ki, Enlil.

Who is An?

Creator of the universe.

Who is Ki?

Goddess of the earth, sky god.

Who is Enlil?

God of wind and storms.

Name a few gods worshipped by individual cities.

Marduk, Ishtar, Ashur.

Who is Marduk?

God of creation in Babylon.

Who is Ishtar?

God of love, fertility, war in Akkad.

Who is Ashur?

God of war, supported Assyrian armies.

Did the Mesopotamians believe in an afterlife?

No, everyone faced the same punishment.

Were there independent city-states in Mesopotamia?

Yes, often in conflict.

What were three powerful city-states in Mesopotamia?

Akkad, Babylon, Assur.

What was Badarian Culture?

Pottery-based culture in Upper Egypt.

What was Naqada Culture?

Pre-Egyptian civilization in Upper Egypt.

What is the Nile River known as?

World’s longest river, predictable floods seen as divine.

What was the Early Dynastic Period in Egypt?

Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under Narmer.

Who was Narmer?

Egypt’s first king, united the nation.

What characterized the Old Kingdom?

Long rule of kings, focus on record-keeping and scribes.

What occurred after the collapse of the Old Kingdom?

First period of instability.

What happened during the Middle Kingdom?

Local power, military focus, fortifications.

What transpired during the Second Intermediate Period?

Settlers from Canaan joined Egypt.

What was notable about the New Kingdom?

Conquest of Nubia, war with Hittites.

What characterized the Third Intermediate Period?

Invasion by Berbers, Sea Peoples, and Kush.

When did the Persians invade Egypt?

Late Period.

When did Alexander the Great invade Egypt?

Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Who were the Hittites?

Indo-European civilization often in conflict with Egypt.

Who were the Canaanites?

Their culture and religion were influenced by Egypt and Mesopotamia.

What first did the Phoenicians have?

The first alphabet.

What story is significant in Hebrew history?

The story of Exodus.

What does the story of the Exodus describe?

Loss of faith, conversion to monotheism.

Who was Moses?

Led the Hebrews out of Egypt and wandered for 40 years.

True or False: Judea and Israel were unoccupied when the Hebrews arrived.

False.

What occurred during the destruction of the first temple?

Babylonian captivity.

What is the Babylonian Captivity?

Jews held captive for 70–80 years.

What does the Cyrus Cylinder represent?

Release of Jewish captives, second temple built.

Who is Ahura Mazda?

Good deity.

Who is Angra Mainyu?

Evil deity.

Which two religions were influenced by Zoroastrianism?

Judaism and Christianity.

What is Linear A writing?

Unreadable, pre-Greek script.

What is Linear B writing?

Precursor to Greek alphabet.

What occurred during the Greek dark ages?

Collapse of Bronze Age civilization.

What time period saw the emergence of Greek mythology?

Archaic Greece.

What are notable stories from Archaic Greece?

Iliad and Odyssey by Homer, Theogony by Hesiod.

What was the Ionian Revolt?

Ionians revolted against Persia, sparked help from Athens.

Who won the Battle of Marathon?

Athenians.

Who was Darius the Great?

Persian king during the first Persian War.

Who was Xerxes?

Darius’s son, led Persian revenge.

What was the Battle of Salamis?

Naval battle; Athenians defeated the Persians.

Who was Alexander the Great?

Conquered Persia, expanded empire, soldiers later mutinied.

What did Thales of Miletus contribute to philosophy?

Formed a school, taught about nature and the universe.

What did some argue was the Arche?

Water, which leads to the idea of atoms.

What did Pythagoras believe in?

Logic, the pursuit of happiness, and math.

What did Pythagoras argue about Arche?

Arche is math.

Who is Socrates?

Father of philosophy, known for the Socratic method.

Who is Plato?

Socrates’ student, transcribed Socrates' work.

True or False: Aristotle was a student of Plato.

True.

What is Cynicism?

Critique of society; valued living in nature, rejecting materialism.

What is notable about Norte Chico/Harappan civilizations?

Civilizations with ruins but no written records, making them hard for historians to study.

Who is Sargon of Akkad?

Spread cuneiform and built the first empire with a standing army.

What was the role of a Pharaoh?

Egyptian ruler, seen as a god on earth, maintaining harmony in the universe.

What was the first pyramid?

Built by King Djoser during the Old Kingdom to house kings' remains.

What are Intermediate Kingdoms?

Periods of instability between the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.

What is the Bronze Age Collapse?

The fall of civilizations like the Mycenaeans, leading to a dark age.

Who were the Sea Peoples?

Invaders who contributed to the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations.

What is the Satrap System?

Persian administrative system with satraps governing regions.

What was the purpose of governmental administration?

Enforced laws, taxes for construction or military efforts.

What is a polytheistic religion?

The belief in many gods, with Mesopotamian cities worshiping different deities.

What are the Hittites known for?

Indo-European civilization known for conflict with Egypt and the first embargo on goods.