Western Civilization Carson Atwood Midterm

By what two primary forms of differentiation is a civilization defined, where control is based in cities?

WEALTH and POWER

What three major developments occurred during the Paleolithic Age ($2.5\text{ million}$ to $10{,}000$ years ago)?

Cave PAINTINGS, the division of labor between MEN and WOMEN, and the discovery of FIRE

The Neolithic Revolution marked a transition from hunting and gathering toward the systematic growing of what?

FOOD

Which ancient Neolithic settlement located in modern-day Turkey is recognized as one of the earliest proto-cities?

CATAL HUYUK

Sargon the Great established the first known empire in Mesopotamia by founding which empire?

AKKADIAN Empire

Hammurabi, famous for his legal code, was the most notable king belonging to which group of Babylonian rulers?

AMORITE

What does the term 'cuneiform' literally mean in reference to Mesopotamian writing?

WEDGE SHAPED

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient literary masterpiece that originated with which people?

SUMERIANS

Which river was essential to the development and survival of ancient Egyptian civilization?

NILE River

Which ancient civilization's history is divided into the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom?

EGYPTIAN

During which period of Egyptian history was the sun god Re recognized as the chief deity?

OLD Kingdom

What royal title was adopted by Egyptian monarchs during the New Kingdom?

PHARAOH

Which funerary process was the Egyptian god Osiris most closely associated with?

MUMMIFICATION

Hieroglyphics, consisting of symbols representing sounds and objects, was the primary writing system of which civilization?

EGYPTIAN

The ancient Egyptian numerical system was based on which number?

$$10$$

Which broad language family includes Greek, Latin, and Persian?

INDO-EUROPEAN

On which Mediterranean island was the Bronze Age Minoan civilization located?

CRETE

Linear A was an undeciphered script used in the religious and palace records of which civilization?

MINOAN

Which major language group did the Mycenaeans belong to?

INDO-EUROPEAN

What warrior virtue was considered the most important to the Mycenaeans?

GREATNESS IN COMBAT

Linear B represents the earliest deciphered written form of which language?

GREEK

In biblical tradition, Abraham is considered the patriarch of which people?

HEBREW

Which city did King David capture and establish as the capital of the Kingdom of Israel?

JERUSALEM

The Covenant, the Law, and the Prophets were three foundational aspects of which religious tradition?

JEWISH Religious Tradition

What period of exile followed the Chaldean destruction of Jerusalem in $586\text{ B.C.}$?

BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

Which seafaring people made their greatest contribution by developing a simplified phonetic alphabet?

PHOENICIANS

In addition to Egypt, which major fertile region was conquered by the warlike Assyrians?

MESOPOTAMIA

Which ancient empire was notorious for its terror tactics, iron weapons, and siege warfare?

ASSYRIAN

The construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon occurred during the reign of which Neo-Babylonian king?

NEBUCHADNEZZAR II

During the Archaic Age, what fundamental writing innovation did the Greeks adopt from the Phoenicians?

ALPHABET

Who is credited with composing the epic poem the 'Iliad', which tells the story of the Trojan War?

HOMER

What Greek term refers to an independent, self-governing city-state?

POLIS

What tightly packed Greek infantry formation featured hoplites standing shoulder to shoulder with overlapping shields?

PHALANX

Democracy literally means rule by whom, without discrimination based on birth or wealth?

PEOPLE

Which ruling class in Athens faced an agrarian and debt crisis that led them to give reform powers to Solon?

ARISTOCRATS

Cleisthenes introduced major political reforms that laid the foundation for Athenian what?

DEMOCRACY

Cyrus the Great was the founder of which vast ancient empire?

PERSIAN Empire

Which Athenian general led the Greek forces to victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon?

MILTIADES

Which massive invasion of Greece in $480\text{ B.C.}$ was led in person by the Persian king Xerxes?

GREAT Invasion

At the Battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas led a famous delaying action with $300$ warriors from which city-state?

SPARTANS

Which protracted war between Athens and Sparta shattered Greek unity from $431\text{ B.C.}$ to $404\text{ B.C.}$?

PELOPONNESIAN War

Herodotus, author of 'The Persian Wars', is traditionally honored with what title?

Father of HISTORY

In $399\text{ B.C.}$, Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock in which city?

ATHENS

The Hellenistic era refers to the spread of which culture across the Near East after the conquests of Alexander the Great?

GREECE

Philip II of Macedon defeated an alliance of Thebans and Athenians in $338\text{ B.C.}$ at which decisive battle?

Battle of CHAERONEA

Alexander the Great was primarily responsible for the widespread diffusion of which culture?

GREEK culture

The battles of the Granicus River, Issus, and Gaugamela were major military victories commanded by whom?

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Which Hellenistic poet from Rhodes is best known for composing the epic poem 'The Argonautica'?

APOLLONIUS of Rhodes

Which Hellenistic philosophy, founded by Epicurus, regarded tranquility and moderate pleasure as the highest good?

EPICUREANISM

Which Hellenistic philosophy, founded by Zeno, emphasized reason, duty, and accepting one's fate?

STOICISM

Which Hellenistic astronomer from Samos first proposed that the Earth revolves around the Sun?

ARISTARCHUS of Samos

Which Hellenistic scholar and librarian at Alexandria calculated the circumference of the Earth with remarkable accuracy?

ERATOSTHENES

Which Hellenistic mathematician compiled 'Elements', the foundational textbook on geometry?

EUCLID

Which ancient scientist and mathematician from Syracuse calculated the value of pi ($\pi$) and designed ingenious machines?

ARCHIMEDES

The early development of which city was heavily shaped by Etruscan and Greek cultural influences?

ROME

During the Roman Republic, which two elected magistrates served as the highest civil and military officials?

CONSULS

In the Roman Republic's Struggle of the Orders, which class of common citizens won greater political rights against the patricians?

PLEBEIANS

The Laws of the Twelve Tables established a written legal code to govern civil and criminal matters for which group?

ROMAN citizens

The Battle of Cannae in $216\text{ B.C.}$ was the greatest victory during the Second Punic War for which Carthaginian general?

HANNIBAL

Which Roman general defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in $202\text{ B.C.}$?

PUBLIUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO

The Punic Wars were a series of conflicts fought between Rome and which North African naval power?

CARTHAGE

Crassus and Pompey suppressed the Third Servile War, a major slave revolt led by which gladiator?

SPARTACUS

Tiberius and Gaius attempted land and political reforms in the late Roman Republic under which family name?

GRACCHUS

Which Roman general reformed the army by abolishing property qualifications, creating soldiers loyal to their commanders rather than Rome?

MARIUS

Which Roman general used his personal army to seize Rome, ruled as dictator to restore Senate power, and retired in $79\text{ B.C.}$?

SULLA

Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Crassus formed which informal three-man political alliance?

FIRST TRIUMVIRATE

At the naval Battle of Actium in $31\text{ B.C.}$, whose forces defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra to win control of Rome?

OCTAVIAN

The reign of Augustus inaugurated two centuries of imperial peace and prosperity for which empire?

ROME

Which Roman emperor blamed and persecuted Christians following the Great Fire of Rome in $64\text{ A.D.}$?

NERO

In $212\text{ A.D.}$, the Antonine Decree extended what legal status to nearly all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire?

CITIZENSHIP

'Bread and Circuses' was a Roman phrase describing the public trading food and pleasure in exchange for what?

FREEDOM

The Jewish Diaspora expanded dramatically following the Roman destruction of what sacred structure in Jerusalem in $70\text{ A.D.}$?

TEMPLE

Who preached humility and brotherly love, was executed by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and inspired the Christian faith?

JESUS OF NAZARETH

Which early Christian apostle wrote influential epistles and played a central role in shaping Christian theology?

PAUL OF TARSUS

Which Roman emperor legalized Christianity across the empire by issuing the Edict of Milan in $313\text{ A.D.}$?

CONSTANTINE

In $380\text{ A.D.}$, Emperor Theodosius the Great declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire through which edict?

Edict of THESSALONICA

Based on the doctrine of Petrine Primacy, which ecclesiastical leader became the recognized head of the Western Church?

POPE

Convened by Constantine in $325\text{ A.D.}$, the First Council of Nicaea formulated which foundational statement of Christian belief?

NICENE CREED

Saint Benedict of Nursia created a monastic rule balancing prayer, study, and manual labor in what type of religious community?

MONASTERY

What is the modern name for the eastern half of the Roman Empire that survived the fall of the West and endured for another thousand years?

BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Which 6th-century ruler is remembered as the most influential emperor of the Byzantine Empire?

Emperor Justinian (BYZANTINE Emperor)

Completed in $537\text{ A.D.}$ in Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia stood as the world's largest Christian what?

CHURCH

The Iconoclasm Controversy in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries centered on the religious use of what?

IDOLS

Which Muslim group defeated the Byzantine army and captured Emperor Romanos IV at the Battle of Manzikert in $1071\text{ A.D.}$?

Seljuk TURKS

Which city served as the imperial capital of the Byzantine Empire?

CONSTANTINOPLE

The Hegira, Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in $622\text{ A.D.}$, marks the beginning of what?

Islamic CALENDAR

By the time of his death in $632\text{ A.D.}$, who had successfully united most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam?

MUHAMMAD

In Islam, what was Muhammad's primary religious role as the bearer of God's final revelation?

Last PROPHET

What is the sacred holy scripture of Islam?

QURAN

Which Frankish leader halted the advance of Muslim forces into Western Europe at the Battle of Tours in $732\text{ A.D.}$?

CHARLES MARTEL

Centered in Damascus, which caliphate was the first hereditary Muslim dynasty?

UMAYYAD Caliphate