History Exam

Which reading assignment reflects the values of Mesopotamia?

The Epic of Gilgamesh.

What significant leadership role emerged in Sumer during times of crisis?

A chief priest or military leader stepped up for temporary authority.

What responsibilities did the temporary leader in Sumer have during a crisis?

The temporary leader made armies, trained them, and led them into battle.

What is the main focus of the reading assignment regarding Mesopotamia?

Understanding how the Epic of Gilgamesh reflects the values of the time.

What is the significance of the emergence of kings in Sumer?

It marked the establishment of centralized authority and governance in early civilizations.

What type of dynasties emerged from power in Mesopotamia?

Patriarchal hereditary dynasties, passed down to sons.

What became a symbol of royal status in Mesopotamia?

The palace, which rivaled the temple.

How did kings in Mesopotamia strengthen their power?

By making alliances with other powerful individuals, usually through marriage.

What was the role of religious authorities in relation to kings?

Kings worked closely with religious authorities.

When did the origins of writing likely begin?

In the ninth millennium when people in southwest Asia used clay tokens for record keeping.

What breakthrough in writing occurred by the fourth millennium?

People realized that impressing tokens on soft clay or drawing pictures was simpler than making tokens.

What are pictographs?

Signs that represent objects, but cannot convey abstract ideas.

What is cuneiform?

The Sumerian form of writing used to keep track of trade, agriculture, people, and goods.

What are ideograms?

Symbols that convey ideas, such as a star representing heaven, sky, or god.

What was the purpose of scribal schools in Sumer?

To produce individuals who could keep track of records for temple officials, kings, and nobles.

How was writing initially used in Sumer?

To enhance the growing power of elites, not to record speech.

Who was Sargon and what did he accomplish?

Sargon was the king who conquered Sumerian cities with the first permanent army and created a large state.

What was the capital of Sargon's empire?

Akkad.

What advancements did Sargon make during his rule?

He tore down defensive walls of Sumerian cities and appointed his sons as rulers.

Who was Enheduanna?

The high priestess in the city of Ur who became the first author to put her name to a literary composition.

What was Babylon's strategic advantage?

Its excellent position to dominate trade on both the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.

Who ruled Babylon and unified Mesopotamia?

Hammurabi.

What is Hammurabi's Code?

A set of laws that presented Hammurabi as a model of a 'just' ruler and included punishments fitting the crime.

What does Hammurabi's Code reveal about Mesopotamian society?

It provides insights into daily life, emphasizing agriculture and business, though it is unclear if the laws were enforced.

How were different social classes treated under Hammurabi's Code?

The code divided Babylon into superiors, commoners, and slaves, assigning different financial values to their lives.

What was a common penalty for neglecting land according to Hammurabi's Code?

Severe penalties for tenants who did not work the land.

How did Hammurabi's Code influence other legal systems?

It served as a model for other law codes.

What proportion of laws in ancient Egypt pertained to marriage, reproduction, and families?

⅓ of the laws.

How were marriages typically arranged in ancient Egypt?

Marriages were arranged by families and involved financial exchanges.

What was the significance of reproduction in ancient Egyptian marriage laws?

A man was allowed to bring a concubine or have children with servants/slaves if his wife could not bear children.

What expectations were outlined in the marriage laws regarding gender roles?

Expectations on how each gender should act were included in the code, and cases were treated differently based on adherence to these expectations.

What are the three theories of pyramid construction in ancient Egypt?

1. Single Ramp Theory: a massive straight ramp on one side. 2. Revolving Ramp Theory: a spiraling ramp around the pyramid. 3. Combination Theory: a mix of the first two theories.

How did Hatshepsut gain the authority to rule Egypt?

She married her half-brother Thutmose II and adopted male characteristics to be respected as a man.

What was the purpose of Hatshepsut building obelisks around Egypt?

To advertise her lineage to her father, Amun Ra.

Who was Hatshepsut's lover and architect?

Senemut.

What happened to Hatshepsut's monuments after her death?

Her son destroyed her statues and obelisks, and her name was eliminated from official records.

What regions make up Ancient Egypt?

Upper Egypt (southern part) and Lower Egypt (northern part). Upper Egypt is called so because the Nile River starts there, while Lower Egypt is where the Nile ends.

What was the primary religious belief system in ancient Egypt?

Polytheism.

What does the concept of ma'at represent in ancient Egyptian belief?

Cosmic harmony and balance, which pharaohs and priests were responsible for maintaining.

What was expected of all people in relation to ma'at?

To observe good behavior and honor their pharaoh and gods.

What was the belief regarding the spirit and body after death in ancient Egypt?

The spirit and body were linked, and the body must exist for the spirit to reach the afterlife.

What was the purpose of mummification in ancient Egypt?

To prevent bodies from decomposing and ensure the spirit could access the afterlife.

How did the mummification process vary based on social status?

Wealthy individuals underwent an expensive procedure involving organ removal and wrapping, while poorer individuals were buried in sand pits to dry out naturally.

What were some architectural achievements of ancient Egyptians?

They built temples, tombs, and pyramids, which served as burial sites for pharaohs along with their possessions.

What are pyramid texts?

Religious writings and artwork found on the walls of burial chambers to protect the pharaoh in the afterlife.

What is known about the construction of the pyramids?

No primary sources exist on how they were built, but it is believed that workers cut stone in Upper Egypt and transported it down the Nile.

What materials were commonly used in pyramid construction?

Limestone and granite.

What was typically included in the burial sites of pharaohs?

Possessions such as gold and jewelry to help them live comfortably in the afterlife.

What methods did laborers use to move heavy stones in ancient Egypt?

They used sleds and ramps.

What is the first writing system created in the world?

Hieroglyphics.

What were hieroglyphics primarily used for?

They were used for formal writing, such as engravings on temples, tombs, and monuments.

What significant discovery helped historians translate hieroglyphics?

The discovery of the Rosetta Stone.

What is the Rosetta Stone?

A large stone slab that contains a statement about a pharaoh in hieroglyphics, demotic, and Greek.

How did scholars use the Rosetta Stone to understand hieroglyphics?

Scholars who could read Greek used it to decode the hieroglyphics.

What simpler writing system was developed for quicker writing on papyrus?

A simpler writing system that could be written more quickly than hieroglyphics.

What material was papyrus made from?

Papyrus was made from a plant that grew along the Nile River.

Who was Akhenaten and what did he do regarding religion in Egypt?

Akhenaten outlawed Egypt's traditional polytheistic religion and replaced it with the worship of his favorite god, Aten.

What was a possible intention behind Akhenaten's religious reforms?

It may have been intended to diminish the power of the priests of the god Amun.

What did Herodotus argue about who built the pyramids?

He argued that slaves built the pyramids, stating that the king forced all Egyptians to work for him.

What evidence did Herodotus provide to support his claim about pyramid builders?

He claimed to have received his information from Egyptians who told him stories.

What was the argument presented in the 1959 textbook regarding the construction of the pyramids?

It argued that slaves built the pyramids, with evidence stating that whip-driven men worked for 20 years to complete the pyramids.

What new evidence did a news article present about the builders of the pyramids?

It argued that slaves did not build the pyramids, citing archaeological discoveries of tombs showing that workers were paid laborers.

What evidence did Mark Lehner provide in his 1997 interview regarding pyramid builders?

He argued that slaves did not build the pyramids, citing graffiti found in the pyramids that named work gangs after pharaohs.

What was the significance of the graffiti found in the pyramids according to Mark Lehner?

It indicated that work gangs were named after kings, suggesting that they were not slaves.

What was Shiffman's argument regarding the builders of the pyramids?

He argued that it would be strange if none of the pyramid builders were slaves, given that slavery was common.

What are monsoons and how did they impact farming in ancient India?

Monsoons are seasonal winds that brought warm moist air in summer and cold air in winter, aiding farming but also causing floods or droughts if rains were poorly timed.

What are the four major varnas in the ancient Indian caste system?

Brahmin (scholars and priests), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaisyas (skilled farmers and merchants), and Shudras (unskilled workers).

Who were the Untouchables in ancient Indian society?

They were outside the caste system, had no rights, and often held degrading jobs.

What was Siddhartha Gautama's background before seeking enlightenment?

He was a prince raised in luxury, naive to suffering until he witnessed pain at age 29.

What did Siddhartha Gautama discover while meditating under the Bodhi tree?

He discovered nirvana or enlightenment, which is perfect knowledge and wisdom.

What are the Four Noble Truths taught by Siddhartha Gautama?

The truths are: the truth of suffering, the causes of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path to freedom from suffering.

What is the significance of Siddhartha Gautama's teachings today?

His teachings form the cornerstone of Buddhism and are practiced by millions.

What is the origin date of Hinduism?

Hinduism dates back to at least 1500 BCE.

What is unique about the texts associated with Hinduism?

Hinduism does not follow a single holy book but includes multiple texts written over several centuries.

What are the Vedas in relation to Hinduism?

The Vedas are a collection of hymns, rituals, and texts written in Sanskrit that influenced early Hinduism.

How did the Indo-Aryans contribute to the development of Hinduism?

They did not record their ideas until hundreds of years after migrating into India.

What are the Upanishads?

A series of texts in which Hindu scholars present their interpretations and explanations about the Vedas and the main ideas of Hinduism.

What is the belief regarding the single god in Hinduism?

Hindus believe in a single god, Brahman, which is an invisible energy, force, or spirit that created the universe and exists throughout it.

How does Brahman manifest in Hinduism?

Brahman does not have a single physical body but appears as a variety of Hindu gods in both human and animal forms.

What is the concept of atman in Hinduism?

Atman refers to the individual self that is considered to be Brahman; it is believed that all people are actually the same.

What is the ultimate goal of Hindus regarding atman and Brahman?

The ultimate goal is to recognize the reality of Brahman and live according to this truth, reuniting the atman with Brahman after death.

What is reincarnation in Hinduism?

Reincarnation is the rebirth of one's soul (atman) in a different body if a person does not recognize the reality of Brahman during their lifetime.

What determines the fate of a person's atman after death?

The fate of a person's atman is determined by their karma.

What is karma?

Karma refers to the effect a person's actions have on their soul (atman), with good karma resulting in positive benefits and bad karma leading to negative consequences.

What is dharma in Hinduism?

Dharma is one's spiritual duties and role in life, requiring honesty, self-control, and following the rule of ahimsa.

What is ahimsa?

Ahimsa is the principle of nonviolence and respect for living things.

What happens when a person follows their dharma?

If a person follows their dharma, their actions will be rewarded with good karma, potentially leading to moksha.

What is moksha?

Moksha is the state achieved when one is released from the cycle of rebirth and has successfully reunited their atman with Brahman.

Who was Siddhartha before becoming the Buddha?

Siddhartha was a prince who was predicted to become a great king but became a spiritual leader after seeing human suffering.

What did Siddhartha see that changed his life?

He saw an old man, a sick man, and a dead man, realizing that he and his loved ones would eventually suffer.

What lifestyle did Siddhartha adopt to seek enlightenment?

He became an ascetic, spending six years traveling and studying with teachers and ascetics, fasting and meditating.

What conclusion did Siddhartha reach about extreme lifestyles?

He concluded that neither extreme luxury nor extreme denial led to happiness or the end of suffering.

What is the Middle Way in Buddhism?

The Middle Way is an approach that encourages finding a balance between extreme lifestyles to achieve inner peace and avoid suffering.

What is the First Noble Truth?

Suffering is a part of life, and no one can escape aging, sickness, death, and other painful experiences.

What is the Second Noble Truth?

Suffering is caused by craving pleasure, seeking wealth, and other selfish desires.

What is the Third Noble Truth?

Suffering can be avoided by letting go of selfish cravings and desires.

What is the Fourth Noble Truth?

The Eightfold Path is the way to stop cravings, end suffering, and reach nirvana.

What is Nirvana in Buddhism?

A state of peace that is free from suffering and desire.

What are the components of the Eightfold Path in Buddhism?

1. Right View: accepting the Four Noble Truths. 2. Right Intention: living a spiritual life with kindness and compassion for others. 3. Right Speech: not lying, gossiping, or speaking poorly about others. 4. Right Action: not stealing or hurting others. 5. Right Livelihood: working in a job that does not cause harm to other humans or animals. 6. Right Effort: avoiding negative thoughts and having only positive thoughts. 7. Right Mindfulness: being conscious and in control of thoughts and feelings. 8. Right Concentration: practicing meditation to help reach enlightenment.

What does 'logographic' mean in the context of Chinese writing?

It means that each word is represented by a symbol.