civilization, black death, and feudalism review

MIDTERM HISTORY REVIEW

what are key features of civilization?

complex religions, cities, job specialization, writing systems, governments, and culture.

examples of complex religions in ancient/ medieval history?

monotheism (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) and Polytheism (egypt, greece rome, hinduism)

where did the first cities develop?

sumer / mesopotamia

two early writing systems?

cuneiform and hieroglyphics

EARLIEST form of writing?

cuneiform

what feature of sumerian civilization was the ziggurat most closely related to?

religion

major causeS of black death?

1. carried by fleas on rats from east (mongols).

2. perfect conditions and early biological warfare

3. traveled thru increased trade routes (ships & silk road)

4. crusades opened the west to the eastern world, came by ship thru italian ports

5. weakening of population through long periods of famine

where did black death originate?

china

(simple) what caused black death

fleas on rats

majors effects of black death?

1. population decline

2. labor shortages

3. increased leverage and social mobility for remaining laborers

4. quickened decline of feudalism

5. church’s influence declined / loss of faith in church

6. distrust in rich

7. peasants demanding higher wages & fewer peasants available for essential work.

what event immediately preceded the black death?

long periods of famine

feudalism?

social & economic system where nobles help land from the king in exchange for military service, and in return gave protection to peasants in exchange for a goods and services on the land.

what factors led to the rise of feudalism?

1. crusades (growth of towns, power shifts from lords and manors)

2. black death (shift in power balance to favor peasants more, disruption to land-based economy)

3. rise of towns

social order of feudalism?

monarch, lords/nobles, knights/vassals, peasants/serfs.

name of new social class?

middle class/ bourgeoise