AP World History Part 1 & Part 2 Prologue

First Migrations

200,000-100,000 B.C.E. - Modern humans debut in East Africa!

Survival Strategies

Hunted animals and foraged for seeds/edible plants.

Living Style

Small groups (a few dozen), no permanent homes. Nomadic Lifestyle Alert!

Adaptation & Skills

Moved to new environments → Developed genetic and cultural differences. Mastered fire & stone tool making. Created art through cave paintings!

Beliefs

Animism: Reverence for nature deities (think animals, mountains, rivers).

Social Structure

Mostly egalitarian, but early hints of patriarchy (males in charge).

Global Movement

100,000-60,000 years ago: Ice age ends → Food search leads humans out of East Africa. By 10,000 B.C.E., humans are everywhere (except Antarctica)!

Agricultural Revolution

Around 10,000 years ago (~8000 B.C.E.) - Warming climate post-Ice Age.

What Happened

Start of plant cultivation and animal domestication!

Significance

Food surplus = Some people can grow enough to feed everyone.

Impact on Society

Specialization: Different folks take on different roles. Artisans: Craft tools/weapons. Merchants: Trade masters. Priests: Ritual experts.

Tech Innovations

Improved irrigation systems, introducing the wheel, and moving from stone to metals (bronze & iron).

Government & Writing

More organized governments and taxes → Writing invented to keep trade & tax records.

Social Dynamics

Competition for resources increases conflicts, but governments help mediate. Social classes emerge based on wealth and jobs. Women's status generally declines during this period.

Emergence after Agricultural Revolution

Rise of large societies with cities and strong states.

Location of Civilizations

Most civilizations were established in river valleys for access to fresh water and fertile land.

Mesopotamia

First civilization located around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq).

City-States

Independent states consisting of a city and surrounding areas. Highly patriarchal society.

Key Features of Mesopotamia

Architecture: Built impressive structures like ziggurats (religious temples). Trade: Engaged in long-distance trade networks. Religion: Polytheistic beliefs (worshiped many gods).

Sumer

Located in southern Mesopotamia. Created cuneiform, the first written language, to manage taxes and trade. First recorded written laws.

Egypt

Flourished in the Nile River valley.

Centralization in Egypt

Unified under a single ruler known as a pharaoh.

Key Contributions of Egypt

Writing system: Developed hieroglyphics. Mathematics: Established a complex mathematical system. Architecture: Constructed the iconic pyramids as symbols of pharaohs' power.

Women's Rights in Egypt

Could own property and were recognized as equal to men in legal matters. Enjoyed a better social status than in many other patriarchal societies.

Indus River Valley Civilizations

Key Cities: Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro.

Indus River Valley Sophistication

Long-distance trade with Mesopotamia, practices polytheism, technology includes indoor plumbing, urban planning with well-organized city layouts.

Indus River Valley Language Barrier

No one has deciphered their written language; less is known about them compared to other civilizations.

Northern China (Huang He River) System

Highly patriarchal & centralized.

Northern China Cultural Feature

Ancestor worship - great honor given to ancestors.

Olmec (Mesoamerica) and Chavin (Andes)

Developed complex societies and engaged in extensive trade.

Animism

Early belief system where deities were tied to specific locations.

Abstract Beliefs

Over time, beliefs became more flexible; gods could be taken along when people moved.

Polytheism to Monotheism

Shift from many gods to belief in a single supreme deity in some cultures.

Hinduism Characterization

Sometimes seen as polytheistic (many gods) and sometimes monotheistic (one supreme deity).

Hinduism Age

Over 3,500 years old!

Hinduism Key People

Aryans — groups migrating from the north of the Himalayas to modern-day Pakistan and India.

Hinduism Language

Spoke an Indo-European language.

Hinduism Scriptures

The Vedas introduced the idea of many deities but evolved to recognize one supreme deity.

Hinduism Belief

Teaches reincarnation: souls are reborn many times until fully enlightened and liberated.

Hinduism Social Structure

Caste system: Society organized into strict classes (castes), limited social mobility but created a sense of unity in society.

Zoroastrianism Location

Ancient Persia.

Zoroastrianism Key Concept

Early monotheism.

Zoroastrianism Focus

Human free will and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Judaism Influence

Major example of monotheism.

Judaism People

Originally known as Hebrews or Israelites; now called Jews.

Judaism Origins

Emerged around present-day Israel.

Judaism Key Figure

Abraham, lived about 4,000 years ago.

Judaism Belief

Covenant with God (Yahweh) — in return for devotion, they are considered His chosen people.

Judaism Scriptures

Hebrew Scriptures (also called the Old Testament).

Judaism Connection to Other Religions

Foundation for Christianity and Islam, both monotheistic and trace back to Abraham.

Western Eurasia Empires

Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine

Mnemonic for Western Eurasia Empires

Picky Great Raspberry Bunnies (P = Persian, G = Greek, R = Roman, B = Byzantine)

Southern Asia Empires

Mauryan, Gupta

Mnemonic for Southern Asia Empires

Merry Goats (M = Mauryan, G = Gupta)

Eastern Asia Dynasties

Qin, Han

Mnemonic for Eastern Asia Dynasties

Quick Hares (Q = Qin, H = Han)

Mesoamerica Empire

Mayan

Mnemonic for Mesoamerica Empire

Mighty Mayans

Role of Empires

Provided political and economic security

Trade Routes

Facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas through Land Routes (Silk Roads) and Maritime Routes (Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean)

Cities Developed

Rome (Italy), Constantinople (Turkey), Damascus (Syria), Pataliputra (India), Chang'an (China)

Mnemonic for Cities

RCDPC (Rome, Constantinople, Damascus, Pataliputra, Chang'an)

Buddhism Key Elements

Unified only twice during the Classical Period

Founder of Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Birth of Buddha

Born c. 530 B.C.E. into a wealthy Hindu family

Key Insight of Buddha

Awareness of suffering led to his quest to understand and solve it.

Timeframe of the Mauryan Empire

322 B.C.E. - 187 B.C.E.

Key Figure of the Mauryan Empire

Ashoka: The most notable ruler of the Mauryan Empire.

Achievements of Ashoka

Unity in South Asia, established the first stable period across the region.

Prosperity under Ashoka

Developed an efficient tax system and built roads to link commercial hubs.

Law & Governance under Ashoka

Spread knowledge of laws via inscriptions on pillars.

Religious Transformation of Ashoka

Converted from Hinduism to Buddhism, boosting Buddhism in India.

Post-Ashoka Decline

After Ashoka's reign, the empire faced a decline resulting in political decentralization.

Mnemonic for Ashoka's Achievements

PILLARS: Prosperity, Inscriptions, Law spread, Linked roads, Ashoka, Religious conversion, South Asian unity.

Time Period of the Gupta Empire

c. 320 C.E. to c. 550 C.E.

Nickname of the Gupta Empire

The Golden Age of India.

Government of the Gupta Empire

Centralized government based in Pataliputra.

Advances in Medicine during Gupta Empire

Public hospitals made big advances; physicians used inoculations to prevent diseases.

Mathematics during Gupta Empire

Developed a numbering system using 0-9 and the idea of place value.

Social Structure of the Gupta Empire

Patriarchal Society: Men held the majority of power in public life.

Religion in the Gupta Empire

Strong support for Hinduism to unify the people.

Pataliputra

Imagine a palace in Pataliputra filled with doctors and mathematicians!

Medicine

Vaccines: Think of a doctor in a hospital giving a shot to prevent illness.

Numbers

0 to 9: Picture your favorite counting game but with only 10 numbers!

Time

c. 320 - 550 C.E.

Highlights

Golden Age, Advancements in medicine & math, Patriarchal structure, Support for Hinduism

Zhou Dynasty

1076 B.C.E. - 256 B.C.E.: Central China united under this dynasty.

Warring States Period

Followed the dynasty's decline; characterized by instability and decentralization.

Mandate of Heaven

Concept that heaven gives rulers the right to govern; if a ruler is corrupt, nature shows its displeasure.

Peasant uprisings

Result when rulers lose the Mandate of Heaven.

Confucianism

Philosophy founded by Confucius (K'ung Fu-tzu) in 551 B.C.E.

Education

Emphasis on learning and moral development in Confucianism.

Benevolence

Encourages kindness and generosity in Confucianism.

Virtue

Importance of ethical behavior in Confucianism.

Respect for Authority

Especially towards the emperor in Confucianism.

Patriarchal Society

Traditional family structures emphasized in Confucianism.

Filial Piety

Honor your ancestors in Confucianism.

BEV-ARP

Acronym for Benevolence, Education, Virtue, Authority, Respect, Piety in Confucianism.

Daoism

Response to Chaos that emerged during the Warring States period.

Focus of Daoism

Harmony with nature rather than just societal harmony.