Global History & Geography Regents Review Packet Notes

Introduction to Global History

  • This study guide summarizes information frequently appearing on the Global History and Geography Regents Exam.
  • It familiarizes you with material likely to be on the multiple-choice portion and provides background knowledge for thematic and DBQ essays.
  • The packet presents information chronologically, with 9th-grade topics in the first section and 10th-grade material in Part II.

Social Scientists

Historical Sources

  • Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Neolithic Age

Ancient Civilizations

  • Civilizations Defined
  • Ancient River Valley Civilizations
    • Egypt;
    • Mesopotamia;
    • Indus;
    • China

Classical Civilizations

  • Introduction to Classical Civilizations
  • Greece
    • Athens:
    • Sparta:
    • Alexander the Great
  • Rome
  • India
    • Maurya and Gupta Dynasties
    • Caste System
  • China
    • Qin and Han Dynasties
  • Silk Road

World Religions and Philosophies

  • Monotheistic Religions
    • Judaism
    • Islam
    • Christianity
  • Religions and Philosophies of India
    • Hinduism
    • Buddhism
  • Philosophies of China
    • Legalism
    • Confucianism
  • Nature Religions
    • Shinto
    • Animism

Byzantine Empire

Legal Systems of the Ancient and Classical Worlds

  • Code of Hammurabi
  • Twelve Tables of Rome
  • Justinian Code

Golden Age of Islam

  • Beliefs of Islam
  • Golden Age of Islam

Middle Ages

  • Introduction to the Middle Ages
    • Feudalism
    • Manorialism
  • Crusades

Golden Age of China (Tang and Song Dynasties)

Early Japanese History

  • Japanese Geography
  • Japanese Religion (Shinto)
  • Influence of China on Japan
  • Japanese Feudalism
    • Shogun
    • Daimyo
    • Samurai

African Civilizations

  • Intro to Africa
    • Geography
    • Animism
    • Bantu Migrations
  • West African Civilizations
    • Ghana
    • Mali
    • Songhai
    • Mansa Musa
    • Trade

The Mongols

  • Genghis Khan
  • Marco Polo

Transformation of Western Europe

  • Black Death (i.e.- Bubonic Plague)
  • Renaissance
    • Humanism
    • Artists
    • Machiavelli
  • Protestant Reformation
    • Indulgences
    • Martin Luther
    • John Calvin
    • Henry VIII

Printing Press

Pre-Columbian Civilizations of the Americas

  • Maya
  • Aztec
  • Inca

Age of Exploration and Encounter

  • Exploration and Discovery
    • Causes
    • Explorers
    • Encomienda System
    • Mercantilism
    • Triangular Trade
    • Columbian Exchange
  • Commercial Revolution

The Travelers of Global I

  • Marco Polo
  • Ibn Battuta
  • Zheng He

Age of Absolutism

  • Absolute Monarchy
  • Divine Right
  • Peter the Great
  • Louis XIV

Scientific Revolution (1500s-1600s)

  • The Scientific Revolution was a dramatic shift in how people viewed the world, emphasizing science and reason over the Bible and the Church.
  • Key People:
    • Copernicus: Developed the Heliocentric Theory (planets revolve around the sun).
    • Galileo Galilei: Proved Copernicus correct but was tried by the Church for contradicting its teachings.
    • Sir Isaac Newton: Developed calculus and the theory of gravity.
    • Johannes Kepler: Discovered how planets move.
    • Descartes: Mathematician, scientist, and philosopher.
  • Key Effects:
    • Spread of new ideas, challenging the Catholic Church's authority.
    • Directly led to the Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment (1700s)

  • The Enlightenment, or "The Age of Reason," emphasized reason and logic to improve society.
  • Key Ideas:
    • Society could be improved using reason and natural law.
    • Governments derive power from the people, not God.
    • Belief in democracy.
    • The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment both encouraged new ideas and reason.
  • Key People:
    • John Locke: Believed in natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the right to overthrow governments that fail to protect these rights.
    • Baron de Montesquieu: Advocated for separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial) with checks and balances.
    • Voltaire: Believed in freedom of speech and religion.
    • Rousseau: Argued society is a social contract where people work for the common good.
  • Key Effects:
    • Political revolutions in France, Latin America, and the United States, inspired by the idea of overthrowing unfair governments.
    • Enlightened Despots: European rulers who adopted Enlightenment principles.

Political Revolutions

  • A political revolution involves the people of a country overthrowing the existing government and creating a new government.

The English Revolution/Glorious Revolution (1689)

  • The English Revolution limited the power of the English monarchs.
  • It occurred because people believed the absolute monarchs had too much power.
  • Key effects of the English Revolution/Glorious Revolution:
    • England's government became a limited constitutional monarchy.
    • Laws that limited the power of the English king in some way:
      • The Magna Carta
      • The Petition of Right
      • The English Bill of Rights
      • Habeas Corpus
      • English kings had to share power with Parliament.

The French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815)

  • The French Revolution was the event in which the people of France overthrew their king (Louis XVI) and fought for more rights.
  • Key causes:
    • French society divided into three estates, with the Third Estate (peasants) having few rights and paying the highest taxes.
    • Absolute monarchs abused their power and denied rights to the people.
    • Enlightenment ideas inspired the French people.
    • France was in an economic crisis due to royal overspending.
  • Key events:
    • Declaration of the Rights of Man: gave equal rights to men and created a fair taxation system.
    • Reign of Terror: radical leaders (Jacobins) executed thousands of people loyal to the king, led by Robespierre..
  • Key effects:
    • King Louis XVI was executed.
    • The middle class gained more power and rights.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte:
    • Came to power at the end of the French Revolution.
    • Expanded French territory.
    • Defeated in 1812 after invading Russia during the winter.

The Latin American Revolutions (1800-1830)

  • The Latin American Revolutions were events in which colonies fought for independence from Spain, Portugal, and France.
  • Key causes:
    • Governments controlled by Peninsulares treated Latin Americans poorly. Creoles, Mestizos, Native Americans, and African slaves demanded more rights.
    • Enlightenment ideas inspired Latin Americans to fight for self-government.
    • The American and French Revolutions inspired Latin Americans.
  • Leaders:
    • Simon Bolivar
    • Jose de San Martin
    • Miguel Hidalgo
    • Toussaint L'Ouverture
  • These men are considered nationalists.
  • Attempts to unify Latin America failed due to natural boundaries.

Industrial Revolution (1700s-1800s)

  • The Industrial Revolution was the change from producing goods by hand to producing goods with machines in factories.
  • Started in Great Britain due to abundant natural resources.
  • Key effects:
    • Industrialization
    • Urbanization
    • Bad working conditions
    • Formation of Labor Unions
    • Legislation to set minimum wage and end child labor.
  • Laissez Faire Capitalism (Market Economy):
    • Businesses and factories owned by individuals.
    • Business decisions made by individuals.
    • Prices set by supply and demand.
  • Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels:
    • Believed laissez faire capitalism was bad.
    • Wrote the “Communist Manifesto.”
    • Ideas became the basis of communism.

Nationalism

  • Nationalism is a feeling of love, loyalty, and devotion to one's country.
  • Develops in areas where people share a common language, culture, and history.

Unification of Italy and Germany (1870-1871)

  • Before 1870, Italy and Germany were divided into separate states.
  • Nationalism led to efforts to unify these states into single nations.
Unification of Italy
  • Achieved in 1870 through the efforts of:
    • Giuseppe Garibaldi
    • Giuseppe Mazzini
    • Count Camillo di Cavour
Unification of Germany
  • Achieved in 1871 through the efforts of:
    • Otto von Bismarck, who used a "blood and iron" policy (3 wars) to unify German lands.

Nationalism in Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire

  • Both empires ruled over diverse ethnic groups.
  • Nationalism led ethnic minorities to seek independence.
  • Both empires eventually broke up due to nationalist movements.

Nationalism in Ireland

  • Great Britain took over Ireland in 1801.
Potato Famine
  • 1845-1850 - About 1 million Irish people died of starvation.
  • Over 1 million Irish people migrated to the United States.
Nationalism
  • Many people in Ireland wanted independence from Great Britain.
  • 1921 - Southern Ireland gained independence; Northern Ireland remained part of Great Britain.

Imperialism

  • Imperialism is when a strong country conquers and takes over a weaker country.
  • During the 19th century, many European nations took over lands throughout Africa and Asia.

Causes of Imperialism

  • Europeans wanted raw materials/natural resources.
  • "White Man's Burden” encouraged Europeans to civilize the people they took over.
  • Social Darwinism - The idea that it was natural for strong countries to take over weaker countries.

Imperialism in India, China, and Africa (1800s-1914)

  • The Europeans generally had a very negative impact on the regions that they colonized.
Effects
  • "Scramble for Africa" - Over 90% of Africa was taken over by European countries.
  • China - Carved up into spheres of influence after the Opium Wars.
  • India - Taken over by Great Britain and ruled for almost 200 years.

Resistance to Imperialism

  • The people of Africa and Asia fought many wars to kick out the Europeans and gain independence.
Rebellions
  • Sepoy Mutiny - Rebellion in India.
  • Boxer Rebellion - Rebellion in China.

Imperialism in Japan

  • From 1600-1854, Japan was largely isolated.
  • 1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States opened up the country to trade.
  • Meiji Restoration (1868-1912)
    *Modernization
    *Westernization
Results
  • Japan became a powerful and modern industrial country.
  • Japan started to imperialize other countries.
Japanese Imperialism
  • Japan took over Korea and part of China to gain resources.

World War I (1914-1918)

  • World War I was a global military conflict fought mainly in Europe.

Causes

  • Militarism Countries in Europe built up their armies and their supply of weapons.
  • Alliances-Countries in Europe divided themselves into two military alliances (the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente)
  • Imperialism- Countries in Europe competed with each other to take over lands in Africa, Asia, and the Balkans.
  • Nationalism- Ethnic groups in the Balkans (Southeastern Europe) wanted to gain independence from Austria-Hungary.
  • World War I started when Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by Slavic nationalists in the Balkans.

Treaty of Versailles

  • The treaty severely punished Germany in a number of ways:
    • Germany was forced to accept blame for causing World War I.
    • Germany was forced to pay 3030 billion dollars in war reparations.
    • Germany had to reduce the size of its military.
    • Germany was forced to give up some of its lands.
  • The Treaty of Versailles was so harsh on Germany that it eventually helped bring Hitler to power and it helped cause World War II.

Key Effects

  • Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were broken apart to create new nations in Eastern Europe.
  • Armenian Massacre- During World War I, the Turks of the Ottoman Empire attempted to kill all of the Armenians that lived in their territory.
  • Women in Europe eventually gained suffrage.

The Russian Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution) of 1917

  • The Russian Revolution was an event where the people of Russia overthrew their Czar and created a new government.

Causes

  • World War I created food shortages at home.
  • Czar Nicholas II abused his power by taking away the rights of the people.

Bolsheviks

  • Led by Vladimir Lenin.
  • Gained support by promising "Peace, Land, and Bread."

Effects

  • Czar Nicholas II was executed.
  • Lenin and the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia.
  • Russia became a Communist nation.

Nationalism Between World Wars (1919-1939)

Turkey

  • After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was broken apart.
  • Kemal Ataturk- made many changes in order to strengthen Turkey:
    • Westernization
    • Democracy

Zionism

  • Zionism is the name for the nationalist movement of Jews.
  • Goal of Zionists after World War I was to create an official nation for Jews in the Holy Land.

India

  • After World War I, India began to increase its demands for independence.
  • Mohandas Gandhi:
    • fought for independence from Britain using only non-violent methods.
    • Salt March - protested British taxes on salt.
    • Boycott - encouraged people to stop buying British products.

Totalitarianism Between World Wars

  • Totalitarian dictatorships are governments where one ruler has complete control over ALL aspects of life within a country.
  • After World War I, totalitarian dictatorships were established in:
    • The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.
    • Italy under Benito Mussolini.
    • Germany under Adolf Hitler.

Common Traits

  • Censorship

  • One political party

  • State needs put before individual needs

  • Elimination of opposition using a secret police force

  • Use of propaganda

  • Hitler and Mussolini were able to come to power because Germany and Italy were facing severe economic problems.

Totalitarianism under Joseph Stalin

  • He established a Command (or Communist) economy
  • Five-Year Plans - Stalin tried to modernize the industry and agriculture
  • Collectivization- Stalin forced people to live on large government farms.
  • Stalin took away food from the people of the Ukraine.

World War II (1939-1945)

  • World War II was the second major global conflict of the twentieth century.

Events leading up to World War II

  • Japanese Aggression

  • Italian Aggression

  • German Aggression- Adolf Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles.

  • World War II took place mainly because very little was done early on to stop Hitler, Mussolini, or Japan.

Appeasement

  • At the Munich Conference in Germany, Great Britain appeased Hitler by giving him control over Czechoslovakia.

  • World War II started when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939.

Key Events of World War II

  • Invasion of Poland-This event started WWII.
  • Pearl Harbor- Japan launched a surprise attack against the United States which brought the US into WWII.
  • Hitler failed to conquer Russia (the Soviet Union) at the Battle of Stalingrad.
  • D-Day Invasion- resulted in the eventual defeat of Germany.
  • Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan which led to their quick surrender.
  • The Holocaust
    * Hitler and the Nazis tried to kill all Jews in Europe, killing over 66 million Jews and 66 million non-Jews.
    * It is an example of genocide.

Effects

  • Formation of the United Nations for international problem-solving and war prevention.
The United Nations is made of 6 main groups

  • The Security Council -Keeps peace between nations.

  • International Court of Justice -Settles disputes between countries.

  • General Assembly-Votes on key policies of the United Nations.

  • Secretariat-Responsible for day-to-day administration of the United Nations.

  • Declaration of Human Rights – lists rights for all people, including freedom of speech, life, and participation in government.

Nuremberg Trials
  • The court case where surviving Nazis were put on trial.
  • Showed that individuals in government could be held accountable for their actions.

The Cold War (1945-1991)

  • The Cold War was a 5050 year struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union never directly fought each other.

Key events and characteristics

  • The Soviet Union took over the small nations of Eastern Europe and turned them into communist satellites.

    • "Iron Curtain" divided the democratic countries of Western Europe from the communist countries of Eastern Europe.

  • Containment Used by the United States in which it attempted to stop the spread of communism.
    * Truman Doctrine - The United States gave 400400 million in economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to help them defeat communist groups
    * Marshall Plan The United States gave 1313 billion to the countries of Western Europe to help them rebuild

  • Crisis in Germany
    * Berlin Wall-Concrete wall built by the Communists around the city of West Berlin
    * Berlin Airlift Event in which the United States, Britain, and France flew in supplies to the people of West Berlin

  • Military alliances
    * NATO - This was a military alliance between the United States, Canada, and the democratic nations of Western Europe.
    * Warsaw Pact- This was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and the other Communist nations of Eastern Europe.

  • Hungarian Revolution of 1956- When Hungary tried to break away from Soviet control, the Soviet Union sent in the army and repressed the rebellion.

  • Arms Race The United States and Soviet Union competed to build up the largest supply of nuclear weapons.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis This event is the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war between countries.

    • The Korean War and the Vietnam War were the result of this situation.

Economic Issues After World War II

Economic Cooperation

  • Various regions of the world started to create organizations that were designed to increase trade and promote economic prosperity.
Organizations include:
  • European Union (E.U.)- Includes 2727 countries in Europe.
  • North American Free Trade Agreement (N.A.F.T.A.) Increased trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Oil Politics

  • Most of the world's oil is located in the Middle East.
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (O.P.E.C.)
  • The member countries of O.P.E.C. determine the price of oil as well as production levels.

Communism in China (1949-Present)

  • In 1949, China became the second country in the world to adopt communism.

Mao Zedong

  • He promised to provide them with their own land once the Communists were brought to power.
  • Great Leap Forward
    * The government owned businesses and farms and made all economic decisions.
    * Cultural Revolution - Mao used violent young Communist soldiers (known as Red Guards) to eliminate all of the opposition that he had within China.

Deng Xiaoping

  • Changed the economy of China from a command/communist economy to a market/capitalist/free enterprise economy
  • Tiananmen Square - Deng repressed the protests that demanded democratic reforms and proved that China's government was not willing to make democratic changes.

Current Issues in China

  • China controls the Buddhist region of Tibet, which wants independence.
  • China denies its people human rights.
  • The government of China only allows each family to have one child.

Decolonization

  • Decolonization is the period after World War II in which the nations of Africa and Asia finally gained independence from the European.

Decolonization in India (1948)

  • India gained independence from Great Britain, which was largely due to the efforts of Mohandas Gandhi.
  • To prevent conflict between Hindus and Muslims. the region that was controlled by Great Britain was divided into two separate countries:
    • India for the Hindus
    • Pakistan for the Muslims
India After Independence
  • India established a democratic government.
  • India followed a policy of nonalignment during the Cold War.
  • Caste System continues to be discrimination in India in rural areas where tradition remains strong.. Discrimination against untouchables is especially severe.

Decolonization in Africa (1945-1980)

  • Independence was achieved largely due to the efforts of nationalist leaders.
Nationalist Leaders that fought to gain independence from Great Britain:
  • Jomo Kenyatta gained independence for Kenya.
  • Kwame Nkrumah gained independence for Ghana.
South Africa After Independence
  • White Europeans still controlled the government of South Africa who established Apartheid.
  • Nelson Mandela
    • fought against Apartheid.
    • became the first black president of South Africa after apartheid officially came to an end in 19901990.
Rwanda After Independence
  • The Hutus slaughtered 800,000800,000 Tutsis in only a few months, which was an example of genocide.

Decolonization in Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Vietnam)

  • Cambodia and Vietnam both gained independence from France.
Communist Leaders that sought independence
  • Ho Chi Minh was the nationalist leader that gained independence for Vietnam from France.

Vietnam after Independence

  • Vietnam was divided into 2 countries:
    • Communist North Vietnam
    • Democratic South Vietnam.
  • After the Vietnam War, all of Vietnam was reunited to form one communist nation.

Cambodia after Independence

  • Cambodia was ruled by a Communist group called the Khmer Rouge with the brutal dictator Pol Pot.
  • Genocide occurred and he executed 22 million people within his nation

Nationalist Leaders of Decolonization

  • Mohandas Gandhi
  • Kwame Nkrumah
  • Jomo Kenyatta
  • Nelson Mandela
  • Ho Chi Minh

The Middle East After World War II

Creation of Israel

  • After World War II, part of the Holy Land was used to create the Jewish nation of Israel.
  • Palestinians claim that they should have control over the region.
  • Between 1948 and 1973, 4 major wars were fought between Israel and the Arab nations of the Middle East.
  • Palestinians are still fighting to gain control and frequently use terrorism to achieve their goals.

Islamic Fundamentalism

  • Islamic Fundamentalism is the belief that governments should create societies based firmly on the rules of Islam.
  • Iranian Revolution in 1979 brought Ayatollah Khomeini into power making Iran still a theocracy today.
Taliban
  • The Taliban is an Islamic group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001 and created laws that were strictly based on Sharia (Islamic law).
  • In countries that are based on Islamic Fundamentalism, women have very few rights. They cannot vote and are required to dress very conservatively in public.

The Collapse of Communism

The Collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union (1991)

  • Between 1989 and 1991, the Cold War ended and Communism disappeared from Europe.

  • Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet leader who helped bring an end to Communism in the Soviet Union with programmes that would create programmes called:

Perestroika
  • Changed the economy of the Soviet Union from a communist/command economy to a market/capitalist/free enterprise economy
Glasnost
  • Allowed freedom of speech within the Soviet Union
  • Boris Yeltsin - He was the first democratically elected president in the history of Russia

The Collapse of Communism in Germany (1989)

  • Throughout the Cold War, Germany had been divided into two nations being: West Germany and East Germany.
  • 1989- The Berlin Wall (the symbol of the Cold War) was finally torn down which symbolized the end of the Cold War and the end of Communism.
  • 1990 - West Germany and East Germany were reunited to form one democratic country.

Human Rights Violations

  • Human rights are the basic rights that all human beings are supposed to have.
  • Genocide- Genocide is an attempt to exterminate (kill off) a group of people. It is the ultimate violation of human rights.
Examples
  • Armenian Massacre- The Turks of the Ottoman Empire murdered about one million Armenians during World War I.
  • Ukrainian Famine- Joseph Stalin took away food from the people of the Ukraine, which resulted in the death of millions of people.
  • Holocaust- Hitler and the Nazis murdered 6 million Jews during World War II.
  • Rwanda- The Hutus killed almost one million Tutsis in 1994.
  • Cambodia- Pol Pot was the ruler of Cambodia who killed 2 million people within his nation.
  • Yugoslavia- Slobodan Milosevic was the Serbian ruler of Yugoslavia who violently attacked non-Serbs living in his lands.

Economic Systems

  • Economic system is the way that a society produces, distributes, and uses goods and services.

  • Traditional Economy is based on barter and subsistence agriculture.

    • People have the same occupation as their parents especially related to farming.
      *economic decisions are often influenced by tradition and religious beliefs
Market Economy
  • Individuals own businesses and make economic decisions.
  • Individuals determine the price of goods based on supply and demand.
Command Economy
  • The government own businesses and make economic decisions.
  • The government determines the price of goods.
  • Communist countries used a command economy.

Recent Issues and Concerns

  • Currently, many areas of the world where there is tension between ethnic groups.
Some Examples
  • Palestinians are fighting the Jews for more control over the Holy Land in the Middle East.
  • Tibet is a Buddhist region that wants independence from China.
  • Catholics and Protestants have fought for control of Northern Ireland.
  • Muslims in Pakistan and Hindus in India both claim control over the region called Kashmir.
  • Serbs, Croatians, and Muslims have battled for control over the Balkans.
  • The Kurds are a group of people who want to create their own nation called Kurdistan.
  • Chechnya is a Muslim region that has used terrorism to gain independence from Russia.

Environmental Problems

  • Small layer of gases in the atmosphere that absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays and protects us from skin cancer.

  • Demonstrates a need for stricter pollution laws throughout the world.

  • Acid Rain contains chemicals due to pollution which again, demonstrates a need for stricter pollution laws throughout the world.

  • Deforestation is the Elimination of rainforests in Brazil, Costa Rica, and the Congo, possibly destroying possible cures for cancer and AIDS?

  • Desertification Change from arable land to desert due to deforestation and overgrazing with a concern in the Sahel.

  • Chernobyl Was a nuclear disaster in Ukraine in 1986 where thousands were exposed to radiation/cancer.

  • Greenhouse Effect could lead to flooding of coastal areas trapping of warm air in the atmosphere, caused by chemicals (like carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere.

Solutions
  • Kyoto Protocol (1997) - International agreement calling for a decrease in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the 1990 levels.
  • International cooperation is needed to improve the earth's environment.

Science and Technology

Green Revolution
  • The Green Revolution refers to the use of technology to increase the food supply (began in the 1960s).
  • Improved irrigation, machinery, fertilizer, pesticides, and better seeds and livestock methods included improved irrigation, machinery, fertilizer, pesticides, and better seeds and livestock.
  • The Green Revolution has been especially successful in India.
Nuclear Proliferation
  • Nuclear proliferation refers to the spread of nuclear technology to countries that do not currently posses them.
  • Although nuclear technology can be used to develop energy, the same technology can also be used to create nuclear weapons.
  • North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons.