World History Study Guide

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of rights did women in Athens and Sparta have?

The women of Sparta were expected to produce healthy sons for the army, requiring exercise and strengthening their bodies. Spartan women had to obey their fathers or husbands, but they had the right to inherit property. Women in Athens had no control over political life and were to be guided by men. They were essential in their participation in sacred processions and ceremonies for the city’s well-being. In higher-class Athenian homes, women managed the entire household, while women in lower-class worked outside the home.

2. How are Athens and Sparta different and the same in terms of culture and education?

Athens and Sparta are different in terms of culture and education because while the Spartans focused more on dedicating their lives to military service, physical power, and war, Athens went for a more subdued approach. Their education focused more on artistic and political matters, encouraging young men to explore many areas of knowledge. In terms of culture, Athens gave their citizens more freedom than any other ancient civilization despite the women and slaves who lacked political rights. Athens and Sparta are similar in their labor practices and governmental structure. Both Athens and Sparta had an assembly, where members were elected into a position by the people. Additionally, slaves were used for labor and for working the land.

3. How did Rome go from an empire to a republic?

Rome went from an empire to a republic through the Punic Wars, rulers, and reforms. When Rome began to expand their territory and control of the Italian Peninsula, conflicts arose between them and Carthage. This developed into three wars which Rome ultimately won, but their ideals sparked disagreements in Rome as they acquired more trade routes. This caused an increase in wealth for groups of people, but also an increase in slave labor and unemployed farmers because of the amassed slaves captured in war. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus were one of the first to attempt reform during 133 B.C. by urging the state to aid landless farmers and utilize public funds to feed the poor. Rome descended into multiple civil wars, revolts that argued over who had authority over the republic– the senate or well-known political leaders. Another prominent figure was Julius Caesar, who forced the senate to make him dictator after a battle with general Pompey. He passed several reforms that benefited the poor and jobless, reorganized the government of the provinces, granted Roman citizenship, along with establishing a new calendar. Eventually, Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, was elected and rewarded with the title of Augustus. Augustus took several steps to reform Rome, such as introducing a foundation for a strong government, also allowing cities and provinces to self-govern themselves. Augustus laid the foundation for a stable government for the Roman empire in addition to guiding the emperors after him in what to expect to maintain order.

4. What are the similarities between Christianity and Judaism?

Christianity is a religion that evolved from Judaism. Some similarities between the monotheistic religions Christianity and Judaism include believing in one God and accepting the Ten Commandments. They were found in current-day Israel and share common writing. Jesus preached obedience to the laws of Moses and defended the teachings of the Jewish prophets. Origin of Abraham and Moses.

5. What caused the Persian Wars?

The Persian Wars were caused by a conflict between the Persians who were conquering a huge empire from Asia Minor to the border of India. Their subjects included the Greek city-state of Ionia, which resented being under the control of the Persians despite being largely self-governing. The Ionian Greeks rebelled against their rule, and Athens sent ships in support. King Darius I was enraged by this and sent his forces across the Aegean to punish Athens and subdue the rebellious Greek city-states in his empire.

6. How did the Persian Wars affect Greek society?

The Persian Wars affected Greek society by increasing their sense of uniqueness and strengthening their power. They felt as if the gods protected their superior form of government against invaders from Asia. Athens emerged from the war as the most powerful city-state in Greece. They continued to defend themselves against Persia by organizing alliances with other city-states called the Delian League by modern scholars after Delos, the location where the league held meetings. Athens dominated the league from the start and used its position to create an Athenian empire. They used money contributed by other city-states to rebuild their city and when allies tried to withdraw, Athens used force to make them remain.

7. Who was Alexander the Great?

Alexander the Great was the son of Philip II who was assassinated when Alexander was 20, causing him to inherit the throne. He was an experienced soldier who shared his father’s ambitions and began organizing forces to conquer. He was able to gain control of the Persian empire through several victories, as well as the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in a short amount of time. He was well known for his military genius and his diplomatic skills. Most importantly, he spread Greek culture over the lands he conquered.

8. How did Alexander the Great affect those areas that he conquered?

Alexander the Great affected the areas that he conquered by spreading Greek culture across his empire. Alexander founded several new cities, as well as his generals. Greek soldiers, traders, and artisans occupied these new cities and built Greek temples, Greek statues, etc. Local people took on these Greek ideas and likewise, the Greek settlers adopted local customs. Alexander the Great also encouraged a blending of eastern and western cultures when he married a Persian woman and encouraged his soldiers to follow his example and adopted many Persian customs. As a result, a new culture that blended Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences was created, called Hellenism.

9. What led to the fall of the Roman Empire resulting in the division into eastern and western empires?

• Political violence and instability, social decay, economic weakness, military attacks
• Disturbing social and economic trends, high taxes to support the army and the government placed heavy burdens on business people & farmers
• Wars in East Asia resulted in Rome eventually being overwhelmed, wars sent the Huns toward eastern Europe. They dislodged the Germanic peoples in their path, causing groups of Germanic people to cross into Roman territory seeking safety
• Roman legions were under pressure from attacks and surrendered first to Britain, France, then Spain. It was only a matter of time before foreign invaders marched into Italy and took over Rome itself
• New waves of invaders were hammering at Rome’s borders. More Germanic groups gradually occupied more and more of the western Roman empire
• To meet its need for soldiers, Rome hired mercenaries to defend its borders. This testified to the decline of patriotism.
• Government became more oppressive and authoritarian, with a growing number of corrupt officials, frequent civil wars over succession to the imperial throne
• The wealth of the empire decreased as farmers abandoned land and the middle classes sank into poverty
• Some scholars have suggested that climate change was another reason for reduced agricultural productivity + population decline as war and epidemic diseases spread throughout the empire

9. How did the Greeks contribute to Western civilization?

• Government: Developed new government systems (democracy), self-governing city-states, every citizen (read non-slave males) had the right to vote and speak at the assembly, where laws and decisions were made.
• Architecture: Built temples, statues of Alexander the Great
• Art: Early Greek sculptors carved figures in rigid poses, imitating Egyptian styles, only Greek paintings to survive are on pottery, Greek dramas, literature
• Culture: Polytheistic religion, Greeks borrowed the alphabet from the Phoenicians, festivals honoring the city’s special god or goddess, philosophy, science, medicine, mathematics
• Politics: After victory in the Persian Wars, Greek city-states formed alliances called Delian League

Terms

Polytheism - The belief in multiple gods. It characterizes virtually all religions other than Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. - When Jews believed in one God, they were executed and forced to leave

Monotheism - The belief in one god. God in monotheism is conceived of as the creator of the world and humanity.

Polis - A city-state, was the dominant political unit in the ancient Greek world. It was the community structure of ancient Greece and was one of the first ways of having a civilization.

Socrates - An ancient Greek philosopher who was the teacher of Plato. His contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy, and he is known for creating the Socratic method.

Homer - Was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. He affected Western standards and ideas through his literature that provided a common set of values that enshrined the Greeks’ ideas about themselves.

Greek Tragedies - A play in which the protagonist, usually a person of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he or she cannot deal. It heavily influenced the theatre of Ancient Rome and the Renaissance and showed that a man could not resist his fate.

Philosophy - The study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience. One of the key points of Ancient Greek philosophy was the role of reason and inquiry, which emphasized logic and the idea of impartial, rational observation of the natural world.

Logic - The study of the laws of thought or correct reasoning. The Greeks believed that they could discover laws that governed the universe using logic, and much modern science traces its roots to the Greek search for such principles.

Assimilated - To absorb or adopt another culture. Allowed the spread of Greek culture throughout the empire.

Hippocrates - A Greek physician that studied the causes of illnesses and looked for cures. The Hippocratic oath attributed to him set ethical standards for doctors and doctors today still take a similar oath.

Consul - An official from the patrician class who supervised the government and commanded the armies in ancient Rome. They supervised the business of government and commanded the armies.

Dictator - A ruler with unequal judgment and governing, one with absolute power. Made empires fall under corruption and have unjust laws and regulations

Plebeian - A commoner of the Roman Empire. The lower social class in the hierarchy which made up the majority of the population

Patrician - a nobleman or aristocrat. The higher social class in the Roman hierarchy were the decision-makers of government, military, or religion

Tribune - An official in Rome chosen by the plebeians (commoners) to represent their beliefs and interests. They protected the rights of the commoners (unofficial defenders)

Legion - A unit of 3,000 - 6,000 men in the Roman army. Represents the military unit Rome used to conquer and rule

Aqueduct - A manmade channel for conveying water normally in form of a bridge in a water valley. Assisted in the development of access to fresh water

Punic Wars - Series of wars between 264 and 146 BC between Rome and Carthage. A series of three wars resulted in the destruction of Carthage, enslavement of the population, and conquered land

Huns - Members of a nomadic military from Central Asia who invaded Europe. They terrorized much of Europe mainly known for their combat on horseback

Mercenary - A professional soldier hired to assist a foreign army. They tended to fight for money or other forms such as political interests. Gave an edge to those who hired them

Rabbi - A Jewish scholar or teacher who studies/teaches Jewish law. They acted as a spiritual leader and a teacher for the Jewish community.