World History

Name: ______________________                                                                Date:____________

Listed below is the content that you will need to know for the Unit 1 test. This test will cover topics 1 – 2.                                                              

Definitions: Recognize the definitions of the following key terms.

-       Revolution – a sudden change

-       Polytheism – worshiping more than 1 god

-       Code of Hammurabi – 1^st major collection of laws in Babylon. Hammurabi established rules such as marriage and the family, social class punishment, and justice

-       Fertile Crescent – the crossroads of the world because it connects Asia, Africa, and Europe.

-       Pharaoh – ruler of Egypt

-       Cuneiform – earliest type of writing by the Sumerians

Content: The following content will appear on the test in a variety of questions.

1.     Prehistory: What is prehistory?

Prehistory is the period of time before written record.

Why is it important to have a clear distinction between historical events that have a written record and events that do not?

It gives accuracy/evidence to historical events. But events before writing doesn’t have proof that the event actually happened so it could be false

2.     Worldview: How does The Epic of Gilgamesh support a biblical worldview?

It shows that this story has two accounts of the same story happening from 2 completely different places. So it validates what happened in the bible because there is more than 1 accounts of the story.

3.     Civilizations: What changes occurred as nomads morphed into settled communities?

There would be a revolution of sudden change, and they would start mastering systematic agriculture. They would also stay in one place and use the resources around them for shelter, food, and water. Then there would development in the cultural side with artisans.

Why did these changes lead to the creation of civilizations?

These changes would bring about the advancement of science, culture, and industry which created numerous of job opportunities. And they would also bring about the idea of settling and expanding instead of wandering

How is a civilization different than an empire?

An empire is a group or region controlled by one government or a ruler/monarch. But a civilization is an advanced stage of human society that is well organized, has a good government, and has a lot of culture, science, and industry. Major differences are that empires rise and fall quickly while civilizations last a long time. And also, empires have an appointed ruler chosen, while civilizations have a bloodline of rulers.

4.     Ancient Egypt: How did the Nile River affect ancient Egypt?

Egypt depended on the Nile because 90% of its population is somewhere near the Nile. The Nile provides water for transport and agriculture. Also because the Nile flowed from south to north, Upper Egypt is at the bottom and lower Egypt is at the top of the country.

What achievements were made by Egypt?

The pyramids were a big achievement made by Egypt. Also other acheivments include making the papyrus, scientific advancemtne, hieroglyphics, and mummification.

What role did religion and death play in Egyptian society?

Religon was a major role because they had many gods which broght them many different things like water, food, sunlight, etc. so their advancecementes and achievements, they though cooralated to their gods. Death played an important role because when someone died they would mummify them so they could have a smooth transition into the afterlife. They also would build tombs and pyramids on the west side of Egypt and live on the east side because they thought that if the sun rose on the eastit signified life and when it set on the west it represented death.

Short Essay: Be prepared to write a long response based on the following information.

What is a civilization?

An advanced stage of human society maked by a well-organised government and high levels of culture, science, and industy.

What are the seven features of early civilizations?

1)    Well-organized government – The Code of Hammurabi was a system of laws that were used in the government which organized what punishments and actions were to be done to certan people in which senarios/cases

2)    Complex religions – The Egyptians had many gods which were tied to a significan part of their life and living practicality.

3)    Job specialization – Jobs in civilisations like Sumer consisted of scribes, priests, farmers, artistans, and merchents.

4)    Social classes – There were social classes in civilisations like Babylon, at the top were were wealthy people, priests, and the ruler. In the middle were people like merchents and artisans, and at the bottom were the poor and farmers.

5)    Arts & architecture – The pyramids and the hanging gardens of Babylon

6)    Public works – Becaue the Nile River would flood often, the Egyptions used their knowledge of systemetic agrucultue and irrigation to use the Nile to their advantage for farming

7)    Writing (sometimes) – Sumarians used Curniform as their type of writing, which was the 1^st.

How did these features appear in early civilizations? You will need to know an example for each of the seven features. (As an example from our next unit, we will learn about the Indus Valley civilization which supported features 5 (arts and architecture) and 6 (public works) through its city planning and ruins.)