Ancient Civilizations
SOL Review
Paleolithic Era
Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo
Sapiens.
Nomadic, hunters and gatherers
Clans, oral communications giving each
group an identity
Paleolithic Era; control & use fire, used
animal hides for clothing, constructed simple
tools and weapons.
Neolithic Era
Domesticated animals constructed
advanced tools, made pottery wheels, and
began weaving.
Most importantly, the Neolithic Revolution,
the use of seeds to grow and maintain a
surplus of food, resulting in the building of
civilizations.
Ancient River Valley Civ.-Egypt 3500-1069
BC
Nile River, current flowing north and the winds
blowing south. Annual flooding left silt on the
land.. Hieroglyphics were written on the papyrus
culled from the Nile Delta.
Egypt united under Menes (Narmer), who built
the first capital at Memphis.Later the capital
was moved to Thebes.
Three periods of Egyptian history; Old, Middle,
and New (Empire) Kingdom.
Famous rulers; Rameses, Akhenaton, Hatshepsut,
Thutmose.
Mesopotamia”the land between two rivers.”
Located between the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers, oldest civilization in history.(45002300 BC).
Sumer & Babylon the most
famous civilizations.
Sumerian innovations; cuneiform, sun dial,
ramp, arch, ziggurats, the epic poem about
Gilgamesh,…
Babylonian innovations; first empire,
Hammurabi and the Code of Laws, ziggurats
Other peoples; Jews, Persians, Assyrians,
Chaldeans and Phoenicians
Indus Valley- 4000 BC-1800 BC)
Located in the Northwest portion of the
Indian subcontinent. Protected by the
Hindu Kush (Khyber pass) and Himalayan
mts.
Main cities; Harrapa and Mojenjo Daro,
excavations show central planning of cities,
trade with the Fertile Crescent
Cities disappeared after being
overwhelmed by the Aryan invasion.
Shang China – 1700-1100 BC
The Shang developed around the Huang
He/Yangtze river.
Famous for their bronze artifacts, oracle
bones, and writing system.
Defeated by the Zhou in 1100 BC
MANDATE OF HEAVEN- DIVINE
APPROVAL TO RULE.
Quiz #1
1.Groups of early humans were nomadic., this
means?
A. frequently moving from place to place
B. no written language
C. are farmers.
2.Human ancestors developed into homo
sapiens approximately
A. 1-4 million years ago
B. 100,000 to 400,000 years
C. 1,000 to 4,000 years ago
Quiz #1 continued
3. Hieroglyphics are associated with
A. Egypt, B Mesopotamia, C Indus Valley
4. The first alphabet was developed by:
A. Egyptians, B. Babylonians,
C. Phoenicians
5.
A.
B.
C.
Cuneiform was a:
Egyptian burial,
B. Sumerian writing,
Religious practice of the Hebrews
Ancient Greece
Greece
Cradle of western civilization, located on a
peninsula between the Aegean and Mediterranean
seas.
Early influences were the Egyptians
and the Minoans (isle of Crete)
Mild climate promoted outdoor activity, leading to a
lot of social contact. End result conscientious civil
life, seen both in their political and social
philosophies.
Three periods of history; Heroic, Hellenic, and
Hellenistic eras. (Mycenaean & Ionians first wave
of Indo-European invaders Heroic Age), After the
Dorians invade, the Hellenic Age will emerge.
Greece continued
Geography; lots of mountains. Most Greeks
lived in the fertile valleys between the
mountains.
As a result of limited water supply: (no major
rivers and most of the rain came in the
winter)there were few places to grow fruits
and vegetables and insufficient grass for
grazing large herds of animals.
With the limits on food production, Greece
could only sustain small populations. (never
more then 2 million people in Ancient
Greece.)
Greece continued
There was no river system to unify. Lots of
natural harbors added to a mild climate saw the
Greeks make their living by fishing, trading, and
piracy.
Greeks were also great colonizers, they needed
the resources from outside of Greece to
supplement what little they grew in Greece.
The Greeks utilized the resources they had,
long coast lines and excellent harbors to
build their cities around the Aegean, the
Ionian, and the Black Seas, the seas united
them!
The Greek Polis
When the Warrior Kingdoms of the Hellenic Ages
fell to the Dorian Invasions, Greece entered into
the “Dark Age”
As trade recovered, and coins replaced barter,
powerful city-states emerged. (Athens, Sparta,
Thebes…)
Greece’s geographical barriers made it difficult for
Polis’s to unite under one government, instead they
competed for the limited resources of the
mainland, and established colonies abroad
The Greek Polis-Continued
The two most famous Greek City States were
Athens (Democracy) and Sparta. (Oligarchy)
In Athens, all free males eventually were accorded
citizenship giving them access to all avenues of
political power. Citizens only made up 20% of the
population, foreigners, slaves, and women were not
allowed to participate in the government.
Sparta used it’s military to control all aspects of
life. The Spartans were afraid of their Helots
(hereditary slaves) and used a militaristic system
of government to keep them under control.
Spartans did have an assembly, but it was
controlled by a few elders, thus making it an
oligarchy.
The Greek Polis-Continued
Each Polis had three groups; citizens (adult males),
free people,Metics (no rights, foreigners who
sometimes lived for several generations in this
classification.), and slaves. (Sparta’s were called
helots).
Important areas in each Polis were the ; Acropolis
(location of the temples) and the Agora
(marketplace) where all public business was
transacted, including politics.
Key people in developing Athenian Democracy are
Draco, Solon, and Cleisthenes.
Hoplites (soldiers), Phalanx (military formation)
Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
Persian Wars began when the Athenians
aided their “cousins” in Asia Minor in their
rebellion against the Persians.
Greek Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta lead
the fight. Great battles are; Marathon,
Thermopylae, Salamis
At Marathon, the Athenians surprise
Darius’s force and win in an upset!
Thermopylae is where the Spartans win fame
for their heroic three day stand
Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
The Athenians win fame again when they
defeat Xerxes forces in a naval battle,
effectively ending the Wars.
There are many long term effects of the wars,
but one very significant one is that Athens
emerges as a major power (Delian League) and
Sparta is embittered over their efforts not
being more greatly appreciated. End result…
The Peloponnesian War; the 20 year struggle
between Athens and Sparta, along with their
allies to control Greece. This war ends the
“Golden Age” of Greece as well as the Golden
Age of Athens.
Greece VIP’s
mythology, Zeus, Athena, Poseidon…
Homer’s epic poems; the Iliad & the
Odyssey.Heroes included; Achilles,
Hector, and Odysseus. These stories
and heroes will be referenced in all
forms of western literature, even up to
the 21st century.
Alexander the Great
Father – Philip of Macedon
Tutor – Aristotle
Before dying at 33, he defeated the
mighty Persians
He is responsible for the Hellenistic
(fusion of Greek with near Eastern
cultures) philosophy which will dominate
the Mediterranean region for centuries.
Great Philosophies of the time were;
Stoicism, Cynicism, Epicureanism.
Rome
Geography, snug in the middle of the Italian
peninsula, the Alps to the north protected them
from invasion by the land. ( with a notable
exception). The seas protected as well, and helped
to put the Romans at the crossroads of
Mediterranean trade. (Look at map)
Roman mythology very similar to Greeks, from
whom the Romans borrow much.
Socially and politically, the Patricians and the
Plebeians were the major players.
Rome
Rome
Government, after getting rid of the
monarchy, they devised a representative
republic, made up of two groups. (the Senate
and the Assembly) The Twelve Tables was
their legal code, and posted in the Forum.
Important officials were the;consuls,
tribunes, and the senators.
Octavian Caesar, after a series of civil wars,
ends the Republic and creates the Empire.
Mark Antony, Octavian Caesar, Marcus
Aurelius, Diocletian, and Constantine, all
great Romans (Know them for the SOL)
Roman-Punic Wars
Punic Wars
Rome fights three of them. Most famous adversary
is Hannibal of the Alps. War initiated over Sicily and
control of trade. When over, after three conflicts,
Rome controls the Western Mediterranean in 146 BC
First Punic War ends with Rome developing a fleet
of ships and negating that Carthaginian advantage.
2nd Punic War is fought when Hannibal attempts to
avenge the earlier Carthaginian defeat. Eventually, he
is outmaneuvered and defeated at the battle of Zama
Famous Romans in this war are; Scipio Africanus
(Zama), Cato the Elder, the catalyst for the 3rd Punic
War. (“Carthage must be destroyed!”)
Roman expansion problems
After the wars, Roman society is fundamentally
changed. Roman soldiers lost their farms,
Latifundias (Large estates worked by slaves) are
created. Landless citizens go to Rome and become
the proletariat (the “mob”).
Eventually, the population of Rome consisted of
up to one third slaves as well as the landless
citizens.
The Roman Republic is not equipped to rule
foreign lands, they end up exploiting the people
they govern. This also contributes to political
corruption at home.
Rome -Wars of Expansion and Results
. Notable reformers are the Gracchi brothers,
Tiberius and Gaius. They attempted to reform land
holdings in Roman society and for their efforts
received death.
Cicero is a great writer and politician, who fails to
end the “slide “ of the Roman Republic.
Later civil wars come, Sulla vs Marius. The 1st
Triumvirate; Julius Caesar, Marcus Crassus, Pompey
Caesar, as a result of the Gallic wars, will become
the most powerful of the three, a struggle for
supremacy will ensue.
Creation of the Empire
Caesar wins the Civil War, but later
assassinated by Marcus Brutus, 2nd
Triumvirate formed.
Key men are Octavian Caesar, Caesars
nephew and heir, and Marc Antony.
After Antony and Caesar split the Roman
world, a final war will be fought with
Octavian defeating the forces of Antony and
Cleopatra.
Octavian is granted the title of Augustus,
organizes the empire and the Pax Romana
begins.
The Roman Empire
Roman accomplishments
Writers like Ovid, Vergil (Aeneid), the historian
Livy
Scientists like Ptolemy and doctors like Galen
The advantages of Roman citizenship brought the
Empire together. Roman law developed a standard
of justice that applied to all people, which carried
over after the fall of the empire.
the Pax Romana (27 BC – 192 AD), roads,
aqueducts, the Coliseum…
During the empire a major religion is born,
Christianity, and another scattered in the Jewish
Diaspora.
Rome continued
The apostles, Peter and Paul(Epistles) spread the faith. Paul
is the apostle to the Gentiles. (non- Jews)
Nero begins the persecutions of Christians(64 AD).
Constantine ends the persecution with the Edict of
Milan(312 AD), and Theodosius makes Christianity the
official religion of the empire.
Decline of Rome occurs slowly; political instability (the
Barrack Emperors), coupled with plagues, and finally
barbarian invasions. (Huns, Vandals, Visigoths..)
Diocletian divides the empire in half, to no avail. Constantine
will move the seat of power to Byzantium.
(Constantinople)The Western Empire ends in 476, while the
Byzantine Empire continues till 1453 AD
Greece and Rome Questions.
Greek polis’s had three groups of inhabitants, which group was
comprised of adult males, who engaged in commerce?
A) citizens
B) free people, C) non-citizen
Who were the Metics and Helots, and where did they live?
Which great leader died during the Peloponnesian War?
A) Herodotus, B) Zeno, C) Pericles, D)Aristotle?
This philosopher ended his life by drinking poison rather then
accept ostracism.
A) Zeno, B) Plato, C)Sophist, D) Socrates
Quiz on Greece and Rome
 The Roman Senate and Assembly were associated
with: A) the Republic, B) Empire
 The codified Roman laws were called:
A) 10 Commandments, B) Twelve Tables
 The Punic Wars were fought between Rome and
A) Athens, B) Gauls, C) Carthage
 This man reorganized the Republic into an Empire: A)
Antony, B) Julius Caesar, C) Octavian
Greece and Rome Quiz
• Famous Christian missionary, who wrote many of
the Epistles: A) Peter, B) John, C) Paul
*The Pax Romana ended with his death: A) Julius
Caesar, B) Marcus Aurelius, C) Diocletian
• This emperor ended the persecution of Chrisitians:
A) Constantine, B) Nero, C) Herod
• This Roman city’s harbor was known as the “Golden
Horn”: A) Rome, B) Byzantium, C) Venice
Middle East, Russia, and Medieval Europe
“There is only one God, Allah, and Muhammad is his
prophet” The profession of faith is central to the
religion, born in the Arabian desert during the 7th
century.
AD 622-Hijrah to Madinah, 624-Madinah Compact.
Important points to remember; the Qur’an and the
Hadith are books of scripture. The Shar’iah is the body
of law. The Muslims live their lives by the 5 Pillars of
Islam. (Know them)
Muhammad is succeeded by the Caliphs, Abu Bakr
being the first. Later after Ali is killed major split in
Islam
Islam continued
After the death of Ali and Husayn, the split in Islam is
between the Sunni (followers of the way) and the Shia
(Shiites), who believe the Caliphate should only be
held by a descendent of Muhammad.
Two dynasties after the 4 Caliphs are the ;
Umayyad(whose founder overthrew Ali and placed his
capital in Damascus) and the Abbasid(moved the
capital to Baghdad). Later the Seljuk Turks take power
from the Abbasids and govern as Sultans. (they allow
the Abbasids to rule as figureheads) Islam will spread
as far west as Spain, and east to China. Two primary
ways in which the message of Allah are carried is
through the Jihad and Trade.
Golden Age of Islam
Golden Age occurs during the Abbasids reign.
Moving the capital from Damascus to
Baghdad they established the House of
Wisdom (Ma’mun). Arabic numerals were
introduced, Maimonides writes, ibn Sina, and
al Rhazes develop their theories. Omar
Khayyam composes his quatrains.
Europeans will be introduced to much of this
culture during the Christian crusades.
The Byzantine Empire ends in 1453 AD
As the western Empire weakens and falls, the
eastern portion of the empire remains strong as
a result of the leadership by the capital that
Constantine founded, Constantinople. It’s
harbor the “Golden Horn” allows it to control
trade from east to west. After a few short years
it’s culture becomes Hellenistic as opposed to
Roman.
Notes on Byzantium
Most famous of the Emperors is Justinian.
Accomplishments are; Justinians Code, the
building of the Hagia Sophia, and the
reconquest of the old empire (Belisarius)
The city was famous for its mosaics, its silk
trade, (stolen by Missionaries from the Chinese)
and their Icons.
Its religious tradition; the icon controversy, and
the split from Rome to form the Greek
Orthodox Church.
Medieval Europe up to 1000 AD
Feudalism is the political structure, and
manorialism is the economic engine for the
times.
Feudalism is a decentralized form of
government consisting of lords and vassals,
each owing to the other certain
obligations.Below the vassals were the serfs,
workers bound to the land.
Lands granted to the vassals were called fiefs
(manors), many of which were self sufficient.
Feudalism and the Church
The practice of primogeniture begins, where
the eldest son gets all.
Chivalry was a code of behavior for the knights
of the realm (fighting men)
The Christian Church is the only central
authority to be found in Europe, the Pope being
the single most powerful figure.
Many noblemen’s sons went into the church,
because an elder sibling received all the land.
Many Church Bishops, served both a spiritual
lord as well as a temporal one.
Middle Ages: Important Europeans
Charlemagne-Holy Roman Emperor, crowned in
800 AD. (displeasing the Byzantines) Viking
invasions began at the end of his reign.
Pepin the Short(Charlemagne’s Dad)- gained
the title of King for his family, by helping the
Pope with the Lombards (Gift of Pepin)
Charles Martel(Pepin’s dad)- Mayor of the Place,
defeated the Muslims at
Tours (732 AD). Probably began
the European military tradition of
Knights, with the lands that went
with it.
Middle Ages: Important Europeans
Palace schools-called for by Charlemagne,
promoting education. Helped to fuel the Carolingian
renaissance. Charlemagne’s school employed Alcuin,
a great Saxon scholar.
Treaty of Verdun-divided Charlemagne's empire into
three parts.
Vikings,Norseman, warriors and raiders who
terrorized Europe till 1000 AD. They settled
everywhere from England-Ireland-Normandy-SicilyEastern and Central Europe. Most famous, Leif
Erickson
Otto the Great, rebuilt the Empire and competed
with the Papacy for control of Europe.
Russia – Heir to Rome
Rus, Vikings, who settled in Kiev and adopted
the Eastern Orthodox Church (Vladimir)
Boyars, Slavic nobles, the Steppes (plains)
Golden Horde, Mongols who dominated Eastern
Europe for 200 years, also known as the Tatars
Ivan III, married the niece of the last Byzantine
Emperor. Through this marriage claimed the
power of Byzantium.
Moscow, the third Rome. The Eastern Church
locates here and Ivan takes the title of Tsar.
Quiz on Islam, Byzantium, Europe, and Russia.
*Capital of the Umayyads:A) Madinah, B) Mecca,
C)Damascus, D) Baghdad
*The Golden Age of the Islamic world:A)Abbasids
B) Ummayads, C)Samanids
*The revealed word of Allah is found in the:
A)Torah, B)Hadith, C) Qur’an,
*The Islamic Shar’iah is comparable to the?
*What does Muhammad mean in talking about
“People of the Book”?
*Roman Catholic is to Eastern Orthodox as Sunni
is to?
*In Feudalism, who just was beneath the King?
A)Serf, B) peasants, C) vassals, D)citizens
*Code of conduct for Christian knights was
called? A) Bushido, B) Chivalry
*Crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD:A)
Charlemagne, B)Otto the Great, C) Justinian
*The practice of giving the whole inheritance to
the eldest son is called? A) selfish,
B)primogeniture
Quiz continued
*The Vikings were called by all of the following
titles except; A) Norsemen, B)Danes, C)Rus, D)
the Huns
*Byzantium was transformed into the city of
Constantinople by? A) Constantine, B)
Diocletian, C) Theodosius, D) Nero
*Justinian’s Code was a legal system for the ? A)
Muslims, B) Byzantines, C) the Rus.
* This battle and defeat by the Byzantines
directly led to the Crusades; A) Bulge,
B)Verdun, C) Manzikert, D) Omaha Beach
Indian Sub-Continent
Hinduism and reincarnation, concepts that developed
after the invasion of the Aryans, (through the Khyber
Pass), around AD 1500.
Development of the caste system, to provide social
order and keep the indigenous people
enslaved.(Sparta’s helot system similar to the pariahs)
Concepts of dharma, and karma to provide order and
hope.
Scripture; Vedas, Mahabarata (Arjuna & Vishnu)
India continued
Important political dynasties; Mauryan (Asoka, the
Buddhist King) & the Gupta (India’s Golden Age)
During the “Golden Age); arabic numerals, concept of
pi, decimal system, medical advances, literature.
Buddhism-Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha, the
Enlightened One)
Concepts; the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path,
Nirvana (state of nothingness), life as a cycle of
misery) rejection of Hindu gods and the caste
system.Theravada and Mahayana sects, where?
India and China
Gupta India, after 720 AD, invaded by Muslims.
Islamic influence greater in the Northern
subcontinent, Hinduism remained dominant
through the rest of continent.
Today, three major countries; India (Hindu),
Pakistan (Islamic), and Bangladesh (Islamic)
China and the Silk Road
China and the Silk Road
China, the Great Wall and
the Silk Road.
Confucius and Lao-Tzu; later part of Zhou
Dynasty, two great philosophies.
Confucianism, a life philosophy focused upon
familial and public responsibilities.
Confucius based his philosophy upon his Five
Primary Relationships; Ruler/Ruled,
Father/Son, Husband/Wife, Old/Young,
and Friend/Friend.
Confucianism & Taoism
Han Dynasty first to implement teachings in
government, with their Civil service exams
and Mandarins (title for people who passed
the exams). Confucianism becomes the
foundation for public life for centuries.
Lao-Tzu and Taoism, preach inner harmony
(getting in touch with the Tao (universal life
force)
Lao-Tzu rejects public responsibility
(tune in and drop out)
Confucianism & Taoism
Concept of Yin and Yang allows the Chinese to
be both Confucian in public and Daoist in
private.
Innovations developing from Taoism; magnetic
compass, gunpowder,acupuncture.
Taoism heavily influences the arts; music,
poetry, painting. (focusing on nature)
Other Chinese concepts; Mandate of Heaven
(political), three classes of people (Nobles land
owners, peasant, and merchants)
China and Japan
China experiences a “Golden Age” during the
T’ang Dynasty (7th to 9th century AD)
Skilled in all of the human arts, it excels in
poetry, which reveals the “soul” of China at this
time.
The printing process is inaugurated during this
period, spreading all of China’s innovations
throughout Southeastern Asia. (Korea and
Japan).
Japan, four main islands off of the coast of Asia
Japan
Because of physical location, Japanese
develops their own unique culture.
Japanese religion-Shintoism. Important concept
is Kami, life force that includes; “spirits”,
ancestors, parts of nature.
Shintoism focuses upon obedience and proper
behavior.
Buddhism and Confucianism introduced to
Japan, Japanese both Buddhist (Zen) and
Shinto.
Japan
Zen Buddhism emphasized meditation and
physical discipline, over book learning.
Japan’s political structure is feudal; Daimyos
and Samurai (similar to Lords and Knights in
Europe. Shogun is the military dictator.
Bushido is the code of behavior for the
Samurai, “honor’ is the most important concern
for all. When honor lost, ritual suicide
(seppuku) is encouraged, both for men and
women.
Kush , Ghana, and Mali
There were several Sub-Saharan countries,
Nubia, Axum, Nok, and Bantu cultures.
The focus for the SOL’s is in Kush and Ghana
because of trade!
Kush is in East Africa, most significant trade
partner is Egypt. The capital is in Meroe, major
trade item is iron. Brief period of time, Kush
controls Egypt. Kush is located in modern day
Sudan.
Ghana and Mali’s wealth is based upon the
Gold and Salt trade.
Ghana, Mali, and Mayans
Mali capital of Timbuktu, famed for wealth and
scholarship. Mansa Musa on his pilgrimage to
Makkah displays incredible wealth.
Mayan civilization flourished from
approximately 900 BC– AD 900 (Yucatan
peninsula).
Politically a collection of city-states, found in
present day southern Mexico and parts of
Central America.
The Mayans are famed for their pyramids,
hieroglyphs, mathematics, calendars..
History Skills- Three Categories
Generalizations; You might be asked to
determine whether a quote you had just read
was a primary or secondary source. An
example might be a quote from Julius
Caesar;”All of Gaul is divided into three parts.”
If this is a quote directly attributed to Caesar it
is a “
Usually, the test will ask you to read a quote
and make a generalization.
Generalization & Population Distribution
An excerpt from the Code of Hammurabi: if a noble
has knocked out the tooth of a noble of his own rank,
then that noble shall have a tooth of his own knocked
out.But if he has knocked out a commoner’s tooth, he
shall pay one-third mina of silver.
You might be asked something like: Based on the
passage above, what generalization can you make
about Babylonian society? You would pick an answer
that stated that there were divisions in Babylonian
society.
Population Distribution
main facts to keep in mind:
Before the rise of early civilizations, populations were nomadic.
Early civilizations were located in river valleys, populations
clustered
In the ancient world, the highest concentrations of people were
in the Mediterranean region, Indus Valley, Hwang Ho Valley in
China, and increasingly in Central America.
As empires grew, so did wealth, thus cities grew. Cities such as ;
Thebes, Babylon, Athens, Rome, Carthage, and later
Constantinople and Baghdad are excellent examples of this type
of urban growth.
During the European Middle Ages, the vast majority of the
population was agrarian, living on fiefs as;serfs, knights, Lords.
As trade increased between civilizations, populations distributed
themselves along ports(Constantinople) and trade routes. (Silk
Road)
Population Distribution (Movement),
Generalizations & Political Boundaries
In general, the arts and sciences were advanced in civilizations which
consist of large populations, that generate the wealth to support the
advances (arts and sciences)
Populations go toward arable land (often river valleys) and jobs
(which often mean cities at the center of trade in major sea harbors
or along major land trade routes.
The SOL’s will test your knowledge of history with respect to what
contemporary nations exist in the areas which we studied. For
example; Mesopotamia is now part of Irag. The Mayans occupied
territory that is currently part of Mexico. Ancient Gaul is now France.
The city of Constantinople is now known as Istanbul. Mecca and
Medina are located in present day Saudi Arabia.
Quick Quiz
What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?
During the European Middles Ages the vast majority of the population
was involved in what type of work?
Describe the difference between Feudalism and Manorialism.
Which two religions did most people in traditional Japan identify
with?
What did the ancient Egyptians and Mayans have in common with
each other?
Christian Knights behavior was regulated by the code of Chivalry,
what similar code regulated the Samurai’s behavior?
List the following Chinese Dynasties in chronological order, from
earliest to last. Also, place an important accomplishment next to each
of the Dynasties. Han, Qin, T’ang, Shang, and Zhou.
Describe the difference between Taoism and Confucianism, and what
concept allowed the Chinese to practice both?
Geography Knowledge and Concepts
Human/Environment Interaction
Characteristics of a geographical region
Cultural characteristics of the landscape.
Movement (migration and cultural interaction)
Patterns of urban development.
Human Environment Interaction: looking at how people adapt
themselves to the environment they live in. An example of this is
when ancient people settled in river valleys, they had to deal with
floods. The test might look at the Nile and or the Euphrates. Floods
brought silt, but also death so people learned how to predict and
control floods
*People also learned how to build canals and aqueducts to bring
water to the crops and cities.(The Romans were the best example of
this technology)
Human/Environment Interaction
• Effects on landscape: How does the building of a city impact on the
environment of a once pristine river valley? Examples; pollution,
importing of materials not available at the site, impact on animal
population. Most importantly, what happened to the earth in the
areas affected by the Agriculture Revolution?
* farmers changed the land, irrigation etc.
• Managing time; hours, days, minutes. Calendars based upon religious
events (Birth of Christ, Muhammad’s flight, Chinese calendar based
upon the first recording of Chinese civilization)
Characteristics of a geographic region
Region is a name we give to a place that has something distinctive
about it, when compared to other places.(usually no definitive
borders, but general patterns that dominate. Chesapeake Bay, the
Washington Metropolitan Region.
On this test we will probably have to distinguish between land
(physical) or cultural characteristics.
Physical Regions like the Mesopotamian Region and the
Mediterranean world, these locations are identified with two rivers,
Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean Sea, thus physical regions.
Cultural Regions share a common cultural identity without regard
to the characteristics of the physical landscape.Examples of a few
historical cultural regions would be; the Roman world, the Islamic
world, the Silk Road. All of these regions have different physical
features within their boundaries, but shared common a cultural
feature. In the Roman world Londonium (London) was part of the
same cultural region as Jerusalem.
Cultural Characteristics of a Landscape
When looking at a location or a city one can easily observe the
cultural characteristics of the place. Examples would be the colonial
architecture of Williamsburg, or the domes, minarets, and arabesque
of a Mosque, which identifies it as an artifact of the Islamic religion.
Other examples of a cultural landscape would be buildings like the
Coliseum of Rome, the Great Wall of China. From the Coliseum we
learn about the Roman emphasis on large scale entertainment, from
the Great Wall we learn of the Chinese’s vulnerability, and the
direction from which they feared attack.
Statues and monuments reveal to us what the people of that region
felt was significant and what the people should aspire to achieve
Migration and Cultural Interaction
Migration is a permanent move to a new location. Thus a visit a two
week visit to Disney World does not constitute a migration. In other
words, leaving your present home to establish a new residence is
considered a migration, even if you do not know where you are
going, even if you don’t stay long!
Two broad categories cause the human population to migrate; push
and pull factors.
Push factors drive people out, with no obvious place to go, often
times different groups are thrown together creating diversity.
Push factors up to 1,000 AD: 1)overpopulation,2) religious
persecution, 3) agriculture decline or famine, 4) war & conflict, 5)
slavery, 6) natural disasters, like floods and earthquakes.
Some of the Push factors that might be on the test would be the;
Jewish Diaspora, the Bantu migration, the Viking raids, the Germanic
invasions of Rome.
Migration: Pull Factors & the legacy of migration
Pull Factors, people migrate because they have heard or know that a
location is attractive to their needs.
Great examples of pull factors are arable lands and religious
acceptance.
Often push and pull factors are working simultaneously.
Legacy of Migration:expansion of cultural regions (Islamic culture),
the fall of other regions (the Roman world),the spread of
architectural styles, .. The movement of people has resulted ina
tremendous amount of cultural diffusion in the world.
Patterns of Urban Development
Regardless of which early river system we looked at, all developed
the same pattern of urban development, the building of similar towns
and villages. Proof of aliens? No, simply that people are smart, river
valleys provide arable land, water for irrigation, and transportation.
Two categories best explain patterns of Urban Development; Site
Factors, and Situation Factors.
Site factors; Athens and Constantinople develop as they did
because of the access to excellent natural harbors. People who are
looking to settle down search for such physical features. because it is
easily defended, again Constantinople, centrally located, Baghdad, or
along trade routes
Situational features; the choice to settle down in a spot might be
because it is easily defended, again Constantinople, centrally located,
Baghdad, or along trade routes like Damascus.
Geography Skills
Map projection and distortion:Cartographers (map makers)have
struggled with the act of transforming information from the earth’s
surface onto a flat map is know as a projection. The Mercator
projection is the most popular of these projections, because it keeps
the land masses relatively undistorted.The problem with the Mercator
projection is that the land masses near the Poles appear much larger
then they really are.
Scale: the relation between the distance on a map and the distance
in the real world.The smaller the map, the more detail and individual
locations that can be identified.
Latitude and Longitude:Longitude lines (meridians) run from
the North to the South Pole, with the Royal Observatory in
Greenwich, England being the Prime Meridian. ( the starting point)
Latitude lines run east and west around the globe and the one
exactly halfway from the poles is the Equator.
Geography Skills
With the latitude and longitude lines in place, every location in the
world can be precisely charted.
Points of View: Often times maps would reflect cultural bias, which
cities should be included, spelling of locations,…Maps often were
designed to support the view of an emperor, religious leader, or
merchant.(sometimes the maps were intentionally lopsided to project
a cultural superiority)
Thematic Maps:Maps not only show physical features, political
boundaries, the contour (lay of the land), they can also show all
types of information; population density (most common), economic
activity, distribution of resources, languages or religions. These types
of maps are called Thematic Maps.The test might show you a
thematic map and ask you to make a conclusion based upon a map.