Exam 1
Key Terms
You should be able to write at least one paragraph on each of the following terms:
Human language
Human language is special because it allows us to expand knowledge. We can
use symbolic language to express things that aren’t real. Animals may be able to use
some aspects of language, but humans use all four: discreetness, grammar,
productivity, and displacement.
Foraging
Foraging is hunting and gathering. Groups of 20-25 people would forage
together and keep their numbers low to make travel and decisions easier. Some
benefits included short work days, less susceptibility to disease, and healthier diets.
However, foraging had its downfalls. It meant shorter life spans, and should someone
become non-beneficial to the clan, they would be left behind.
Neolithic Revolution
The Neolithic Revolution occurred when humans became sedentary. They
domesticated fire, animals and plants. They created villages and new technology such
as calendars and plows. This created a population surplus and social organization. It
also led to the rise of states.
Civilization
Civilization meant many things such as complex religion, job specialization,
organized government, and social class. Organized government led to public works, or
large scale projects to benefit the city and people paid for by the government. Religion
became institutionalized, and people were trained for certain work.
Indus River Valley Civilization
The Indus River Valley touched Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. It was
characterized by advanced city planning and architecture. They had a sewage system
and used a uniform grid pattern to lay out their city. This uniformity suggests a strong
central government. Mohenjo Daro was an important city; it had a sophisticated water
system with 700 wells and a great bath. It likely had an egalitarian structure which
meant equal access to sanitation.
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty was composed of two walled cities. The inner walls held the
elite, while the outer walls held the commoners. Peasants were buried in mass graves.
One of the most prominent aspects of the Shang Dynasty was oracle bone script and
writing. These oracle bones were the first written script in ancient China. These were
carved in turtle shells and ox shoulder blades and were used for divination. However,
these oracle bones led to constant war. By the end of the dynasty, only kings could read
oracle bones.
Code of Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi was displayed in public in 1754 BCE. It was the single
source of law and meant a unitary empire. The laws were written in “if…then” form. They
reinforced the power of the king and dealt with social class as having the elite, free
men, and enslaved people. Women were treated differently, but they could own
property.
Amarna Letters
The Amarna Letters were around 380 tablets written in Akkadian, a lingua franca
of the time. They showed diplomatic negotiations, interpersonal relations, daily life
(economic transactions and gifts), and the language and culture of the New Kingdom.
The two types of correspondence were superpowers (between kings of equal status)
and vassal states (inferior states who used subordinate greetings).
The Three Kingdoms of Egypt
The Old Kingdom had a unitary government, which meant one person made all
of the big decisions. This was the Pyramid Age. The Middle Kingdom brought with it the
Golden Age of Literature, which was written on stone and papyrus. Hyksos invaded
Egypt with chariots, which led to wheels. The New Kingdom had a female ruler named
Hatshepsut, who was attempted to be erased from history by Thutmose the III.
The Great Kings of the Achaemenid Empire
Cyrus the Great led the Conquest of Babylon. He created the Cyrus Cylinder
which justified the conquest. It also allowed displaced peoples to return home and
rebuild their temples, which was a very different way of ruling at the time.
Darius the Great developed Satrapies, or districts. Nobles were put in charge
and were mostly independent as long as they gave money and troops to the king. There
was relative religious freedom. Darius also created the Royal Road for communication
and attempted to invade Greece for the first time.
Xerxes I led the second attempt to invade Greece, which, like Darius, he
ultimately lost.
Women in ancient Persia
Women in ancient Persia held prominent roles such as supervisors, chiefs and
craftswomen. They were paid equal wages to men, and royal women even influenced
foreign policy. Artemisia I of Caria was a brave and wise naval commander of the
Persian empire.
Women in ancient Egypt
Women in ancient Egypt had expansive rights. They could own property and
serve as witnesses in court cases. They could even divorce and remarry if they so
wished!
Women in classical Greece
Women in Sparta had more rights than in any other Greek city-state. They could
inherit property, make business transactions, and even received a physical
education—which was mostly because of the birthing process and to produce stronger
children, but still—! They married late compared to other cultures at the time to men
around their same age.
Olympics
The Olympics have unclear origins, though it is certain that they were festivals
celebrating Zeus. They were held near Mt. Olympus, home of the Gods, and they were
composed of five events. Victors received personal and state glory and were adorned
with an olive branch crown.
Essay Questions
You should be able to write at least 3 paragraphs on the following questions. I will
select one from this list.
Compare and contrast Spartan and Athenian government and society.
The Spartan government was composed of mixed forms of government; it had
democratic and oligarchical elements. The Spartans had a dual kingship, meaning
there were two kings who had equal power. They mostly held religious and military
power. The democratic element of the Spartan government was Ephors. There were 5
Ephors elected annually to protect the rights of the citizens. Gerousia was composed of
28 elected officials plus the two kings. This was the most powerful position which
determined proposals. The last and weakest group was the Ekklesia, an assembly of
citizens who voted for and against proposals.
Athens, on the other hand, had a direct democracy, meaning leaders were
selected by lot. Eligible Athenians only composed around 10-20% of the population, but
any eligible citizens could be chosen. The three parts of the government were the
Assembly, the Boule, and the Courts. The Assembly was composed of adult male
citizens post-military training, and it was voluntary. There were around 6,000 people at
every assembly, and everyone had the right to freedom of speech. The Boule was
chosen by lot every year; most Athenian men would serve in the Boule at some point.
The Courts were a trial by jury composed of jurors chosen by lot. Jurors were required
to come, so later money became an incentive to convince people to attend sessions.
There were no judges or lawyers.
The Athenian government put a lot more power in the hands of common citizens.
It allowed anyone—or at least any eligible citizen—to be part of decision making. The
Spartan government, on the other hand, was very rigid and didn’t allow citizens to
suggest ideas for progress. The Athenian government was also solely a democracy,
whereas the Spartan government had a mixed constitution.
What was the Neolithic Revolution? How did it transform the way humans lived?
The Neolithic Revolution began at the period in time when humans became
sedentary. It was the beginning of domestication, of villages, and of technology. It
eventually led to the rise of states with social organization and a population surplus.
Humans domesticated three things during the Neolithic Revolution: fire, animals,
and plants. Around 400,000 years ago, humans started using fire to cook, stay warm,
keep away predators, and to socialize, quite like social gatherings today with s’mores
and hot dogs. Dogs were the first animals to be domesticated. Then followed sheep,
cows, chickens, and generally sociable animals. The most commonly domesticated
plants were grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
During the Revolution, humans created calendars, weaving, pottery, and
plowing. Calendars aided with farming and with religious rituals and festivals. Weaving
and pottery were some early examples of the specialization of skills. Pottery was done
by hand and was mostly used for storage. Plowing made farming much easier than
before.
Since humans were sedentary, they had more chance to create a surplus; this led
to the creation of more rigid social organization and norms. Class controlled means of
production, gender decided purpose, and there was a division of labor (or
specialization). Examples of different forms of labor include potters, weavers, and
farmers. All of these advancements led to the rise of states.
Exam format:
The exam will consist of three sections. 1) Two short answer questions (10 points each) I
will provide you with four different questions based on the list of key terms above. You
will be responsible for writing at least one paragraph for each answer. 2) Essay question
(30 points). 3) Primary source analysis (25 points)
TOTAL: 75 POINTS