Unit 2 Study Guide- How Civilizations Maintain Order
Civilization
Learning Targets:
I can identify the characteristics of a civilization.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Create a graphic organizer to show the seven characteristics of a civilization.
Stable food supply, social structure, government, religion, the arts, technology, written
language
Forms of Government
Learning Targets:
I will compare purposes and sources of power in the most common forms of government.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Political Philosophers:
Thomas Hobbes-Absolute Rule by Kings
John Locke- Natural Rights
Montesquieu- Separation of Powers
Voltaire- Religious Tolerance and Free Speech
Beccaria- The Rights of the Accused
-Preamble
The introduction to the Constitution. It states the goals of our government.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
-Types of Governments:
Monarchy- rule by king or queen, power usually passed down through family
Oligarchy- rule by few
Tyranny- power taken by force, new ruler is not legal ruler
Democracy- rule by the people/citizens
Republic- elected officials represent citizens
Mesopotamia
Learning Targets:
I will explain how Mesopotamian kings established power and maintained order.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-City-State- independent state that functions like a small country with its own
government
-Hammurabi’s Code- best known for his set of written laws in Mesopotamia
Egypt
Learning Targets:
I will describe the levels of Egypt’s social pyramid and explain how it maintained order
in Ancient Egypt.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Pharaoh king of ancient Egypt
-Dynasty line of rulers from the same family
-Draw Egypt’s Social Pyramid
Pharaoh
Government Officials
Priests
Scribes
Artisans
Peasants
India
Learning Targets:
I can explain how the caste system maintained order in India.
I can explain the moral teachings of Buddha and how Buddhism spread in India and other
parts of Asia.
I can describe the differences, similarities and relationship between Hinduism and
Buddhism.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Aryans nomads from Central Asia, good warriors, expert horseback riders, invaded India
-Hinduism system of religion that grew out of the religion of the Aryans in ancient India
-Caste System system of social classes in India, a castes dictates what job you will have,
whom you can marry, and with whom you can socialize
-Karma Hinduism belief that how a person lives will affect their next life
-Dharma Law, obligation, and duty; to follow one’s dharma means to perform one’s
duties and to live as one should
-Buddhism religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha; taught that the way to
find truth was to give up all desires
China
Learning Targets:
I can explain how the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism influenced
China.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Mandate of Heaven Heavenly law that gave the Zhou king the power to rule
-Confucianism
System of beliefs introduced by the Chinese thinker Confucius; taught that people needed
to have a sense of duty to their family and community in order to bring peace to society
-Daoism
Chinese philosophy based on the teachings of Laozi; taught that people should turn to
nature and give up their worldly concerns
-Legalism
Chinese philosophy developed by Hanfeizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and
therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws
-Civil Service Exams (government positions) based on teachings of Confucius; based on
idea that people working for the government should earn their positions
-Why were the 3 Chinese philosophies developed when they were?
Greece
Learning Targets:
I can explain how the geography of Greece affected trade and agriculture.
I can describe the four forms of government that developed within the Greek city-states.
I can explain the differences between democracy in the United States and ancient Athens.
I can describe important aspects of the Athenian and Spartan city-states.
I can compare and contrast life in ancient Athens and Sparta.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Why did city-states emerge in Greece? Due to the rough, mountainous terrain
-Monarchy, Oligarchy, Tyranny, Democracy see notes on maintaining order in Greece
-What’s the difference between a king and a tyrant? A king inherits power, a tyrant takes
power by force
-Draw a Venn Diagram to show differences/similarities between Athens and Sparta.
See notes on Athens/Sparta
Rome
Learning Targets:
I can describe the differences between patricians and plebeians in the Roman Republic.
I can explain how the government of the Roman Republic was reorganized to become
more democratic.
I can explain how the Ancient Romans maintained order.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Who were Romulus and Remus? mythological founders of Rome
-Patricians and Plebeians patricians: upper-class, ruling group of Rome; plebeians- lowerclass, initially had no say in the Roman government
-What was the structure of the Roman Republic? Consuls were the heads of the army and
top leaders; Senate was the lawmaking body (300 Senators); Tribunes were plebeians
who represented the interests of other plebeians
-What was the final change that made plebeians equal to citizens? The right to pass laws
for all Romans
-Twelve Tables
First set of written laws in ancient Rome
Feudal Europe
Learning Targets:
I can explain why feudalism emerged as a political system in Europe during the Middle
Ages.
I can identify the order of societal rank (social pyramid) and loyalties within the feudal
system.
Key Terms/Concepts:
-Feudalism political system of Medieval Europe based on bonds of loyalty between lords
and vassals
-Vassal a noble who held land from and served a higher-ranking lord, and in return was
given protection
-Fief the land a lord granted to a vassal in exchange for military service and loyalty
-Draw a social pyramid to represent Feudalism of the Middle Ages.
Kings
Nobles/Lords
Knights/Vassals
Peasants