Name_______________________________________________________________ Period __________
**Reading Tip – Read over the questions FIRST, then read the entire chapter from beginning to
end. Do not look for the answers without reading, it will take twice as long. Trust me. **
Due – September 4, 2015 (in person or via email)
AP World History Ch 4 Reading Study Guide
1. Why did Xerxes invade Greece? Why did he fail?
2. Why did Greeks call Non-Greeks “Barbarians”?
3.
Why is Greco-Roman history considered “our own” background/history in the US & Europe? Pg.78 (Timeline
Pg. 78)
4. When, roughly, was the Kingdom of Mycenae and the legendary Trojan War? __________
5. When was the rise of Greek City-States?__________
6. When were the Iliad & Odyssey compiled?__________
7. What was Athens at its height? __________
8. When were the Peloponnesian Wars? __________
9. When was Alexander the Great’s empire?__________
10. When was the greatest extent of Roman Imperial territory? __________
11. When did the Roman Empire BEGIN to decline? __________
12. When did the Empire “END”? __________
13. What were the TWO centers of Mediterranean Civilization?
14. What was the extent and impact of the early classical Persian Empire?
15. Where and how did Greek civilization get its start? What epic literature is identified with this culture?
16. What was the basic unit of Greek civilization?
17. In what sporting contest did the Greek communities participate? What may be symbolism of this?
18.
In what important military endeavor did the major Greek powers cooperate?
19. Describe the rule of Pericles in Athens.
20. How did Athens and Sparta come to rival each other in the Peloponnesian Wars?
21. What was the next major Greek-influenced power to rise after the exhausting Peloponnesian Wars?
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22. Describe the conquests of Alexander the Great (begun by his father Phillip II).
23. How did the conquests of Alexander lead to the Hellenistic period? What was the impact of this period?
24. How did the Roman Republic gain influence over the Western Mediterranean?
25. Which two famous Roman relatives laid the foundation for the Roman Empire? Pg.87
26. Describe the extent of the landmass controlled by the Romans.
27. When did the Roman Empire begin its long, slow decline? Why?
28. Which two later Roman emperors tried to slow this decline? To what new religion did the latter turn? Pg.87
29. Describe the “good life” for a Greek and, indeed, a Roman aristocrat. Why did they feel this way?
30. Why did the classical civilizations seem to need radical social inequalities?
31. What was the relationship between wealth and social position in each classical civilization?
32. India used religion to compensate for social inequalities, what did China and the Mediterranean cultures use?
33. What was Pericles’ attitude toward rule and government? What were the drawbacks of this condition?
34. What were the similarities/differences between Roman political theory (per Cicero) & Confucianism?
35. How did the Roman Imperial military apparatus influence policy?
36. Why was Roman law & citizenship vital to the maintenance and success of the empire?
37. What kinds of public works did the Romans build in their capital and throughout their empire?
38. What was the purpose of (Pre-Christian) Roman Civic Religion?
39. When did Christianity begin to be important in Mediterranean Civilization?
40. Briefly describe the early Greco-Roman religion.
41. Why did this lead to an interest in the so-called “Mystery Religions”?
42. Describe the Stoic philosophy.
43. Describe the contribution of Sophocles.
44. What kind of rituals does the scene suggest in the and why would Greeks object to the behavior?
45. Describe the plight of the farmer in Greco-Roman Civilization.
46. Why did large landowners switch production to olive trees and grapes?
47. What kinds of products did the Mediterranean civilizations PURCHASE from Silk Road merchants?
48. What kinds of products did the Mediterranean civilizations SELL to Silk Road merchants?
49. Why was the military much more important in Rome than in India or even China?
50. Why did Greco-Roman Civilization fall behind in technological advancement?
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(Read Document: “Rome and a Values Crisis”. Pg.93)
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