Unit 1: Prehistory-Early Empires (Prehistory-500 AD)
Reading and Study Guide
Vocabulary must be completed on flash cards in the format discussed in class.
Unit 1 Vocabulary
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Prehistory
Paleolithic Age
Neolithic Revolution
Civilization
Hammurabi’s Code
Cuneiform
Hieroglyphics
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Dynasty
Bureaucracy
Caste system
City-state
Age of Pericles
Alexander the Great
Democracy
Dictatorship
ALL Reading Guide Answers should be handwritten in complete sentences on your own paper.
1.1 Prehistory-Civilization
Readings from Chapter 1 Review Handout
1. Explain how scientists are able to study the distant past before humans were able to record their own history.
2. Define the Stone Age and advances of the time period.
3. The Stone Age is divided into two major parts. Differentiate between these two parts. (What are they called
and when did they occur?)
4. Define culture. What kind of culture did people of the Paleolithic Age possess?
5. Define nomad. Why were the early humans nomadic?
6. Describe the community of Paleolithic peoples.
7. Why do scientists believe the Neolithic Revolution occurred and what was its impact on human history?
8. Describe the settlement at Catal Huyuk.
9. Explain dangers of living in a settled town/city that nomads might be able to avoid.
10. Explain the advances that allowed for easier travel and trade between the earliest settlements.
11. Identify the five features of a civilization.
12. Explain the technological advance that allowed Sumer to become successful in their protection and trade.
1.2 Early Civilizations
Readings from Chapter 2, 3, and 4 Review Handouts
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Describe the geography of Mesopotamia.
Identify the three major problems Mesopotamians faces and how they were able to solve these problems.
Explain the concept of a dynasty.
Identify major inventions or discoveries of the Mesopotamians.
Identify and explain the first major law code of Mesopotamia.
Describe the geography of the Egyptian civilization.
Describe how government and religion were related in Ancient Egypt.
Ancient India consisted of modern-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Describe the geography of this region.
Why do historians know less about the Indus River Valley civilization than other early river civilizations?
Explain how cities were planned and constructed within the Indus Valley.
Explain possible reasons for the collapse of the Indus Valley civilizations.
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Describe the geography of Ancient China.
Explain the importance of the Shang Dynasty in Chinese history.
Explain the concept of “divine rule” and how it came to Ancient China.
Explain the term Indo-Europeans and their importance in regard to early civilizations.
The Aryans helped develop a caste system in India. Explain this system.
Describe the development and core beliefs of Hinduism.
Describe the development and core beliefs of Buddhism.
What do the Minoans and the Phoenicians have in common?
What is considered the most important achievement of the Phoenicians?
Describe the development and core beliefs of Judaism.
Why did Egyptian pharaohs stop building pyramids for their burials during the New Kingdom (1570 BC-1075 BC)?
Describe the rise and fall of the Assyrian Empire.
Describe the rise and fall of the Persian Empire.
Explain the beliefs of Confucius.
Explain how the Qin Dynasty united and expanded China.
1.3 Early Empires
Readings from Chapter 5, 6, and 7 Review Handouts
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Describe the geography and Ancient Greece and how it impacted the people of the area.
Explain why life was different in various city-state of Ancient Greece.
Compare and contrast life in Athens and Sparta.
Cleisthenes, ruler of Athens in Ancient Greece, helped develop a limited democracy. Explain how this democracy
worked.
Who are Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle?
How was Alexander able to expand his empire? What territories was he able to bring under his rule?
Explain what “Hellenistic Culture” means.
Where was the city of Rome founded and why?
Explain the purpose and importance of the Twelve Tables.
Explain the three parts of the Roman government.
Explain the relationship between Julius Caesar, Crassius, and Pompey.
Explain the development of and core beliefs of Christianity.
Explain in detail how and why Rome declined.
List several examples of Rome’s legacies?
Explain the height of the Mauryan Empire.
Explain changes that occurred in both Buddha and Hinduism in the period 300 BC to 550 AD.
Explain how India became a center for trade.
Describe the leadership of the Han Dynasty.
Wudi, a Han emperor, introduced the idea of the “rule of merit” or the civil service exam. Explain the purpose
of this exam.
Identify new inventions of the period in China under the rule of the Han Dynasty.