1. The Neolithic Revolution was important because it was started by the invention of agriculture.
People shifted from hunting and gathering to food production. This caused civilizations to form.
2. Governments developed when the Neolithic Revolution really set in. Once these forming civilizations
appeared people stood up to lead them.
3. With a surplus of food, the Neolithic Revolution enabled people to become food producers for the
first time and thus population grew dramatically. Also with a surplus of food came specialized labor,
the invention of pottery, metalworking, and textile production, social distinction and social
inequality began to emerge (wealth began to accumulate in the hands of few), religion starts to
become a thing (polytheistic, life, death, and regeneration deities), and cities begin to emerge.
4. Tribal leaders grew into monarchies, religions and rigid class systems. Common interpretation has it
that the priest class dominated first and then later more stratified societies came in with kings at the
top of the heap (with priests under that, and scribes under that, and artisans different types of
workers.) Even though systems of government varied depending on the region, across the board as
man settled down in farming communities, people started having more specialized professions. We
always had leaders and medicine men and religious figures but it wasn't until Hammurabi that we
really even had written law.
5. Mesopotamia is in the Middle East and Egypt is in North Africa. Egypt lies on the Nile River valley,
which was isolated from most other civilizations at this time. Unlike Mesopotamia, which was under
constant pressure from the outside world and constantly fell to invasions since there were no
natural barriers for protection. In Mesopotamia, agriculture arose from the banks of the TigrisEuphrates River, but there was unpredictable flooding/droughts and limited natural resources
(stone, wood, metal). In Egypt, agriculture arose along the Nile River.
6. Egyptian societies wrote in hieroglyphics, Sumerian in wedge-shaped strokes known as cunieform,
Harappan in a series of symbols, and Chinese in logograms.
7. The classical era in Europe included certain events such as the formation and fall of the Roman
Republic, the Roman Empire, and classical Greece. It also saw the establishment of Judaism and
Christianity. In East Asia, the Qui dynasty unified China before the classical reign for 400 years of the
Han dynasty.
8. The Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, and trans-Saharan Africa trade were the main forms of interregional
and intraregional trade. They trade goods like silk, cotton, animals, plants, medicines, jewels, and
slaves. Culture was also diffused by these routes.
9. By making one’s self more open to change and other cultures and moving to a more profitable
place, a person can increase success in trade. Human civilizations also built roads and bridges to
facilitate trade.
10. As with the majority of migrations, both the Bantu and Indo-Europeans diffused culture and
language and agricultural techniques. The Bantu people practiced slash and burn agriculture and
cultivated bananas and the Indo-Europeans practiced crop rotation with products like wheat and
beans. Indo-Europeans could spread farther faster because they had horses.
11. Buddhism emerged in India but because of the belief that everyone could reach nirvana in their
lifetime (an idea that attracted many followers), Hindu followers and the leaders of the Vedic age
were against it and drove Buddhism into Southeast Asia. This region had a high number of
merchants and because of that it took root and quickly spread, as the Buddha himself was once a
merchant. These merchants spread it to China, Korea, and Japan with the help of monks.
12. The Hellenistic Age was the age of conquest by Alexander the Great and the period after him. Lands
in Northeastern Africa and Western Asia were hugely influenced by Greek culture. On the Nile delta,
the city of Alexandria with a population of roughly half a million stood as the center of commerce
and cultural vitality in Hellenistic civilizations. Hellenistic culture persisted for thousands of years.
13. City-states developed in the Americas and Eurasia, but empires eventually arose in Eurasia. Citystates remained the norm for the Olmecs and Maya during this periodization, perhaps because of
geography and fact that they lacked horses, though the Aztecs and Inca would later put together
empires.
14. An empire is an extensive political and economic governing body, the head of which is often called
an emperor. The imperium is the political power in the empire; the emperor exercises the imperium.
Imperial is an adjective referring to empires. For example: “The imperial army” is an army that
belongs to the empire.
15. The belief in more than one god is called polytheism. A monotheistic religion that developed in
Africa in the 7th century AD was Islam. It came from a man named Muhammad who had begun to
preach publically in Mecca. Hinduism is the main religion of India, a combination of concepts.
Hinduism’s goal is to reach spiritual purity and union with the great world spirit. Confucianism is a
philosophy based on the teachings of the Chinese philosophers Zong Fuzi, or Confucius, that emphasizes
order, the role of gentlemen, obligation to society, and reciprocity. Jainism is an Indian religion
associated with the teacher Vardhamana Mahavira. Jains believed in complete nonviolence of all living
beings. Legalism is a Chinese philosophy from the Zhou dynasty that called for harsh suppression of the
common people. Buddhism is a religion based on 4 Noble Truths associated with Siddhalth Guatama.
Adherents desired to eliminate all distracting passions and reach nirvana.
16. Buddhism arose as a threat to the Vedic religion. Along with Buddhism, Jainism also formed.
Hinduism formed as an alternate to the other 2 religions. The Chinese philosophies Confucianism,
Daoism, and Legalism were forming in China around this time also.
17. Asia is the world’s largest and most populous continent, with millions of different peoples following
a wide variety of different religions. Asia was the birthplace of most of the world’s religions: Islam,
Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, Taoism (Daoism), as well as many
other beliefs. These religions continue to influence the pattern of thoughts and ways of life of millions
of people. These are the traditions which are integral not only to the development of the cultural
identities of India and South Asia but those of many diasporas communities globally.
18. Greeks and Roman advancements in theater and the arts reflected their civilizations stability, as the
arts are only improved when the time is prosperous enough to allow it. It also shows their power and
might due to its wide-spread region of influence, and its use of the other arts from other civilizations.
19. Buddhism had Stupas which were domed shrives that represented the dome of Heaven over the
earth. They also had monasteries and temples. Christians and Catholics had Gothic Cathedrals or simple
churches. The cross is one symbol of Christianity. Islamic architecture included the mosque, tomb and
palace.
20. The Roman and Han Empires both had centralized political systems. External problems that lead to
their fall both included Nomadic invasions. The fall of both were very similar and happened because of
persistent Germanic invasions that had great military power. The Roman Empire finally collapsed in the
11th century while the Han collapsed closer to the 20th century.
21. In china they had the Sui, Tang, song, Zhou, Han, and Qing dynasties. In Persia there were the
Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid empires. In Rome they had the Roman Republic and the
administrative institutions in South Asia were the Maurya, Gupta and Abbasid Empire.
22. A few rulers united China and gained the Mandate of Heaven. Then China gains prosperity and its
population increases. But if and when natural disasters, corruption and famine occur the emperors lose
the Mandate of Heaven and a new emperor will take over and gain the mandate for themselves.
23. The Imperial government used centralized rule to help control large areas of land. Although they
would also use decentralization such as having administrative districts. They also used a unique
educational system (the civil service examination) to ensure intelligent office holders.
24. The Silk Roads were an example of intraregional trade during this time period. Due to this road,
China was able to trade with much of Eurasia. China also used interregional trade- which was reflected
by its monopolies such as iron.
25. Both the Roman and the Han Empires were more intent on co-solidifying their rule instead of
expanding it. Both empires were able to allow citizens to live peaceful and predictable lives. The Roman
Empire dominated coastally while the Han prospered inland. Both empires assimilated ethnic group
there.
26. When the vassal earns the contract the lord must grant him a fief. But, the fief was required to have
a maintaining military force, count service, and pay taxes to the reining lord.
27. Terracing is a primarily Asian agricultural technique that’s main characteristic is cutting steps into
mountains or hills in the attempt to produce more fertile land. Slash and burn is a strategy used in
tropical areas where portions of forests are cut down and burned to make room for farming. This
process is repeated when the nutrients in the soil are used up. The 3-field system grow different crops
and at each harvest they are switched because some plats deplete nutrients from the soil while others
replenish them so it is an effort to keep the farmland fertile. Crop rotation is similar to this in that
agricultural products switch places, but it isn’t required to have 3 fields. The qanat is an irrigation system
used by the Persians.
28. After centuries of tension between the church and ideas like iconoclasm, it finally split in the mid11th century because of disagreement with the extent of their reign and turf. This split resulted in the
Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople and the Catholic Church in Western Europe resulting in
rivalry, competition, and hurt-feelings crusades.
29. In the spring and summer, monsoon winds travel southwest, while in the fall and winter they travel
northeast. These winds are reliable and provide security in the Indian Ocean Basin resulting in increased
trade.
30. Veneration of the dead is a religious and cultural concept that can be from revering ancestors/
important people (catholic saints) to believing ancestral spirits live on and provide wisdom (found in
Asian and African societies.)
31. During 600CE to 1450CE religions were spread through trade routes, conquered lands, missionaries,
and the increasing number of Monasteries also helped spread them. Religious wars such as the
crusades, also took place at this time, and these wars also helped spread religion.
32. The Vedas were collections of hyms, songs, prayers, and rituals honoring various gods of the Aryan
religion. The Vedas also described early Aryan society in India. The Upanishads were another body of
text during this age that took the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that
they raised.
33. Christian and Islamic places of worship are generally tall with points reaching towards the heavens.
The buildings are usually majestic and beautiful and have a dome shaped inside.
34. Slaves in Africa were mostly captives of war or other criminals and they were mainly used within
Africa for agricultural production. Slaves that were owned by Europeans were usually taken from Africa
and were sent to other lands to work on plantations.
35. The differences in the development of west and east African societies during the periodization is
that in west Africa human settlers arrived first, agriculture developed and contact was made with
Mediterranean civilizations to the north. The empires consociated trade and developed centralized
states. But in east Africa Bantu speaking peoples migrated to the fertile lads of the Nile River and settled
agricultural based communities there. Spice trade ran through east Africa and the gold and salt trade ran
through West Africa.
36. The Vikings migrated south because of the decline of Frankish empire after Charlemagne’s death
which invited raids, and overspreading by the Arab caliphs which wreaked the Balticsea trade and
caused the Vikings to look elsewhere for trade. The Vikings spread new farming techniques to their
conquered lands and navigation techniques to their conquered lands.
37. The origins of the 14th plague, the Black Death, came from fleas and rats from the street. It spread
across trade route like the Silk Road through merchants and traders. In the end it killed around 1/3rd of
Europe’s population at the time.
38. Marco Polo traveled all over Eurasia and brought back the first news of Asia to Europeans. He served
Kublai Khan in exploration voyages. They put much trust in him as he traveled more than any other
explorer of his time. However, it is doubted that he actually traveled all the way to China because he
was missing key cultural features in his stories.
39. Immediate effects of the Christian Crusades include senseless and violence wars resulting in a high
death toll of Christians and Muslims. Long term effects of the Christian Crusades include undermining of
the church’s moral authority, distrust of Christians, an opened way for future Muslim conquests of
Europe, an increased Asian influence, and increased anti-Semitism.
40. Royal Road-During the Achaemenid dynasty the royal road was constructed to facilitate fast
communications across the empire. The road helped promote trade, which helped hold the empire
together.
Silk Roads- around 100 BCE the Silk Roads became popular. Merchant, monks and musicians traveled
the road and it took caravans months to travel the whole thing -2500 miles. It was a social system as
well as a trading network. Ideas, silk, porcelain, spices, gems, cloth and gold were some of the things
that were traded along the road.
Indian Ocean Maritime System- it took place in 3 regions:
1.
Chinese and Malays in the South China Sea
2.
Malays and Indians in Southeast Asia to the east coast of India
3.
Persians and Arabs from the west coast of India to the Persian Gulf and east
coast of Africa
Trans Saharan- After domesticated Camels were introduced to Africa trade increased. The routes linked
the north and the south, two very distinct trading systems. In the south they focused mainly on mining
salt and in the north the Roman colonies supplied Italy with wheat and olives.
41. The Ming government sponsored a series of seven naval expeditions designed to establish a greater
Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean basin. Yongle (the emperor at the time) may have wanted to
expand China’s tributary system into that region. Between 1405 and 1433 the eunuch admiral Zheng He
commanded the largest marine crafts in the world on what were primarily diplomatic missions,
spreading gifts to enhance the Chinese reputation. But his seventh expedition was his last because the
Ming Emperors had become concerned with a renewed land threat to the northwest by Mongol forces
and they believed the massive naval expenditures could be put to better use at home.
42. Before factories as we would identify them, all manufactures of products like textile was done at
home and on a small scale. Work was confined to a cottage with everybody doing their bit. If a worker
did not work in his own home, he might work in a small workshop. Even the coal mines- to fuel local
cottages rather then send coal further afield.
43. During the Song and Tang dynasties Chinas Patriarchal social structure became more strict. In
upper- class families women had less rights and their affairs were handled by male chaperones.
Depending on their husband’s occupation, women in the lower classes generally had more say. To show
their power and wealth upper- class women would bind their feet, it was a status symbol.
44. Chinese patriarchy refers to the history and prevalence of male dominance in Chinese society and
culture. Mencius outlined the three subordinations. A woman was to be subordinate to her father in
youth, her husband’s in maturity, and her son in old age.
45. The Golden Horde’s population was mostly Turkic. It also was based in Russia compared to other
areas of the Mongol Empire. The Golden Horde collected daily tribute or taxes from the European
territories they had and performed miniscule raids upon the population to establish their dominance.
The Golden Horde was frequented by Russian princes who appointed themselves in the Mongol courts.
46. When the Mongol Empire was ruled by Genghis Khan, a time of tranquility and peace ensued called
the Pax Mongolica. Genghis Khan focused on a decimal system to organize his army, which strengthened
the Mongol society overall. Trade was abundant from Asia to Europe with diffusion. Kublai Khan
controlled China, which at the time was ruled by his dynasty called the Yuan. Kublai Khan promoted
economic growth and promoted trade all the way to Europe just as his predecessor had done. But not as
strongly as Genghis Khan.
47. The Ottomans used an institution known as the devshirme to compel Christian families to offer their
young boys to the service of the government to make up an elite fighting force known as janisaries. The
Seljuks, when they began conquering Turkey, were sometimes seen as less oppressive than the
Byzantines.
48. (Page 424) The Incan Empire was much bigger in size than any other European nation state. Unlike
European states it did not have colonies in distant lands. It goes without saying that the geography of
the regions are different as well, resulting in different crops and animals initially. The Incas did not
partake in transoceanic trade either which was huge for Europe in the time frame. Instead of using a
written language, the Inca used quipu as a system of records. Religiously, the Inca were polytheistic
whereas Europe was primarily monotheistic with Christianity.
49. (Page 312,314, 489) Dhows sailed the Indian Oceans, Junks in the Pacific, and the Galleon sailed the
Atlantic. Using different types of boats in varying regions resulted in an increase in efficiency.
50. (Page 468,469) The Chinese inventions that were helpful in sailing are the magnetic compass and the
astrolabe. Gunpowder was also used on ships for raiding and protection from pirates or indigenous
peoples. Paper checks were influential in trade as well allowing larger quantities of goods to be ordered.
51. (Page 297) Confucians in the song dynasty studied the classic works of their tradition, but they also
became familiar with the writing of Buddhists. Confucianism in the Tang Dynasty was more true to the
original Confucians beliefs, seeing how the Tang came before the Song.
52. Vietnamese rice was fast growing and could be harvested twice a year while Chinese rice could only
be harvested once a year.
53. (Page 451) Renaissance artists tried to make realistic art. They studied the human form and the
emotions of their subjects. Painters relied on the technique of linear perspective to represent the 3
dimensions of real life. The new type of paintings saw the subjects pose in natural positions and natural
settings. This gave the paintings a more natural look and less awkward rigidness like before.