Name:_____________________________________________
Ancient Civilizations Review
1.
Describe the life of Paleolithic peoples:
Nomadic, hunted, gathered, lived in small groups of people
2.
Describe the first tools used by man:
Very simple – made of stone, bone and wood
3.
When was language developed and why was it developed?
It was developed during Paleolithic times to help communicate during a hunt
4.
Where did the earliest people live?
Africa (East)
5.
Describe the life of people in the Neolithic Revolution
Lived in permanent settlements, domesticated food and animals
6.
How did humans’ lives changed due to the Agricultural Revolution?
People lived together in villages
New Social Classes developed
New technology was developed (tools & skills)
7.
Why were governments developed?
To make sure enough food was produced and that cities were protected
8.
Economies based primarily on farming were known as what?
Traditional economies
9.
Belief in many gods?
Polytheistic
1
Geographic Setting
Egypt (~5000 yrs ago)
Desert
Nile River
AFRICA –MIDDLE EAST
Sumerian Civ (~5000 yrs ago)
Mesopotamia along the Tigris
and Euphrates
MIDDLE EAST
Religion
Polytheistic
Sun god – Amon-Re
Life after death - mummification
Polytheistic
Ziggurats – pyramid like structure
w/ shrine of the cities
gods/goddesses
Government
Ruler – Pharaoh (both a king and
a God)
Ruling families were dynasties
City-state
Hereditary ruler
Social Structure
Classes – Pharaoh, Priests,
Nobles, Craftsmen and
merchants, farmers, slaves
Distinct social classes
Ruling Family & high priests
Small Middle class
Peasant Farmers
Economy
CONTRIBUTIONS
Women had a higher status in
Egypt than any other ancient civ.
Trade
Farming
Mummification – learn about
human body, diagnose illness,
perform surgery
Hieroglyphics
Pyramids
Trade
Farming
1st wheeled vehicles
Metal plow
12 month calendar
Cuneiform – wedged shaped
writing
Number system based on 60
10. Define empire:
Groups of states or territories governed by one ruler
11. What is Hammurabi best known for? Describe.
Codified set of laws – established standards of justice to all classes – they were unequal
between classes – favored high classes
12. What is India dependant on for growth of crops?
Monsoons
2
Geographic Setting:
Government:
Early Chinese Civilizations (1027BCE – 220CE)
Civilizations started in river valleys – Huang He (Yellow), Yangzi
Mountains, Jungles, & ocean – isolated China
 Called themselves the Middle Kingdom
Clans controlled most of the land
Shang set up first dynasty (1650BCE)
Social Structure
Similar to other ancient civs
Noble warriors owned land
Merchants/craftsmen lived in cities
Majority of people were poor peasants/farmers
Religion
Polytheistic – prayed to Gods
Prayed to nature spirits
Looked to dead ancestors to help
Yin/Yang
CONTRIBUTIONS
Written Chinese – pictographs and ideographs
(objects)
(ideas)
Ten’s of thousands of characters
13.
Describe the meaning behind this symbol:
The Universe is a delicate balance between two forces. When the forces are in balance peace and
prosperity will result.
14. Define Demography:
The study of human populations
15. What was the role of water to Ancient Civilization?
Civilizations started near rivers – fertile land
Highways for trade and transportation
Drinking
Irrigation
16. Where were the Bantu people from?
West Africa
17. Why did the Bantu peoples move?
In search of fertile land – the Sahara region began to dry out
Zhou (1027BC-221-BC)
Han (206BCE-220CE):
3
Government/ Economy:
Took over from the Shang
Ruled though the Mandate of
Heaven
Economy Grew
Trade expanded
- Confucian values were in the
government
- Strengthened the economy
Society:
Feudal society
- Civil Service system
- Confucian values were part of
everyone’s life
- Men superior to women
Contributions:
Made first Chinese books
Astronomers studied planets
Developed an accurate calendar
Learned to make silk
Technology:
- Improved/built roads & canals
- Paper our of wood pulp
- Wheelbarrow
- Rudder
- Fishing reel
Science:
Acupuncture
Herbal remedies
Anesthesia
Books on chemistry, zoology,
biology
Arts:
-
Jade and ivory carvings
Artists used bronze,
ceramics, silk
18. What route was opened by the Han dynasty?
Silk Road
19. What did this route link?
China with lands as far west as Mesopotamia
20. Who was the most famous of the Han emperors? Why?
Wudi – he removed harsh laws from Chinese government
- he secured and expanded China’s borders
21. Where did the Han Empire expand to?
Manchuria, Korea, Northern Vietnam, Tibet, Central Asia
22. List the reasons for DECLINE of the HAN:
a.
Political : Rulers were unable to control powerful warlords
b.
Economic: Canal and roads were not maintained, economy suffered, increase in taxes
c.
Military: Warlords overthrew the last Han emperor, invaders overran the empire
4
23. Describe the three geographic areas of India:
 Northern Plain – fertile, well watered by Indus & Ganges

Deccan Plateau – dry & sparsely populated

Coastal Plain – flat land along E & W coasts for farming, fishing &
trading
24. Who were the Indo –European warriors that moved into India from Europe and Asia?
Aryans
25. What dynasty ruled over the 1 st united Indian Empire, and who led this empire?
Maurya dynasty led by Chandragupta Maurya
26. Define Bureaucracy and what it did:
A system of managing government through departments that are run by appointed
officials
- they collected taxes and oversaw building of roads and harbors
27. Who was Asoka?
Chandragupta’s grandson
28. What was a lasting contribution by the Maurya Dynasty (321BCE-185CE)?
Spreading of Buddhism through missionaries
United much of India for the first time
29. Describe Ancient Greece (1750BCE-133BCE):
a. Geographic Setting:
SE Europe, many mountains, isolated valleys, small islands
b.
Rise of City-States:
i. Why was Greece made up of City-States?
Mountains divide the land into isolated valleys
ii. What 2 parts made up a polis?
Hilltop acropolis
Main city on the flat ground
iii. Define Aristocracy:
Government ruled by the landholding elite
-
-
c. Describe Sparta:
Warrior society – boys trained for a lifetime in the military
o age 7 they move into the military barracks
Girls trained to be mothers of soldiers
o Obey men
o Can own property
Trade and travel not allowed
Had a monarchy with 2 kings
5
-
d. Describe Athens:
Direct democracy (limited)
Women were inferior to men
Education for boys
Trade with other city states was allowed
Laws were made by assembly (only males were in the assembly)
-
e. Describe the rule of Alexander the Great:
Built an empire that included the Nile valley, Persia, and India
More rights and opportunities were given to women
Spread Greek culture
Hellenistic culture arose (combined Greek, Persian, Egyptian and Indian life)
-
f. What aspects of culture did Athens and Sparta share?
Common language
Shared heroes
Olympic games
Same gods and religious beliefs
g.
GREEK and HELLENISTIC Contributions:
Greek Philosophers:
SOCRATES
Socratic Method: learning by
asking questions
PLATO
Government should control the
lives of people
ARISTOTLE
Believed one strong ruler &good
leader should rule
Government put him to death
Divided society into 3 classes:
workers, philosophers, soldiers
Believed people learn through
reason
h.
Art and Architecture:
i. What was reflected in Greek art?
beauty, balance and order
ii. How was the human body portrayed?
In its most perfect form
iii. Most famous Greek building?
Parthenon
i.
Science:
i. Hippocrates:
Studied the causes of illness and looked for cures
6
j.
Mathematics:
i. Pythagoras: developed a formula to measure the sides of a right triangle
ii. Euclid: wrote a book that became the basis for modern geometry
30. Describe Ancient Rome (509 BCE-476 CE)
a. Geographic Setting: located in the center of Italy, a peninsula in the Mediterranean
b.
Republic:
i. Define Republic: officials are chosen by the people
ii. Senate: most powerful governing body
iii. Patricians: members of the landholding upper class
iv. Plebeians: farmers, merchants, artisans, & traders who made up most of the
population
c.
Empire:
i. 48 BCE, Who was in control?
Julius Caesar
ii. Describe the accomplishments of Octavian (aka. Augustus (absolute rule))
a.
Ended Republic – started the Roman Empire
b.
d.
Pax Romana
Roman Contributions:
i. LAW: 12 Tables (greatest achievement – applied to all), basis for today’s law
- created a stable empire
-
ii. ART/ARCHITECTURE:
borrowed Greek concepts
Used Latin language – united the empire
Grand and mighty buildings
-
iii. ENGINEERING:
roads, bridges, harbors, and aqueducts built
improved the arch and the dome
31. When did Roman trade flourish?
during the Pax Romana
32. What 2 empire reached their height between 200 BCE and 200 CE?
Han and Roman
33. Define monopoly:
7
Complete control of a product or business by one person or group
34. Define Silk Road:
caravan route stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea
35. Why were the Romans able to conquer areas?
They had a strong well disciplined army
36. Ruler of Rome from 31 BCE to 14 CE?
Augustus
37. What did Rome experience under him?
Pax Romana
38. What served as a natural highway for trade?
The Mediterranean Sea
39. What did the Romans build that will affect their wealth?
Miles of roads
40. Where did the Roman Empire expand to?
Throughout the Mediterranean region, Spain, parts of Asia minor, France and Great
Britain
41. List the Causes for DECLINE (weakening) of the ROMAN EMPIRE:
- Overexpansion of the empire
- High Taxes
- Foreign invaders
8