social studies reviewer
TRANSCRIPT
SOCIAL STUDIES FIRST TRIM REVIEWER
SESSION 1: HISTORY
EPHORUS A Greek historian who is said to be the first universal historian
DIFFERENT MODES OF USING HISTORY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE
PREDICTIVE MODE
Certain types of past development will happen again and that be understanding history one can better handle future recurrences
“Those who do not know the past are condemned to repeat it.”
HISTORICAL DISRUPTION MODE
Highlights the belief that some force is about to radically change the course if history and therefore the future
RECENT HISTORY MODE
Looking to recent history for the trends that are likely to continue the future
DISAMBIGUATION OF THE DIFFERENT HISTORICAL NOTATIONS:
PREHISTORY
Historians mean the recovery of knowledge of the past in an area where no written records exist, or where the writing of a culture is not understood.
Studying paintings, drawings, carvings and other artifacts, some information can be recovered even on the absence of a written record.
HISTORY
“The line of demarcation between prehistoric and historical times is crossed when people cease to live only in the present, and become consciously interested both in their past and in their future. History begins with the handing down of tradition; and tradition means the carrying of the habits and lessons of the past into the future. Records of the past begin to be kept for the benefit of future generations”.
-E.H. Carr, British Historian
THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR
The calendar system with the most widespread usage in the world today
It has been the unofficial global standard for decades.
Recognized by international institutes such as the United Nations and the Universal Postal Union
DIONYSIUS EXIGUUS
A Christian Monk
Introduced the AD System in the Gregorian calendar
Counts time from the year Jesus Christ was born to replace Diocletian years, because he did not wish to continue the memory of a tyrant who persecuted Christians
Dated Jesus’ Birth in the year AD 1 rather than AD 0 because the Roman Numerals had no symbol for 0.
BC/AD VS BCE/CEBoth notations are based on a sixth century estimate for the year in which Jesus was born, with Common Era designation originating among Christians in Europe at least as early as 1615.
BC/AD [ANNO DOMINI NOTATION]
BC [BEFORE CHRIST]
AD [ANNO DOMINI]Latin meaning, “in the year of our Lord,”
Because of this, AD is traditionally put before the numeral to which it relates, so that it makes grammatical sense if understood in its expanded form: AD 1453
AD is usually put after the numeral, and is also acceptable to put it after the identification of a century; 5th Century AD
BCE/CE [COMMON ERA NOTATION]
BCE [BEFORE THE COMMON/ CURRENT ERA]
CE [COMMON/ CURRENT ERA]Early 17th century - known as, “vulgar era,” or Ve, because of its Latin translation as Vulgus, “the common people,” or those who are not royalty
19th Century – “Vulgar Era” came to be contrasted with “Christian Era,” and the word, “Vulgar,” came to mean “Crudely Indecent,” no longer a synonym for “Common”
Has been adopted in several non-Christian cultures, by many scholars in religious studies and other academic fields so to be sensitive to non- Christians
Does not explicitly make use of religious titles for Jesus, such as Christ and Lord, which are used in the BC/AD notation
A range of arguments has been presented for the adoption of the Common Era notation. Supporters of Common Era notation promote it as a more accurate and religiously neutral notation better suited for cross-cultural communication.
On the other hand, some critics assert that the use of identifiers which have common spellings is more ambiguous than the use of identifiers with divergent spellings. CE and BCE have the same letters, “CE” in them, which may be confusing.
The removal of reference to Jesus in the Era notation is perceived by some Christians as offensive.
THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE
NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS
As the sun was contracting from the nebular cloud, the flattened plane of the cloud began to dissociate itself into its own matter lumps.
Small bodies moving through the dust and gas of the cloud began to accumulate.
The largest of these bodies probably had diameters no greater than a few tens of kilometers, and they have been appropriately called planetesimals (“little planets”).
Even though the orbiting planetesimals travelled swiftly about the newly forming sun, their speed relative to one another was not great, and they were attracted by gravity into larger and larger masses. Earth grew, therefore from the accumulation of planetesimals.
GRAVITATIONAL CONTRACTION
Regions in the nebula have enough mass to be able to contract by their own gravity to form a planet
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
Once a spinning body has started spinning, it will keep on spinning as long as no outside influence affects it
Most models today are variations of the nebular model
As the nebular cloud contracts it gets hotter
BIG BANG THEORY
The matter in the universe originally concentrated in a mass about eight times the size of our sun
An Explosion or, “Big Bang”, forces this material outward into space. It was from this material that the galaxies and other bodies in space formed
Expanding universe
OSCILLATING UNIVERSE HYPOTHESIS
Began with an explosion
As the material travels outward, it is slowed down, then will stop and the universe will contract
Another explosion will occur forcing the material outward again, then the process will repeat
One of the main faults of the Oscillating universe Theory is that the galaxies appear to be moving apart at a rate fast enough to escape the gravitational pull that they exert to each other.
STEADY STATE HYPOTHESIS
Does not depend on the idea of an explosion
The universe is not changing, as the galaxies move apart, new materials are formed in the space in between them
If the steady-state theory is accepted, one would expect all the galaxies in the universe to be very much alike.
New matter is continuously created as the universe expands, so that the perfect cosmological principle is adhered to.
The universe is not only homogeneous and is otropic but it also looks the same at all times
BINARY STAR HYPOTHESIS
Two stars that are bound to reach other’s gravity so they orbit around a common center of mass.
Binary star systems are quite common and the pairing of stars appears to be random in most cases.
The Solar System was created as a result of the explosion of a star next to the sun. The fragments of the exploded star cooled down and amassed together.
Due to the sun’s gravitational pull, these fragments began to revolve around the sun which came to be the different planets
PLANETESIMAL HYPOTHESIS
Widely accepted theory
A star once collided with the sun and the fragments of this star scattered in space
After collision, the small fragments cooled down; because of the sun’s gravitational pull, they revolved around the sun and eventually became planets, moon and other materials that comprise the Solar System.
ACCRETION
Occurs when small particles collide and stick together to form larger masses that eventually grow into planets
A growing planet will sweep clear a zone to feed its mass
Planetesimal Hypothesis (Accretion Process)
SEVEN CONTINENTS
ASIA
Asia is the largest of Earth’s seven continents , lying almost entirely in the Northern Hemisphere
Asia contains some of the world’s most spectacular natural features, including high mountain ranges, vast plateaus, majestic river basins, and lakes and inland seas
Most of Asia’s climate is similar to the interior and eastern-coast climates of North America at similar latitudes
The northernmost areas of Asia have a sub polar climate with very long, cold winters and very short, cool summers
South of the subarctic regions is a broad stretch of land having a humid continental climate with short summers
Winters are severe, but summer days are warm or even hot
Asia has the world’s highest point at Mount Everest in Nepal. It has the lowest point, too. That’s near the Dead Sea, in an area of southwest Asia called the Middle East
AFRICA
Africa is the second largest of Earth’s seven continents , covering 23 percent of the world’s total land area and containing 14 percent of the world’s population
It is a land of great geographical diversity
It is the birthplace of the human race
Africa generally consists of a series of flat and gently undulating plateaus occurring at different levels, broken by a few mountainous areas and by the rift valleys of East Africa
Africa is the most tropical of the continents: Only its northern and southern extremes are directly influenced by mid-latitude westerly winds and are considered to have temperate climates
Temperatures remain high throughout the year, averaging more than 27°C annually, and rarely falling below 21°C
NORTH AMERICA
North America is the third largest of the seven continents
The name America is derived from that of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci, who may have visited the mainland of North America in 1497 and 1498
All types of climate can be found in North America (Ice-covered plains = far north; tropical weather = Caribbean Islands and Central America; Heavy Rains = Northwest Coast of North America)
The eastern part of North America is composed primarily of plains, while the Western North America is mountainous and rugged
North America is a land of big waters. A number of great rivers drain the continent. The Mississippi, which flows from north to south in the central United States, is the continent’s most important river
SOUTH AMERICA
It is the fourth largest of Earth’s seven continents
The desert regions of Chile is the driest part of South America
South America Climate is predominantly wet and hot
In general, however, most of the continent has warm weather the year around. Only in the high Andes is it always cold
South America is home to the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River; the longest mountain range, the Andes (whose highest mountain is Aconcagua at 6,962 m (22,841 ft)); the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert; the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest
ANTARCTICA
Antarctica is the fifth largest of Earth’s seven continents . Antarctica surrounds the South Pole and is a place of extremes. It is the southernmost, coldest, iciest, driest, windiest, most remote, and most recently discovered continent
The continent of Antarctica is shaped somewhat like a comma
Its average elevation of more than 2,000 m (6,500 ft) is over twice that of Asia, the next highest continent. However, much of this mass is ice
It is about the landmass of Australia
Only 2.4 percent of the total continental area is exposed rock
Only about 2 percent of the coast is exposed cliffs or beaches; the rest is made up of ice cliffs that extend beyond the end of the continental rock
Air temperatures of the high inland regions fall below -80°C (-110°F) in winter and rise only to -30°C (-20°F) in summer
EUROPE
Europe is the second smallest of the world’s seven continents
The name Europe is perhaps derived from that of Europa, the daughter of Phoenix in Greek mythology, or possibly from Ereb, a Phoenician word for “sunset”
Europe is actually a peninsula—a piece of land that juts out from a mainland into water
Ural Mountains east of Europe divide the continent from Asia
Although much of Europe lies in the northern latitudes, the relatively warm seas that border the continent give most of central and western Europe a moderate climate, with cool winters and mild summers
You can see a great variety of landscapes in Europe. Many hills and mountains cover northwestern Europe
The Great European Plain is a low-lying plain that reaches all the way from southern France to the Ural Mountains in Russia. Some of Europe’s best soils and most productive farms are found here
AUSTRALIA
Australia is considered the world’s seventh and smallest continent
Like an island, Australia is surrounded by water. But Australia is too large to be called an island
Australia is one of the flattest lands on Earth . It has a vast, flat interior called “the outback” (a series of great plains)
Australia has a tropical climate in the north, an arid or semiarid climate in much of the interior, and a temperate climate in the south
Generally, coastal and highland areas, especially in the southeast, are cooler than interior locations, and the north, particularly the northwestern coast, is the hottest region
Australia lacks mountains of great height ; it is one of the world’s flattest landmasses
Despite these variations, the moderating influence of the surrounding oceans and the absence of extensive high mountain ranges help prevent marked extremes of weather
BODIES OF LAND AND WATER
BODIES OF LAND
HILL
Extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area
Lower and less steep than a mountain
Many settlements were originally built on hills
CLIFF
A significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure
Common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers
Usually formed by rocks that are resistant to erosion and weathering
VALLEY
An area of low-lying land flanked by higher ground
The original natural habitat of the human species was the large river valleys of the world
Usually contain a stream or river flowing along the valley floor
MOUNTAIN
A region of land that is raised rather steeply above the surrounding terrain
Mountains are generally much narrower at the top than at the base
Distinguishable from hills by mountains’ generally higher elevation
PLATEAU
An area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain
Its top is flat or sloping
A volcanic plateau is a plateau produced by volcanic activity
VOLCANO
An opening, or rupture, in a planet's surface or crust, which allows hot, molten rock, ash, and gases to escape from below the surface
The word volcano is derived from Italian,”vulcano,” after Vulcan, the roman god of fire
Volcanic activity involving the extrusion of rock tends to form mountains or features like mountains over a period of time
PLAIN
Plains occur as lowlands and at the bottoms of valleys but also on plateau at high elevation
A broad and flat land area
Plains are significant for agriculture and livestock
DESERT
Is a landscape or region that receives very little precipitation
It has an evaporation rate that exceeds precipitation, and, in most cases, a high average temperature
Daytime temperatures can reach 55°c (131°f) in the shade. At night the desert floor radiates heat back to the atmosphere, and the temperature can drop to near freezing.
BODIES OF WATER
BAY
Bordered by land on three sides
Have calmer waters than the surrounding sea
Is set off from a larger body of water
LAKE
It is inland, not part of the ocean, is larger and deeper than a pond, and is fed by a river
Generally found in mountainous areas, rift zones, and areas with ongoing or recent glaciations
All lakes are temporary over geologic time scales
STREAM
It is a flowing body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks
In the United States, a stream is classified as a watercourse less than 60 feet (18 metres) wide
They serve as corridors for fish and wildlife migration
SPRING
A spring is any natural occurrence where water flows onto the surface of the earth from below the surface
The composition of spring water varies with the character of the surrounding soil or rocks
The groundwater then travels through a network of cracks and fissures, openings ranging from intergranular spaces to large caves
STRAIT
A narrow, navigable channel of water that connects two larger navigable bodies of water
Commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses
Straits can lie on important shipping routes, and wars have been fought for control of these straits
OCEAN
Body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere
Approximately 74% of the earth's surface is covered by ocean
Geologically, an ocean is an area of oceanic crust covered by water
LAGOON
A body of comparatively shallow salt or brackish water
Separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral reef, or similar feature
Venetian laguna (Latín,: “lacuna”, ‘empty space’)
SWAMP
A wetland featuring temporary or permanent flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water
The water of a swamp may be either fresh water or salt water
Swamps were historically often drained to provide additional land for agriculture, and to reduce the threat of diseases born by swamp insects and similar animals
EVOLUTION OF SPECIES
SIZE OF SKULL
Dividing line between apes and humans
NAME INFORMATION
Proconsul Earliest known ape
Primate related to humansAnoiapithecus brevirostris Missing link between humans and apes
Pithecanthropus erectus Java man
Sinanthropus pekinensis Peking Man1930
Australopithecus afarensis
“Lucy”
Australopithecus robustus Flat face, Muscular jaw, flat teethHomo habilis “Handy man”Homo erectus The first species to migrate from Africa
“Tukana Boy”Able to construct tools and use fire
Homo Sapiens Skulls were slightly rounder and larger that Homo erectus
CHARLES DARWIN
1859
ORIGIN OF SPECIES
“Natural Selection,”
The survival of the fittest
SESSION 2!
MESOPOTAMIAN AND WEST ASIAN CIVILIZATIONS
MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATIONS
CURRENTLY IRAQ
Region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Mesopotamia is Greek for, “between rivers”
FERTILE CRESCENT
Region in Mesopotamia
Only suitable land for agriculture because of the two rivers
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION
4000 BC
Nomad civilization at first because it had no constant resource
Learned farming so they settled down
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
12 city- states with their own government and independent leaders, who are seen as delegates of god
System of ranks and heirarchy
Owned slaves, who are captured in war, or they sold themselves to pay off a debt
Wives of rulers enjoyed special powers and duties
RELIGION
Polytheistic
Believed that gods and goddesses behaved like regular people
Highest duty was to keep the divine beings happy for them to protect their city- states
Believed in afterlife: a grim place with no release
ZIGGURAT
A pyramid temple that soared toward the heaven
Home for their gods
EDUCATION
Only a few people are claimed to write cuneiform
The earliest form of writing: Latin for, “wedge”
Figures are wedge- like
Students are mostly the sons of upper- class professionals: priests, government officials, military sea captains, scribes
Girls are not enrolled
CONTRIBUTIONS
Developed basic algebra and geometry
Based their number system on 6; ex. 1 hour= 60 sec.
Invented cuneiform
Invented the wheel; applied to pottery
AKKADIANS
2296 BCE – 2240 BCE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
World’s first empire established by Sargon
Bound together by roads and regular postal service
To maintain control over the empire, Sargon appointed his daughter as deities, installed his sons as provincial governors, and married off his daughters to the rulers of the peripheral parts of the empire
RELIGION
Polytheistic
Women were respected and they have played a significant role in the religious culture
DECLINE
Some speculate that bad harvest, (salinization) climate change or even a giant meteor contributed to their decline
After the death of Sargon, he was replaced by incompetent leaders
CONTRIBUTIONS
Can be appreciated as a vital link in the chain of human progress, away from tribalism and local royalties towards consciousness of wider, even of trans- national obligations
The first collection of astronomical observations and terrestrial omens was made for a library established by Sargon
ASSYRIANS
2000 BCE- 612 BCE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
Warfare was so central to Assyrian culture
Encouraged a well ordered society
Riches from trade and loot from wars paid for splendid palaces in well planned cities
Law code has a repressive attitude towards women
The king also functioned as a high priest, and state god
DECLINE
Fell during 612 BCE because of its weak leaders
Assyria finally succumbed to the rise of the non- Babylonian Chaldean Dynasty
CONTRIBUTION
King Assurbanipal founded one of the first libraries in Nineveh
BABYLONIANS
1696 BCE to 1155 BCE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
Hammurabi established a bureaucracy with taxation and a centralized government
Emerged when Hammurabi created an empire out of the territories of the former kingdoms of Sumer and Akkad
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
CODE OF HAMMURABI
First attempt by a ruler to codify or arrange and set down in writing all of the laws that would govern a state
CRIMINAL LAW
Limited personal vengeance and encouraged social order
And eye for an eye and a life for a life
CIVIL LAW
Deals with private rights and matters
Was designed to protect the powerless, such as slaves or women
Believed that an orderly household was necessary for a stable empire
BABYLON REVIVED
An aggressive and ruthless king named Nebuchadnezzar revived the power of Babylonia and defeated the Assyrian army
Built the hanging garden of Babylon
CONTRIBUTIONS
Introduced the concepts of diagnosis, prognosis, physical examination, and prescription in medicine
The zodiac was a Babylonian invention
Glass making, textile weaving
WEST ASIA CIVILIZATIONS
HITTITES
1250 BCE- 1200 BCE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
The Hittite king acted as the supreme priest, military commander, and chief judge of the land
Hittite justice rested on the principle of restitution of vengeance
Rarely resorted to the death penalty or to bodily mutilation
RELIGION
Their religion and mythology was heavily influenced by the Mesopotamian mythology
CONTRIBUTIONS
The most outstanding achievements of the Hittite civilization lay in the fields of legislation and the administration of justice
Thought to have the first constitutional monarchy
First to use iron for their weapons and tools
DECLINE
Invaded and conquered by the sea people
HEBREWS
2000 BCE- 586 BCE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
ABRAHAM
Considered to be the founder of the Israelite nation
Migrated to Egypt because of famine where they were enslaved
Moses led the Israelites in their escape (Exodus) from Egypt
David united the feuding Israelite tribes into a single nation
Had foreign negotiation with Egypt and Mesopotamia
Patriarchal
Saw leaders as fully human
Urged personal moratily and personal justice
RELIGION
Monotheistic
Believed in an all knowing and all powerful God and was present everywhere
Heart of Judaism is the 10 commandments
Sees themselves as bearers of a unique covenant with a single God (Yahweh)
DECLINE
High taxes and forced labor
Revolted after Solomon’s death
The kingdoms split: North: Israel; South: Judah
722 BCE- Assyrians – Israel
586 BCE- Babylonians- Judah
LYDIAN
800 BCE- 546 BCE
Located in the valleys of Hermus and Cayster rivers
Fertile soil, rich deposit of gold and silver
Croesus- one of the richest + most popular monarch in West Asia
RELIGION
Focuses on the divine mother Cybele
Shares characteristics of Anatolian religion
DECLINE
Cyrus the Great conquered Sardis – The capital city of Lydia
And annexed it with the Persian Empire
CONTRIBUTIONS
First to use coins in trade: gold, silver, both
PHOENICIANS
2500 BCE- 800 BCE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
Wealthy merchant aristocrats had certain right protecting them full strength of the law
Spread Middle Eastern civilization around the Mediterranean
Slaves were protected to some extent by the law and could earn money to buy their own freedom
Occupation- sailors and traders- surrounded by the sea
Makes glass from coastal sand
To promote trade they set up colonies from North Africa to Sicily and Spain
DECLINE
Egypt invaded and rode control over Phoenicia in 1800 BCE
Subjugated again during the 8th century BCE by the Assyrians
CONTRIBUTIONS
Invented glass blowing technique
Our modern day alphabet is based on the Phoenician alphabet (22 symbols)
PERSIANS
650 BCE- 637 CE
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
Settled east of Mesopotamia
One of the several Aryan people
Persian Kings administered tolerance/ acceptance of the people they conquered
547 BCE- Cyrus the Great; Persians began to build the largest empire
539 BCE- Babylon falls to the Persian Armies of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great set up the first efficient Postal System relays of mounted messengers
Darius divided the Persian Empire to 20 provinces. Each governed by a satrap
Through inspector- spies, known as, “eyes and ears of the king” the ruler kept track of his governors
Each province had to pay taxes based on its resources and wealth and provide recruits for the army
Everywhere in the empire the same system of weights were used
Xerzes, the son of Darius, spent 3 years preparation for a great fleet and army to punish the Greeks for aiding the Lonan cities 498 BCE and for their victory over the Persians at Marathon in 490 BCE
During the Spring of 480 BCE
RELIGION
6th century BCE- Zoroaster: “The world is a struggle between good and evil.”; Author of the sacred book, “Zend Avesta”
Ahura Mazda was seen as the supreme god standing for truth, goodness, and light.
Ahriman was the evil spirit (darkness, etc.)
Zoroastrianism- official religion
DECLINE
Persian Empire became week when Satraps of different provinces started to fight for the imperial throne
CONTRIBUTIONS
Architecture
SOCIAL STUDIES SESSION 3!
EGYPTIAN AND INDIAN CIVILIZATIONS
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS
“Egypt is wholly the gift of the Nile.” – Herodotus
“If the Nile smile, the earth is joyous, every stomach is full of rejoicing, every spine is happy, every jawbone crushes its food” -“Hymn to the Nile,” quoted in the Literature of the ancient Egyptians
NILE RIVER
Without the Nile, Egypt would be swallowed up by the barren deserts that surround it
Unlike the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the Nile River rarely brought death and destruction
The Tigris and Euphrates and their tributaries curved up Mesopotamia into isolated areas, while the Nile served to unify Egypt
STRATEGIC LOCATION
Possessed enormous quantities of stone, which served as the raw material of architecture and sculpture
The raw materials that the Egyptians lacked were close at hand
Copper- SinaiTimber- Lebanon
Geography shielded Egypt from invasion and from immigration (only in the North Mediterranean Sea leave Egypt exposed)
Egypt was nearly self sufficient
ORIGIN OF EGYPTIANS
Late Paleolithic Period
NORTH AFRICA
@ Increasingly hot and dry
@ Forcing nomadic hunter- gatherer populations of the area to concentrate along the
Nile valley
Nomadic peoples may have been attracted to the area because of a hospitable climate and environment
@ Realized the benefits of a more sedentary life and decided to settle there@ Descendants of these people may have begun Egyptian Civilization in the Nile Valley
UNITING THE LAND
Ancient Egypt had two distinct Regions:
Upper Egypt: South
@ Communities along river to Aswan
Lower Egypt: North
@ Menes- King of upper Egypto United two regions by using the Nile a Highway to send officials and armies
Pschent (sh-yen)
The name of the Double Crown of Ancient Egypt
Represented the pharaoh's power over all of unified Egypt
combined the Red Deshret Crown of Lower Egypt and the White Hedjet Crown of Upper Egypt
THE OLD KINGDOM ((2700-2200 BCE)
The strong rule set up by Menes became the basis of the Old Kingdom
The ruler was later called a pharaoh (fair-oh)
@ Also considered as one of Egypt’s many gods @ Thought of themselves as the protector of the people and so tried to rule justly @ responsible for all aspects of life in egypt
# Keeping the irrigation works in order# Directing the army# Maintaining peace# Issuing laws# Controlling the economy and trade# Feeding the people# Collecting taxes
@ Depended on a vizier, or chief minister, to supervise the business of the government and acted in the name of the pharaoh
# Lesser officials helped the vizier carry out the many details of running the Egyptian government and economy
PYRAMIDS
Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom had immense pyramids built to serve as their tombs
The Great Pyramid near Giza was built about 2600 BCE for the Pharaoh Khufu
So skillfully made that the blocks were fitted in place with such precision that a knife blade could not be slipped between them
Declined due to the growing power of the nobles in the government
Some nobles challenged the supreme rule of the pharaoh which resulted to civil war
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM (2040-1700 BCE) new pharaohs reunited the land, ushering in the Middle Kingdom
a turbulent period:
@ The Nile did not rise as regularly as it had@ Corruption and rebellion were common@ In 1700 BCE Foreign invaders, the Hyksos (“princes from foreign land”), occupied the
delta region.o Had horses and war chariots, bronze swords and daggers, and heavy bows. o Due to their superior weapons , the Hyksos were able to establish a ruling
dynasty by about 1670 BCE. o For 100 years the Egyptians were under foreign rule. But after learning to use
the Hyksos’ weapons, the Egyptians were able to regain their independence and new Egyptian leaders rose to power.
THE NEW KINGDOM (1570-1070 BCE) Powerful pharaohs brought Egypt to its height by expanding the Egyptian empire eastward to the Euphrates River and southward in Africa.
THUTMOSE II Added Nubia to the empire and conquered Syria and Palestine
When Thutmose died, his wife Hatshepsut, seized power and ruled for more than twenty years.
HATSHEPSUT A very powerful female monarch during the New Kingdom who exercised all the rights of a pharaoh
Encouraged trade in the Mediterranean and Africa, and built temples
AKHENATON (AMENHOTEP) Reduced the power of the priests in the Egyptian government and changed the Egyptian’s worship of many gods to a single supreme god – Aton
But in reality, Akhenaton’s religion recognized two gods -Aton and himself
RAMSES II One of the last effective rulers of the New Kingdom
He fought against the Hittites for almost twenty years
Marriage to the daughter of the Hittite king helped to keep peace for the rest of his long reign
DECLINE OF THE EGYPTIAN EMPIRE The pharaoh’s power began to weaken, while outside invasion also threatened the empire
Suffered from the invasion of the Libyans coming from West Africa, and the “sea people” – raiders from Asia Minor, coming from the Mediterranean and Aegean seas who invaded their coastline
In the succeeding centuries, Egypt came under the rule of many different peoples, among them Kushites from the south, Assyrians, and Persians.
Egyptian dynasties often came back into power. However, not until the conquest of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC did native rule in Egypt finally end
INDIA
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
C. 2500- 1500 BCE
Flourished for about 1000 years then vanished
Covered the largest area of any civilization until the rise of Persia 1000 years later
The 2 main cities:
@ Harappa@ Mohenjo- Daro
Each city was laid up with rectangular blocks larger than modern city blocks
Houses
@ Built of uniform over- fired clay bricks@ Had modern plumbing systems
# Bathe drains, water chutes- sewers beneath streets
GEOGRAPHY
Located in the region known as South Asia/ Subcontinent of India
Large landmass that juts out from a continent
Rivers: Indus, Ganas, Bramahputra
River: Lok- mata or “mother of all people”
Deccan Plateau
@ Lack melting snow that feeds the river for irrigation.@ Much of the region is arid, unproductive and sparsely populated
Eastern and Western Gahes
-low lying mountain ranges
Monsoon- seasonal winds pick up moisture over the Indian Ocean and then drench the land with daily downpours
SOCIETY
Farmers
Wheat, barley, melons, dates
First people to cultivate cotton and weave its fiber into cloth
Some people were merchants and traders
Their contact with Sumer may have stimulated the development of their own system of writing
RELIGION
Polytheistic
Mother goddess – Source of all creation
Worshipped sacred animals – bull, etc
DECLINE
Environmental degradation may have contributed to their decline
Also possible that the Indus River was blocked by mud due to a volcanic eruption which flooded the city
Earthquake
Mortimer Wheeler
Aryans- Southern Russian invaded the region in large numbers with their superior weapons, slaughtering, and forcing people to abandon their cities
MAURYA EMPIRE
321 BCE- Chandragupta Maurya
@ 1st Indian Empire
Had schools, libraries, and splendid palaces and temples
Maintained order through a well- organized bureaucracy
o Effective but harsh
Had a brutal secret police that reported on corruption, crime, and dissent or opposing opinions and ideas
Had specially trained women warriors to guard his palace
Asoka- Chandragupa’s grandson
Succeded – 268 BCE
After fighting a long and bloody war in the Deccan region of Kalinga, he was horrified by the slaughter of 100 000 men
Turned his back on further conquest and converted into Buddhism
Became a vegetarian, non- violent, moral example and righteous leader
Promoted Buddhism but preached tolerance for other religions
TAMIL KINGDOMS
The Deccan Plateau was ruled by the Tamil Kingdoms
Women in the Tamil Kingdoms enjoyed a high status, their kingdoms were sometimes ruled by queens
Deccan rulers tolerated all religions as well as foreigners who settled in their busy ports
Tamil merchants sent spices, fine textiles and other luxuries westward in the Roman empire
Tamil Kingdoms have left a rich and diverse literature
Tamil Proverbs:
“Distance promotes close friendship.”
“If in excess even nectar is poison.”
“The scorpion stings him who helps it out of the fire.”
GUPTA DYNASTY
India enjoyed a golden age under the Guptas who ruled from 320 – 550 AD
Gupta rule was more lenient compared to the Mauryas
Students were educated in schools that not only taught religion but mathematics, medicine, physics, languages, literature and other subjects as well
The Guptas deviced the Arabic numerals, the concept of zero, and the decimal system
Surgeons were skilled in setting bones and in simple surgery to repair facial surgeries
THE CASTE SYSTEM
To Hindus, people in different castes were different species of beings. A high-caste Brahmin, for example, was purer and therefore closer to moshka than someone from a lower caste
High-caste people had the strictest rule to protect them from the spiritually polluted, or impure lower caste
The lowest ranked out-castes, or “untouchables,” held the “impure” jobs such as digging graves, cleaning streets, or turning animal hides into leather
Despite the inequalities, caste system ensured a stable social order
FAMILY LIFE
Family interest came before individual interest
In Northern India, a bride’s family commonly provided a dowry, or payment to the bridegroom, and financed the costly wedding festivities
By late Gupta times, upper-class women were increasingly restricted to the home. When they were outside they were supposed to cover themselves from head to foot
Women were thought to have “shakti”, a creative energy that men lacked. Through marriage, the woman’s “shakti” helped to make the husband complete
Ancient China and Japan!
ANCIENT CHINA
GEOGRAPHY
West and southwest= Tien San and Himalayas, Southeast= Thick Jungle, North= Gobi Desert, East= Pacific Ocean
Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth
The Chinese heartland lay along the east coast and the and the Valley of Huang He (Yellow River), and the Yangzi
Chinese History began in the Huang He Valley, where Neolithic people began to form
SHANG DYNASTY (1659-1045 BCE)Chinese civilization first took place
Closely related to the City- States of Sumer
Noblewomen had considerable status in government
Fu Hao- owned land and helped to lead a large army against invaders
Shang army used leather armor, bronze weapon and horse- drawn chariots
Most people in Shang, China were peasants
All family members worked in the fields
RELIGION
Polytheistic
Had prayed to many gods and spirits
Highest god in Shang Di also had a mother goddess
King was seen as a link between the people and Shang Di
Offered sacrifices of food and other necessities to honor the spirits of their ancestors
The universe is a balance between Yin ang Yang
Yin- earth, darkness, female forces
Yang- heaven, light, male forces
SYSTEM OF WRITING
Developed early in their history
Uses both pictograph and ideograph to express thoughts and ideas
One of the most difficult language to learn (memorize at least 10,000 symbols to read a newspaper)
Only the well to do could afford ro study how to read and write
ZHOU DYNASTY (1625- 256 BCE)The battle hardened Zuo people marched oout their kingdom on the western frontier to overthrow Shang
Promoted the idea of the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rebellion
Under the Zhou China developed ontp a feufal state
Local lords governed their own lands
Local rulers owed military recruits to the king
Zhou king’s rule is southern theoretical
During the Zhou period China grew new crops such as soybeans
Began to use money
China in area population and prosperity during the Zhou era
QIN DYNASTY
Zheng
A powerful ruler of the state of Qin unified all of China
Proclaimed himself Shi Huangdi (First Emperor)
Conquered most of the warring states within 20 years and constrained power with the heir of, “Legalist Advisers”
Shi Huangdi
Used the method of rewards and punishmentand built an authoritarian government
Replaced the feudal states with 36 military districsts run be his military officials
Also sent inpectors to spy on the officials
Also forced noble families to live in his capital on Xianyang, where he could monitor them
Jailed, tortured, and killed those who oppose his rule (Mostly nobles and Confucian scholars)
To end dissent, he approved a ruthless campaign of book burning
Ordered the walls of individual states to be joined
When he died in 210 BCE, anger over heavy taxes, forced labor, and cruel policies exploded into revolts
As Qin power collapsed the Han dynasty rose
HAN DYNASTY (206 BCE – 220 BCE)Liu Bang
An illiterate peasant leader defeated rival armies and founded the Han dynasty
Gao Zu
Lowered taxes and eased the Qin emperor’s harsh policies
Appointed Confucian scholars as his Advisers
Emperor Wudi
Chose officials from Confucian “men of wisdom and virtues”
Had granaries set up across the empire
Imposed government monopoly on iron and salt
Followed the policy of expansionism by increasing the amount of territory under the Chinese rule
Recognized that the best defense is offense
Opened a trade route called Silk Road that linked China and the West
Goods were relayed in stages from one sat on stages to another
Relied on well- educated scholars to run the bureaucratic government
Qualities include: Courteous, Dignified, Possesses knowledge in History, Poetry, Music, and Confucian Teaching
Civil Service Examination
Collapsed when emperors can no longer control war lords and peasant revolt
EMERGENCE OF JAPAN
GEOGRAPHY
100 miles away from Asia Mainland
4 Main Islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku
4/5 of its land is too mountainous to farm
Surrounding seas have both protected and isolated Japan
Ring of Fire
EARLY HISTORY
Migrated from Asia Main around 2000 years ago
Pushed the earlier inhabitant the time onto the northernmost island of Hokkaido
Early Japanese society were divided into Uji (Class)
Yamato clan set up Japan’s first and only dynasty at around AD 500
Claimed direct descent from the sun goddess Ameratsu, chose the rising sun as their symbol
Emperors were revered as a living god
RELIGION
Honored kami (nature spirits)
Shinto (ways of the gods)
Each clan worships its own god or goddess who was seen as the clan’s original ancestor
FOREIGN RELATION
Language is distantly related to Korean but completely different from Chinese
Japan and Korea had continuously traded and fought each other
Some leading families at he Yamato court has Korean Ancestors
Introduction of Buddhism and Chinese culture to Japan by Korean missionaries sparked the internet of Japan towards Chinese Civilization
Prince Shotoku decided to learn about China directly instead of through Korean sources by sending young nobles to study in China during the early 600’s
CHINESE INFLUENCE
Japanese rules adopted the title, “heavenly emperor” from the Chinese
Adopted a law code similar to that of China
In 710’s, the Japanese emperor built a new capital in Nara, modeled on the Tang Capital at Chang’ an
Confucian ideas were also absorbed by the Japanese
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
HEIAN PERIOD
Imperial capital was in Heiam (Kyoto)
Emperors performed traditional religious ceremonies while wealthy court families wielded real power
Noblewomen and noblemen lived in a fairytale atmosphere, beautiful pavilions, gardens, and lotus pools
Despite many restrictions, Heian women were able to produce the most important works of Japanese literature of the period
Sei Shonagon, a lady in waiting, wrote, “The Pillow Book,” which is about court manners, amusements, décor and dress
Marusaki Shikiou wrote the world’s first full- length novel, “The Tale of Genji,” which is about the adventures and loves of the fictional prince Genji and his son
JAPAN’S FEUDAL AGE
While the emperor resided in the splendid court at Heian, rival clans battled for the countryside
Emperor remained powerless
Shogus- supreme military commander
Miramoto Yoritomo
Kamakura Shogunata in 1192
One of the 3 military dynastics that would rule Japan (700 Years)
Shogun distributed lands to the daimyos (warrior lords) supported him in time of need
Granted land to lesser warriors called samurai – those who serve
Bushido- way of the warrior- a code of values of the samurai (honor, bravery, and loyalty to one’s lord)
“If you think of saving your life, you had better not to go to war at all”
“When his stomach is hungry, it is disgrace to fell hungry”
SOCIETY
Position of women declined steadily as the age of samurai progress
European code of Chivalry- samurai did not set women on pedestal
Peasants formed the backbone of society, (75%)
Merchants- lowest rank- gradually increased
MONGOL INVASION
Mongol conquest of China and Korea also threatened Japan
Kublai Khan launched an invasion from Korea in 1274
After a ship carrying 30,000 troops arrived a typhoon wrecked many Mongol ships
1281- Mongols launched a larger force, but again a typhoon destroyed much of the Mongol fleet
Japanese credited their miraculous delivery to the kamikaze (divine winds)
TOKUGAWA ERA
Kamakura Shogunate crumbled in the aftermath of the Mongol invasions
“The warrior does not care if he’s called a dog or beast. The main thing is winning”
1600- Tokugawa Leyasu defeated his rivals to become a master of Japan
Centralized feudalism
Required the daimyos to live in Shogun’s capital at Edu every other year, while their wife and children had to remain in Edu
Only samurais were allowed to serve or hold governent jobs
Women’s freedom to move about or even travel with their husband was strictly regulated
With peace restored to the countryside, agriculture improved and expanded
Rapid population growth
Towns sprang up around the cashes of Daimyo
ZEN BUDDHISM
Emphasized meditation and devotion to duty
Seems contradicting
Zen monks were scholars but they stressed the importance of reaching a moment of non- knowing
Stressed compassion for all, samurais fought to kill
Monks sought to express absolute freedom, rigid rules gave their masters complete rule over them
Zen monasteries- upper class men expressed their devotion to nature- landscape gardening