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A comprehensive review packet covering Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China, Greece) and key topics from World History. Includes major contributions, institutions, religions, and governments.
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Social Studies Gateway Review Packet Content Related material
15 Possible Topics for the Social Studies Gateway Exam Ancient Civilization Greece Rome Byzantine Empire The Mongols The Middle Ages The Renaissance The Age of Exploration & Discovery The Reformation English History Absolute Monarchs Enlightenment & Revolution Industrial Revolution Age of Imperialism World War I
A few things to remember… • Along with this information, be sure to include something from your World History class that you learned. • Focus your studying on only the areas that you are unsure of. • Remember this is just a review, use the documents in the exam to help you too. Good luck!
Ancient River Valley Civilizations 1. Mesopotamia: Tigris and Euphrates Rivers 2. Egypt: Nile River 3. India: Indus and Ganges Rivers 4. China: Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
The Growth of Civilization • Agricultural Revolution: farming created settled communities • The five traits of a civilization • Cities • Writing • Specialized workers • Complex institutions • Technology
Mesopotamia / Fertile CrescentLocated between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Some Contributions of Ancient Civilizations • Sumer:first civilization, plow, sailboat, wheel, cuneiform, ziggurats, polytheism • Babylon: Code of Hammurabi • Phoenicians: the alphabet and improved shipbuilding • Jews: ethical monotheism, Judaism • Persians: well-built empire based on tolerance
History of pharaohs • Around 3200 B.C., King Narmer of Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt and united the two kingdoms • The Egyptian kinds used the title of “pharaoh” and were considered god/kings
Some contributions of Egyptian civilization • Hieroglyphics • Egyptian religion (polytheistic) • Pyramids • Mummification • Medicine
Indus Valley • Located between Indus and Ganges Rivers
Some of the many contributions of Indus Valley civilizations include. . . • Sanskrit • Hinduism • Buddhism • Reincarnation • Caste system
Complex Institutions Religion in the Indus ValleyHinduism • Hinduism is a mixture of Aryan and ancient Indian culture • The sacred writings are the Vedas that explain the basic philosophy of Hinduism. • Beliefs include reincarnation, moksha, and castes.
A second religion of the Indus Valley is Buddhism • Founder = Siddhartha Gautama • Beliefs = Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Nirvana • No complex rituals, as in Hinduism, and it is taught in the everyday language.
China’s River Valley • Located between the Yellow (Huang-He) and Yangtze (Chang Jiang) Rivers
Chinese philosophies • Confucianism: based on family, respect and education • Daoism: based on living simply and harmony with nature • Legalism: based on a strict and powerful government
Some of China’s many contributions include. . . • Printing • The Great Wall of China • Dynastic cycle
Greece The Birthplace of Democracy
Geography • ¾ of land is covered by mountains • Many peninsulas, islands, coastlines and inlets • No navigable rivers • Made transportation and travel difficult • People could not form one united government so they created many city-states.
Three early civilizations • Minoans • Mycenaeans • Dorians
Minoans • Lived on the island of Crete • Equality for women • Advanced society • Seafaring
Mycenaeans • Used bronzed weapons and tools • Warriors • Trojan War
Dorians • Less advanced • Illiterate (Dark Ages) • Oral tradition • Homer, The Odyssey • Epic poems
Polytheistic Gods took human form and emotions; were immortal Myths taught to understand mysteries of nature/life Greek Religion
Greek city-states • City-state: a city and its surrounding areas (polis) • Citizens (free adult males) served the polis • Citizen armies • Public meetings held in the agora (market place) and acropolis (fortified hilltop)
Athens Government Created democracy Values Life based on education and culture Women had few rights Sparta Government Dual monarchy / military oligarchy Values Life based around military Women enjoyed more rights Contrasting two major city states: Athens and Sparta
Athenian democracy • Direct democracy: laws voted on and proposed directly by assembly of all citizens • Citizens: male, 18 years of age, born of citizen parents • Executive branch: composed of council of 500 men
The Persian Wars • 490-479 B.C. • Persia versus Greece • Persia invaded Athens and the Athenians won • Athens emerged as the most powerful city-state • Athens became the leader of the Delian League
Classical culture flourished. Pericles, a hero from the Persian Wars, became leader of Athens. Strengthened democracy Increased wealth and power of Athens Beautified Athens Golden Age of Greece
Contributions of the Golden Age • Architecture: The Parthenon • Sculpture: figures show grade, strength and serenity / bodies in motion / ideal beauty (classical art) • Greeks invent drama (tragedy and comedy)
Peloponnesian Wars • 431-404, B.C. • Sparta versus Athens • Sparta won • Ends the Golden Age
Greek philosophers • Socrates • First great Western philosopher • Questioned authority • Socratic Method • Plato • Teacher at The Academy • Taught through dialogues • Aristotle • Teacher at the Lyceum • Taught by use of logic
Alexander the Great • From Macedonia • Son of King Philip II • Became king at age 20 • Student of Aristotle • Invaded Greece, Mesopotamia and India • Wanted to create single empire • Admired other cultures
Hellenism • Mixture of Greek and Eastern cultures • Koine = common language spoken in Hellenistic cities, dialect of Greek • Alexandria (in Egypt) became center of Hellenistic culture • Port city, good for trade • Statues of Greek gods, a beautiful palace, and the famous lighthouse • Center for learning and education • Many contributions in science, math, architecture, art and philosophy
ROME The Republic The Empire
The Origins of Rome • 3 founding groups • Latin shepherds • Greek colonies • Etruscan settlements
Geography • Excellent location • Built on the Tiber River • Mountainous • Mid-point of Italian peninsula • Center of Mediterranean Sea
Roman Religion • Polytheistic • Blending of Greek and Roman religions
Family Gravitas (seriousness) Role of fathers was important Role of women was less important Classes Patricians - upper class, wealthy landowners Plebeians - lower class, farmers, artisans and merchants Social Organization
Magistrate-consuls Aristocracy-Senate Democracy-Election of Senators Dictatorship-crisis times Rome had a balanced government*form of democracy called a republic*written law code: the Twelve Tables
The plebeians made progress toward equality • Tribunes of the “Plebs’ • 10 elected officials to represent the plebeians in the Senate • Were granted veto power • Twelve tables - codified the laws • Citizens’ Assemblies • More democratic form of government • All adult, Roman males could attend and vote
Punic Wars • Carthage vs. Rome • Control of trade in Mediterranean • Three separate wars • Rome ultimately won but was weakened • Lead to rise of proletariat
Julius Caesar • Military/government leader, gained popularity and power • Tried to save the Republic • Made many reforms • Grants citizenship, expands senate, creates new jobs, starts colonies, increased pay for soldiers, • Became dictator for life, 44 B.C.E. • People fear his growing power • Assassinated by group of senators • Republic collapses at his death
The Roman Empire • 1st emperor, Octavian (Caesar’s nephew) - Ruled as Emperor Augustus for 41 years - Created a strong government • Civil service - Many problems after his death • Succession crisis • religion
Contributions of the Roman Empire • Pax Romana: 207 years of peaceful rule • Engineering • Aqueducts • Complex sewer system • Thermal baths • Series of highways • Coliseum
The Rise of Christianity • Based on the teachings of Jesus • Spread rapidly through empire • Christians persecuted
Fall of the Roman Empire • Economic Problems - three sources of prosperity ended (trade, plunder, farms) • Military Problems - Goths over ran legions, soldiers fought for money not patriotism • Political Decay - officials were no longer loyal to Rome • Social Decay - loss of loyalty for government • Weakened empire falls after Barbarian attacks (the Huns)