Helpful Suggestions

1. Helpful Suggestions Or helpful hints for the Global History and Geography I Regents Midterm Examination

2. Africa – The Origin of Humanity • Africa is the birthplace of humanity • The first humans appeared in Africa • Anthropologists like Louis and Mary Leakey worked in Africa and uncovered fossils of early humans • The Leakeys worked in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa

3. Hunters-Gatherers • The first humans were hunters and gatherers • Before humans farmed, they hunted and gathered • Hunters and gatherers are nomads; they move in search of animals • A hunting and gathering community tends to have a small population • It is easier to move and feed a small group of people • Highly mobile, small populations, greater equality  Few possessions  no social classes

4. The Neolithic Revolution • The Neolithic Revolution was a significant turning point in world history • It occurred 10,000 years ago • Some people learned to farm and domesticate animals • Some hunters and gatherers learned to farm • They settled and established villages • Sedentary societies emerged

5. Oral History • Passing information by the spoken word • Before the invention of writing • Provide cultural evidence • An oral history reveals information about religion, food, family, and clothing • An oral history reveals information about culture

6. Archaeology • The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains • To excavate is to dig • An artifact is an object made by a human • Archaeologists excavate or dig up objects • Archaeologists determine what happened in the past from excavated artifacts

7. Primary Source • It is an eyewitness account of an event • Examples include a diary, newspaper article, letter and video • A historian reads a primary source carefully and critically – is it accurate? • A historian checks the primary source with other sources • By doing this, reliability is established • Reliability determines the trustworthiness of the document

8. Economists • Economics is the study of the production, consumption and distribution of goods and services • Economists study money and jobs and trade and the business of business • Economists know that scarcity exists • Scarcity is the economic concept that wants are always greater than resources • There is never as much time or money or gold or oil as we would like

9. Interpreting Evidence • Archaeologists and historians interpret evidence • When an artifact is discovered, the archaeologist determines what its purpose was or why it was created • To interpret is to explain the meaning of things

10. The Land between the Tigris and Euphrates • The land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was known as Mesopotamia • Mesopotamia is located in present-day Iraq • Mesopotamia is part of a larger area known as the Fertile Crescent • The Fertile Crescent is a quarter-moon shape region with land that is good for farming from the Persian Gulf through Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and northern Egypt

11. The Code of Hammurabi • An early written law code • Provided consistent rules • Harsh punishments • But class divisions – a rich man was punished differently than a poor man

12. A Hierarchy • A hierarchy is a ranking system • In a hierarchy, people are ranked according to status or power • In the caste system, priests are ranked higher than merchants • In a class system, nobles are ranked higher than peasants • If there are ranks, there is hierarchy

13. Confucianism • Confucius believed that order in society created peace • In his Five Relationships, there were superior people and inferior people • Superior individuals set good examples • If a ruler sets a good example, his subjects will follow • The Five Relationships: emperor and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder brother and younger brother, and friend and friend

14. Confucianism and Filial Piety • To honor and respect parents and ancestors • A good son cares for his elderly parents • He does not travel far away • A good son respects his parents

15. Similarities – Ancient Egypt and Ancient China – Early Civilizations • Developed near rivers • Hierarchical • Written forms of expression

16. Caste System • The fixed social class system of the Hindu religion of India • BIRTH determines caste • The castes are priests, warriors, merchants and farmers • Untouchables belong to no caste; they are outcastes • Caste, karma and dharma resulted in the establishment of a set of rules for each member of the community

17. Samsara • Samsara is rebirth • Hindus and Buddhist believe in samsara or reincarnation • To believe in reincarnation is to believe that the soul is reborn

18. Phoenicians • Seafaring people • Manufactured a brilliant purple dye • Invented the world’s first alphabet • Traded goods throughout the Mediterranean Sea • Were “carriers of civilization”

19. Monotheism • The belief in one God • Judaism, Christianity and Islam are monotheistic faiths • Sometimes referred to as Abrahamic faiths

20. Polytheism • Polytheism is the belief in many gods • Humanity’s earliest religious expression was polytheistic

21. The Four Noble Truths • The foundational beliefs of Buddhism • Life has suffering • Desire causes suffering • Suffering can end • Follow the Noble Eightfold Path – the path to suffering’s end

22. The Roman Empire • Dominated trade on the Mediterranean Sea • Ruled land on three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa • Developed a republican form of government • In a republic, citizens vote for representatives • Developed the Twelve Tables – written laws

23. Athens vs. Sparta • Athens: golden age, democracy, art and literature • Athens: only free men voted in Athens • Sparta: militaristic • Sparta: helots or Spartan slaves farmed • Athenians thought Spartan society was too strict

24. Gupta Empire • Classical Civilization of India • Experienced a golden age • A time of peace, prosperity and great achievements • Developed the concept of zero and infinity • Developed a decimal system • Developed vaccinations • Built stupas and beautiful paintings in the Caves of Ajanta

25. Alexander the Great • Macedonian conqueror • Conquered a vast empire from the Nile River to the Indus River • Spread Greek culture • Spread Hellenism – a Greek-like culture

26. Silk Roads • Overland trade route connecting China to the Eastern Mediterranean coast • Luxury goods from China like silk and porcelain • Destined for markets in other lands • Increased cultural diffusion • Merchants exchanged goods and ideas • Buddhism spread on the Silk Roads

27. Examination System in China • To work in government, a candidate had to pass a rigorous exam • The examination system was open to all men • Any man could take the test even a poor man • Limited social mobility – a poor man could become a scholar-gentry and move up in the social hierarchy • But social mobility was limited • It was difficult for a poor man to have the funds needed to train for the examinations

28. Comparison – Examination System in China and Hindu Caste System • The examination system afforded limited social mobility • The caste system lacked social mobility • In the caste system, a person cannot change his caste • In China, a poor man could pass the examination for government service • In China, a poor man could move into a higher rank, a higher class

29. The Format of the Test • Part I - 30 Stimulus-Based Multiple-Choice Question - Each question is worth 2.5 points for a total of 75 points • Part II - 2 Short-Answer Questions with Parts (1st 2 parts/ 2nd 3 parts) - Each response is worth 5 points for a total of 25 points

30. Remember to Study • Success is 99% preparation or some high percentage like that