Download First Semester Study Guide

First Semester Study Guide
EARLY History
PART I
NAME
Prehistory1. What were some of the first tools early man developed?
2. Why was the invention of language so important?
3. The invention of farming is known as the NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION. How did that change the way
people live forever?
4. What are 3 things needed to make a civilization?
a.
b.
c.
5. Why did all early civilizations all develop around rivers? In other words, what do rivers do for people?
6. CULTURAL DIFFUSION is the spread of culture from one place to another. Why is it important for
cultures to mix and spread to one another?
EGYPT
7. Why is the Nile River SO IMPORTANT for Egypt?
8. Beside the Nile River, what is Egypt like?
9. Why did the Egyptians build pyramids?
10. Why did the Egyptians make mummies out of bodies?
11. How has communication improved from the time of the Egyptians?
MESOPOTAMIA
12. What country is Mesopotamia today?
13. One of the first civilizations in Mesopotamia was Sumeria. Why do we owe so much to the earliest
civilizations?
14. Phoenicians were the first people to create an ALPHABET. Why is the invention of the alphabet such an
improvement over using pictures as words and sounds like the Egyptians and Chinese did?
15. The people of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and many other ancient places believed in many gods. What is this
called?
INDIA
16. Ancient Indians built fortresses for protection at the center of their cities instead of temples like the
Egyptians and Mesopotamians. What does it say about India if they placed forts and not temples in the
middle of their cities?
17. What are the two major world religions that were born in India?
18. What was the Caste system in India?
19. The Caste system in India forced people to work the same job for their entire lives. Although his may be
unfair, how does this help society run smoothly?
20. What is the relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism?
CHINA
21. What is the geography of China?
22. How is China’s geography similar and different to Egypt’s?
23. One famous aspect of ancient China was the Silk Road which allowed people and goods to move across vast
distances to other civilizations. How is this an example of cultural diffusion?
24. China was also famous for its many philosophers, including Confucius, who taught that family was more
important than each individual person. How is that different to modern American culture today?
GREECE
25. What is the geography of Greece? What is a difference between Greece’s geography and other places we
have studied?
26. What was the difference between Athens and Sparta?
27. Like the Egyptians, why did the Greeks have so many myths (legend or story about the gods)?
28. What is probably the GREATEST accomplishment of the Greeks? (HINT: Think about American
government)
29. Besides the military success of Alexander the Great, what is the impact of his (and his army’s)
achievements?