Download World History Midterm 15 Study Guide

WORLD HISTORY STUDY GUIDE
Islam
What are the five pillars of Islam? – Faith, prayer, alms, fasting, pilgrimage
Describe Muhammad’s life as a young man. – he had a good marriage and a successful business, and he
often spent time in prayer and meditation
Compare the reactions to Muhammad in Mecca and Yathrib. – In Mecca, many opposed him, while in
Yathrib a diverse group supported him
Which of the Five Pillars most directly reflects a commitment to social justice? – the requirement to give
alms
Why do Muslims consider only the Arabic version of the Qur’an to be the true word of Allah? –
translations might contain errors or reinterpretations
What evidence suggests that Islam’s leadership weakened under the caliphs? – some people left Islam,
refusing to pay taxes, or claimed to be prophets
What practical reasons did Muslim conquerors have to avoid persecuting non-Muslims? – wanted skilled
non-Muslims to serve as officials, scholars, and bureaucrats
How united was the Muslim Empire politically and economically? – It was divided politically into rival
states, but it was unified economically through trade, currency, and language
Egypt
How did the Egyptians organize their lives around the Nile River? – timed their crops by the floods,
suffered drought or damages when floods were higher or lower than usual
How is the Nile Delta like the land where the Euphrates enters the Persian Gulf? - both were made by
silt deposits
Why was Narmer a particularly effective ruler? – created a kingdom that combined those of the Upper
and Lower Kingdoms; moved the capital to Memphis, where the two kingdoms met
How did building the pyramids show the power of the Egyptian pharaohs? – only very powerful people
could get people to build one
How did the Egyptian belief in an afterlife compare to that of the Sumerians? - Egyptians: afterlife in a
beautiful Other World if the soul was found to be pure. Sumerians: Gods ignored them after death,
afterlife lived in a dismal, gloomy place
Give evidence that the Egyptians believed in an afterlife. – embalmed bodies, built pyramids and other
tombs, filled the tomb with items dead would need in next life
Why was a good education important in ancient Egypt? – reading and writing allowed people to move to
a higher social class
How might the Egyptians’ knowledge of mummification have contributed to their knowledge of
medicine? – in the process of performing mummification, they learned about the body and its organs.
This helped them cure the body as well
How was the rule of the Hyksos like that of the Akkadians and Amorites of Mesopotamia? - all of them
were invaders who took over the established civilization
How did the pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom improve life for the common people? – improved trade,
transportation, and irrigation and created new farmland
How did the invasion of Egypt by the Hyksos demonstrate the importance of military technology? –
Hyksos used chariots, a form of military technology new to the Egyptians
How did the attacks on Egypt’s power from the east and from the west differ? - the Canaanite tribes in
the east were rebelling against Egyptian rule, while the Libyans from the west were raiding
What evidence supports the idea that Egypt’s decline was political but not cultural? – both the Libyans
and the Nubians adopted Egyptian culture
How did the Nile River influence the relationship between Egypt and Nubia? – They were closely
connected because of trade along the Nile River
City-States in Mesopotamia
How did floods make farming difficult? - farmers did not know when to plant; floods might destroy crops
Why did the Sumerians need leadership and organization? – many workers are needed to build large
projects; groups need a leader to organize projects
How did Sumer’s location in the Fertile Crescent allow the civilization to have specialized workers? –
surplus food allowed some people to do other work
Why didn’t the priests establish dynasties? - When war became common, military leaders took over
Africa
What problems might the expansion of the Sahara cause? – push people off the land, crowd people into
smaller livable areas, limit food production
Why would the rain forest be called “nature’s greenhouse”? – the dense tree cover creates a sheltered
area underneath, much like a greenhouse
Why would complex settlements require more government than smaller communities? – to organize
who would do which tasks
How would living in extended families help early Africans survive in difficult environments? – more
people to find food and water, respond to environmental problems
How were early African religions both similar to and different from the religions of ancient Rome? –
Early Christians and early Africans believed in one god, while early Roman pagans believed in many gods.
Like African spirits, these gods could influence daily life but they reflected human but not animal forms
How do artifacts provide a picture of daily life? – tools reveal how people worked and helped identify
their daily tasks
What are some possible reasons that Djenne-Djeno was abandoned? – drought caused famine, war
Why would environmental migration factors be most important to early peoples? – great dependence
on nature for survival
What does the spread of Bantu languages suggest about Bantu migrations? – they were widespread
Why did the Bantu migrations split into eastern and southern streams? – to avoid the tropical rain forest
How might the Bantu migrations have been different if the people had not had iron weapons? – Bantu
would have been less dominant, would have assimilated more with existing cultures
Major World Religions
Buddhism
Name of Deity – no god
Founder – the Buddha
Holy Book – many sacred texts including the Dhammapada
Leadership – Buddhist monks and nuns
Basic beliefs – 1) persons achieve complete peace and happiness (nirvana) by eliminating their
attachment to worldly things; 2) Nirvana is reached by following the Noble Eightfold Path: a) Right views,
b) Right resolve, 3) Right speech, d) Right conduct, e) Right livelihood, f) Right effort, g) Right
mindfulness, h) Right concentration
Christianity
Name of Deity – God
Founder – Jesus
Holy Book – Christian Bible
Leadership – priests, ministers, monks, and nuns
Basic beliefs – 1) there is only one God who watches over and cares for his people; 2) Jesus Christ is the
son of God. He died to save humanity from sin. His death and resurrection made eternal life possible for
others
Hinduism
Name of Deity – Brahman
Founder – no one founder
Holy Book – many sacred texts, including the Upanishads
Leadership – Brahmin priests, monks, and gurus
Basic beliefs – 1) the soul never dies, but is continually reborn; 2) persons achieve happiness and
enlightenment after they free themselves from their earthly desires; 3) freedom from earthly desires
comes from a life-time of worship, knowledge, and virtuous acts
Islam
Name of Deity – Allah
Founder – no founder but spread by Muhammad
Holy Book – Qur’an
Leadership – no clergy but a scholar class called the ulama, and the imams, who may lead prayers
Basic beliefs – persons achieve salvation by following the Five Pillars of Islam and living a just life, the 5
Pillars are: 1) declaration of faith, 2)prayer (salat), 3) purification (zakat or tithe), 4) the fast of
Ramadan, 5) Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia
(there is sometimes a 6th pillar called jihad which means “to strive or struggle”)
Judaism
Name of Deity – God
Founder – Abraham
Holy Book – Hebrew Bible, including the Torah
Leadership – rabbis
Basic Beliefs – 1) there is only one God, who watches over and cares for all people; 2) God loves and
protects his people, but also holds people accountable for their sins and shortcomings; 3) persons serve
God by studying the Torah and living by its teachings
Confucianism
Name of Deity – no god
Founder – Confucius
Holy Book – the Analects, the Five Classics
Leadership – no clergy
Basic beliefs – 1) social order, harmony, and good government should be bases on strong family
relationships; 2) respect for parents and elders is important to a well ordered society; 3) education is
important both to the welfare of the individual and to society
ANCIENT GREECE
How did nearness to the sea help alleviate Greek resource shortages – allowed access to regions that
could provide the resources
Why did most Greeks identify with their local community instead of Greece as a whole – geography
nourished small independent communities
How did the moderate climate foster civic life – by allowing frequent outdoor meetings and discussions
What were the Mycenae’s strength – ridges and wall made city secure; string central rule; trade with
other cities; able to adapt Minoan culture
What were advantages and disadvantages of the city-state as a form of government – advantages small,
easy to control, centralized; disadvantages controlled little territory, many rivals nearby, greater chance
for conflict
Why would tyrants set up building programs – to reward supporters and secure loyalty of ordinary
people
Why was logic and public speaking emphasized more in Athens than in other city-states - Athenians
settled many matters by debate
Why didn’t Spartans resist their austere system – Spartan boys were taken from their homes at age 7
and underwent military training until age 30. They must have thoroughly internalized Spartan values
What advantages did Greece enjoy during the Persian Wars – superior weapons and military tactics
How does an aristocracy differ from an oligarchy – Members of the nobility rule aristocracies; a small
group, not necessarily members of the nobility, rules an oligarchy
How did paying public officers strengthen Athenian democracy – let Athens use talents of citizens who
otherwise could not afford to hold office
What evidence exists to suggest that Pericles also pursued policies that were not democratic – use of
Delian League funds for purposes not approved by members, such as public projects
Why would Pericles not have been satisfied with securing Athens’ political and economic strength? Why
did he also demand the city-state’s artistic glorification – it was a way for Pericles to honor and win favor
with the Greek gods; Athenians thought surrounding themselves with beauty was valuable in itself
How did Greek plays represent expressions of civic pride – by demonstrating Athenian values such as
justice and freedom of speech; by showing off prosperity with lavish productions
Who held the advantage during the Peloponnesian War (and why) – Sparta, because of its militarism
and interior location
Why was the plague that struck Athens in the 2nd year of the Peloponnesian war so devastating crowded conditions allowed the disease to spread quickly
How does the trial of Socrates reflect on Athenian democracy – It suggests that Athenians set limits on
freedom of speech when controversial opinions were expressed
What was the military consequence of the lack of unity among Greek city-states - they were vulnerable
to outside attacks, such as those mounted by the Macedonians
Why did Philip II allow city-states to control local affairs – it made rebellions less likely; uninterested in
local matters
Why did the Egyptians welcome Alexander – they had been mistreated by their leaders; Alexander
allowed some conquered territories to govern themselves in local matters
Why did Alexander’s troops remain loyal for over a decade – his personality, the joy of conquest, the
spoils of victory
Why were astronomy, math, and physics promoted in Alexandria - applicability to agriculture and
navigation
What is the difference between Stoicism and Epicurianism - Stoicism emphasizes virtue, focuses on what
the individual can control; Epicurianism focuses on harmony between body and mind
ANCIENT ROME AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY
How was early Rome a multicultural society – three cultures from the outset: Latins, Greeks, and
Etruscans
What were the differences and similarities between Rome’s patricians and plebeians - both could vote,
but plebeians could not hold important government positions
What was the advantage to writing down the laws - everyone who was able to read could know what
the law said
Why do you think the Romans gave full citizenship to conquered people living close to Rome – to ensure
their loyalty to Rome
How did Scipio use Hannibal’s love for Carthage as a weapon – he forced Hannibal to choose between
defending his home and conquering Rome
How did limiting the size of Roman estates help the poor – It would enable small landowners to succeed
How did Augustus’ rule set the stage for the Pax Romana – His stable government system withstood
changes in leadership
What effect did the system of roads have on the Roman Empire – connected the vast empire, enabled
trade and military action
What factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic - economic inequality, military upheaval,
civil war, the rise of Caesar
What role did Julius Caesar play in the decline of the republic and the rise of the empire – Caesar helped
restore order, then seized power. His occupation of Rome and his rule as dictator effectively ended the
republic
How were Jesus’ teachings at odds with Roman values and religious ideas - taught love and acceptance
rather than strength and power; taught monotheism vs. worship of many gods
Why was Rome threatened by Jesus - he was popular; he preached to the poor and powerless
Why was the apostle Paul so important to the spread of Christianity - Paul traveled widely and
interpreted Jesus’ teachings in ways that distinguished them from Jewish law by eliminating some Jewish
practices, which made the religion more accessible to non-Jews
Why did Christian persecution rise as the Pax Romana crumbled – The worse Rome’s problems became,
the more leaders needed a scapegoat
Why do you think church leaders could not agree about the new religion - interpretations varied;
leaders wanted power
How did establishing a church structure help Christianity spread - people gained access to church
teachings more easily
What did Jesus emphasize in his early teachings - God’s personal relationship to each person;
importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and themselves; God would offer
eternal life to those who repented their sins
Why did the early Christians face persecution from the Romans – refusal to worship Roman gods; used
by some Roman rulers as scapegoats for political and economic troubles
What was the importance of the Nicene Creed – it defined the Church’s basic beliefs 77
Which is more important in the decline of the Roman Empire, the economy or the military – the
economy because it affected how soldiers were paid
Why did the empire continue to fail despite Diocletian’s reforms and effective rule - too much depended
on his iron-fisted rule; the empires problems had spread too widely
How does control of Byzantium offer trade and defensive advantage to cultures on the Black Sea – is the
only passage to the Mediterranean; can provide or deny sea access to cultures on the Black Sea
Why do you think the Western Empire was unable to field an army to stop the Germans from invading –
couldn’t pay mercenaries, citizens were indifferent, commanders were fighting among themselves
Why did so many Germanic tribes begin invading the Roman Empire – to flee from the invading Huns
Why did the eastern half of the empire survive after the split - it held the empire’s centers of trade and
wealth, and its capital was well protected
Name the three main parts of government under the Roman republic – consuls, senate, and assembly
Why did the Roman emperors persecute Christians - they disobeyed Roman authority by refusing to
worship Roman gods
How did the Western Roman Empire fail - Over many years, Germanic and other invaders overran the
western half, which had been weakened by internal problems
What aspects of Roman culture influenced future civilizations – European languages might sound
different; legal systems might not place as much emphasis on personal rights
of the printing press so important – it made more information available not only to scholars but also to
ordinary people
What reasons did humanists give for wanting to reform society - they wanted people to live a Christian
life. To do so they had to give up greed, corruption, and war and provide education for women and
children
How did the availability of cheap books spread learning - more people could afford books and the ideas
could be shared with those who could not read. More information led to more discoveries; literacy
increased
Why did German rulers want to challenge the political power of the Church - resented distant control;
new ideas were weakening the Church
What practices of the Catholic Church in the 1500s might have disturbed ordinary churchgoers – Popes
pursued worldly affairs; some priests drank and gambled
Why was Martin Luther unhappy with the sale of indulgences - people thought that buying an
indulgence would get them into heaven
What caused Luther’s ideas to spread through Germany – his words were printed; his ideas allowed
people to think about and express their own dissatisfaction with the Church
What in Luther’s teachings inspired the peasants to revolt - Luther taught that people were free to make
their own decisions about religion. The peasants wanted more freedom
Why was Charles V unable to force the Protestant princes back into the Catholic Church even after
defeating them in war - Luther’s ideas were too strong; the abuses in the Catholic Church caused people
to lose faith
Why did Henry VIII need either a divorce or an annulment - to marry a woman who could give him a son
How did Elizabeth I deal with the question of religion - she returned England to Protestantism and
established a state church
What political, economic, and social factors helped bring about the Reformation - Political: rise of
competing states; rulers resented pope’s control. Economic: rulers jealous of Church’s wealth; merchants
resented paying Church taxes. Social: people questioned Church; printing presses spread ideas critical of
Church
Where did the term Protestantism come from - from German princes who protested
In what ways did Calvin’s leadership of the city of Geneva, Switzerland, demonstrate his religious beliefs
– sinful people need guidance, so everyone obeyed strict rules
What lasting influence did the Anabaptists have – Anabaptists beliefs influenced the Amish, Mennonites,
Quakers, and Baptists of today
How did Jesuit reforms help the Catholic Church keep its members from becoming Protestant - their
schools helped educate priests to do better work; students learned more about Catholic theology;
missionaries did good works and made converts
Why did the Catholic Church feel the need for reforms, and what did the church leaders do Protestantism was reducing Catholic membership; Church investigated corruption; supported Jesuits;
used Inquisition; called Council of Trent; created Index of Forbidden Books
What were the results of the Council of Trent – disregard for Christian humanism and liberal movements
within the Church; better educated Catholic bishops and clergy; clearly defined Catholic doctrine