Download Study Guide For the Final Exam

HI101 – Western Civilization I –Fall 2014
Study Guide For the Final Exam
Exam Times:
1:00PM Section – Monday, December 8, 8:00AM-10:00AM
2:00PM Section – Wednesday, December 10, 8:00AM-10:00AM
3:00PM Section– Thursday, December 11, 3:00-5:00
Format of the Test:
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Short Answer Identification – choose 4 out of 8 options (40%)
Essay Question – choose 1 out of 3 options (60%)
Short Answer Identification: In this section, you will choose four out of eight
different concepts, ideas, individuals, or events, and briefly write (two or three full
paragraphs) about them. Describe the item, its significance, and the time period in it
is associated with.
Essay Question: In this section, you will choose one of three essay question options.
Each essay option will ask you to address a particular aspect of Western Civilization
and examine how that feature has evolved over time. In composing your essay, be
sure to use a comparative approach and discuss topics from multiple lectures. An
essay focused solely on a single lecture/topic, no matter how finely written, will not
meet the objective of the essay question.
Big Topics for the Essay Question:
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The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire
The Emergence and Evolution of Christianity
Medieval Culture and Society
Studying for the Exam:
A variety of sources can help prepare for the exam. Your class notes should be the
primary source you consult, either taken on your own or drawn from the Key
Terms posted online (one tip is to print out blank copies of the Key Terms and see
if you can fill them in from memory). Your textbook is helpful in providing
information when you might be uncertain about the features of particular period.
Also, the sources used for the quizzes are also valuable in illustrating the topics
we’ve discussed. Use all three in preparing for the exam and you should be in a
position to do well.
Questions To Consider For Each Civilization:
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The Romans: Empire During The Pax Romana
o What factors led to the collapse of the Roman Republic? Which
individuals and alliances played a part in the Republic’s demise? How was
the Roman Empire ruled by Augustus and his successors? What
contributions did the Roman Empire give Western Civilization during the
Pax Romana?
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The Hebrews
o What makes the religion of the Hebrew people distinctive? How does the
commitment of the Hebrew people to their religion shape their society?
What challenges confront the Hebrews over the centuries, and how does
the Hebrew identity and religion survive?
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The Rise and Spread of Christianity
o Within what political and social contexts did Christianity emerge? What
individuals exerted influence over the spread and structure of Christianity?
How did the Roman Empire become Christianized, and how did
Christianity become Romanized?
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The Romans: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
o What factors led to the collapse of the Roman Empire? How did the
Romans seek to halt this collapse? What groups challenged Rome’s
power? How did the Roman Empire live on even after Rome’s fall?
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Early Medieval World: The New European Kingdoms
o What new kingdoms emerged in the wake of the collapse of the Roman
Empire? What political, religious, cultural, and social characteristics made
these kingdoms unique? How did these new kingdoms contribute to
Western Civilization?
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Serfdom, Feudalism, the Church, and Structure of Medieval Life
o What states emerged in the wake of Charlemagne’s reign? What
characteristics made up the feudal system? How did social arrangements
and customs made up the fabric of medieval life? What role did the
Catholic Church have in medieval society?
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The Crusades
o What inspired the Crusades, and what were the results of the First
Crusade? What leaders and events were associated with the various
Crusades we discussed? What impact the Crusades have in the Middle
East and Europe?
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The High Middle Ages and the Renaissance
o What cultural accomplishments emerged from the High Middle Ages and
Renaissance? What social, economic, and military crises characterized the late
Medieval period? How did these periods presage a transition in the course of
Western Civilization?
If you have a question regarding the exam, please feel free to contact me at
[email protected]
Remember! Bring several pens or pencils for the test!