Helpful Suggestions Or helpful hints for the Global

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 wife, elder brother and younger brother, and friend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 (1 st 2 parts/ 2 nd 3 parts) - Each response is worth 5 points for a total of 25 points

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