Final Exam Study Guide

If you can write 6-minute responses to the following questions or statements, you should do well on the final.

1) China experienced a period of rebirth that was just as significant to world history as the European Renaissance. True / False. Discuss.

2) The Mongols created a significant civilization and should be given more credit for the role they played in Eurasian history.

3) What and where were the Silk, Sand and Sea Roads of the Classical Era? What roles and opportunities existed for Eurasian women along these roads?

4) Discuss the rise of Christianity and the shifting centers of power in the Roman Empire during the Classical Era.

5) Discuss the causes and extent of the Plague of 1348, and its role in bringing the Eurasian world into the Modern Era.

6) From a world historical point of view, the period from 500 AD to 1500 AD should be thought of as part of the Classical Era, rather than as a “post”-Classical, “late” Classical or Medieval period. The experiences of Islamic, Mongol, Chinese and Byzantine civilizations during this period illustrate why. Discuss.

In addition, you should be able to write our Timeline with the 5 major eras, and should be able to apply your knowledge of the Era bullets to your responses when appropriate.

Paleolithic

1) We evolved as Homo sapiens

2) We used basic (old) stone tools (lithic = stone)

3) Socially, we formed ourselves into moving bands of gatherer-hunters

4) We migrated out of Africa to other continents

Neolithic

1) We outcompeted all other species of Homo

2) We used advanced (new) stone tools for more complex purposes

3) We formed ourselves into small, settled agricultural communities

4) All continents except Antarctica inhabited by Homo sapiens

Ancient

1) Homo sapiens competed with each other for wealth, power, status à social hierarchy

2) We developed more sophisticated technologies, including writing

3) Agricultural surpluses à specialization à civilizations & city-states

4) Interaction between humans from different continents increases due to trade

Classical

1) Competition for dominance between civilizations

2) Unique thinkers develop the seminal ideas that still define us as peoples

3) Formation of complex Empires & cosmopolitan urban centers

4) Political units arise which straddle more than one continent

Modern

1) Capitalism intensifies competition within and among peoples

2) Industrial Revolution multiplies human productivity and output

3) Development of Colonial Empires and relationships

4) Western European civilization claims superiority over all others

Post-Modern?

1) Regulation of capitalism & cooperation among peoples

2) Environmental sustainability becomes a critical goal of technology

3) Government is increasingly global with emphasis on cooperation

4) Western European civilization recognizes co-equality of other peoples