Praxis Ii Ancient History

Front 1

Prehistory & Early Civilizations

Back 1

-time of unwritten records
-knowledge of the time only evident through the existence of continued achievements
-brought:
~Basic achievements: wheel, alphabets, math, time measurements
~art and architecture
~alphabetic writing
~defined religion
~commonality and diversity

Front 2

Neolithic Revolution--10,000 B.C.E

Back 2

-developed agricultural societies
-rise in economic, political, and social organizations
-began in Middle East and spread into India, N. Africa, and Europe
-gave humans the ability to remain settled permanently

Front 3

Civilization--6,000 to 3,500 B.C.E

Back 3

-developed alongside major rivers for agricultural production ("river-valley")
-created basic set of tools
-introduced writing, math, and politics

Front 4

Tigris-Euphrates Civilization 3,500 B.C.E

Back 4

-originated in valley of Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia
-started from scratch with no model or examples (Sumerian people)
-created cuneiform (earliest form of writing)
-developed astronomical sciences, religious beliefs
-established political system with a king and organized the 'city states'
-improved agriculture through fertilizer
used silver to conduct trade and commercial trade
-developed procedures for law courts and property rights
-focused on a standard legal system

Front 5

Egyptian Civilization--3,000 B.C.E

Back 5

-emerged along Nile River in N. Africa
-modeled trade on Mesopotamia
-built impressive architectural structures (sphinx, pyramid)
-produced mathematical achievements
-ruled by pharaohs
-established effective government, defense, monetary, and transportation systems
-centralized the community to meet needs for citizens

Front 6

Indian and Chinese River Valley Civilization 2,500 B.C.E

Back 6

-developed along Indus River
-prospered in urban civilizations
-traded with Mesopotamia
-Developed well-defined alphabet and artistic forms
-Maintained and regulated irrigation system
-created advanced engineering and architectural technology
-developed impressive intellectual establishments
-constructed massive tombs and palaces
-invaded and destroyed by Indo-Europeans

Front 7

Classical Civilizations
3 that contributed to present day organization
Each civilization...

Back 7

-expanded trade and provided other influences to areas outside own borders
-re-evaluated and restructured key institutions upon the decline and fall of empires or rules, policies, and values
-created new and various religions
-increased agricultural options and opportunities
-extended the territories
-integrated the people and societies (social cohesion)

Front 8

Civilization of China (1028 BCE)

Back 8

-Longest lasting civilization and most influential
-Model for global trade
-3 dynastic cycles: Zhou, Qin, Han (all developed strong political institutions, created active economies and promoted central tax systems)

Political:
-system of tax collection
-mandatory labor services

Religion & Culture:
-Confucianism and Daoism
-ethics of acting with self-control, humility, respect
-encouraged arts
-developed accurate calendars

Economy & Society:
-three main social groups: upper class, laboring peasants, and unskilled workers
-excelled in technologies
-promoted trade as essential
-tight-knit family unit
-patriarchal society; arranged marriages

Front 9

Civilization of Greece/Rome (800 BCE)

Back 9

-Greece set up large expanding colonial and trading systems or webs
-Rome gained territory and power by acquiring lesser developed cultures

Political:
-aristocratic rule but democratic elements present
-formed democracy in Greece
-intense loyalty to state
-uniform legal principles

Religion & Culture:
-moderation and balance (Aristotle & Cicero)
-rational inquiry (Socrates)
-sculpture, architecture and plays (Greeks)
-geometry and anatomy (Greeks)
-greatest contribution to science --engineering (Romans)

Economy & Society:
-farming
-extensive trade by using a structure of slavery
-unified family structure
-patriarchal community, although women could own property

Front 10

Civilization of India (600 BCE)

Back 10

-Rule in India was sporadic and divided into widespread empires (invaders) to small kingdoms
-Mauryn and Gupta most successful dynasties
-Buddhism crossed cultures and became world religion

Political:
-diversity and regionalism
-caste system (social classes)
-variety of languages

Religion and Culture:
-Hinduism & Buddhism
-universities taught religion, medicine, & architecture
-excelled in science and mathematics
-developed concept of zero, Arabic numerals, and decimal system

Economy & Society:
-extensive internal and external trade practices
-patriarchal society (dominance over woman)
-emphasized family, group or government, not individuals
-social hierarchy (caste system)

Front 11

Mayans

Back 11

Astronomy, mathematics, elaborate written language system, architecture & art

Front 12

Mongolians

Back 12

Nomadic society with law code unification, strong military, but transmitted diseases across continents

Front 13

Muslim/Islam

Back 13

Islamic religion, chemistry advances, high-quality maps, influential arts and sciences

Front 14

Africa

Back 14

Stateless societies

Front 15

Inca

Back 15

Artistic pottery and clothing, metallurgy, architecture, irrigation, road systems, supreme military organization and agriculture