Regents Review Unit Summaries
- Primary Sources - examples: - Secondary Sources - examples: - Archaeology - - Anthropologists- - Artifacts - - Cartographer- - Geographer- - Unit One Methods of Social Studies
Unit Two Prehistoric Civilizations - Paleolithic Age Old Stone Age - Neolithic Age New Stone Age Neolithic Revolution - change (Development of agriculture and the Domestication of animals)
Unit Three Ancient River Valley Civilizations Early Civilizations - early governments either ruled by one individual ( absolute ruler) or a council of elders - traditional economy ( based on agriculture) - Polytheistic religion - Early system of writing - As they developed a surplus of food, began to specialize in other jobs ( Barter Economy- the exchange of goods) The four main early civilizations ( Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus River Valley Civilizations, China) developed along
(1) Egypt - located in North Africa - settled along - Polytheistic religion - Mummification - Egyptian ruler was known as a Pharaoh - System of writing known as Hieroglyphics - Built pyramids that served as tombs for the pharaohs and later for wealthy individuals - Queen Hatshepsut - Thutmose III ( expanded empire) - - Queen Cleopatra (last pharaoh) - Ramses II ( last great ruler) Important Individuals
(2) Mesopotamia - Land between two Rivers - Area located in the Middle East - Fertile Crescent region- - Constant warfare due to - First Civilization Sumerians - System of writing- Cuneiform ( wedge-shaped writing) Important Individuals - Hammurabi
(3) Indus River Valley - located in India along the Indus River Valley - Two main cities- - Monsoons-
(4) China - located along the Huang He or Yellow River - due to natural boundaries, - Isolated led to development of a unique culture - Middle Kingdom - Ethnocentrism- - Developed dynasties to rule China ( Tang and Song Dynasties) - Mandate of Heaven- - Development of the Silk Road- - opened up trade with the west. As a result, new Chinese goods moved West and Western goods flowed into China ( Resulted in Cultural Diffusion)
Unit 4 Classical Civilizations The two classical civilizations are; (1) (2) - Each had a strong, well-organized government and a prosperous economy - These civilizations took over vast amounts of land and other cultures.
(1) GREECE - collection of independent city states due to - Two most famous city-states; - Athens- Valued - Sparta- Valued - Trojan War- vs. - Peloponnesian Wars- vs. Important Individuals - Alexander the Great- - Socrates, Aristotle, Plato
(2) ROME - developed the form of government - most powerful governing body was - Patricians- - Plebeians - - Pax Romana- - Twelve Tables of Roman Law- - decline of the Roman Empire resulted in : Eastern Half: Byzantine Empire, Western Half: Middle Ages in Europe
Unit Five Beliefs Systems (1) Animism - belief system of early man - belief that every living and nonliving thing in nature has a spirit - polytheistic religion (2) Hinduism -belief system of India - polytheistic religion - Main belief: - (reincarnation) - beliefs rooted concept of karma and dharma - beliefs introduced caste system - Sacred Texts:
Caste System of India Brahmin (Priests) Kshatriyas (Warriors) Vaisyas (middle class) Sudras (servants/farmers) Untouchables (peasants)
Unit 5 Belief Systems ( Page 2) (3) Buddhism - Founder Siddhartha Gautama ( Buddha-Enlightened One) - Central Philosophy: - Code of Conduct: - accepts Hindus beliefs in reincarnation, karma, dharma - rejects Hindus - Sacred Text: Three Baskets of Wisdom ( collection of teachings) (4) Confucianism - Teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius - - Key Text:
(5) Taoism (Daoism Unit 5 Belief Systems ( Page 3) - Chinese Philosophy founded by Laozi - Central Belief: - Code of Conduct: - Balance between forces in natures ( yin and yang) - Sacred Text: The Way of Virtue (6) Legalism - Chinese Philosophy - - citizens should -
Unit 5 Belief Systems ( Page 4) (7) Judaism - monotheistic religion of the Hebrews - Code of Conduct: - Central Belief: - Sacred Text: - established the Kingdom of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital (8) Christianity - rooted in Judaism - Code of Conduct: - Central Belief: - Sacred Text:
Unit 5 Belief Systems ( Page 5) (9) Islam - based on the teachings of Muhammad ( prophet of Allah, or God) - monotheistic religion - Central Beliefs: - Sacred text: (10) Shintoism - Ancient Religion of Japan - polytheistic religion - -