Sunday, November 30, 2014

History 105-04 Final Exam Review

Exam date/time:  Monday, December 8th; 6:00-8:00

Part I:

Chapters 6, 8, 10, 11

Format:  10 multiple choice questions (each worth 2 points); one essay response (choice of two questions):  30 points

Part II:  Cumulative essay question, 50 points


Review for Part I:

Chapter 6, The Americas

  • Geographic features of the Americas
  • Major characteristics, accomplishments, and comparisons of the
    • Maya
    • Aztecs/Mexica
    • Inka
  • Comparisons between cultures of north, central, and south America
Chapter 8, Africa
  • Geographic features of the various regions of Africa
  • Major characteristics of rural village/tribal societies
  • Identity and major characteristics of West African and East African kingdoms/city-states
  • Influence of the outside world upon areas of Africa--trade, Islam, and Christianity
Chapters 10 & 11:


  • The major aspects of the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties, including
    • Significant rulers
      • Sui Yangdi; Li Yuan; Tang Taizong; Xuanzong; Song Taizu
o   Achievements and polices
·         The grand canal; use of Confucianism/Neo-Confucianism; role of Buddhism; government structure, policies towards expansion and relations with nomadic peoples
·         Cultural and artistic achievements
·         Social characteristics

o   The early history of Japan
§  Chinese influence upon early Japanese political developments
§  Major characteristics of the Nara and Heian periods
§  Characteristics and significance of the Samurai class
§  The emergence and significance of the Shogunate system
§  Major characteristics of the Kamakura Shoganate and Ashikaga Shogunate

  • The Mongols:
    • Major characteristics of nomadic life
    • The life and rise of Temujin/Genghis Khan
    • Mongol military organization and way of war
    • The establishment and expansion of the Mongol empire, including chronology of the expansion, areas they conquered, the limits/boundaries of the empire
    • Characteristics/locations of the Khanates:  The Yuan Dynasty, the Il Khanate, the Golden Horde, and the Djagatai Empire
    • The impact of the Pax Mongolica on Asia and Europe
    • Reasons for Mongol Decline 
 Review for Part II
  • Review past study guides to familiarize yourself with the major topics/material
  • Focus on the development of civilization over the span of time we've studied and how it has changed over time and how it has remained constant:
    • Political
    • Economic
    • Religouis
    • Social
    • Intellectual
    • Artistic
  • Focus on interactions between different cultures and the impacts/influences of those interactions
  • Be able to provide multiple specific examples and explanations from multiple cultures and time periods representative of all that we have studied.


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Midterm #2 Review

Chapters:  Chapter 4 (from page 102), 5, 7, 9, 12, 13

Format:  20 multiple choice questions (2 points each--40 total points); 1 essay response (choice of two questions (60 points)

What you need to know:

Chapter 4:  Greece from the Persian Wars through Alexander the Great

  • The Persian Wars
    • Greek and Persian military practices
    • Causes of the wars
    • Chronology of events
    • Major battles and their significance
    • Important people
    • Aftermath of the wars and their significance

  • Macedonia, Alexander the Great, and the Hellenistic World
    • Aspects of Macedonian society (geography, political system, military, etc.)
    • Characteristics of Alexander
    • Major battles and their significance
    • The collapse of Alexander’s Empire and the successor states
    • Aspects of Hellenistic culture and its significance (science and technology; religion and philosophy)
Chapter 5, Rome

The Republic
  • Geography of Rome, including the geographic extent of the Roman Republic
  • The Etruscans and their impact on Rome
  • The establishment of the Republic and its system of government
    • The role of the Senate and the Magistrates (including the different types)
  • The organization, weapons, and tactics of the Roman Army

  • Causes, characteristics, outcome and significance of the Punic Wars

The transformation from Republic to Empire:
  • The impacts of Roman expansion
  • The major people during the Civil War period
    • The First Triumvirate
    • The Second Triumvirate

The Roman Empire:
  • Significance of Augustus Caesar
  • The Emperors of the Pax Romana
    • Significant emperors (i.e.—those discussed specifically in class)
  • Characteristics of Roman society and culture, including aspects of daily life and significant artistic, literary, and scientific achievements

The Final Centuries:
  • Problems of the 3rd century
  • Significance of Diocletian and his policies
  • Significance of Constantine
  • The origin and spread of early Christianity (from the first century to the 4th century)
    • The role of Rome in early Christianity
    • The impact of Christianity in Rome
  • The Barbarian migrations/invasions
    • Various groups
    • Aspects of barbarian culture
    • Impact on Rome
  • Causes of the fall/transformation of the western Roman Empire
Chapter 7:  Islam

  • The major aspects of Islam and the emergence of the Dar al-Islam:
    • Major characteristics of pre-Islamic Arabia
    • The life and significance of Muhammad, emphasizing his role as the prophet and leader of the Dumma
    • The major aspects of Islam, including the 5 pillars (you should know the Arabic terms)
    • The emergence of the Dar al-Islam after Muhammad, including the territory it covered
    • The division between Sunni and Shia
    • Major characteristics, similarities and differences between the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties
    • Major cultural, social, and artistic characteristics and accomplishments of the Dar al-Islam
Chapter 9:  India and South East Asia
  • Major political developments in India between 300-1300 C.E.
    • Gupta Dynasty
    • Sultanate of Delhi
    • Tamerlane
  • The relationships and changing influences of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam over the time period
  • Dynamics of Islam in India (religious and social impacts)
  • Relationship between religion and culture; Indian cultural achievements
  • Characteristics of South East Asian society and Indian/Islamic influence on the region

Chapters 12-13:  Byzantine Empire and Medieval Europe:

Byzantine Empire:
  • The major aspects of the Byzantine Empire from the reign of Justinian through the Macedonian Dynasty
    • Characteristics of Justinian’s reign and the major figures associated with him
    • The Byzantine Empire’s relationship with other regions (western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Dar al-Islam)
    • The institutions of the Byzantine Empire
      • The Church
      • Characteristics of the military:  cataphracts and Greek Fire
    • The emergence of the Orthodox Church
Medieval Europe:
  • Major historical people, events, and developments, including:
    • The transition from the Roman Empire to early Medieval Europe
    • King Clovis and the Merovingian Dynasty
    • Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours
    • The Carolingian Dynasty; Charlemagne; the Carolingian Empire and its fate
    • The Vikings and their significance
    • Anglo-Saxon Britain and the Norman Conquest
    • The Crusades—primarily the causes and major events of the 1st Crusade and the 3rd Crusade
    • Increase/changes in European intellectualism and economic development
    • The Great Schism, the Black Death, and the 100 Years War; significance of all three of these and their impacts on late medieval society