Western Civ Essay Questions

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Question 1: 1.

Explain

how “culture” is a defining trait of human beings and how it contributes to our

multi-characteristic definition of civilization.

Culture-The ways of living built up by a group and passed on from one generation to another

-includes behavior such as courtship tools, shelter, ideas, and beliefs

-Language as well as writing help us pass these ideas on between generations

-Since culture is learned and not inherited, it permits rapid adaptation it makes possible the spread of humanity

The Five Characteristics of Civilization

Long Distance Trade

Technological Adaptation

Social Complexity

Symbolic Communication

Urbanism

Question 2: What

caused the primary changes between the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages and what

evidence do we have for these changes?

Paleolithic Age-The earliest period when stone tools were used from about 1,000,000-10,000 BCE. Means "old stone"

-people were hunters, fishers, and gatherers but did not produce food

-women were gatherers and eventually discovered how to cultivate seeds

-Leads to Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Age-The shift 10,000 years ago from hunter gatherer societies to settled communities of farmers and artisans. Means "New Stone"

-larger population growth which also led to faster technological change

-settled villages that grew around farms

Evidence of Changes

Anthropologists use different materials to make tools to categorize history into different periods. Neolithic Villages also tended to be the same size and were self sufficient. Differences in Jericho(big wall) and Catal Huyuk(diversified agriculture) show some difference in early settlements. They may have been more complicated than previously thought.

Question 3-How

did the Egyptian view of their religion (both during daily life and in the afterlife)

compare / contrast from that of the Mesopotamians?

Egyptian Religion

-Polytheistic

-gods were often combined with each other and were often part animal and part human

-Bodies were mummified and buried with wealth so that the deceased could enjoy it in the afterlife(ex. King Tut)

-depended on spells in the "Book of the Dead" to navigate the dangerous underworld

-wanted to join Osiris in "Boat of Millions"

-solar cults developed because of lack of rain

Mesopotamian Religion

-Polytheistic

-took the forms of humans but differed in power and life span

-gods would dwell in the temples of cities

-grim view of the after life, everyone died and lived in equal misery

-divination played a strong role and it was believed that the gods would reveal a person's destiny if they understood certain omens

Question 4- How

did the history of the Israelites contribute to the development of their

religious beliefs and the establishment of ethical monotheism as the dominant

“style” of religion found in the world today.

Ethical Monotheism

-country or group of people follows one religion which guides their ethics

-ethics are a set of moral codes which dictate what is right and wrong.

The History of the Israelites

The founding of the Covenant between Moses and God allows for worship anytime and anywhere.

-God created and sustains the world and has a plan for the people (his laws)

-If everyone follows these beliefs it leads to a nation without borders.

-the Jews became suffering servants and hoped to provide an example for other groups

Question 5- Choose two Greek philosophers and explain their opinion IN DETAIL on the world in which they lived. How did they play a role in the intellectual revolution that started in the 6th Century BCE?

-The three major Greek philosophers believed that the polis was in trouble in needed to be saved.

Socrates

-wanted to understand human affairs and believed reason could reveal them

-cross examined other Greeks

-professed ignorance and did not accept pay for his teachings

-wanted others to seek "the greatest improvement of the soul."

-did not support democracy as it relied on ignorant amateurs

-was put to death and refused to escape because he believed that the polis was more significant than himself

Plato

-believed that the polis was in accord with nature and that one of it's main objectives was to produce good people.

-founded the Academy in 386 BCE to train statesmen and citizens

-believed that a properly trained philosopher king should rule

Aristotle

-student of Plato who tutored Alexander the Great

-founded the Lyceum in 336 BCE

-studied a wide range of subjects from physics to politics

-recognized the purpose of things by observing their behavior in the world

-emphasized moderation and common sense

-believed that the purpose of the polis was moral. To live a life "for the sake of moral actions" and a life of virtue and morality.

-wanted the polis to combine justice with stability

-believed that the middle class was optimal because they were free of the "arrogance of the rich and the malice of the poor"

Question 6- Describe the role of Alexander the Great in history and his impact on creating a Hellenistic world.

Alexander the Great certainly held a pivotal role in the formation of the Hellenistic world whether he meant to or not.

The Accomplishments of Alexander the Great

-unified Greece

-conquered the Persian Empire

-became Pharoah

-plundered Persepolis

-defeated Darius III

-founded many cities after himself

-reached all the way to the edges of the Indus Valley

-unified Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Asian cultures

This resulted in an AMALGAMATION of different cultures.

Essentially unifying much of the Ancient world, this bridge of cultures led to many achievements in philosophy, and science.

As Alexander traveled and conquered new territories, he spread Greek culture with him to those he conquered.

Whether or not he had a large ego does not matter. Regardless, Alexander was instrumental in spreading Greek Culture and ideas throughout much of the ancient world.