AP World History

1
Chapter 1

• AP World History

2
Define civilization

• Comes from the Latin word for city
• Formal states, writing, cities, and monuments all
  characterize civilizations.
• Civilizations also exhibit elaborate trading
  patterns and extensive political territories.
• Each civilization throughout history has had its
  own way of looking at itself and others.

3
Compare the river valley civilizations

• All river valley civilizations had concepts of
  leadership and other basic social structures.
• All had religions and a writing system.
• Differences include their emphasis on religion
  and technology, and their interest in the wider
  world.

4
Describe what enabled civilizations to develop

• The rise of agriculture during the Neolithic
  revolution also gave rise to food production. As
  a result, the population grew and so did the rise
  of cities.

5
Identify the characteristics that are critical
for a society to become a civilization

• Crop surpluses, a non-farming elite class,
  international trade, a middle class, and reliance
  on agriculture are critical for a society to
  become a civilization.

6
Compare the drawbacks of non-civilized societies
with civilized societies

• One drawback to a civilization is, because of the
  heavy reliance on sedentary agriculture, the
  inability to adapt quickly to drought or flood.
• Civilizations form political organizations that
  members become reliant upon.

7
Compare the advantages of an agriculturally based
society with a hunter-gatherer society

• An agriculturally based society has more
  stability and opportunity for growth than a
  hunter-gatherer society.
• Food becomes more readily available, which allows
  time for growth of the society beyond simple food
  collection and distribution.

8
Evaluate the significance of Jewish monotheism in
the religious history of early civilization

• By portraying God as less human and giving him
  more abstract qualities, Jewish monotheism
  provided a basic change in religion.
• Also, the Jewish God, contrary to the whimsical
  and capricious gods of Mesopotamia, was orderly
  and just, and religion became the center of life.

9
Last question

• Compare the main features of Egyptian and
  Mesopotamian civilizations. What did the two
  civilizations have in common as early
  civilizations? What were their main differences
  in values and organizations?

10
Last Answer

• Both Egypt and Mesopotamia emphasized social
  stratification, made findings in astronomy and
  mathematics, and were resistant to change.
• However, Egypt was, in overall tone, more
  cheerful than Mesopotamia in regards to religious
  beliefs and art.
• Mesopotamias economy was focused more on
  technological advancements, while Egypt was more
  agrarian.
• Women enjoyed higher status in Egypt than in
  Mesopotamia.