Midterm Study Guide

Timeline
Please be prepared to draw our timeline so far, including date ranges from the Paleolithic through the Classical era and major developments associated with each era. You should spend no more than 15 minutes on this part of the midterm.


Short Answer
You will be asked to write short answers on 6 of the following topics. You should spend no more than 5 minutes on each short-answer response.

What is the significance of Strayer’s use of the term “gatherer-hunter”?

Strayer believes that Paleolithic human societies may have been more egalitarian than modern human societies. What does he mean by this? What evidence does he cite in support of his belief?

What was the significance of the development of agriculture?

What did it mean to be “civilized” to the Mesopotamians who created The Epic of Gilgamesh?

What is a city-state? How were city-states of the Ancient Era different from civilizations of the Ancient Era? Give at least one example.

What do we know about the ancient Indus Valley civilization? Why don’t we know more about it?

Compare and contrast the ancient civilizations of Norte Chico and the Olmecs.

Compare and contrast the ancient civilizations of China and the Indus Valley.

Compare and contrast the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Who were the Aegean Greeks? How were they different from the Classical Greeks?

What is humanism? Why do we still study it in the 21st century?

Define the Greek concept of hubris. Give at least one example.