WORLD HISTORY COURSE REVIEW STANDARDS 1-18

Ancient World
Where
When
Rulers
(names or type)

Trade
Writing

Religion

Mesopotamia
Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
Fertile Crescent
Begins about 3500
B.C.

Egypt
Nile River, Africa

India
Indus and Ganges
River Valleys

Begins about 3000

B.C.

Begins about 2500

B.C.

Kings over citystates, Hammurabi

Pharaohs who
were god-kings

Trade with
surrounding citystates
Cuneiform wedge
shaped characters
on clay tablets,
Hammurabis Code
first law
Polytheistic
bleak, no afterlife

Limited trade along

the Nile due to
isolation
Hieroglyphics on
papyrus and
monuments,
Rosetta Stone
translated
Polytheism with
complex afterlife,
mummification,
Book of the Dead

Kings under the

authority of
Brahmin priests
Trade across
northern India to
Mesopotamia
Pictographic
characters never
translated
(Harappa)
Aryans=Sanskrit
Development of
Hinduism

China
Huang He and
Yangtze River
Valleys
Begins about
2000 B.C.
Kings at the top of
the social order
Regional trade
due to isolation
Earliest writing on
oracle bones
Pictographic
Ancestor worship
and nature spirits,
Philosophy of
Confucianism

Who were the Phoenicians and what did they contribute to civilization? They were a people who lived
and traded in the eastern Mediterranean. They invented a simple alphabet that will become our
modern alphabet.
What is monotheism and which early religions practiced it? It is the belief in one god. The Hebrews
(later Jews) and people who practiced Zoroastrianism believe in one god.
What is the Mandate of Heaven and how did the Chinese use it to rule? It was a justification for the
ruling dynasties to be in power. When a new dynasty would come to power, they would claim that
they had a divine mandate to rule. This is part of the Dynastic Cycle.
What are the main beliefs of Hinduism? Hinduism has a strict social structure with no social
movement called the caste system. The Brahmin priests are at the top as representatives of the
head-god, Brahmin. They believe in karma, reincarnation, and moksha which is a release from the
cycle of death and rebirth and the attainment of spiritual perfection.
Who was the founder of Buddhism, what did he teach, and where did it spread? The founder is
Siddhartha Gautama and he taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path in order to end
suffering and reach nirvana, or enlightenment. Buddhism began in India and spread to China and
other parts of Asia.

Classical Civilizations
Greece
Government Polis (city-states), democracy in
Athens and military oligarchy in Sparta
Culture architecture, art, literature and
learning, philosophy, drama, culture spreads to
Rome
Philosophy Socrates (questioning), Plato
(philosopher kings in The Republic), Aristotle
(math and science, tutor of Alexander)
Byzantine
Location present day Turkey, capital
Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire,
continued until 1453 when conquered by
Ottoman Empire
Justinian most famous ruler, Justinians Code,
architecture, Roman culture, ruled with wife
Theodora

Rome
Government Republic with a senate, Julius
Caesar was dictator, then civil war and Empire,
Augustus was first emperor
Christianity began with the empire and spread
rapidly through Rome and all conquered lands,
first was persecuted then became state religion
Collapse over extension, dwindling resources,
loss of loyalty, corruption, economic problems,
barbarians
Mongols
Genghis Khan ruler who united the Mongol
clans into an empire across Asia and into
eastern Europe, harsh but tolerant, used
psychological warfare, split empire among sons
and grandson with his death
Kublai Khan ruled China as the Yuan Dynasty,
used foreign scholars to run government,
religiously tolerant

Orthodox Church Eastern Christian Church

that will spread to Russia, Great Schism of 1054
split the Christian Church, Catholics in the west
with pope
Who was Alexander the Great and what is his legacy? Explain the spread of Hellenism. He was the
king of Macedonia who will conquer most of the known world in the 300s B.C., from Greece to Egypt
and the Indus River Valley. Although he will die before he can rule, he spreads blended Greek,
Egyptian and Persian cultures (Hellenism) throughout the lands he conquers.
Who was Marco Polo and what was the result of his travels? He was a merchant trader who traveled
from Italy to China during the Middle Ages and served in Kublai Khans court. When he returns to
Italy, he will tell the stories of the East and spur Europeans desire to see and trade with China.

Empires, Expansion, and Conflict

Isla
m

How did Christianity spread? It spread throughout the Roman Empire as Jesus followers, notably, the
apostle Paul, spread the gospel which was readily accepted by Romes slaves and lower classes
since it gave them hope in the idea of eternal life.
Why did the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam split? The split was over who should lead Islam after
the death of Muhammed. The Shia believed the caliph needed to be someone who was related to
or descended from Muhammed and the Sunni (who was the majority) believed they did not.
What was the impact of the Crusades for Europe and the Islamic World? The Crusades was a series
of holy wars between Christianity and Islam. Both Europe and the Islamic world benefit from
exposure to the culture and ideas of the other. Trade will also be revived and the Europeans benefit
the most as they regain learning and knowledge from the ancient and classical world.
Draw and label the major trade routes on the map below.

Describe
the
manorial
system and
feudalism of the Middle Ages using the terms vassal and fief. Feudalism is a political and social
system based on the holding of land. The fief is the manor or estate of land. The king owns all the
land and distributes it to the nobles/lords who are his vassals. Those lords can also distribute land to
their vassals (lesser lords and knights). The knights are the knights protect the land for the lord.
Manorialism is the economic system of the fief. The manor is self-sufficient and the peasants and
serfs work the land for the lord.
Who was Charlemagne and what were his accomplishments? Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was
the Frankish king who unified the lands in what is now France and Western Europe. He was crowned
by the pope in 800. He conquered the Saxons, created laws, and promoted education and
Christianity.
How did towns and cities revive in the High Middle Ages? After the invasions of the early Middle Ages
ended, manor villages developed into towns and cities began to repopulate due to the revival of
trade.
Renaissance and Reformation
What was the Renaissance? It was a rebirth of art and learning that began in the 1300s with new
interest and rediscovery of Greek and Roman literature.
Why did the Renaissance begin in Florence? Florence was an independent city-state run by the
Medici family who had wealth to support the arts. Florence was on the Mediterranean trade routes
where new ideas would come in from the East.
What is humanism and who were the early humanist writers? It is the study of human achievement
and potential with a focus on the individual. Early writers included Petrarch, Dante, and Erasmus.
What is a Renaissance Man, who best represents the idea and why? It is a man who has knowledge
and expertise in many different fields. Leonardo da Vinci best represents the idea because he was
an artist, scientist, and inventor.
What were Martin Luthers beliefs on religion and how did his thinking lead to the Protestant
Reformation? He posted his 95 Theses condemning the selling of indulgences and the corruption of
the Catholic Church. He believed in salvation by grace and faith (justification) and which went
against the teachings of the Catholic Church. This caused a permanent split and resulted in many
new Christian denominations.

How did John Calvin contribute to the Reformation? Calvin followed Luthers ideas, but also taught
predestination, believing that God knows in advance who will accept salvation. He is the founder of
the Calvinist Church (Reform, Huguenots, Presbyterians)
Who invented the printing press and why was it important during the
Renaissance and Reformation? Johann Gutenberg used the Chinese
idea of moveable type to create the printing press. With mass printing,
literacy improved and new cultural and religious ideas will spread
rapidly leading to a new emphasis on education and political change.

Why did Henry VIII begin the Protestant Reformation in England? The
reformation in England began because Henry wanted a divorce from
his wife Catherine to marry Ann Boleyn. He wanted a male heir to secure the throne. So, the
reformation in England began for political reasons instead of religious reasons.
How did Elizabeth I continue the change in the Anglican Church? Elizabeth ended the violence
between the Catholics and Protestants by unifying all aspects of the protestant church.
How did the Catholic Church respond to the Reformation and what did they decide at the Council of
Trent? The Catholic Church held a series of councils to address the issues of reform. At the Council
of Trent, they reaffirmed Catholic doctrine, corrected the abuses of indulgences, refocused on
education for the priests, and confirmed the Jesuits.
The Age of Discovery
Who were the Bantu people in Africa? They were a language group that lived in West Africa. They
migrated throughout central and south Africa when their population numbers grew large. They took
their language, culture, and knowledge of farming and iron work with them when they moved,
influencing other African peoples.
What were the products of the Trans-Saharan trade routes? The main products were salt and gold.
Who was Mansa Musa? He was the ruler of the empire of Mali in West Africa. He was a Muslim and
spread his vast wealth throughout North Africa when he went on the hajj.
The Americas

Olmec

Maya

Aztec

Inca

Time and Location

Yucatan Peninsula
about 1200 B.C.

Yucatan Peninsula
about 1000 C.E.

Central Mexico
about 1200 C.E.

Political Structure

Ruled by kings

City-states with kings

Peru and Andes

Mountains
about 1100 C.E.
Empire ruled by
kings at top of the
social structure

Farming, trade

Farming, trade

Large stone heads

(sculptures)
mother civilization

Ball-game, calendar,
glyphs,
Pyramids, Popol Vuh

Economy
Cultural
Achievements

Empire ruled by
kings and allied
and conquered
surrounding
groups
Farming, trade,
spoils of war
Calendar, art,
pyramids,
chinampas

Farming, trade,
gold from
mountains
Bridges, mountain
roads, terraced
farming, quipu

Religion

Polytheism,
feathered serpent

Polytheism, blood
sacrifice

Polytheism, sun
god, human
sacrifice

Polytheism,
mummification

What were the reasons for European exploration of the New World? God, Gold, and Glory. The
Europeans were looking for trade routes to the east (China and India) that bypassed the Ottoman
Empires control of the eastern Mediterranean. Missionaries traveled with explorers to spread
Christianity.
List the area explored and main achievement by the following:
Christopher Columbus New World, Bahamas
Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa
Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the world
James Cook Polynesia, Hawaii
What was the Columbian Exchange and what was its impact on
the
Old World and the New World? It was a biological exchange of plants, animals, and diseases. The
Old World (Europe) gained new foods such as potatoes and corn. The New World saw much of their
population die as a result of European diseases such as measles and small pox. Due to the loss of
native population, Europeans turned to the African Slave Trade to fill the labor need. The Middle
Passage was the transport of Africans to the Americas by ship under the worst conditions.
Enlightenment and Revolutions
Scientific Contributions
How did the work of these
individuals change the world-view
of science? The old view of science
was based on the works of ancient
Greeks and Romans. The Scientific
Revolution led to a new view
through the use of the scientific
method, observation, and applying
logic and reason to the physical
world.

heliocentric theory: sun is at the center of

the universe
in confict with the Catholic Church

Copernic
us
Kepler

laws of planetary motion, the planets move

in elliptical orbits
mathematical tables

Galileo

telescope and observations proved the

heliocentric theory and many other
advances
put on trial by the Catholic Church

What did Isaac Newton contribute

to the Scientific Revolution?
Newton was the founder of the
Laws of Motion and the universal law of gravitation.
How did the Scientific Revolution contribute to the Enlightenment? The application of logic and
reason to problem solving of the physical world was applied to the political and social world.
Define the Age of Enlightenment? What was this time period about? The Enlightenment is an age of
reason, where logic, reason, and the ideas of an ordered universe are applied to humanity. It is a
new age of thinking regarding politics, religion, and the economy.

What did Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau have in common regarding Enlightenment thought? All three
of these Enlightenment philosophers believed that people should be able to choose their religion and
their ruler, that government answers to the people.

Compare and Contrast the following political revolutions.

England
United States
Dates of
1688
1775
Revolution
Main Causes
James II was
Taxation, lack of
Catholic and had
representation in
a son renewing
Parliament,
religious conflict
Enlightenment
Important
Individuals

James II
William and Mary

George
Washington, John
Adams, Thomas
Jefferson

Important Facts

Glorious
Revolution,
Bloodless
Revolution

Results

Bill of Rights,
constitutional
monarchy

Continental
Congress, Boston
Tea Party,
Concord and
Lexington,
Saratoga,
Yorktown
U.S.
independence,
Constitution and
Bill of Rights

France
1789
Weak monarchy,
poor harvest,
heavy taxation of
the poor,
Enlightenment
Louis XVI, Marie
Antoinette,
Robespierre,
Napoleon
Estates General,
Bastille,
Committee of
Public Safety,
guillotine,
Legislative
Assembly
Extreme violence,
war with Europe,
rise of Napoleon
as an emperor
and conqueror

Industry, Imperialism and World War I

What is the Industrial Revolution and when did it begin? It is the shift from
producing goods by hand to producing goods by machine. It began in
England in the mid-1700s.
Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in England? England had all of
the required elements for industry to begin. It had a stable political and
economic climate, natural resources such as coal and iron, water for
power, and a labor force.
Draw lines to match the inventions or contribution to the inventor.

Latin America
1820s and 1830s
Colonial
treatment,
taxation,
Enlightenment
Toussaint
LOverture, Simon
Bolivar, Jose de
San Martin,
Hidalgo
Hatian Revolution
(slave revolt),
Mexican
independence,
South American
independence
South America
divided into
regional states,
dictatorships,
Brazil kept a
monarchy

John Kay

cotton gin

Richard Arkwright

steam engine

Robert Fulton

flying shuttle

Eli Whitney

water frame

James Watt

steam boat

How did the invention of the locomotive change society during the Industrial Revolution? The
invention of the railroad helped the Industrial Revolution grow. People and goods could now move
faster and more efficiently. Food was fresher getting to markets. Resources for manufacture moved
faster and finished goods became more widely available.
What were the working and living conditions in urban areas during this time? The population of the
cities grew faster than the infrastructure as people migrated from the country to the factories for jobs.
As a result, the cities were crowded, lacked sanitation and adequate housing, and crime, disease,
and pollution were major problems.
How did the work of Karl Marx offer an alternative to political and economic thinking during the
Industrial Revolution? New types of economic systems were put out as alternatives to counter the
problems of the Industrial Revolution. Karl Marx took the ideas of socialism and expanded them to
become communism with the idea that a classless society and government controlled industry and
distribution would solve the problems of poverty. This is in contrast to Adam Smith who promoted
capitalism or a free market economy.
What is nationalism and what did it lead to in Germany in the late 1800s? Nationalism is loyalty to a
nation. It is the belief that the state is of extreme importance. In nationalism, the people usually share
a culture, language, heritage, and beliefs. It was a driving force in the 1800s that lead to the
unification of Prussia and other German speaking states into a powerful German Empire.
Who was Ieyasu Tokugawa and what were his policies in Japan? Tokugawa was a warlord who will
unify Japan and become the Shogun in the 1600s. He cut off trade with Europe except for the Dutch
and forced Japanese Christians to return to Shintoism or be crucified.
How did Japan change during the Meiji Era, after the arrival of Matthew Perry? Japan was forced to
open its doors to the west with Perrys arrival in 1853. This will mark the beginning of Japans western
modernization and industrialization.
What did the Opium Wars, Taiping Rebellion and Boxer Rebellion in China have in common? These
events were all attempts to protest or end foreign and imperial involvement in China. Chinas last
dynasty, the Qing, was corrupt. The Confucian examination system was still in place. China was
forced to open its doors to the West with the Taiping Rebellion and the Opium Wars. The Boxer
Rebellion was an attempt to get the West to withdraw.
What is imperialism and what did European countries want with Africa and Asia? Imperialism is the
control and domination of a foreign power over a country through diplomacy or military force.
European countries wanted natural resources and markets for finished industrial goods. Colonies
were a symbol of a nations wealth and power.

What was the Berlin Conference and how did it impact Africa? The Berlin Conference was a meeting
of the major European powers over the division of Africa into colonies. Africans did not participate in
the conference and were not represented. Colonial boundaries will cause ethnic conflict and violence
in the post-colonial world.

World War I
Long Term Causes
Immediate Cause
Western Front
Technology
Treaty of Versailles
Russian Revolution
(causes and result)

MAIN: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the AustroHungarian throne
trench warfare along the French/German border
stalemate, large loss of life to gain very little ground
no-mans land
poisonous gas, tanks, airplanes, machine guns, flame-throwers,
u-boats (submarines), tracer bullets
Germany takes full blame for the war, loses land and resources, high
reparations, League of Nations US does not join. The treaty does
NOT resolve the issues and sets up circumstances for WWII
weak ruler in Nicholas II, oppressive monarchy, WWI losses, early
industrialization, influence of Rasputin, failing economy, Bolshevik
following under Lenin Russia becomes the communist USSR with the
1917 Revolution. Stalin will come to power after Lenins death. The
NEP and the Five Year Plans will be put in place to boost the economy
and industrialize the Soviet Union.

The Rise of Dictators and World War II

Write a paragraph explaining
and describing the Holocaust.
Mussolin
i

Hitler

The Jews in Germany were

isolated and persecuted in
Hitlers Nazi regime. Their
businesses were destroyed
and they lost all of their legal
and civil rights. Many were
murdered by the Nazis. Over
time they were sent to
concentration camps where
they were worked and starved
to death. Hitlers Final

What were the main causes of World War II? The failure of the Treaty of Versailles and global
depression led to the rise of fascist dictators in Europe, especially under Adolf Hitler. Hitler will

remilitarize Germany and invade Europe, taking the Sudetenland, Austria and finally Poland to start
the war.
Why did the United States enter the war? After cutting off important trade due to Japans
aggressiveness in Asia, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor bringing the U.S. into the war.
What were some of the major battles in Europe and Asia? Europe: Battle of Britain, Stalingrad,
Normandy (D-Day), Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Coral Sea
How did the war end in Europe? in Asia? The war ended in Europe when the Allied forces took Berlin
and Hitler committed suicide. The war ended in Asia when the United States dropped atomic bombs
on Japan leading to their surrender.