History Ch 2 study guide

What role did geography play in the development of India?

Diversity is also apparent in India's geography. The Indian subcontinent, shaped like a triangle hanging from the southern ridge of Asia, is composed of a number of core regions, including mountain ranges, river valleys, a dry interior plateau, and fertile coastal plains.In the far north are the Himalaya, the highest mountains in the world. Directly south of the Himalaya is the rich valley of the Ganges (GAN • jeez) River, one of the chief regions of Indian culture. To the west is the Indus River valley, a relatively dry plateau that forms the backbone of the modern state of Pakistan. In ancient times, the Indus Valley enjoyed a more moderate climate and served as the cradle of Indian civilization. South of India's two major river valleys—the valleys of the Ganges and the Indus—lies the Deccan Plateau, which extends from the Ganges Valley to the southern tip of India. The interior of the plateau is relatively hilly and dry. India's eastern and western coasts are lush plains. These plains have historically been among the most densely populated regions of India. Indian farmers have depended on the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoons. If the rains come early or late, or too much or too little rain falls, crops are destroyed and thousands starve.

What effect did the early Chinese belief in the supernatural have on Chinese culture?

It affected how the people lived because they didn't want to make the gods mad.

How advanced were the peoples of the Indus river valley?

At its height, Harappa had 35,000 inhabitants; Mohenjo Daro had about 35,000 to 40,000. Both cities were carefully planned. The broad main streets ran in a north-south direction and were crossed by smaller east-west roads. Houses varied in size, some as high as three stories, but all followed the same plan—a square courtyard surrounded by rooms. Public wells provided a regular supply of water for all the inhabitants. Bathrooms featured an advanced drainage system. Wastewater flowed out to drains located under the streets and then was carried to sewage pits beyond the city walls.

What characterized China under the Shang dynasty?

China under the Shang dynasty (about 1750 b.c. to 1045 b.c.) was mostly a farming society ruled by an aristocracy whose major concern was war. An aristocracy is an upper class whose wealth is land-based and who passes power from one generation to the next.

How was Egyptian society organized?

It was organized by Pharaoh, then priests and nobles then , merchants, artisans, scribes and tax collectors, and finally peasants.

Why and how did India's culture change after 1500 BC?

Many historians explain this shift as the result of a foreign migration. From around 1500 b.c. to 1000 b.c., the Aryan peoples gradually advanced eastward from the Indus Valley, across the fertile plain of the Ganges, and later southward into the Deccan Plateau. Eventually they extended their political control throughout India. The ongoing migrations and interaction between the Aryans and the Dravidians—descendants of the Indus Valley people—resulted in a new culture. In the process of settling in India, the Aryans gave up their nomadic lifestyle for farming. The introduction of iron—probably from Southwest Asia, where it had first been used by the Hittites—played a role in this change. The creation of the iron plow, along with the use of irrigation, made it possible for farmers to clear the dense jungle growth along the Ganges River and turn it into rich farmland.

What was the influence of nomadic peoples on civilized societies?

On the fringes of the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt lived nomadic peoples who depended on hunting and gathering, herding, and sometimes farming for their survival. Most important were the pastoral nomads who on occasion overran settled communities and then created empires. Pastoral nomads domesticated animals for food and clothing.

What were the cultural and economic accomplishments of the Phoenicians?

Phoenician culture is best known for its alphabet. The Phoenicians, who spoke a Semitic language, simplified their writing by using 22 different signs to represent the sounds of their speech. These 22 characters, or letters, could be used to spell out all the words in the Phoenician language. The Phoenicians built ships and became great international sea traders, eventually creating a trade empire. The Phoenicians charted new routes not only in the Mediterranean but also in the Atlantic Ocean, where they reached Britain and sailed south along the west coast of Africa. They set up a number of colonies in the western Mediterranean. Carthage, on the North African coast, was their most famous colony.

How did the Minoans interact with other ancient civilizations?

The Minoans were not Greek, but they influenced the peoples of the Greek mainland. They traded finely crafted pottery and gold and silver jewelry from Crete for other goods. Trade also helped the Minoans improve the goods they produced: they drew inspiration from techniques and designs from objects from other lands.

What was the significance of geography on the development of Egypt?

The Nile River played an important role in Egyptian civilization.The Nile River begins in the heart of Africa and courses northward for more than 4,000 miles (6,436 km). It is the longest river in the world. Before it empties into the Mediterranean, the Nile splits into two major branches. This split forms a triangular territory called a delta. The Nile Delta region is called Lower Egypt; the land upstream, to the south, is called Upper Egypt. Egypt's natural barriers provided protection from invasion and a sense of security. These barriers included the deserts to the west and east; the Red Sea to the east; the cataracts, or rapids, on the southern part of the Nile; and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.

What characterized the divisions in the first two periods in Egypt's history?

The Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom. These were periods of long-term stability marked by strong leadership, freedom from invasion, great building projects, and rich cultural activity. In between were the Intermediate periods, times of political disorder and invasion.

How did China's physical geography influence the development of civilization?

The diversity of its people reflects the diversity of its land and climate. The Huang He (HWAHNG • HUH), or Yellow River, stretches across China for more than 2,900 miles (4,666 km), carrying its rich yellow silt from Mongolia to the Pacific Ocean. The Chang Jiang (CHANG • JIANG), or Yangtze River, is longer, flowing for about 3,400 miles (5,470 km) across central China before emptying into the Yellow Sea. The cultivated valleys of these rivers emerged as one of the great food-producing areas of antiquity. China is not just a land of fertile fields. Only 10 percent of the total land area is suitable for farming, compared with 19 percent of the United States. Much of the rest of the land in China consists of mountains and deserts on its northern and western frontiers. This forbidding landscape is a dominant feature of Chinese life and has played an important role in Chinese history. Geographical barriers—mountains and deserts—isolated the Chinese people from peoples in other parts of Asia.

How did the Mandate of Heaven justify a change in rulers?

The king was the link between Heaven and Earth. Thus, the king ruled by a mandate, or authority to command, from Heaven. The concept of the heavenly mandate became a basic principle of Chinese government. The king, who was chosen to rule because of his talent and virtue, was then responsible for ruling the people with goodness and efficiency. He was expected to rule according to the proper Way, called the Dao (DOW). It was the Zhou king's duty to keep the gods pleased to protect the people from natural disaster.

What contributed to the success and longevity of Zhou rule?

The rule from the Mandate of Heaven.