NAME: ______PERIOD: ______

Ancient Civilizations Chapter Four Reading Guide Ms. Cave

Essential
Understandings / Essential Questions: / Essential Knowledge:
Throughout history, states have used new ideas & new technology to control other groups of people.
The first large empires developed along the Nile, in southwest Asia, & in eastern China.
Empires facilitate trade, technologies & ideas. / How did Egypt & Nubia interact & strengthen each other at various times?
What led to rise & decline of Assyrian Empire?
How did Persia govern its empire?
What were the contributions of Classical China to world civilization?
Why were Confucianism, Daoism, & Buddhism important in the formation of Chinese culture? / Egyptian governors, priests, soldiers, & artists influenced Nubians.
Kush’s capital, Napata, was a center for the spread of Egyptian culture.
Kushite elites adopted & spread Egyptian customs, clothing, writing, language, religious rituals, & governing styles.
Assyrians gained power through military organization & iron weapons.
Persian kings used the Zoroastrianism to strengthen their authority. Persia ruled through tolerance of conquered peoples, development of an imperial bureaucracy, and a road system.
China was ruled by a succession of ruling families called dynasties.
Chinese rulers were consider divine but served under the Mandate of Heaven as long as their rule was just.
The Silk Roads facilitated trade and contact between China & other cultures.
Contributions of Classical : civil service system, paper, porcelain, silk.
Contributions of Confucianism:
Belief that humans are good, respect for elders, code of politeness, emphasis on education and ancestor worship

Section 1: pp. 86-94 Egyptian and Nubian Empires

I. Vocabulary: Be sure you understand the significance of the following terms:

Hyksos / Hatshepsut
Hebrews / Empire
Kamose / Kush
Meroe / New Kingdom Period
Nubia / Piankhi
Ramses II / Thutmose III

II. Chart: As you read about the Egyptian Empire, fill in the chart below w/ dates & achievements of the rulers listed.

Name of Ruler/Time of Reign / Achievements
Queen Ahhotep
Hatshepsut
Thutmose III
Ramses II
Libyan pharaohs
Piankhi

II. Answer:

1.  How did the New Kingdom of Egypt become so powerful and wealthy?

2.  What cultural aspects of Egyptian civilization did the Kushites adopt?

3.  Why was Kush able to thrive after losing Egypt to the Assyrians?

4.  How did trade help both Egypt and Nubia maintain their dominance in the Nile Region?

Section 2: pp. 95-98 Assyrian Empire

Vocabulary: Be sure you understand the significance of the following terms:

Ashurbanipal / Assyria
Chaldeans / Medes
Nineveh / Nebuchadnezzar
Sennacherib / theocracy

II. Answer:

1.  Why did the Assyrians develop into a great military power? Why did their power decline?

2.  What methods did the Assyrians use when they attacked enemy cities?

3.  What contributions to government administration and culture did the Assyrians make?

4.  Why might the Assyrian warrior kings have had such a great interest in writing and reading?

5.  In what ways were King Ashurbanipal and King Nebuchadnezzar similar?

Section 3: pp. 103 Persian Empire

I. Vocabulary: Be sure you understand the significance of the following terms:

Cambyses / Cyrus
Darius / Satrap
Royal Road / Zoroaster/Zoroastrianism

II. Answer:

1. Which of the differences between Cyrus and Darius do you consider the most important? Why?

2. What do the words that appeared on Cyrus’ tomb suggest about his character?

3. How did the Royal Road help Darius maintain control over his people?

4. What did Zoroaster teach? What events led to the development of Zoroastrianism?

Section 4 pp.104-109 The Unification of China

I. Vocabulary: Be sure you understand the significance of the following terms:

Autocracy / bureaucracy
Confucius/Confucianism / Daoism
Filial piety / I Ching
Legalism / Qin Dynasty
Shi Huangdi / Yin and Yang

II. Chart: As you read this section, take notes summarizing the basic ideas of the following Chinese philosophies.

1. Confucianism
Founder: / Ideas about Society: / Ideas about Government:
2. Daoism
Founder: / Ideas about order and harmony: / Ideas about a universal force:
3. Legalists
Founder: / Ideas about society: / Ideas about government:

Answer:

1.  How did Confucius believe that social order, harmony, and good government could be restored in China?

2.  What measures did Shi Huangdi take to crush political opposition at home?

Thesis: Write a thesis statement answering ONE of the following questions.

1.  Analyze the factors that led to the rise of religious and ethical systems in Persia and China.

2.  Compare and contrast the legacies of Cyrus and Sennacherib in terms of their ruling styles.

3.  Compare and contrast the Persian’s Royal Road with China’s Great Wall.

Example: The factors that led to the rise of …………………. were (1)…….., (2)……., (3)…….

Example: Although ______and ______were similar/different because ……………..,

they were more similar/different because …

Mapping: (p.87)

On the map, identify the following empires and create a key.

Egyptian Empire Nubia/Kush Empire Assyrian Empire Qin Dynasty

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