World Studies Semester 1 Study Guide
Unit 1 essential Questions and topics to consider:
How do biological climate, and Geographic features influence human behavior?
A: Examine both readings given and notes taken, including that of the Human Family Tree film presented during the beginning of the school year.
Why is Studying Geography Important?
A: What are the different types of maps? B: What do the markings on maps tell us? C: Know how to use maps to make inferences, interpret data, etc.
What methods do social scientists employ in their investigation of the past and present?
A: Seven levels of analysis. B: Studying existing groups of people whose lifestyle resembles those of human beings in the past. C: archaeology and carbon dating. D: Myths.
What is a civilization?
A: Neolithic Revolution and reasons why it occurred. Was it mankind’s greatest achievement or biggest mistake? Did it even occur (e.g. Çatalhöyük, Turkey)? B: Who are the Neanderthals? Why might the Neanderthals have gone extinct and the Homo Sapiens survived? (when ideas have sex, and the other articles pertaining to the Neanderthals. C: Characteristics of a Civilization. D: Know Mesopotamian and Egyptian geographical features and why these features allowed these civilizations to thrive.) E: Explain what Mesopotamian and Egyptian features fell under each of the characteristics of Civilization.
How did religions of the world emerge?
A: In what place did the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity and Islam originate? B: Also, what person/people founded these religions? C: What are the basic beliefs of these religions? D: Where are these religions currently practiced?
What social issues did religion address?
A: Do these religions address issues of compassion, poverty, justice, etc.? What similarities and differences to these religions have?
What is the relationship between religion and culture?
A: What are the purposes of myths? B: How are cultural ideas and ways incorporated into the aforementioned religions? C: How do the places of worship and the art within the religion reflect the religion and culture it is found in?
What makes a source credible?
A: What is the difference between a primary and secondary source? B: What are the factors contribute to source credibility and what factors contribute to source bias. C: How do we identify source Bias and why is bias important to know? D: Why is it important to site your sources?
Unit 2 essential Questions and topics to consider:
To what extent have the peoples South and East Asia been able to adapt to their climate and geology?
A: What are the cultural values of Japan and how has Japan’s geographical features influenced its cultural values
How has Geography, religion, and philosophical ideas spread over Asia and influenced the various cultures in Asia?
A: Know how the geography of Japan (mountains, ocean, natural disasters, etc.) has influenced its culture throughout the ages. B: Know how geography has influenced other regions in Asia, such as Mountains protecting North Korea from outsiders, etc. C: Be able to explain how Buddhism spread throughout Asia. D. Explain and identify how Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism have influenced various Asian nations (China, Japan, North Korea)
How has the legacy of colonialism affected the peoples of Asia?
A: Know in detail and order the stories of imperialism that took place in China, India, and Japan. Know the bolded vocabulary and order of events. B: Explain the boxer rebellion and communist revolution for China. C: How has colonialism affected attitudes in some Asian countries toward foreigners? D: Name and identify the factors that led to Japanese ideas that ultimately led to Japanese in WWII. Explain and identify Japanese stated intentions for colonizing vast parts of Asian and the reality of Japanese behavior in WWII. Lastly, explain and identify how colonialism, Japanese aggression, and Chinese ideals, may have played a role in shaping present day North Korea.
What are the issues for Asia today?
A: Identify contemporary issues for Asian nations today and explain their history and current state, e.g. Tibet, the Uighurs, North Korea, the Japanese Tsunami, etc.
How have the political ideas of Asian nations in the past apply to the present?
A: How have Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and Legalism influenced policies and cultural ideas in contemporary China? B: How have Chinese ideas from the past surfaced in present policies toward Tibet, the Uighurs, etc. and in its relationship with sovern nations around the world.
How has cultural diffusion influenced Asia’s development?
A: How did Chinese ideas influence the development of Japanese culture? B: How have encounters with the west influenced Asian culture?
Essential Questions Unit 3
How did Greece influence Western Culture: A: What are the three major schools of thought in ancient Greece. B: Be able to explain the brief history of ancient Greece from the packet. C: Identify the various philosophers and explain their philosophies.
What are the various economic systems around the world? How are they different? What needs to they address?What are their pros and cons?
A: Communism, socialism, capitalism, feudalism, mixed economy, command economy
How has the Geography of Europe influenced its culture and development?
The exam will be multiple-choice. You will be required to do the following:
1: Use maps as tools.
2. Analyze text/images/cartoons/Art, and interpret the meaning, and make inferences about what you read/saw.
3. Examine scenarios, both real and hypothetical. Identify the concepts present in scenarios, and make inferences about the scenarios.
4. Identify cause and effect.
5. Identify the meaning of terms, identify concepts and their implications and identify figures studied.
6. Identify regions, nations, and geographical features studied/incorporated in units.