SPRITEThematic Questions—your guide to thematically analyze World History

Geography—it’s impact

  • What features impacted development?In what way(s) did these features impact development?

Social

  • How was the social system structured? What were the classes?
  • Who dominated?(the entire social system? the family unit?)
  • What were the roles and rights of the subordinates and or citizens? (changes?)
  • What were gender relations like? i.e. role of women in society? Rights?
  • What was family/community life like? How did they live?
  • What new group migrated into the region (if any)? Impact?

Political

  • Who has decision making power when ruling a state?
  • How was the ruler chosen or how did he gain power? What kind of ruler?
  • How was governmental power distributed?
  • How many peoples (ethnic/cultural groups) did the ruler govern?
  • What degree of authority did the government maintain? How much control did the government/ruler have over people’s lives?
  • Was there a written law code? (describe how the legal system operated)
  • What kind of relationship did the government have with other governments? (changes?)
  • How stable was the government? What events/occurrences contributed to the downfall of the government?

Religion

  • What kind of religion was practiced? (theist (mono or poly), ethical, or animist)
  • How did it originate?
  • What were some beliefs and practices of the religion?
  • What was the role of the priests?
  • Did written rules/guidelines govern the religion? Where there religious texts? (describe them)
  • What was the relationship between religion and government?

Intellectual/Artistic (Institutions, Infrastructure)

  • Did they have a record keeping system? (describe it)
  • What kinds of people were educated? (class, gender, occupation, etc.) What did the education consist of? Who paid for education?
  • What intellectual achievements did they make? (i.e. literature, philosophy, science, math, medicine, etc.)
  • Did they have a distinct artistic style, if so what was it?
  • What were the achievements in art and architecture? What was the purpose or motivation? Who paid?

Technology (tools and processes created to manipulate the physical world to solve real-world problems)

  • What sort of technological achievements were developed in agriculture (i.e. new/improved tools or methods)
  • What new technologies/materials were used in tools and warfare?
  • What kinds of advances were made in engineering, transportation, water, communication, etc.?
  • Were there any achievements made with regard to any new features and/or materials used in building?

Economic

  • What was the economy based on?How did the people make a living?
  • Was there trade? What people and goods were involved? How did they carry out trade—what was the impact?
  • Was there manufacture? What people and goods were involved?
  • What type of labor systems existed?
  • What role does the government play in the economy?