World History 104D

Midterm Study Guide

Sadowski

There will by 30 multiple choice questions worth two (2) points each for a total of sixty (60) points. You will write on two (2) essay questions out of three (3) possible, for a total of 20 points each (40 points total). The entire exam is worth 100 points.

Points will be earned for accurate factual answers that show your in-depth knowledge of the topic. Generalizations, while often accurate, are inadequate. Facts must be presented in your answers to show you have more than a surface knowledge of the material.

VERY IMPORTANT ----- Handwriting must be legible.

Essay questions will be chosen from the following list:

  1. Compare and contrast the Achaemenids and the Greeks. What were the strengths and weaknesses of both societies? Why have the Persians received such little attention in history books?
  2. Examine the role of trade and agriculture in explaining the success of the Persian empires. Why was the Royal Road so important?
  3. Why did the political chaos of the Period of the Warring States give rise to philosophies such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism?
  4. Examine the philosophical school of thought known as Daoism. Who were the founding thinkers of this philosophy? What are the basic tenets of this thought? What would be the political consequences of being a Daoist?
  5. Compare and contrast the expansion and unification techniques of Chandragupta Maurya of India(Arthashastra) and Philip II of Macedon. What common techniques did they pursue?
  6. Compare and contrast the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. What were the essential differences between the two? What hope did they give to the common people of India?
  7. Compare and contrast the ancient Athenians and Spartans. In what essential ways were they different? How did these differences affect their eventual fates?
  8. Examine the most important city-states that are shown on page 234. How did geography influence the political structure of ancient Greece? Why didn’t the Greeks ever unify? What brought them together? What tore them apart?
  9. How did trade shape the Roman world? Discuss the implications of the Mediterranean as mare nostrum. How did trade work to bring the Roman world together?
  10. Examine the social history of ancient Rome. What do the experiences of the Gracchi brothers, as well as that of Marius and Sulla, say about the social tensions in Rome? What cased these problems?