World History Homework One Answers - Student 16
1.Which do you think was the most important invention, idea or law discussed in the lecture? Include in your answer the "when, where, what, why and how."
I think that the most important idea discussed in this lecture was the concept of monotheism. We owe this great idea to the ancient Hebrews who popularized this theory around the year 1000 B.C. in the city of Israel. It set a foundation for Judaism and even modern Christianity. It established that there is one God and only one God who created the universe and that we owe everything to Him.
2.Pick one of the major ancient empires mentioned in the lecture, and describe basic information about it. Include in your answer a reference to how it compared with another ancient empire mentioned in the lecture.
The oldest stationary civilization that remains in existence today is the Egyptian Empire. Egypt was ruled by a Pharaoh who was considered to be a god among the Egyptian people. The Egyptians also had a set of moral values such as feeding the poor and avoiding bribes while administering justice. However, the Egyptian people did not have as strict a moral code as the Babylonian Empire did. The Babylonian ruler Hammurabi created a system of laws often called, “Hammurabi's Code.” This code set up harsh punishment. For example, if you broke the bone of a free man, then the punishment was to brake one of your bones. This code of laws marked the beginning of the downfall of the Babylonian Empire. Maybe they should have practiced forgiveness a little bit more. Perhaps this is the reason that the Egyptian Empire survived longer than the Babylonian Empire, they did not have as strict a set of moral codes as the Babylonians did.
- Very good analysis.
3.There are several tables in the lecture containing various estimated dates. Pick one of those estimated dates and explain either why it surprises you, why you think it may be wrong, or why you know it is correct.
I think that the table containing the estimated dates of all the Biblical references on page 8 is indeed correct. As Christians, we can use the Bible which contains a huge amount of knowledge regarding ancient dates. The apostles and Prophets and other Holy men wrote the Bible with the power of the Holy Spirit working through them, thus they can not be wrong and our estimated dates about the world after creation are indeed true.
4.Either write an essay of at least 150 words in length on any aspect of the lecture, or add or fill in 3 important terms from the lecture for the Study Guide at the link above (mention in your homework which three terms you picked).
Code of Manu: Hindu law containing rules and codes of conduct. Written in 200 BC, India.(I added the year and where it was written.)
Euclid: Lived 325-365 B.C. in Hellenistic Alexandria. A Greek mathematician and the father of geometry who wrote the Elements. (I added when and where he lived and that he wrote the Elements.)
Josephus: Flavius Josephus 37 - 101 A.D. Jewish General and historian who took part in the Jewish revolt against the Romans and later worked for a Roman patron.
- Very good!
5.Write a longer essay (500 words rather than 150 words) in your answer to question 4, or add or fill in 6 important terms from the lecture for the Study Guide at the link above.
Nebuchadnezzar II: Lived from 635 BC- 562 BC, was King of the Chaldeans and final conqueror of the Southern Kingdom of Israel, called "Judah." He was the first of many heads of state of foreign superpowers to come to a possibly salvific knowledge of God.
Jericho: A city in Israel by the Jordan River. Mentioned extensively in the Bible. Joshua and the Israelites marched around this city and blew trumpets in order to destroy it and to reach the Promised Land.
Mount Sinai: A 7,498 foot mountain, located in Southern Sinai, now part of modern Egypt. The location where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Saint Patrick:Welsh born and grew up in Englnad. (just corrected what was there it originally said that he was born in Italy but he was actually born in Wales near by England.)
Pompey: 106-48 B.C., General, Statesman, and Triumvir during the last years of the Roman Republic. His soldiers are credited with bestowing the title Magnus (the Great) while serving in Africa (82–81 BC).
Council of Nicaea: 325 AD. A council of bishops called by Constantine to obtain agreement on various aspects of Christianity such as the doctrine of the Trinity and the role of the Roman Bishop(the Pope)and also in order to address disunity in the Church stemming from Arianism. ( I added the year it happened and the part about disunity in the Church stemming from Arianism.)
6.Which matters most to the success of an ancient empire: its technology, its laws, its language, or its geography? Explain, with specific examples.
I think that geography matters the most to the success of an empire. If an empire had all the necessary natural resources for survival like fresh running water, fishing, hunting and farming, then they would be able to maintain life and thus an empire. The Egyptian Empire had plenty of these things. In addition to the running water and ample fishing of the Nile River, the Egyptians produced clay and timber to trade with Lebanon and other surrounding cities. The Egyptians were able to become self-sufficient and I think that is the most important factor in the survival of a civilization.
- The geography is also important in protecting against foreign invaders.
Extra Credit (regular or Honors)
7.What is your favorite mystery about the ancient world, and what do you think explains it? Some suggested possibilities include:
The invention of the wheel: who, when and how?
How did the Egyptians build the pyramids?
Why did ancient empires collapse?
My favorite mystery about the ancient world is how and why the Ancient Egyptians used mummification. I think that due to their believe in the after life, they wanted their rulers or Pharaohs to meet their new homes with all the riches and luxuries that they had with them while on earth. It is also quite amazing to think about how smart they had to be to perfect the art of mummification! Some people are under the illusion that people of ancient times were not as intelligent as we are today, but this obviously proves them wrong. They had to very smart and have a lot of perseverance to complete this extremely interesting art. I find it truly amazing that they were able to do this. It is a real mystery!
- Good selection and discussion of an addition mystery.
- Excellent work. Grade: 60/60 plus 5/5 in extra credit.--Andy Schlafly 18:24, 22 September 2011 (EDT)