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Social Studies Week 2

BEAM GED Program・58 minutes read

World history, especially for the GED exam, covers Western history aligned with American history, beginning with early civilizations in the Middle East, Europe, and America. Various ancient civilizations like Sumerians in Mesopotamia, Egyptians, Babylonians, and Assyrians made significant contributions through advancements in agriculture, architecture, and governance, shaping human history.

Insights

  • The transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled civilizations enabled specialization, leading to advancements, inventions, and healthier societies, as seen in early civilizations like Sumer that excelled in agriculture, irrigation, and writing systems.
  • The Persians' tolerant ruling approach, coupled with the establishment of a major road system and a government-run postal system like the Pony Express, facilitated communication and transportation, contributing to the Persian Empire's stability and success, despite its failure to conquer the Greeks.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of Mesopotamia in history?

    Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is known as the cradle of civilization due to its fertile soil and early advancements. It was the birthplace of the first known civilization, Sumer, which excelled in agriculture, irrigation, and developed the first writing system called cuneiform. Mesopotamia's strategic location fostered early human civilization and cultural developments, making it a crucial region in shaping the course of history.

  • How did Sumerians contribute to human civilization?

    Sumerians made significant contributions to human civilization by pioneering numbers, mathematics, and early geometry. They created the first number and counting system for accounting purposes, utilized geometry to construct impressive buildings like ziggurats, and introduced the first irrigation system and the wheel. These advancements were crucial for agriculture, transportation, and community growth, laying the foundation for future civilizations to thrive.

  • What was Hammurabi's Code of Laws?

    Hammurabi's Code of Laws was established by King Hammurabi of Babylon and included principles like the presumption of innocence. This code was a significant legal system in ancient Mesopotamia, providing guidelines for behavior, justice, and societal order. It reflected the Babylonians' emphasis on law and governance, shaping the development of legal systems in subsequent civilizations.

  • How did the Persians govern their empire?

    The Persians adopted a tolerant approach to ruling their empire, allowing regions to maintain autonomy, culture, and religion as long as they paid taxes and respected Persian rules. This tolerance led to a more stable and peaceful empire compared to centralized control. The Persians also established the world's first major road system, facilitating communication and transportation, which contributed to the success and longevity of their empire.

  • What were the key achievements of the Egyptians?

    The Egyptians were an early and significant civilization known for mastering irrigation, building powerful cities, and creating a vast empire. They developed hieroglyphics for writing, embalming techniques for preserving bodies, and constructed pyramids for their pharaohs. The Egyptians' advancements in various fields, including art, architecture, and technology, played a crucial role in shaping their society and influencing future civilizations.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"World History: From Pre-History to Civilization"

  • World history is crucial for understanding, especially for the GED exam, which includes world history questions.
  • The focus is on Western history, which relates to American history and includes early civilizations in the Middle East, Europe, and eventually America.
  • Pre-history refers to the period before written records, divided into the Paleolithic era, Neolithic era, and Metal Ages.
  • Human evolution began around 40 million years ago, with modern humans possibly existing for three million years.
  • The transition from hunter-gatherer to agriculture led to settled civilizations and domestication of animals.
  • Civilization allowed for specialization, leading to advancements, inventions, and healthier societies.
  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs explains human needs and self-actualization in a civilized society.
  • Early civilizations developed along major rivers like the Yellow River, Indus River, and Nile River.
  • Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is known as the cradle of civilization due to fertile soil.
  • Sumer, the first known civilization, excelled in agriculture, irrigation, and developed the first writing system called cuneiform.

19:39

"Sumerian Innovations and Empires: A Historical Overview"

  • The first written story believed to be the Epic of Gilgamesh, detailing the life of King Gilgamesh, considered the first king to unite Sumeria into a kingdom.
  • References in the Epic of Gilgamesh to the biblical flood story, indicating potential connections between Sumerian and Israelite histories.
  • Sumerians pioneered numbers and mathematics, creating the first number and counting system primarily for accounting purposes.
  • Utilization of early geometry by Sumerians to construct impressive buildings like ziggurats, pyramid-like structures used for worship.
  • Ziggurats, precursors to Egyptian pyramids, showcase Sumerians' advanced construction skills and mathematical prowess.
  • Introduction of the first irrigation system and the wheel by Sumerians, crucial for agriculture and transportation, leading to increased food production and community growth.
  • Development of the first cities by Sumerians, enabled by advancements in agriculture and irrigation, necessitating the creation of roads for wheeled vehicles.
  • Sumeria's strategic location in the fertile Euphrates-Tigris delta, believed to be the possible site of the Garden of Eden, fostering early human civilization.
  • Transition from Sumerian kingdom to Akkadian empire through conquest by Sargon the Great, marking the shift from a singular ethnic rule to a multi-ethnic empire.
  • Sargon's aggressive rule by an "iron fist" led to the downfall of the Akkadian empire due to widespread resentment and opposition, eventually conquered by the Babylonian empire.

38:59

Ancient Empires, Monotheism, and Power Struggles

  • Babylonians were more powerful than the Acadians and introduced new advancements.
  • Babylonians had advanced art and architecture, evident in structures like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Tower of Babel.
  • King Hammurabi led Babylonians to defeat the Acadians and established Hammurabi's Code of Laws, including the presumption of innocence.
  • Assyrians briefly conquered Babylonians and other regions, ruling with an iron fist, leading to their collapse.
  • Assyrian collapse created a power vacuum in Mesopotamia, allowing the Persians to take control.
  • Israelites, an ancient society, were conquered by Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, with their history detailed in the Torah.
  • The Torah, the foundation of the Jewish religion, shares stories with the Old Testament of the Bible.
  • Israelites were the first monotheistic religion, believing in one God, which was a significant development in human history.
  • Monotheistic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam posed a threat to empires with state religions, as people might prioritize their faith over the ruler.
  • The monotheistic concept of one God challenged the control of empires, leading to conflicts with the Jewish people.

59:16

"Monotheism, Egypt, and Jesus: Ancient Insights"

  • Monotheism means belief in one god, exemplified by the Torah.
  • Modern-day Israel is located near Egypt, Jordan, and Syria along the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Jesus Christ was a Jew, and the Assyrians left a power vacuum in Mesopotamia.
  • The Egyptians, conquered by the Persians, were an early and significant civilization.
  • Egyptians mastered irrigation, leading to powerful cities and conquests.
  • The Egyptians, polytheistic, built pyramids for their pharaohs, who were considered god-like.
  • The Egyptian Empire at its peak covered most of East Africa and parts of the Middle East.
  • Egyptians embalmed bodies to preserve them for the afterlife, burying them with belongings.
  • Egyptians developed hieroglyphics and later created a paper-like substance called papyrus.
  • The Rosetta Stone helped decipher hieroglyphics, enhancing historical understanding.

01:18:11

Persian Empire: Tolerance, Roads, Success

  • The Persians adopted a tolerant approach to ruling their empire, allowing regions to maintain autonomy, culture, and religion as long as they paid taxes and respected Persian rules. This tolerance led to a more stable and peaceful empire compared to centralized control.
  • The Persians established the world's first major road system, which included sophisticated stone roads still existing today. This road system facilitated the creation of a government-run postal system and a Pony Express, enabling quick communication and transportation of goods across the vast empire.
  • The combination of a tolerant leadership approach, the development of a major road system, a postal system, and a Pony Express allowed the Persians to create the largest empire of that time. Despite their attempt to conquer the Greeks, which failed, the Persian Empire's success and longevity were attributed to these advancements.
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