World History SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Unit 2 Review  Minoan Kingdom – centered in Crete in the Mediterranean, prospered due to trade, artifacts teach us about their culture but their language hasn’t been translated yet.  The Phoenician alphabet greatly impacted other languages, even Western languages such as Latin, Greek, and English  A Classic Period is a period of great achievements in art, science, religion, philosophy, and politics.  The great kingdoms that rose up in the Mediterranean region used the sea and trade to prosper.

Unit 2 Review  Hinduism is the major religion of India.  The Aryan people migrated into the Indian sub-continent and brought with them their culture and the religious beliefs which were the early beliefs of Hinduism.  The Vedas are books that contain the hymns and beliefs of Hinduism.  Hinduism is also based on a caste system.  The Dharma is the rules and guidelines of the caste the person is born into.  Hindus believe that by following your Dharma you will be reincarnated to a higher caste in your next life.

Unit 2 Review  Buddhism began in India in 624 BC.  Siddhartha Gautama was a prince who lived in a place with a grand yard that kept him sheltered from the world. One day he saw a very sick man and a funeral procession and it led him to wonder what causes human suffering. He also saw an old man who seemed very content and happy.  Siddhartha left the palace and went on a mission to find the meaning to life, end suffering, and live a happy life.  He became the Buddha and established the Four Noble Truths, the Middle Way, and the Eight Fold Path.  The Four Noble Truths: teachings that explain that life is filled with suffering and to end suffering you must stop wanting.  The Middle Way and Eight Fold Path: guidelines taught by The Buddha to end suffering.  The religion spread throughout Asia.

Unit 2 Review  The Zhou Dynasty of China was the longest dynasty – 1046 BC -256 BC.  The Mandate of Heaven is the belief that the right to rule came from the gods.  Confucius was a Chinese philosopher. He really influenced the Chinese to remember their traditions and be educated. He stressed the importance of the family and taught that the relationship between the parent and child is the most important.  He also taught that rulers should respect those who they rule and in return those who are ruled will respect the rulers.  He taught that rulers are not supposed to rule with absolute power.

Unit 2 Review  Daoism is neither a philosophy or religion. It is a belief system.  Daoists focus on understanding the nature of reality, increasing their longevity, ordering life morally, practicing rulership, and regulating consciousness and diet.  They emphasize living in harmony with the Tao.  The Yin yang represents their belief in living in harmony. Two halves that together complete wholeness.

Unit 2 Review  The Han Dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to 220 AD.  Overthrew the Qin Dynasty that ruled with absolute power and didn’t tolerate opposing views.  Han rulers encouraged education and creating a better society.  Paper was invented.  Public schools were developed to educate the youth.

Unit 2 Review  Review the lessons from 2.09: Exploring Further for information on evaluating web sources. Pay attention during the Using the Internet for Research audio lesson.