History of Western Civilisation - Wenesday 5th Period: Exam 1

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos, kindly, has a full spread from Jeff, God of Biscuits spread out. Everything from doughnuts to bagels to cookies. Coffee and soda provide caffiene.

Methos himself is sitting at his desk, working on what looks like a photocopy of an ancient manuscript. He's translating it into a spiral bound notebook. He's frowning and thumbing through several of the pages.

On the board is written:

EXAM 1

Pick three topics and write or handwave 100 words (at least) on each:

- Sumeria
- Egypt
- Crete
- Greece, political
- Greece, cultural

When finished, you may turn in your papers and leave.

NO TALKING.

Comments

Re: TURN IN YOUR ANSWERS: WC EXAM 1

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Egypt: It is true that the Egyptian Old Kingdom (c. 3100) represents a great flourishing of thought, creativity and technical advances. During this period, much which that we still recognise and can visualise easily in association with the words “ancient Egypt” came into being. However, it did not erupt spontaneously. Centuries of development in tomb architecture, funerary items and complex social and religious belief systems preceded it. Communication between the different settlements along the highway of the Nile had resulted in the emergence of minor kingdoms which eventually, by various means, coalesced and were finally united under one king; power in Egypt was then focussed on this single monarch, the ruler of the two lands of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Nile Valley and the Delta. [[source (http://www.ancientegyptmagazine.com/oldkingdom05.htm)]]

Crete: In order to facilitate trade, the Cretans and their Aegean relatives developed the most advanced navy that had ever been seen. While scholars earlier believed that Crete must have been a "thalossocracy," that is, a "sea power," that view has been seriously challenged. The Cretans probably did not develop a military navy, as did the Egyptians, but concentrated solely on trade and mercantilism. They did build what looks like warships, but it seems that these warships were most likely mercantile ships with the capability of defense against pirates.

Their trade was extensive. The Egyptians were highly familiar with the Cretans, who even appear in Egyptian art. Cretan artifacts turn up all over Asia Minor, and they seem to have been involved in trade with the tribal clans living on the Greek mainland. All of this concentrated mercantile activity produced great wealth for the Cretans, which went into massive building projects, art, and technological development. [[source (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/%7Edee/MINOA/HISTORY.HTM)]]

Greece (political): Spartan society was divided into three main classes. At the top was the Spartiate, or native Spartan, who could trace his or her ancestry back to the original inhabitants of the city. The Spartiate served in the army and was the only person who enjoyed the full political and legal rights of the state. Below the Spartiates wer the perioeci , or "dwellers around or about." These were foreign people who served as a kind of buffer population between the Spartans and the helots. Because of this vital function, they were accorded a great deal of freedom. Most of the trade and commerce carried out in Sparta were performed by the perioeci . At the bottom, of course, were the helots. [[source (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/%7Edee/GREECE/SPARTA.HTM)]]