World History Homework One Answers - Model 2009

1. What do you hope to accomplish with this course?

2. Look at the estimated dates in the three tables. Pick any one that you dispute, or are most interested in, and discuss it briefly.

3. Write about any aspect of Hammurabi's Code, such as its similarity or differences with the Ten Commandments, or its role in making the society (which society was it?) a success.

4. List the major ancient empires from the lecture in approximate chronological order, and identify which one you like best, and why.

Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China, Mexican Olmec, and Peru are the first major empires of world history. Egypt is definitely my favorite because of their amazing intelligence. Their communication wasn’t that great, but to see such great works of architecture and leadership simply amazes me. (Leonard G.)

5. Current Events Question: What controversy today can be traced back in origin to something in this week's lecture, such as current Middle East conflicts?

6. Describe the three kingdoms of ancient Egypt, and mention what you like most about the culture or achievements of ancient Egypt.

H1. Write briefly about the role of Jerusalem in ancient history.

H2. Do you see a key role for language or religion in determining the rise and fall of ancient empires in this week's lecture? Give at least one example.

H3. Pick out any mystery about the lecture this week (such as the history of marriage or the construction of the pyramids) and suggest an explanation for it. Other mysteries are at:
http://www.conservapedia.com/Essay:Greatest_Mysteries_of_World_History

The construction of the pyramids by the Egyptians is one of the most confusing aspects of World History. How could an ancient civilization, without access even to the wheel until later in its lifespan, manage to construct such large structures with unparalleled precision and skill? I think it is important to understand that without modern distractions and the like the ancients (including the Egyptians) probably devoted far more time and energy in mastering the various arts to which they had access. That being said, time and energy, regardless of how ample, can never sufficiently account for genius, pure and simple. Literal explanations, naturally, are more complicated. The sadly flawed theory that the Egyptians used logs to build the Great Pyramid is incorrect for several simple reasons: a) the use of the logs is too close of a leap to the wheel for someone to use without making the connection, b) Egypt simply did not have the resources to muster such a supply of logs, and c) the logs would have snapped like twigs under the weight of multi-ton pieces of rock. If I had to guess how they managed to construct the pyramids I would assert that perhaps they used a series of planks and boards somehow slickened by oil, mud, water, or some thereof combination in addition with sledges to drag the pieces into place. In any event, even such an explanation cannot account for how precisely the measurements of the stones are, in addition to how spectacularly precisely the pyramid is aligned with the celestial heavens. (Joe B.)

H4. Write about anything in the lecture.

I just want to comment on how large and successful the cities of ancient times were. For example, Babylon was larger than San Francisco, and Sumerian/early Mesopotamian cities were modern in all aspects except technology. When you think “ancient” you think cavemen or savages, but the ancient people were very much just as advanced as we are now. If they had had the same technology back then as we have now, they would probably have been almost identical to us today. (AddisonDM)

The Babylonians also had superior gardens, which included the first Hydroponics systems, the hanging gardens at Babylon. This showed their intellect, as hydroponics is a far more efficient way to grow plants than in traditional soil. (Jonathan L.)