Foundations

**FOUNDATIONS **
//** (8000 BCE -610 CE) **//



This period in time can be considered the beginning of “human” history. Starting from about 8000BCE until 610 CE (fall of the Roman Empire). This period mostly has to due with the evolution of the human, of how much importance agriculture gave to the human life. It talks a lot about early civilizations and where and why they began. The beginning of laws, governments and empires. The foundation periods of all history including religion, politics, social, technology, etc. **
 * 
 * == **Table of Contents** == ||
 * **1.Pirates & Timeline

2.Primary Sources** //.1Parthenon .2Roman Coliseum .3Hammurabi Code .4Torah//

//.1 Compare & Cont.//
 * 3.Essay**


 * 4.Key Terms

5.Links**


 * 6.Bibliography** ||

= **Pirates & Time Line ** =

//Pirates is a good way of organizing information, we suggest you to take notes on civilizations in PIRATES way.// ***Click on Civilization for detailed description** media type="custom" key="6404417"

= **Primary Sources ** =

//A primary source is a document, speech, or other sort of evidence written, created or otherwise produced during the time under study. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event.//





"When Anu the Sublime, King of the Anunaki, and Bel, the lord of Heaven and earth, who decreed the fate of the land, assigned to Marduk, the over-ruling son of Ea, God of righteousness, dominion over earthly man, and made him great among the Igigi, they called Babylon by his illustrious name, made it great on earth, and founded an everlasting kingdom in it, whose foundations are laid so solidly as those of heaven and earth; then Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind." - Translation of Hammurabi Law Code (Hammurabi 1790 BCE) ||

"Parashat Emor not only falls during Sefirat Ha'omer / the Counting of the Omer every year, it also contains the verses which command us to perform this count: "You shall count for yourselves from the morrow of the rest day, from the day when you bring the omer of the waving [a Temple sacrifice of barley] - seven weeks they shall be complete. . ." Many people have the custom to follow the counting of the Omer with a prayer that states in part: "May it be Your will, Hashem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that in the merit of the Omer count that I have counted today, may there be corrected whatever blemish I have caused. . ." This prayer requires explanation, writes R' Moshe Yair Weinstock z"l (20th century chassidic rebbe and kabbalist in the Bronx and Yerushalayim), for how can counting the Omer correct a blemish or sin?" - Excerpt from the Torah (6000 BCE) ||
 * 

=**Essay ** =

//**Compare and Contrast Essay **//

//**Score Recived: 9 **// //An essay written and later edited to show what must a perfect essay must include to get a 9 (expanded core included) //

//__Question: __//
 * What was the gender structure like in Classical Greece and Classical Rome? **

__Essay:__ Ancient Greece characterizes by the over importance that males had upon females. And since the Roman culture arises from the Greeks, the gender structure in both civilizations is alike. Yet, the roles of women in Classic Greece differed in many aspects from the roles of women in classic Rome. In both places women were subordinates of men, however, women in Rome had some legal rights where women in Greece were considered merely objects to reproduce, and seen with a much lesser importance. The believed superiority of men in the Greek gender structure allowed Athenians (mostly) to idealize homosexual love to prevail over the heterosexual. Such extensive difference among male and female include the prohibition of women to participate in any social activity. Their inferiority wouldn’t even allow them to walk in the street without companionship from a male. Their role in the house was usually limited to household chores and having children. On the other hand, men’s role in society was emphasized in all aspects of Greek culture, its superiority was even taught by ancient philosophers; Aristotle stated that men had a greater capacity for happiness. When Socrates died, he made a decision to only be surrounded by men and asked his wife to leave. Since in Sparta the major purpose for living was war, the gender division inclined more towards the benefit of the city-state in such aspect. Boys for example were sent off at the early age of seven to military training, while girls received physical education in order to give birth to strong children. Men visited their wives mostly at night in which they attempt to reproduce future male warriors. For obvious reasons, the much more required ratio of males allowed them to be viewed with more importance in Sparta. The cultures from mostly these city-states in Greece would be later adopted by one of history’s greatest empires, the Romans.

The Romans were as the Greeks, a patriarchal society; however, unlike them, Romans allowed females to participate in society. Their women's legal rights extended to the inheriting of property (although limits were strict), their option to marry whom they pleased, and the alternative for them to file for divorce. Men in Rome focused more on the politics but allowed women to have an opinion regarding the political affairs, such as, the wealth of the state. Specifically in their Republic, Roman females (mainly the wealthy) enjoyed their leisure time in where they participated in arts and education. Men’s supremacy was not idealized as much as in Greece; such would give women more rights and opportunities.

Both, Classical Greece and Rome were built and dominated by men. Even when Rome gave relatively more gender equality than Greece, both civilizations emphasized in the role of man for the society. Biologically, men grow stronger than women and because war was very important for the Romans and Greeks, males were considered much more useful to the state. Although Rome did grant rights to some women, the percentage of women who were educated and treated with privileges was slim compared to the males’. In neither civilizations women were allowed to have political roles.

Throughout history, civilizations and societies have mostly been constructed by patriarchal families, and either Rome or Greece is an exception. The Spartans separated both genders at their youth because of the need of boys to train since they were the ones used on the battlefield. The female importance was limited for the reproduction of even more males. But although the separation wouldn’t be as drastic in Athens or Rome, they all preferred males for the same reasons. Biologically, men are stronger, and for great civilizations to triumph during those ages, the physical strength would be fundamental.

//**Edited by: Catherine Strong & Sebastian Pozo **//
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif';">Essay Written by: Sebastian Pozo //**

= **<span style="color: #803b00; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 40pt; line-height: 115%;">Key Terms ** =

=**<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">1. Agricultural Revolution **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(8000-2000 B.C.E) or Neolithic Revolution is the period where the transition from hunting and gathering to cultivation of crops took place. = <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">4. **Cuneiform:** first example of writing that involved pictographs that represented objects and later sounds. <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">6. **Ziggurats:** towers that Sumerians built to worship and appease gods of nature.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The transition from foraging to cultivation arose as nomadic groups returned year after year to favorite grazing areas and started making an effort to cultivate crops.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">2. Specialization of Labor: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">distribution/division of labor that allowed a major development on skills in particular tasks or works.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">In early agricultural societies, a variety of craft products indicated a specialization of labor, for each product could be traded indicating good or advanced quality.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">3. Patriarchal: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">a type of social organization where men dominate households and community life.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sumerian families were patriarchal; men had enough authority to sell wives and children in order to pay debts.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">4. Mesopotamia: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(around 5000 BCE) ancient region of Asia located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Place to many early civilizations such as Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria. Very known for its Nineveh City and Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Used by Babylonians, the Code of Hammurabi, was written in cuneiform.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">5. Sumerians: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(3500B.C.E) group of invaders that settled in southern Mesopotamia.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sumerians are known to have written the first epic, Epic of Gilgamesh, that talked about a great flood similar to that of the Bible.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Practically all of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamia had a Ziggurat; temple tower with a pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside stair cases and a shrine at the top.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">7. Hammurabi Code: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">first code of laws that regulated daily life and provided harsh punishments for criminal offenses.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Hammurabi Code drew distinctions between social classes and genders.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">8. Pharaoh: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Egyptian monarch.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Pharaoh in Egypt was considered to be son of God Re (sun) and his power was passed hereditarily.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">9. Hieroglyphics: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Egyptian picture writing.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Book of the Dead (Egyptian funerary text) was written with hieroglyphics in papyrus paper.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">10. Shang Dynasty: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(1766 – 1122 BCE) earliest Chinese dynasty that left written records.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Shang dynasty strengthened their war machine by developing bronze and iron weapons.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">11. Zhou Dynasty: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(1029 – 258 BCE) Second and longest dynasty in China.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Zhou dynasty is known for being the first dynasty to develop a rationalization for their authority to rule.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">12. Mandate of Heaven: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">concept developed by the Zhou dynasty where the deity grants a right to rule wisely.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">From the Zhou dynasty on, the mandate of heaven was used in China to overthrew and claim power over other dynasties.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">13. Qin dynasty: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">third Chinese dynasty that lasted from 221 – 202 BCE.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Qin dynasty is the one that constructed the Great Wall and standardized, weights, measures, coinage and written language. Dynasty that unified China for the first time in history.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">14. **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> **Han dynasty:** Fourth Chinese dynasty that lasted from 200 BCE to 220 CE.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Han dynasty is known because during their rule, important and very useful tools were invented, such as oax drawn plows and water-powered mills.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">15. Silk Roads: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Trade route that connected China to the Middle East.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Silk Roads were used by many civilizations for trading with each other such as Rome and China.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">16. Confucianism: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Belief system that encourages tradition maintenance; patriarchal families and veneration of ancestors.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The civil service examination that was developed during the Han Dynasty was based on the Analects of Confucius.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">17. Mayas: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Civilization that rose in the Yucatan Peninsula in the first millennium BCE.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Mayans are known as the “Greeks of the Americas” because of the knowledge they developed in astronomy and agriculture.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">18. Satrap: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">A governor of a province in ancient Persia.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The satraps normally were members of the royal family or of Persian nobility, they held their office indefinitely and were appointed by the king.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">19. Polis: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">A Greek city state
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">A polis consisted of a marketplace (agora) and a religious center (acropolis).


 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">20. Persian Wars: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">various conflicts between Greek world and Persian Empire, started about 500 BC and lasted until 448 BC.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Persian Empire tried several times to invade and conquer the Greek city-states. Although Persians were successful at invading, they never got to conquer Greece.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">21. Peloponnesian War: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> war fought between the Athenian Empire (or The Delian League) and the Peloponnesian League- including Sparta and Corinth. Began in 431 BC.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Peloponnesian Wars were fought because of the Athenian control of the Delian League; vast naval alliance that allowed it to dominate the Mediterranean Sea.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">22. Punic Wars: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> three wars fought between Rome and the city of Carthage.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Punic Wars exploded because there was a conflict of interests between the expanding Carthaginian and Roman spheres of influence.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">23. Alexander the Great: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">king of Macedonia, conquered the Persian empire and annexed it to his kingdom. He is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Alexander ascended to the Macedonian throne when his father died. During his rule, he disposed quickly of all conspirators and domestic enemies by ordering their execution.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">24. Pax Romana: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Roman peace; period of stability and prosperity throughout the empire during the first two centuries CE.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pax Romana refers primarily to the Romanization of the western world. The Roman legal system brought law and order to the provinces. Legions patrolled the borders, and although there were foreign wars, the internal empire was free from major invasion or social disorder on grand scale.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">25.Hellenism: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> adoption of the Greek language, customs, etc.
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Hellenism caused the influence of many Greek elements names, language, architecture, art, philosophy) on politics and culture throughout the Mediterranean region.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">26.Vedas: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">oral epics that have been recorded in Sanskrit language and which provide us information about the Aryans.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The entire amount of Vedic literature (including the Upanishads) was considered the product of divine revelation, the Vedas was handed down orally for many generations before being committed to writing.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">27. Vedic (1500-1000 BCE) and Epic (1000 – 600) age: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">terms applied to two different periods of classical India that were much influenced by Epics; Vedas and Upanishads respectively.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">28. Varna: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">class system based on skin color. The four distinct classes are Kshatriyas or warriors/rulers, Brahmins or priests, Vaisyas or merchants, farmers and Sudras or common workers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">When Aryans conquered the native people of India they organized society into Varna; making social mobility and development impossible.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">29. Untouchables: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">social group that was involved in the distasteful occupations such as carrying out the dead and butchering animals.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The untouchables were located at the bottom of the Varna social structure.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">30. Mauryan Dynasty: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">dynasty that lasted from 322 to 232 BCE approximately. It was founded by a soldier named Chandra Gupta who developed a large bureaucracy and army to promote trade and communication.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Ashoka was the most prominent ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, he is known for encouraging trade by constructing roads to connect the Silk Road and by embracing Buddhist values while at the same time Hinduism.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">31. Sati: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">custom that involves the practice of a widow throwing herself into her husband’s pyre.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The custom of Sati Is a perfect example that illustrates the deterioration of the status of women during the Gupta dynasty; by throwing herself into her husband’s pyre, conserved her honor and purity.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">32. Gupta Empire: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Hindu dynasty that started to rule in 320 CE, their rule was not centralized as Mauryan’s so they permitted local rulers (submitted to the Gupta emperor) to maintain authority in their respective territories.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Gupta India is considered to have ushered the golden age of Indian history for their knowledge and achievements such as mathematical (discovery of 0, “Arabic” numerals, decimal system), astronomical (prediction of eclipses, identification of planets) and medical (knowledge of plastic surgery, setting of bones, sterilization during surgery) achievements.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">33. Zoroastrianism: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, it is based on the worship of Wisdom.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">34. Indian Ocean Maritime System: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">trade route that crossed the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Indian ports were used as storage spots because they were in the center of the network. Horses were one of the most important things traded as well as spices.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">35. Judaism: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">belief system to which monotheism is attributed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Holy book that Hebrews follow is the Torah, which is based on the Ten Commandments or moral law given by God through Moses to the people.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">36. Hinduism: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">polytheist belief system that came with the Aryans.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Hindus are guided by Brahmins or priests, who are located on the top of the social class system or Varna.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">37. Buddhism: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">religion based on the repression of desires (desire is suffering) it was founded by Siddharta Gautama (The Enlightened One).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This philosophy started in India and extended to Asia through the Silk Road; it tolerates other religions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">38. Christianism: **<span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Monotheist religion founded by Jesus of Nazareth (Son of God)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Holy Book that Christians follow is the Bible, this religion was successful because it offers salvation for poor and women and has no emphasis on social stratification.

=<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">**<span style="color: #ff6200; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 40pt; line-height: 115%;">Links: ** =

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 190%;">To Play Jeopardy //<span style="color: #ff6200; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 190%;">For more info: //

__**Roman History**__ [|**China History**] **Ancient Greek**

Great Video on Foundations!
media type="youtube" key="vnc1PVPgelA" width="425" height="350"

=**<span style="color: #803b00; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 40pt; line-height: 115%;">Debate Zone **=

include component="comments" page="Foundations" limit="10"

= = <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 16pt;">Bibliography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Andalus','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Ancient Greek Sculpture: NA (ND) //Ancient Greek Sculpture.// Retrieved June, 2010 from [|http://wines2.aaps.k12.mi.us/mediacenter/medusahead.jpghttp://wines2.aaps.k12.mi.us/mediacenter/medusahead.jpg] Egyptian Pyramids: NA (ND) //Egyptian Pyramids.// Retrieved June 2010 from [] Greek Parthenon: NA (ND) //Greek Parthenon.// Retrieved June, 2010 from [] Roman Coliseum: NA (ND) //Roman Colosseum.// Retrieved June, 2010 from [] Hammurabi Law Code:(translated by L.W.King) Hammurabi, 1790 BC, //Hammurabi Law Code.// Retrieved June 2010, from [|**//http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/hamcode.html//**] Torah: "Torah." __World Encyclopedia__. 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2010 from Encyclopedia.com: []

Some Key Terms: Martin, Peggy. //5 Steps to a 5.// Mc Graw Hill. Illinois. 2009. Glossary pages. Azhani Amiruddin (2005) //Key Terms.// Retrieved on June 2010, from: []

Links for more information: Ancient History: [] To understand and analyze primary sources: // [] // <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">

media type="custom" key="6400953"