Benchmark Study Guide

Submitted by

C. Stephen Ingraham

2013

Environment BenchmarkCivilization:MesopotamiaRiver(s):Tigris & Euphrates RiversContinent:AsiaLandform(s):River ValleyPhysical Features:Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf,Syrian Desert, Taurus & Zagros MountainsClimate: Semi- Arid & Arid

Civilization:EgyptRiver(s):NileContinent:AfricaLandform(s):River ValleyPhysical Features: Nile Delta, Mediterranean Sea Red Sea, Sahara Desert, Nubian Desert, Eastern Desert, & Libyan Desert.Climate: Arid

Environment BenchmarkCivilization: ChinaRiver(s): Huang He & Chang Jiang RiversContinent: AsiaLandform(s):River ValleyPhysical Features:Himalayas, Gobi Desert, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea,Climate:Highland, Arid,Semi-Arid, Humid Subtropical, Humid Continental, andTropical wet & dry

Civilization: IndiaRiver(s): Indus & Ganges RiversContinent: AsiaLandform(s):River ValleyPhysical Features:Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean,And Island of Sri LankaClimate:Tropical Wet, Semi-Arid, Tropical Wet & Dry, Humid Subtropical, and Arid

Economy BenchmarkCivilization:MesopotamiaEconomic System(s): BarterSurplus items: wheat, barley, & copper tools

Trading needs:wood, salt, precious stones, and raw copperTrading Partners: Egypt

Civilization:EgyptEconomic System(s): BarterSurplus items: wheat, barley, sheep, goats, & cotton

Trading needs: cedar & pine timber, animal tusks, & hardwoods (Ebony)Trading Partners:Mesopotamia & Nubia

Economy BenchmarkCivilization:ChinaEconomic System(s): Barter and Money EconomySurplus items:Silk, apricots, iron, & bronze goods

Trading needs: Gold, Ivory, Wool, linen, grapevines, & horses

Trading Partners: India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, & Rome

Civilization: IndiaEconomic System(s): Barter & Money EconomySurplus items: spices, cloth,carpets, jewelry.

Trading needs:Arabian horses, dried fruits, precious stones, silk, corals, perfumes, and velvets

Trading Partners: Mesopotamia, Egypt, & China

Religion BenchmarkCivilization:MesopotamiaType(s): Polytheism & MonotheismName of Religion: Polytheistic -Unknown Monotheistic -Judaism,Christianity, IslamName of gods and attributed powers:Enlil -god of winds, storms & rain Ea -god of water & wisdom Shamash -sun godYahweh -Jewish God Jesus-Christian god Allah - Muslim godSpecial Religious leaders: Abraham, Jesus & Muhammad Special beliefs: gods of nature

Civilization:EgyptType(s): Polytheism & MontheismName of Religion: UnknownName of gods and attributed powers:Amon-Ra the sun god, Osiris taught farming.

Horus, falcon god , Isis -wife of Horus.Aton -the one all powerful godSpecial Religious leaders: There was an Afterlife (Ra was born & died each day)Special beliefs: Pharaoh was son of the sun god

Civilization:ChinaType(s):PolytheisticName of Religion:Ancestor worshipName of gods and attributed powers:Ao Ch'in Dragon God responsible for the Southern OceanAo Kuang Dragon God responsible for the Eastern OceanAo Jun Dragon God responsible for the Western Ocean Ao Shun Dragon God responsible for the Northern OceanCh'ang-o (aka Heng-o) Goddess of the Moon and wife of Shen I.Shen I “The Archer” God of the Sun & Ch’ango-o HusbanChih-Nii (aka Chih Nu) Goddess of crafts & clouds. Rules Over: Handcrafts, rain. Special Religious leaders: Oracle Special beliefs: relatives were guides & Oracle bones

Religion Benchmark

Civilization:IndiaType(s):PolytheisticName of Religion:Hinduism & BuddhismName of gods and attributed powers:Brahma -the CreatorVishnu -the PreserverShiva- the DestroyerSpecial Religious leaders: Siddhartha Gautama - BuddhaSpecial beliefs: reincarnation (Caste System)

Government BenchmarkCivilization: MesopotamiaType(s): MonarchyTitle of leader: KingNames of specific leader & contributionsWho first united this civilization?:King SargonOther Leaders:King Hammurabi - Taxation & Laws (Code of Hammurabi)Political Philosopher(s) and/or Philosophy:Other interesting Feature(s) or “How one assumes the authority of a leader?:Leaders we believed to be god-like (Strong & War-like)

Civilization:EgyptType(s):MonarchyTitle of leader: PharaohNames of specific leader & contributionsWho first united this civilization?: King NarmerOther Leaders:Pharaoh Zoser had 1st pyramid builtQueen Hatshepsut becomes pharaohPharaoh Amenhotep IV ( Akhenaton) worships the one god Aton.Pharaoh Tutankhamen (King Tut) returns polytheism.Political Philosopher(s) and/or Philosophy:Other interesting Feature(s) or “How one assumes the authority of a leader?:Being born in the ruling dynasty

Government BenchmarkCivilization:ChinaType(s):MonarchyTitle of leader:EmperorNames of specific leader & contributionsWho first united this civilization?:Qin Shi HuangdiOther Leaders:Liu Bang (peasant) Han Gau Zu Legalism & ConfucianismWu Di Civil ServicePolitical Philosopher(s) and/or Philosophy:Legalism (cruel treatment), Confucianism (Good example) & Daoism (accept life as it is)Other interesting Feature(s) or “How one assumes the authority of a leader?:Mandate of heaven

Civilization:IndiaType(s): MonarchyTitle of leader: (Rajahs) & EmperorNames of specific leader & contributionsWho first united this civilization?:Chandragupta Maurya (Legalism)Other Leaders:Asoka Maurya turning point-became BuddhistChandragupta I (Guptas) Golden AgePolitical Philosopher(s) and/or Philosophy: Arthashastra (legalism) & BuddhismOther interesting Feature(s) or “How one assumes the authority of a leader?: Being a Good Military Leader & Born in the right Caste (Society is like the body)

Technology BenchmarkCivilization:MesopotamiaName of Writing System:CuneiformDescription of Writing System: Trianglar shapes over 1,000 symbolsDescription of Writing tool(s):reed stylusInventions and their significance:wheel-movement, dikes & canal-irrigation, cargo boats with sails -tradeOther Advances:Iqu (acre) & quart -measurement

Civilization:EgyptName of Writing System: HieroglyphicsDescription of Writing System: 700 picture symbolsDescription of Writing tool(s): reed dipped in sootInventions and their significance:Retention basins -irrigation, 365 day calendar, mummification -preservationStone pyramids -tombsOther Advances:

Material Written on:

Material Written on:Clay Tablets

Papyrus

Technology BenchmarkCivilization:ChinaName of Writing System: PictographsDescription of Writing System:5,000 symbolsDescription of Writing tool(s): small brushInventions and their significance: wheel barrow (heavy loads), Seismograph (earthquakes), Paper & Printing (communication),Crossbow & Gun powder (warfare), & fireworks (communication).Other Advances: compass, ship’s rudder

Civilization: IndiaName of Writing System:SanskritDescription of Writing System: (54) 108 flowing charactersDescription of Writing tool(s):stylusInventions and their significance:Arabic numerals (base 10 mathematics), Inoculation, set broken bones, skin grafting & sterilization (medicine),Other Advances: Panchatantra (folktales)

Material Written on: paper

Material Written on: paper